According to Pulitzer Prize-winning Sports Illustrated reporter George Dohrmann who was instrumental in exposing widespread NCAA violations in the Ohio State football program, former head coach Jim Tressel's reputation for integrity was one of the great myths of college football.

In an interview on Jim Rome's nationally syndicated radio talk show, Dohrmann laid out a host of disturbing details he and his staff uncovered about Tressel who recently resigned his post under pressure from higher-ups. While promoting an upcoming cover story in SI titled, "How Deep it Went," Dohrmann detailed a pattern of misconduct that traced back several years.

"We go back and show how Jim Tressel, when he was an assistant coach at Ohio State, rigged a raffle so that top prospects at his summer camp would win prizes," Dohrmann said. "We show how at Youngstown State, he fixed traffic tickets for his star quarterback. But more than that, we show a pattern over his career of a guy who didn't want to know what was going on at his football program."

According to Dohrmann, though Tressel was depicted as a man of great faith and integrity, in reality, he was nothing more than a man who knew how to hone an image.

"The traffic ticket one, I think illustrates Tressel perfectly," Dohrmann said. "He would have his star quarterback come in and write a 500-word essay and then fix his traffic ticket. So Tressel, the man of integrity, would say, 'Hey, I'm going to make my quarterback read something and write an essay, and that's making him a better person; but, then I'm going to violate an NCAA rule for him right after he does that.' "

Dohrmann discounted Tressel's assertions that he lied to NCAA investigators to protect his players, instead, painting a picture of a desperate coach fixated only on wins and losses.

"Jim Tressel knew that those players would surely be ruled ineligible for all or part of the coming season, and Ohio State was a popular pick to make a BCS bowl", Dohrmann said. "They were a very good team, and he didn't want to jeopardize the season. The simple truth is: Jim Tressel chose the opportunity to win over doing the right thing."

Unfortunately for Ohio State fans, Dohrmann suggested that Tressel wouldn't be the only one to take blame and punishment from the NCAA and predicted harsh punishment for the entire athletic department which he claims must have been aware of the wrongdoing.

"I think Ohio State would like everyone to believe that this is a Jim Tressel problem," Dohrmann said. "It's truly a lack of institutional control. People hate to hear that, because it's an NCAA label. But in this case, it seems clear there was a lack of institutional control.

"These players were hanging out in one of the worst areas of Columbus. They were hanging out with guys who were drug traffickers, guys who had huge rap sheets. They were partying there at night. It's hard to believe that no one at Ohio State knew about these relationships. But that's what they're selling right now."

To illustrate his point, Dohrmann talked about Terrelle Pryor who was reportedly seen driving at least eight cars in his three years at Ohio State.

"The University wasn't aware of this?" Dohrmann asked rhetorically. "The guy had eight cars. At the end of the day, I don't think Terrelle Pryor's going to play another game for Ohio State."

As for Tressel's future, Dohrmann predicted few opportunities.

"There will be something slapped onto him that will prohibit a major school from hiring him for certainly several years and maybe forever."

Unfortunately for Buckeye fans, the team's future appears equally bleak.

-      Ryan Lawrence