In a quiet, but very public first (unconfirmed), Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel addresses- in a thoughtful, human, and understanding way- what is, essentially, the ‘third rail’ in college athletics- gay athletes.

I’ve seen Tressel’s interview with Outlook Columbus noted at Yahoo Sports and at ESPN.com.

Writing for Yahoo Sports, Dan Wetzel captures this issue tightly:

“Competitive Athletics is on of the last bastions of accepted homophobia. Even the military is considering repeal of its ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy. In sports, it’s still just ‘Don’t Dare Say A Word.’” (Yahoo Sports)

With his Outlook Columbus interview, Tressel tackles the issue head-on.

Tressel seems to teach and work from highly developed principles regarding personal development and achievement. He’s a Football Bowl Series coach; make no bones about it football is important, but Tressel comes across as more than a coach.  He expresses a genuine desire to see his players mature and develop, foremost, as human beings – each with unique talents and perspectives.

Quoting Tressel secondhand:

“What we have, quite often, with our athletes, and with a number of young people in any sport, is that from the time they were 6 or 7 years old, their identity has been through sports. You’re the tallest, you’re the fastest, you’re the best player. All their feedback has come in terms of their role as a player, and they are often hesitant to go beyond that narrow role. … The greatest achievement we can have as coaches is that a young man leaves us with a concept of who he is, what he wants from life, and what he can share with others — someone who is ‘comfortable in his own skin,’ and that identity can go in a number of directions.” (ESPN.com)

Reflecting on how his program and his team would respond to an openly gay team member, Tressel answered:

“We strive to teach and model appreciation for everyone. One, we are a family. If you haven’t learned from your family at home that people have differences and those strengthen the whole, then you are hopefully going to learn it as part of the Ohio State football family.

“Two, every part of our team is important and every role has value — no job is too small and no person is irrelevant — that’s a great lesson that transcends into society. When I think of the diversity we’ve had on our team the past few years, it goes way beyond just a racial, sexual or ethnic mix. We’ve had players who had different religions, players who came from different economic backgrounds, players who are parents, who are spouses, who are caring for ailing parents, who are wheelchair bound, who are battling cancer, and on and on. Whatever a young man feels called to express, I hope we will help him do it in a supportive environment. Everybody is important, and maturity is learning to find and appreciate those differences in others.” (ESPN.com)

The persistent analyst in me asks ‘why now?’ Why is it now time for Tresel and Smith to speak out?

Two primary reasons, I think. First, the world is ready. Tolerance and acceptance have taken root as guiding principles. In short, we know that they are the right things to teach.

Secondly, and a bit cynically, draw and recruiting. If coaches and administrators create and foster an environment accepting and open to all, more athletes, and the type of athletes you seek, will find your institution. The is FBS football and Division I athletics.

Motivations aside, (They’re always complex and scrutable; look no further than LBJ and the Voting Rights Act) the fact that Tressel, and Ohio State are willing to publicly advance diversity and acceptance, along with their beliefs in individual uniqueness, contribution, and growth sends the message that others might have some catching-up or growing of their own to do.

Yahoo’s Wetzel’s makes these spot-on observations:

“…His answers were typical Tressel. There’s nothing particularly colorful or bold. It wasn’t like he was advocating for the legalization of gay marriage.

His opinions were deep on substance though. They carried a measure of thoughtfulness. Tressel did more than enough. The message was in the messenger…

Tressel’s interview isn’t going to bring football out of the dark ages. Not even the open mindedness of a guy who’s won five consecutive Big Ten titles can reverse things overnight. Sports is decades behind society. Football may be even decades behind that.

It did just take a small step in the proper direction thanks to a coach who might be the most conservative in the game.” (Yahoo Sports)

How is this connected to boarding school? Several very good boarding schools have been practicing and preaching actions and principles similar to Ohio State’s for some time.

The best boarding schools (paraphrasing Tressel)- teach and model appreciation for everyone; they are a family.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wdpg_share/ / CC BY 2.0