Ohio State salutes Jim Tressel during Michigan game

When it was announced that Ohio State was going to honor its 2002 national championship-winning team during Saturday's game against Michigan, most people had two questions:

Will Jim Tressel be there? And if so, what sort of reception will he get from the packed house at Ohio Stadium?

Yes, Tressel was there. And not only was he greeted by an outpouring of support from the crowd, but members of the 2002 title team picked him up and put him on their shoulders, saluting their once-championed, now-disgraced former coach.

Yeah, yeah. I know what you're thinking.

But Tressel is the reason why OSU's season is going to end after today's game against Michigan.

He's the reason Ohio State is under NCAA probation.

If not for Tressel, OSU would be playing for a spot in the BCS championship game.

At today's game, OSU celebrated the 2002 national championship team. The 2002 team. Tressel was the coach of the 2002 team. His former players picked him up. Good for them. (Also, OSU wouldn't be 11-0 if they had any coach in the country other than Urban Meyer.)

It's not up to us to decide when, where and how fans cheer. You're not allowed to police that. Yes, Tressel's tenure ended in disgrace. Yes, he made several mistakes.

Yet OSU survived. The Buckeyes are 11-0. Meyer is in town. This is a good day for OSU. Bygones have become bygones. Let it go. OSU wants to cheer Tressel. We're not allowed to tell them otherwise.