BEREA — Jim Tressel was back on the sideline Tuesday morning, just blocks from where he grew up. But he didn’t blow a whistle, call a play or shout an instruction.

On a gorgeous day to watch football practice, that’s all the former Ohio State coach did. Tressel, who was forced to resign in May amid a scandal and cover-up that tarnished the university, stood between the Browns practice fields, surveyed the training camp action and chatted with president Mike Holmgren, coach Pat Shurmur, quarterback Colt McCoy and former rival Lloyd Carr, the retired Michigan coach.

Tressel looked like he was ready to coach, wearing black shorts, a white golf shirt, tennis shoes, sunglasses and a tan Browns hat. It must’ve been too hot for his trademark sweater vest.

Tressel was a head coach for the last 25 years at Youngstown State and Ohio State. A fan in the parking lot of Browns headquarters asked if he would coach again.

“I hope so,” he said on the way to a scarlet and gray car with nicely placed block O’s. “I’m taking it one day at a time.”

Tressel attended practice with former Browns defensive coordinator Dave Adolph and liked what he saw.

“He’s an impressive guy,” Tressel told The Associated Press regarding Shurmur. “He’s got a great mentor in Coach Holmgren.

“You could feel the energy around here. I was impressed with all the teaching going on. I’ve been to plenty of NFL camps where the guys are just standing around, lollygagging.”

Tressel had no idea Carr would be there as a guest of former Wolverine Aaron Shea, the Browns’ player liaison. At the end of the 2 1/2-hour practice, the former coaches in one of sports’ greatest rivalries — Tressel was 6-1 against Carr — shook hands and talked. They walked off the field together and had lunch in the cafeteria.

“From a personal and coaching standpoint, it was a tragedy,” Carr told The Associated Press of Tressel’s fall at Ohio State. “We all feel for Jim, and if I know him, he’ll rebound.”

Shurmur said he’s known Tressel and Carr for years and was glad to have them as guests. He said when he first got the Browns job in January he was mistaken for Tressel.

“Somebody in the kitchen said it’s the coach out in the restaurant,” Shurmur said. “So the waitress came up embarrassed and said, ‘Oh my gosh. I didn’t know you were here. It’s nice to meet you, Coach Tressel.’”

Shurmur talked quarterbacks with Tressel on Tuesday and took advantage of the opportunity to pick his brain.

“I’m not the smartest guy in the world, but I know how to ask questions,” Shurmur said. “I really do love to interact with other coaches. There’s a natural wisdom that a lot of guys have. When you visit with them, it may not be obvious, but you learn things.”

Tressel was raised in Berea, where his father, Lee, coached Baldwin-Wallace College. He attended Browns practices and once held the ball for Hall of Fame kicker Lou Groza. He remains a Browns fan and conveyed that to McCoy.

“I told him, ‘Hey, I grew up a couple blocks down the street. We need ya, buddy,’” Tressel said.
McCoy went 1-1 against Tressel and the Buckeyes while at Texas.

“To have coaches like that to come out here and watch practice and be around, that’s neat,” McCoy said. “I played against Coach Tressel a couple times in college, so we have a friendly relationship. I know he’s a big Browns fan, so that’s pretty cool.”

Tressel was asked if he’d be interested in a consulting job with an NFL team.

“Not right now,” he said. “I’m a fan. Always been a Browns fan.”

He’s a Spartan

Shurmur said Carr tried to recruit him to Michigan as an assistant for Bo Schembechler. Shurmur chose Michigan State and coach George Perles.

Did the Wolverines ever have a chance at landing Shurmur?

“Yeah they did,” he said. “I actually was born on campus there. My dad was a student when I was born.

“You could say they had a chance. It’s a great place, I just chose Michigan State. I kind of liked it better.”

Injury report

• Safety T.J. Ward returned to practice after missing Monday for a trip to the dentist.
• Running back Montario Hardesty made it through his second straight practice in pads. His left calf was wrapped after practicing for the first time in full pads Monday, but Shurmur said he “responded well” to the hitting.
• Shurmur said receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (foot) is running in the pool and making progress. He has yet to practice in camp.
• Defensive lineman Brian Schaefering had his lower right leg wrapped and didn’t practice.
• Linebackers Scott Fujita (bruised thigh) and Chris Gocong (neck stinger), tight end Benjamin Watson (hamstring) and safety Usama Young (hamstring) sat out again.
• Shurmur said the knee surgery Monday on rookie safety Eric Hagg, a seventh-round pick, was to remove cartilage.
• Cornerback Coye Francies (back) and defensive tackle Travis Ivey (undisclosed) returned to practice. Francies appeared to aggravate the back near the end of practice when he fell after leaping to break up a pass.

Extra points

• The preseason opener was the highest-rated program in the Cleveland market since Game 6 of the NBA Finals on June 12.
• Rookie tight end Jordan Cameron made a one-handed catch on a pass behind him on a crossing route. He followed it up with an easy drop on a shallow cross, but recovered with several more catches in his most active practice.
• Middle linebacker D’Qwell Jackson leaped high to break up a pass down the middle, testing his surgically repaired pectoral muscles. He got up and was fine.
• Undrafted rookie receiver Juan Nunez had his helmet come off but finished the play.
• Undrafted rookie receiver L.J. Castile reached high to make a catch, then took a hit in the midsection from safety Carl Gettis. Castile hung on.

Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.