Storyline: It wasn’t a good week for college football coaches. Sarkisian was fired. Spurrier resigned. Grown men, who preach morals to young men, failed to practice what they preach.
I’m not going to be nice. I’m not here to show support or be empathetic.
This week two college head football coaches acted unprofessionally, hypocritically, and cowardly. University of Southern California football coach, Steve Sarkisian, was fired afternoon for being a drunk. University of South Carolina football coach, Steve Spurrier, resigned because he doesn’t want to hurt his overall win-loss record.
Courtesy: Bustedcoverage.com
I’m sick and tired of all the support I’ve heard from the media. Players would never get that type of treatment, the benefit of doubt. These are grown men who preach morals to young men. They failed to practice what they preach.
The Situation at USC (Southern Cal, that is)
Courtesy: TMZ.com
I’ll begin with the drunk in LA. Interesting in this scenario is that the AD shares blame. Pat Haden did not act as a man in position of power when he continued to excuse his head football coach’s drinking problems. Prior to the football season, Sarkisian arrived drunk at a school function. He spoke with slurs and profanities. Pat Haden solution was to “force” Sarkisian into rehab, and the coach responded by saying he had ‘no problem’ and would enter rehab only because he was being told.
After more stories of public drunkenness emerged (surprise, surprise) Haden forced Sarkisian to take a leave of absence. But that strategy didn’t work either.
The problem is clear: Sarkisian wasn’t able to treat the job as the privilege that it is. This man had been entrusted with the lives of many young men–many who viewed him as a father figure. But this ‘father’ is an alcoholic. He showed up intoxicated at meetings and games.
Let’s be clear: alcohol is a drug. It alters your thinking, balance, mood, and hygiene. Most players, on the other hand, are cut, suspended, and fined for a plethora of lesser reasons: late to class, miss class, miss practice, too many penalties, late to practice, and the list goes on. And the media condemns players for it. But with the coach we get compassion…because it’s disease.
Pat Haden should be fired for bringing in sub-par coaches since Pete Carroll’s days. Sarkisian deserved to be fired: he needed to face consequences for his action. The fact that this took so long is a shame, a depiction of what college football is like.
The Situation at USC (University of South Carolina, that is)
The Old Football Coach is QUITTING because he’s old. Let me start by saying that, as a Millennial, all of these ‘old guys’ hold jobs for far too long. So part of me is annoyed that they do, but happy when they quit and open up opportunity for others.
Courtesy: nationofblue.com
With that being said, here is another coach who can’t practice what he preaches. Once you start something, you finish it…and this season is far from finished. South Carolina is 2-4 with all the loses coming within the conference. USC may be worse than Vandy right now–a team USC plays this Saturday.
So Spurrier, 70 years of age, decides to call it quits. I’m sure he’d be staying put if USC had a 4-2 record. But because things are down and the future looks gloomy, Spurrier exits Stage Right. And now I’m supposed to celebrate his career and send him off with applause–lauding his accomplishments at Duke, Florida, and South Carolina.
Well, no! What I hope is this…that we talk more about the leniency we give sports authority figures. We seldom condemn owners, boosters, presidents, or coaches. That’s why, in a previous TSC article, I spoke out against ESPN analyst, Stephen A. Smith, for saying Charlie Strong needed to be fired.
Amazingly, I haven’t heard anything about the drunk at USC. I hope you notice the racism in this type of coverage: those condemned are black and those we treat with empathy and excuses are white. There’s a clear imbalance of coverage.
I’m speaking up. Someone has to.
