Ohio State Has a Small Problem

Hell hath no fury like a sports dad scorned, and Buckeye receiver/returner Ray Small's dad isn't pleased that his son will not play in this weekend's OSU-Northwestern game. Buckeye coach Jim Tressel suspended the younger Small for one game--"to start with," in Tressel's words--for repeatedly violating team rules.

Small's dad, Ken Small, is calling shenanigans.

"They're intentionally trying to blow his career," Ken Small told The Associated Press by telephone from his home in suburban Columbus.

There is evidence to suggest that Ray Small is blowing his own career, without any help from the Ohio State coaching staff. He was "demoted" from jersey number 4 to number 82 last spring; he is also the only Buckeye on scholarship without a biography in the school's media guide. Hence, he's clearly been in trouble before, and maybe he hasn't quite gotten the message yet.

Small's dad doesn't dispute that his son violated team rules, stating that Ray Small had been late for classes and meetings and had some parking tickets. So give him credit for staying away from the "Not My Kid" syndrome familiar to anybody who's ever worked with kids and their parents. Ken Small has something else he's pondering, though, and it's worth looking at.

Ken Small cited several other recent legal transgressions by Ohio State players and compared them to the minor problems his son has had. One player a year ago was arrested for propositioning a female police officer posing as a prostitute. At least two players have been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Ken Small said it was clear his son is being treated unfairly by Tressel.

"He had a couple of incidents, but he never got caught smoking marijuana before the national championship game. Or he never got a DUI, or picked up a prostitute. He was just late," Ken Small said. "And the punishment is you can't even go into the (practice) facility? They act like he's dangerous. These other kids ... didn't get banned from the facility. All they got was being sat down for the first few plays of a game."

Okay, that's fair. We don't know all the things Ray Small has done, but if it involved actual crimes, we'd probably know about them. Does Ray Small's punishment fit the infraction? Is it worse to violate small rules over and over again than to violate a big rule once?

Tressel is well within his rights to stay silent about the real reason why Ray Small is sitting down. Ken Small's assertions, though, deserve consideration. If his son is just intractable, however, he deserves to sit until he gets his act together.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-07-2008 @ 8:40PM

rock said...

Hey gravy training dad your kid is a pampered butt head. Go to the local Gas and Sip and buy some lotto tickets. I love it when parents excuse their own from being accountable, so they can continue to flourish in their own eyes.

11-08-2008 @ 11:04AM

Chefmark said...

I have met Ray and his family and they are wonderful people. They have put his career as an important of their lives as would any parent whose prodigy has talent.(Michelle Wie, Tiger Woods, etc)

In the past The Ohio State University has had a reputation for running the athletic department with a lose hand in order to win at any cost. Tressel has changed that and it is difficult Buckeyes to accept that losing back to back national championship games may have been as a result of enforcing rules that previously would have been overlooked.

Ray's infractions seem insignificant compared to the examples of smoking pot before the game or approaching prostitues. The issue remains that being on time for class and meetings is just as important for developing the person as is conditioning for developing the player. Rather than ban him from the practice facility maybe Tress should have locked him in and made him run laps until he learns to tell time.

Having worked at OSU I have seen and heard of instances where student athletes violated team and campus rules and were allowed to continue as if nothing had happened. The football team, because of it's identification as a pipeline to the NFL, draws much more attention than the tennis team. Jim Tressel said in the beginning that he would bring discipline and integrity to the program. He has done that. All Buckeyes including Ken Small have to see the value in Tress's policies and know that he has the best interest of his players and the University in mind. There is a long history of indifference to overcome and there will always be parents who will defend their children's actions.

Ray Small is not dangerous. He is just trying to grow into his role as a professional. He has the skills and determination to play on Sundays. College athletics. He deserves the support of his family, Buckeye fans, and the coaching staff.

11-08-2008 @ 4:15PM

That Wie crew is working out so well for both the kid and the parent.

11-17-2008 @ 2:17PM

Mr.G said...

"all they got was sat down the first few plays of a game"? That is a completely false statement.

11-28-2008 @ 10:34AM

MM said...

Hey all,

Looked like on Sat. of the "m" game, Ray Small understand and was helped by Tressel's plan. I think he got the message, as so many of these young man need. So many think they are gods and see the $$ before getting into school. I say make they pay back any $$ that forfit from leaving early and then some....So many would love the chance to go to school, why do they get to throw it away. The parents also see $$ through their kids, which is terrible. Get with the program or don't come our way. Go Bucks.....thanks Trussel for your out look and keeping with the right kind of program.