Tressel Headed To Iraq and Afghanistan

Ohio State University head football coach Jim Tressel made a stop at Wright Patterson Air Force Base Monday during the 'Coaches Tour 2009 Kickoff Briefing' to salute the U.S. military.

Tressel is taking part in the coaches tour to the Middle East in May and June.

Tressel was showered with attention before some 2,000 base personnel and their families. However, the coach said the cheers should be for the military men and women and their families. Tressel said, "It should be the other way around. I should bring about 1,000 of our players over and have them cheer."

Tressel was joined by his wife, Ellen, and linebacker Marcus Freeman, who is graduating.

During the visit, Tressel climbed into the cockpit of a fighter jet, signed autographs, and expressed his appreciation to the Wright Patterson Air Force Base community.

The dates of the tour of Iraq and Afghanistan are being kept secret for security reasons.

Tressel will be joining Mack Brown from Texas, Houston Nutt of Mississippi, UCLA's Rick Neuheisel, Jim Grobe from Wake Forest and Air Force's Troy Calhoun.