The June issue of The Advocate magazine had a piece entitled, “150 Reasons to Have Pride in 2010,” and Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel made the list for the interview he did with the GLBT publication, Outlook Columbus.

The Advocate article starts, “Thanks to his rousing statements for marriage equality, silver fox Keith Olbermann is reason number 38 to have pride in 2010. Read the other 149 reasons here.”

Reason #51 (found on page 24 of 48 of the web article):

“BECAUSE AN ALLY MAY BE HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT:

The Ohio-based gay newspaper Outlook: Columbus snagged an interview in March with Jim Tressel (pictured), the high-profile football coach at Ohio State University. When writer ­Michael Daniels brought up the reluctance of collegiate athletes to come out, Tressel said it was the duty of coaches and professors to create a tolerant atmosphere: ‘Whatever a young man feels called to express, I hope we will help him do it in a supportive environment. Everybody is important, and maturity is learning to find and appreciate those differences in others.’”

You can read the entire Outlook Columbus interview with Tressel here.  (My apologies for the format of the article; Outlook Columbus has a specific viewer for its magazine, making it impossible to directly link an article.)

It is fairly well-know that Tressel is a conservative Christian, making his perspectives on the subject and even the willingness to do the interview more impressive and refreshing.

I also had the opportunity to ask a fellow classmate who played for Tressel if his remarks were genuine.  Knowing that those in the sports industry, especially with the experience and resume of Tressel, develop a unique skill to say the right things to the media, I had my doubts.  My classmate said that Tressel had such a respect for diversity, the totality of a person beyond just being an athlete, and that he was sincerely interested in helping the student-athletes develop their own self-image.

Just another reason to be glad I came to school at Ohio State.

Jim Tressel, Ohio State, Outlook Columbus, The Advocate Hide

Outlook Columbus interviewed Ohio State Football Head Coach Jim Tressel, and in doing so, became the first GLBT publication to interview a Division I NCAA football coach one-on-one.  (At least, so is stated in the reprinting of the interview in OutSports, and I have never seen a similar interview that would invalidate the claim.)

Michael Daniels, who performed the interview, asked Tressel some excellent questions and received equally poignant responses.  I’ve extracted my favorites.

Daniels asked how the principles of faith and belief in one’s self that Tressel writes about in his book, “The Winner’s Manual,” can apply to understanding people of other races, genders or sexual orientations.

Tressel’s response: “We try to tell our guys that an authentic you is the best you.”

Daniels asked Tressel why he felt it is more common for athletes to come out after they retire rather than during their careers.

Tressel spoke about how as an elite athlete, your identity since you were young is that of an athlete.  “You’re the tallest, you’re the fastest, you’re the best player. All their feedback has come in terms of their role as a player, and they are often hesitant to go beyond that narrow role.”  Then, referring to his role in the process as a collegiate coach, he adds: “An opportunity, and a real challenge, we have when they come to college is to get them to see themselves with a broader lens.

“The greatest achievement we can have as coaches is that a young man leaves us with a concept of who he is, what he wants from life, and what he can share with others – someone who is ‘comfortable in his own skin,’ and that identity can go in a number of directions.”

Daniels then asked him a big question: how would the team, fans, and university accept a gay player at OSU?

Tressel, continuing with a string of wonderful responses: “We strive to teach and model appreciation for everyone,

“One, we are a family. If you haven’t learned from your family at home that people have differences and those strengthen the whole, then you are hopefully going to learn it as part of the Ohio State football family.

“Two, every part of our team is important and every role has value – no job is too small and no person is irrelevant – that’s a great lesson that transcends into society. […]

“Whatever a young man feels called to express, I hope we will help him do it in a supportive environment. Everybody is important, and maturity is learning to find and appreciate those differences in others.”

As a gay student at Ohio State, I was extremely proud to see this article posted today.  I frequently write about how organizations, coaches, etc. can have a profound influence in battling homophobia—even the ability save lives—if they are explicit with their support.  I am thankful for Tressel’s willingness to do the interview and the perspectives he shared.

Jim Tressel, Michael Daniels, Ohio State Athletics, Ohio State University, Outlook Columbus, OutSports, The Winner’s Manual Hide