Bellisari Returns To The OSU Football Family – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/19/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 19, 2001
COLUMBUS, OHIO – Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel announced late Sunday evening that senior quarterback Steve Bellisari will continue to be a member of the Ohio State football family.
Tressel made the statement after conferring with Director of Athletics Andy Geiger and Associate Director of Athletics Archie Griffin, and meeting with the football coaching staff, the OSU seniors, the remaining members of the team and Bellisari.
“As I arrived in Columbus and met with the team, and as I have emphasized to our current players’ families as well as the families of prospective student-athletes, as a member of the football family our players will be treated as if they were my own. There will be demands, expectations and sometimes uncomfortable discipline levied, but they will be loved and cared for.
“Steve is and will continue to be a member of the Ohio State football family. We will make sure that immediate support services are available to him to assist him in confronting this painful situation.”
Tressel added the following:
Bellisari will lose some privileges as they relate directly tothe football aspect of his family membership Craig Krenzel will bethe starting quarterback at Michigan Bellisari will practice withthe team. Bellisari will not serve as one of the team captains thisweek at Michigan. Bellisari will not be available for interviewsprior to this week’s game.
Ohio State quarterback Steve Bellisari issued the following statement Monday afternoon:
“I would like to say that I am truly sorry for my actions this past Thursday night and Friday morning. I want to apologize to the university, my coaches, our great fans and especially my teammates for my behavior. I let everyone down by my actions and for that I am extremely sorry. I met with Coach Tressel and the team on Sunday and expressed to them my desire to do anything I could to help our team focus on this week’s game at Michigan.”
