by Bill Hammerstrom

Hudson Hub-Times Editor

Hudson — “Nov. 27. That gives us 27 days in November,” Ohio State University head football coach Jim Tressel told his No. 1 fan in Hudson during a reception at the high school March 8.

He then proceeded to count backward from October through March 8, coming up with a grand total of 264 days.

“I told you it was about 260 days” until the Buckeyes play Michigan, Tressel said.

The conversation showed that football and Ohio State’s greatest rival are always near the top of Tressel’s thoughts.

But his presentation to a sold-out crowd of 1,000 ticket-holders in the Hudson High School auditorium later that evening showed what is at the top of Tressel’s values and priorities in life.

The coach of the 2009 Big Ten champions outlined the “Block ‘O’ Tressel’s six core values of life,” in his presentation while talking about life, football and eating bad eggs at a truck stop at 4:30 a.m. 

The event was presented by Hudson Community First and sponsored by the Hudson Kiwanis Club.

Prior to speaking, Tressel attended a $100-a-ticket reception in the school’s media center. He posed for pictures and signed at least one item for each ticket-holder.

Hudson High School varsity football coach Tom Narducci has known Tressel for years and helped arrange the visit. Narducci said the coach of the 2002 national champions chose to come to Hudson to benefit the community.

“It isn’t like he’s doing it to recruit any blue-chip player,” Narducci said. “He’s doing it because it’s the right thing to do.”

Tim and Suzanne Shoger of Hudson were among the first in line for a picture.

“We’ve given his book to all four of our sons,” Suzanne said. “His level of integrity, his sportsmanship — he’s a great role model,” Tim added.

Pat Weigel bought tickets to the reception for his son, Sean, as a Christmas present. Sean had Tressel sign a Santa hat and planned to enlarge his picture with the coach into a wall poster.

Hudson High School senior Gabe Adams, a wide receiver on the Explorers football team, has met Tressel before, but sharing the experience this time with his brother, Ben, made it special. 

Even though Ben is a Michigan fan, both brothers respect the Ohio State coach and had their picture taken with him.

Hudson’s self-proclaimed No. 1 Buckeye Fan, Carrie Gynn, was particularly thrilled about having her picture taken with her favorite coach.

Gynn, who has been to seven of the last eight Buckeye bowl games and hosts an annual Michigan party attended by 300 guests, said it was “very exciting” and “awesome,” to meet Tressel, even though he proved more knowledgeable about the countdown to the Michigan game.

In his presentation later, Tressel outlined his schedule that day. It included waking up before 4:30 a.m., breakfast at a truck stop, football practice at 6 a.m., a luncheon at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton and finally the Hudson visit.

He admitted he felt a little sorry for himself, but made an effort to be excited about the day.

From there he described the values of gratitude, humility, preparedness and teamwork. He explained that who we are — our spirituality, our family and our graciousness — is more important that what we do.

In between, he talked about coaching at Youngstown State, visiting military bases around the world and the Ohio State Marching Band.

“The role of our [football] team is to give the band a little rest between the pregame and halftime show,” he said.

Tressel was introduced by HHS senior Sam Gedeon, a member of the Explorer football team and head of Hudson Community First’s Jim Tressel committee.

“It was an awesome experience,” Gedeon said. “He’s just an amazing guy.”

Tressel’s speech, highlighting the importance of teamwork, reflected the values of Hudson Community First, according to that organization’s co-directors, Cheryl Rauch and Laura Gasbarro.

“That’s exactly what our message is,” Gasbarro said. “We think he hit the target.”

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