[Goose]

Sorry, I have to disagree.  The push in the back was necessary to get the player away from the confrontation.  How many times have we seen full blown brawls on the football field and coaches forcefully pulling players away from the action?  I have never heard a coach be criticized for yanking a player away from a brawl.

The player had turned his back and was walking away when Lake pushed him in the back. Lake was between the player and the place where the confrontation happened. Even if the player suddenly got mad and turned back toward the confrontation (which was already pretty much over), he would have needed to run over Lake to do so. The push in the back wasn't called for. In reality, it also wasn't much of a push. If it hadn't been on TV it would have gone unnoticed.

Lake had every right, perhaps a duty, to get his player away from the confrontation. FWIW, so did his teammates standing there and watching.  However, once the player was walking away, Lake can't add any physical emphasis. Many of us have seen or received such a shove from a coach that was mad. In today's world, you can't do that. I have somewhat mixed feelings about that fact. I think coaches who beat on players are cowards, relying on their position of power to prevent retaliation. Lake wasn't doing that. He was undoubtedly "counseling" the player and the push was for emphasis. However, resorting to a physical push indicates a loss pf control, which in a head coach today is not acceptable.

[Goose]

Sorry, I have to disagree.  The push in the back was necessary to get the player away from the confrontation.  How many times have we seen full blown brawls on the football field and coaches forcefully pulling players away from the action?  I have never heard a coach be criticized for yanking a player away from a brawl.

The player had turned his back and was walking away when Lake pushed him in the back. Lake was between the player and the place where the confrontation happened. Even if the player suddenly got mad and turned back toward the confrontation (which was already pretty much over), he would have needed to run over Lake to do so. The push in the back wasn't called for. In reality, it also wasn't much of a push. If it hadn't been on TV it would have gone unnoticed.

Lake had every right, perhaps a duty, to get his player away from the confrontation. FWIW, so did his teammates standing there and watching.  However, once the player was walking away, Lake can't add any physical emphasis. Many of us have seen or received such a shove from a coach that was mad. In today's world, you can't do that. I have somewhat mixed feelings about that fact. I think coaches who beat on players are cowards, relying on their position of power to prevent retaliation. Lake wasn't doing that. He was undoubtedly "counseling" the player and the push was for emphasis. However, resorting to a physical push indicates a loss pf control, which in a head coach today is not acceptable.