T-shirt maker gets in on Buckeye bashing

Now that the Ohio State University is taking a lot of flack regarding football players' off-the-field actions that their coach virtually ignored, opponents are getting their digs in with the help of a local T-shirt maker.

Smack Apparel, a specialty apparel screenprinter based in Tampa, is producing shirts jabbing at former OSU coach Jim Tressel and quarterback Terrelle Pryor. The shirts are geared toward fans of OSU's chief rival, the University of Michigan, and others in the Big Ten Conference.

One makes reference to “Tressel's Tattoo and Pawn,” while another is emblazoned with the tag line “Woody (Hayes) Punched 'Em ... Tressel Lied to 'Em ... Terrelle Sold 'Em!” Tressel ultimately resigned his longtime head coaching post May 30 for failing to report violations to the NCAA, among other factors.

“For the business that we are in, it might not get any better than this,” says Wayne Curtiss, Smack owner and founder. “If your rival has beaten you as much as Ohio State has beaten most in the Big Ten, seeing them fall is as cherished as beating them on the field.”

Launched in 1998, Smack takes First Amendment liberties in helping sports fans poke fun at their rivals, and in some instances cheering on their own teams. Other products reference pro football, basketball, baseball and hockey teams.