By: Adam Rittenberg (ESPN.com) -

CHICAGO — There’s a feeling that Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith has been distancing himself from embattled football coach Jim Tressel in recent weeks.

But at the Big Ten spring meetings Wednesday, Smith — while declining to discuss any details of the ongoing NCAA investigation of Tressel — affirmed his support for the coach, who is entering his 11th season with the Buckeyes.

“Oh, definitely, no question,” Smith said. “I haven’t changed, I haven’t changed. But I’m not talking about the case beyond that.”

Smith noted last month in an interview with The Associated Press that Tressel should have apologized at the infamous March 8 news conference, where Tressel acknowledged he failed to notify Ohio State officials of emails he received about some of his players receiving improper benefits.

Smith has also talked about the high legal costs Ohio State is dealing with, calling the ongoing NCAA situation “a nightmare,” and confirmed Wednesday that Tressel is responsible for…..

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