I got to thinking about this, last night. So I did a little research. The same administration that fired Mike Leach .......and seemingly took the "high road" by firing a coach who (by all accounts) put an concussion-inflicted student athlete in a dark room (good)........... .................is the same president/administration that HIRED Bobby Knight. I just find that........ironic. I have a 17yr old son. I would have NO ISSUES with him playing football for Leach.....OR basketball for Knight.
Agreed Jeff. Examples like yours make it very apparent they had an agenda to get Leach out. Unless there is strong evidence against Leach, he is going to have a legitimate lawsuit.
I thought about that too Jeff. Kind of ironic. I also would have no problem with any of my kids playing for either coach. In fact I've done a lot of coaching through the years and have adopted a coaching style similar to the "old school " style of coaching. I've had some situations with parents, athletic directors, board members etc... One thing is for sure... like me or hate me the players I coach will be better at their sport and in life at the end of the season. You may not like the road getting their but the end results are gospel. Same holds true for Knight and any coach like him IMO
I played one season of baseball for a "Knight-style" coach (Charlie Lodes - ETSU) and 3 seasons for a completely opposite style coach (Ron Christopher - Wingate College). The LIFE lessons that Charlie taught me (through baseball).....I carry with me to this day. Ron's style didn't transfer quite so well (though he was/is a FINE man and coach). Charlie's coaching "philosophy" was founded 100% on "merit" and "accountability". You work hard.....and you're evaluated on your performance(s). Step out of line, and you're held accountable (academically; on the field and in your campus "life"). Charlie was 95% business (coach) and 5% father figure (when required or requested). I loved him for both. If he'd popped a knot on my head, it wouild have been for one reason................I deserved it. I was 17yrs old when Charlie "inherited me". Perfect timing.
As more of this story comes out, particularly the interview with Leach, I find my opinion and thoughts on the matter changing. I think many people, including the admin, was quick to judge in this case.
My college coach was all business. He expected you to hold yourself and others accountable. If you acted like an idiot in the game or on campus, he would find out. He expected you to be on time at all costs to practice and to everything else. If you were not, he jumped your ass. I remember I used to loan out my truck to a lot of the players on the team that did not have vehicles. One day my head coach basically bumrushed me as I entered the practice field. He said he had reports that I was driving my truck around like a "damn idiot". It wasn't me at all because I did not even have my truck on the day he mentioned. But it just goes to show you, he was listening and watching. That guy made me run for a week after every single practice til I died because I called a fan at the University of Delaware a "d o u c h e bag". We did not see eye to eye, but I have eventually begun to see why he acted the way he did and how it translates into my life these days. He expected all out effort and accountability in all phases of the game, on the field, in the classroom, and on campus. KIDS need to grow up and learn about life. They need to understand that they will be held accountable. Let them grow up mom and dad.
The university got caught up in being politically correct before they reviewed the facts. Sad thing is the damn world does not know what correct is anymore, they only try to be "correct" with the majority (51%) in any situation. They saved 800K buyout and 400K for each yar left by acting quickly. Now they are showing where the trainer and James have different stories...everyone out to protech their own butt...but let me ask you this, I played college ball as alot of you know and as an 18 or 19 year old it would have taken an army to "lock" me in a closet, and 6 pall bearers to do it a second day...and that is gospel.
"I played college ball as alot of you know and as an 18 or 19 year old it would have taken an army to "lock" me in a closet, and 6 pall bearers to do it a second day...and that is gospel. " Michael, I along with two other guys that work for me all played college sports. I told them a few days ago that I not only would have broke the door down but would have hit anyone that would have gotten within arms length while coming down the hallway....trainers, coaches, any player laughing at me...they all would have gotten it. I especially would have broken the coaches jaw and the trainer.
I think its pretty easy for us to sit back here now and say, "had they tried to do that to me I would have..." but in all reality, no one did or even tried anything of the sorts so there is no telling how anyone one of us would have reacted. It's all too easy to look at a situation from the outside and think we KNOW how we'd react. Unfortunately, that's just not the case.
I can tell you one thing about me. If someone purposefully, out of spite locked me in a closet at age 22,they were getting hit. It has nothing to do with sitting back and hindsighting the situation....it has everything to do with reality.
Exactly Brett, I am not bragging or saying I am the chit...I am simply saying no one could/would put me in a closet unless I allowed it. I did many many things I did not like when I was in college, coach was right and sometimes I hated him for it...but I can assure you, if something as big as this (adam james' story) happened, we would have handled it on the first go round, not after the second etc...Sad story all the way around, no one will ever really know all the facts because now everyone is protecting their own.
I'm betting that....before it's said and done with....they're (TT) gonna wish they'd waited until AFTER the bowl game to fire Leach. He may have enough $$ going into the interview process with potential schools (and they WILL come) to dedicate a building as a goodwill gesture to his hiring.:D
