I am a big Ohio State fan and a true believer in Jim Tressel and what he does to help his young men become better human beings and players. One of the things he does every year with his players is create a "Winners Manual". This manual is filled with inspirational quotes and literature that is designed to make them better players, and more importantly, better people. Coach Tressel also assigns the senior class a book to read each year, which the seniors must pass along the details and message onto the underclassmen.

If you were to come up with your own "Winners Manual", what inspirational quotes, stories or literature would you include?

My winners manual would state "give me players with lots of talent and who are coachable"

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a true believer in Jim Tressel and what he does to help his young men become better human beings and players.

Coach - I agree. There was talent down there in Columbus before he got there as evidenced by numerous All-Americans, first round draft choices, and even Heisman trophy winners yet the team accomplishments were lacking. It is no accident that their record against Michigan and in bowl games has gone way up since he arrived.

The thing he said was most important to build a winning team (when he was hired) was that he had to get each player on the team to be more concerned about the "group" than themselves. To me this is the essence of leadership which he expects out of each of his players. One need look no farther than Troy Smith. He started out his college career in about as rocky of a manner as possible. Watch him and listen to him now and you will observe a leader. Never takes credit for himself but revels in the accomplishments of the team.

I saw this same phenomenon in high school baseball where a team of over achievers and no-namers had as much if not more success than a previous collection of individual superstars.

No Namers to Big Gamers

Where's ARod's copy, I want to read it.

If anyone is interested, I have a book coming out this fall called ``Coach Tressel's Fundamentals for Winners.'' It's based on the winner's manual he gives out. The book has stories from former Youngstown State players and coaches and former and current Ohio State players and they talk about how the winner's manual has impacted them on and off the field. A.J. Hawk, Simon Fraser, LeCharles Bentley, Tyson Gentry, Troy Smith, Nate Salley, Maurice Hall, John Cooper, Archie Griffin, Earle Bruce, Anthony Gonzalez to name a few. 60 people total.

By the way, I was a former YSU baseball walk on in the 80's and have known Coach Tressel since his first year at YSU in 1986. We remain friends. I'm also author of ``LeBron James: The Rise of a Star.''

I would love to see that book of yours, How is it soming? I have tried for years to find a copy of Coach Tressels' Winner Manuel, Is there any way to find one?

Thanks in advance