By: AP via Yahoo.com -

COLUMBUS, Ohio – As others labeled him a cheater and likened him to President Richard Nixon, Ohio State fans stood by Jim Tressel on Monday as the coach resigned amid an NCAA investigation into the football program.

A red spray-painted “Tressel til I die” banner hung over a porch near campus, and members of “Buckeye Nation” on Twitter continued to sing praises for the coach who led the team to a national championship and lost to rival Michigan only once in his 10 years at the helm of the Buckeyes.

Ohio State announced the resignation as the athletic department approaches an Aug. 12 date with the NCAA’s infractions committee over several possible rules violations stemming from players selling memorabilia to the owner of a local tattoo shop.

Buckeyes fans and players immediately came to Tressel’s defense.

Starting linebacker Andrew Sweat tweeted, “You have done a tremendous amount for us as football players but more importantly developing us as men.” Former tight end Jake Ballard called Tressel “one of the best human beings I have ever met” and said “all he ever did was care and help people.”

Students on campus also rallied around their former coach……
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