COLUMBUS, Ohio — In his first solo moment in the spotlight as Ohio State’s interim coach, Luke Fickell made a point to graciously mention his deposed predecessor.

He thanked Jim Tressel, forced to resign on May 30 as the heat escalated from an ongoing NCAA investigation, “for the opportunities he’s given me, for the friendship and for making me a better coach, husband and father.”

Still, Fickell only referred to his ex-boss twice in almost 35 minutes before reporters on Monday. And he did make one major break when he said he didn’t know anything about any NCAA rules violations under Tressel’s watch.

“I wasn’t going to say that I had blinders on, but (I was) very focused on the task at hand,” Fickell said. “I was not informed of any information until it became public knowledge.”

Fickell spoke at an introductory news conference, during which he promised Buckeyes fans a team that would be about “respect, toughness and being men of action.”

The 37-year-old Fickell is a former Ohio State player who has been on the staff for the last 10 years, coaching linebackers and, most recently, serving as co-defensive coordinator.

He said the ongoing problems at his alma mater have affected him.

“I’m not saying I’m not disappointed, I’m not upset,” he said. “But again, we’re moving forward.”

Fickell was selected to fill in when Tressel was suspended for the first five games of the 2011 season for knowing players were accepting cash and discounted tattoos in exchange for memorabilia from a tattoo-parlor owner and failing to notify his superiors.

After weeks of revelations and rumors, Tressel resigned under pressure two weeks ago.