If Ohio State coach Jim Tressel relied on boos to dictate which players he brought in and out of games, trouble would certainly ensue.
When Ohio State coaches rely on their athletes – which in turn rely on booze – to persuade 17- and 18-year old prep hot shots, to attend Ohio State, it is no wonder why trouble arrived on the corner of 12th and Neil Avenues early Friday morning.
When a prospective Ohio State student athlete makes an official visit to Columbus, the athlete is given $50 for room and board purposes. The prospect is then usually paired with one current student athlete and given a place to stay that night at the Ohio State student athlete’s residence.
The $50 for room and board essentially becomes $50 for food and beverage.
“It becomes beer money,” an Ohio State student athlete said. “We usually just take that and go get a keg.”
During the proceeding recruiting trip the high school junior or senior becomes an actor in scenes comparable to those shown in films like “He Got Game” or “Johnny Be Good.”
With beer in one hand, girl in the other, and eyes looking for another beer or girl, the future All-American – in his own mind – witnesses the fame and fortune of an Ohio State student athlete first hand.
Upon arrival at Ohio State, the above scenario/party becomes reality up to four times a week.
The title of “football player” or “baseball player” in front of one’s name serves as a four-or-five-year membership card to every bar, party and girl on campus.
For eleven years viewers of NBC at 9 p.m. on Thursday nights were invited to a place “where everyone knows your name.” For the past four years, Ohio State quarterback Steve Bellisari went to places – Sloopy’s and now The Spot Bar – where everyone knew his name.
Bellisari did not go to these Cheers-like places because he was booed during home football games. He did not go to The Spot Bar on Thursday because he has a drinking problem.
No. 8 goes to the No. 8 party school in America. He’s 21 years old. He plays quarterback at Ohio State.
The first 45 games of his Buckeye career have enabled him to be surrounded by well-wishers and good-looking girls at every turn.
Prior to leaving his residence Thursday evening, Bellisari had the world at his fingertips. A night of alcohol, pool, girls and friends awaited him at 1560 N. High St.
On Saturday, he would play his final game at home. Even with a loss, the improving senior quarterback would have a final chance of redemption the next week at Michigan. And with a win, I’d be sitting here on Sunday afternoon writing about “the most resilient football player in Ohio State history.”
On Thursday night, Illinois quarterback Kurt Kittner was not at a bar. Illinois has had a rule for the past three years that states no football player can go to a bar on any day not named Saturday.
“We don’t do it,” Kittner said following the game on Saturday. “If we catch young guys doing it, some of the older guys can take care of them in the locker room.”
On Saturday, Bellisari was at an undisclosed place. On Saturday, Kittner completed 18-of-28 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns.
Also at The Spot Bar on Thursday night was 17-year-old Lydell Ross. On Saturday, Ross rushed for 13 yards on five carries. Illinois linebacker Jerry Schumacher was consistently on the spot all day Saturday stopping the Ohio State offense with nine tackles, a sack and a game-high three tackles for loss, but was not at an establishment like The Spot Bar on Thursday night.
“No one goes out. We don’t go to bars at all during the week. Only on Saturdays after the game. That’s the only day we go out,” Schumacher said while drinking a Gatorade after Saturday’s victory. “Everyone lives up to that, otherwise we’ll find out somehow and the team will take care of it.”
Although not as interesting a coincidence as Ohio State scoring 22 points on Saturday and Bellisari having a .22 blood-alcohol level on Friday morning, Schumacher said he was in a bus when he heard the news about Bellisari and was told by the bus’s driver.
In the days following Bellisari’s arrest, it is amazing how many people have come out and said what a “bad break” this is for Steve and how awful he must feel.
When he pulled over his car on Friday morning the first feeling Bellisari should have had was relief. Even with a support staff of more than 100 people willing to give him a ride home from the spot of drinking choice, Steve made the choice to enter his car and attempt to drive drunk. The Ohio State community is overwhelmingly fortunate Steve didn’t kill himself or anyone on his way home.
Steve Bellisari has always been an up-front guy. While he’s had his share of terse comments throughout his tenure, when he finally speaks up about Friday morning’s incident he will take full blame for the situation. And rightfully so.
So what?
Student athletes at Ohio State are taught they are invincible from day one. They’re given alcohol and good times on demand. They will continue to be given these things.
Steve Bellisari’s personal actions may have been forever changed, but that’s the extent of the lesson. Until alcohol becomes non-existent among student athletes, incidents like Thursday night – noticed or not – will continue to happen on a weekly, if not nightly basis.
Dave O’Neil is The Lantern sports editor. E-mail him at [email protected].
