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| Tuesday, January 16 Bellotti's withdrawal leaves Mason, Tressel Associated Press | |||
| COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Oregon's Mike Bellotti withdrew his name from consideration for Ohio State's coaching job on Tuesday, and later that night, sources told ESPN.com that Oakland Raiders coach Jon Gruden had rejected an opportunity to interview for the position.
Gruden's agent, Bob Lamonte, informed Ohio State athletics director Andy
Geiger of the decision around 11 p.m. ET, sources said.
The main candidates after Bellotti withdrew were thought to be Jim Tressel, Glen Mason and Gruden.
As he has throughout the two-week search, Geiger declined to talk about the candidates or the
process.
"It would be silly for me to comment on that right now, wouldn't it?" he told Columbus TV station WSYX when asked earlier Tuesday about Gruden's candidacy.
Bellotti met Monday with Geiger and associate AD Archie Griffin
but pulled out of the race late Tuesday morning.
"I was very impressed with the people and facilities and the
environment, but it just reinforced to me my commitment to the
University of Oregon," Bellotti said in a statement issued through
Oregon's sports information office.
Tressel, Youngstown State's coach for the past 15 years, met
Tuesday with Ohio State officials.
"The important thing is that we share who we are and they talk
about what they're looking for," Tressel told WSYX after he and
his wife met with Geiger and Ohio State President William Kirwan
for 90 minutes. "Then they'll convene and make some decision."
The first day for the signing of national letters of intent is Feb. 7. Tressel said he wasn't given an idea when a coach would be in place.
"They're sensitive to the recruiting issue," he said. "I'm
sure they'd like to do it soon."
The 37-year-old Gruden, a Sandusky, Ohio, native, reacted angrily to a reporter's question about the Ohio State job after Sunday's 16-3 loss to Baltimore in the AFC title game. But the Buckeyes were very interested.
Mason, 50, has been considered a possible successor to the fired John Cooper ever since the Golden Gophers upset then No. 6-ranked
Ohio State 29-17 in Ohio Stadium.
Minnesota athletics director Tom Moe said Tuesday he could not confirm that Mason would visit Ohio State.
"He's waiting to hear further, and I don't think he has," Moe
said.
The Saint Paul Pioneer Press reported on its Web site Tuesday that Mason met with his team at approximately 7 a.m. for about 20 minutes and very quickly brought up the Ohio State situation.
"Coach Mason told us that he's obviously talked to Ohio State
people and nothing more," defensive tackle Matt Anderle said. "If
anything more comes up, he said he'll let us know. I respect that.
I think he's telling us the truth. I'm not really worried."
Mason did advise his players not to pay attention to reports in the media but to get their information regarding his candidacy through him, the newspaper reported.
Tressel, 46, is a former Buckeyes assistant who has won four
I-AA national championships at Youngstown State. The Berea native
had met with Geiger and Griffin and also received a follow-up phone
call for more information.
Cooper was fired Jan. 2 after Ohio State completed an 8-4 year
with a 24-7 loss to South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. He was
111-43-4 in 13 years, but the program had suffered embarrassments
off the field, in the classroom and in its biggest games. Cooper's
Buckeyes were just 2-10-1 against rival Michigan and 3-8 in bowl
games.
Geiger has declined to discuss a hiring timeline or coaching
candidates but did tell a Columbus television station on Sunday
night that it would be "a few more days" before a new coach would
be announced.
Members of an advisory committee have been told to not speak
with reporters.
Ohio State interviewed Tressel, Mason, Ohio State assistant head coach Fred Pagac and former Buckeye and NFL player Chris Spielman last week. Geiger and Griffin also spoke to Stanford coach Tyrone Willingham.
| ALSO SEE
Sources say Gruden won't interview with Ohio State | ||
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