SI: Is the era of abusive college coaching coming to an end? - Printable Version
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SI: Is the era of abusive college coaching coming to an end? - JJJ - 10-09-2015
Finally read my 9/28 issue of Sports Illustrated, which included this article. I thought it was great that most (all?) of our coaches are on the right side of this.
http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2015/09/29/end-abusive-coaches-college-football-basketball
Re: SI: Is the era of abusive college coaching coming to an end? - ThePassionOfTheChryst - 10-09-2015
When I played high school ball (not even a decade ago) it wasn't uncommon for coaches to hit you on the helmet, scream profanities through your facemask, yank you into the correct position by the horse collar, or otherwise emasculate you for making mistakes or excuses. The scene in Remember the Titans where Boone has them doing up-downs "until Blue is no longer tired and thirsty" is true to life. Are you injured? You'd better figure out how to play through it. When I was about 15 I sat at a desk across from the head varsity coach, discussing my slipping grades, when he said to me "You're just a stupid motherf----- aren't you?"
I've always credited a lot of that stuff for toughening me up. But in retrospect, I think the nature of football on its own will toughen you up without the verbal (and sometimes physical) abuse that goes along with it. On the other end of the spectrum, everyone's definition of abuse is different. Is it abuse to make a player run laps for being late to practice without an excuse? Is it abuse to make the team do extra conditioning for committing turnovers and stupid penalties? I'm sure someone thinks so.
I agree the old-school nature of football coaches -- the hard-ass authoritarian -- needs to change. However, in a sport like football coaches need to have more leeway to be a bit tougher. You make a mistake on a basketball court, your team doesn't score. You make a mistake on a football field, someone could get hospitalized. For that reason it's more crucial that football coaches instill accountability in their players.
Re: SI: Is the era of abusive college coaching coming to an end? - Mick - 10-09-2015
When I was a sophomore in high school and trying out for the basketball team, I had the bad habit of running normally and putting up my hands at the last minute to catch a pass. The coach wanted his varsity players -- all of them -- to run with their hands up in ready-to-receive-the-pass mode. After failing to run awkwardly with my arms up for the nth time in a row, the coach put me on the baseline, and ordered the senior power forward (and best baseball pitcher) to stand on the free throw line and fire the basketball at me. Not a bounce pass, not a chest pass, an overhand pass, fastball-style. He ordered me to keep my hands at my sides. Nose splits like a tomato, blood everywhere. Coach says, "And that's why we run with our hands up." To his credit, the pitcher/power forward looked pretty sick about it, and held back as much as he could. He apologized afterward. Oh well.
Re: SI: Is the era of abusive college coaching coming to an end? - fullmetal - 10-11-2015
Whoa :(Â I'd hate that coach...
Re: SI: Is the era of abusive college coaching coming to an end? - Mick - 10-11-2015
He had a cardinal rule of thumb in a drill meant to toughen us up. He'd roll the ball between two guys who would have to run after the ball and dive on it. The drill wasn't over until a player was bleeding, no joke.He also coached the girls' varsity of his public high school, leading them to a 12-30 two year record.Â
He retired in 2014. He'd taught for 43 years in a public high school, but he coached for two years at my high school. As bad as my high school was in the late 1970s, his high school had lost their accreditation. His last year of teaching, he had a base pay of $81k, raked in $8.7k of accumulated overtime and with benefits totaled $104k in his last year, entitling him to an $87k annual pension. I think about that every time I see my paycheck.