Jim Tressel Contract Extended Two Years

COLUMBUS, Ohio--Gene Smith, Ohio State associate vice president and director of athletics, announced Tuesday head football coach Jim Tressel's contract has been extended two years. The current contract, originally signed in 2008, will now run through Jan. 31, 2015 - the end of the 2014 football season.

"We wanted to reward Jim for his exemplary work with our football program and lock him in as our coach for an additional two years," Smith said.

Tressel's compensation package will not increase over the final two years of the deal, Smith said.

"Jim has never once come to me about compensation," Smith said. "Jim has indicated to me he is satisfied with his salary. He is aware of the financial situation we all face in athletics and I am thankful for his service and loyalty to the goals of the department."

"We are fortunate to have a wonderful university administration, athletics administration, coaching staff and players," Tressel said. "To be able to continue building the Ohio State tradition alongside these people, along with our band, cheerleaders, fans and university community, is an honor."

Tressel's contract addendum is subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees at the May board meeting.

News Release By: Dan Wallenberg, Ohio State Athletic Communications

Pryor: Knee scope more than expected

Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor said a routine surgery to strengthen a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament three weeks ago turned into a more extensive procedure once the doctor found unexpected issues.

Pryor, who revealed before the Rose Bowl he had been dealing with a slight PCL injury, said Sunday at a team charity event in Columbus, Ohio, that the arthroscopy was performed on his left knee, not the right as the school announced in early February.

"We just thought I'd strengthen it, but when Dr. [Chris] Kaeding went into it, there were a lot of things wrong with it," Pryor said, according to The Plain Dealer.

Pryor, who was expected to be back to 100 percent before spring practice in April, said he had resumed strength training but hadn't rejoined team workouts, according to the Cleveland newspaper.

"You lose a type of leadership," Pryor said of missing the team dynamic. "I laid at home for about five days and then I went in and started to do upper body [workouts]. My upper body got real weak because I was sitting at home taking pain pills and I lost a lot of weight because I wasn't really eating.

"So I'm going to start getting back with the team workouts," he added. "It kind of [stinks] because you can't work out with your team."

News Release:  ESPN.Com

Photo Credit:  Scott Terna/ShotInAction.com