by Timothy Weisberg | Jan 15, 2010 | Blog
I feel that the coach can no longer be a trusted figure in the NCAA. Over the past few months, I have seen more investigations regarding players breaking the law, coaches with recruiting violations, and coaches abusing players.
Within the past month, Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach was fired for reportedly hitting one of his players during practice. South Florida head coach Jim Leavitt was relieved of his duties as head football coach for the Bulls after reportedly grabbing a player by the throat and slapping him twice during halftime at one of the Bulls’ game this past year. Mark Mangino, a highly respected coach who brought Kansas football back into the picture, was accused of verbally abusing his players, and ultimately forced to resign after seven seasons at KU.
I do no know what these coaches have gotten themselves into, but they are destroying the reputation of head coaches everywhere. I am really questioning their personal integrity, and how they carry out their business, since apparently this is now a business. They are more concerned about their job performance, getting those top recruits, and ultimately jeopardizing the experiences many of these student-athletes have in a college setting.
I understand the need to motivate players, to pump them up and get them going. However, there is absolutely no excuse to verbally abuse a player, even if he might be an adult, that causes serious psychological harm. These players come under the wing of these coaches, promised an opportunity to play, to represent their respective universities. But when coaches are abusive, negligent, and practice totalitarian rule, they damage the players.
What has gotten into you? Since when is hitting players acceptable? If you are trying to intimidate Woody Hayes, look what happened to him. The NCAA needs to further investigate issues of physical and mental abuse by coaches across the board. They need to put stiff penalties on these coaches, including immediate termination and criminal charges. These coaches are embarrassing the personal integrity the NCAA continually upholds.
Selfishness and greed have created corrupt coaches who will do anything to win. Mangino, Leavitt, Leach: you are jeopardizing the collegiate game. These kids are playing for free, and are in school. It is not a job for them, but an opportunity to shine as student-athletes, and walk onto that field with pride knowing they are representing the school that gave them the opportunity to play.
by Timothy Weisberg | Jan 15, 2010 | Blog
College football has officially reached its all-time low, at least when it comes to head coaches. Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly left his team to take the head coaching position at Notre Dame, where the Irish’s former head coach, Charlie Weis, was fired after 4 seasons. Brian Kelly led his Bearcats to their best record in school history, going 13-0, and earning the Bearcats to a berth to a BCS bowl game and a Big East title.
Brian Kelly had some talented players on his Bearcats squad, which was led by senior quarterback Tony Pike and senior wide receiver Mardy Gilyard. However, Kelly bolted for South Bend, and did not even stick around to coach the team in the BCS Sugar Bowl.
What I consider to be one of the most selfish moves, Kelly has officially tarnished the NCAA’s reputation of putting the student-athletes first. He went for the money and the prestige of the school, yet could not even wait to coach his Bearcats through the season. He not only hurt the players who had worked hard to get to the point they were at all season, but also killed any motivation for the team to end their season on a high note.
One should feel bad for the players who have ultimately been abandoned by their leader, teacher, and comrade, who has acted like a father figure for them since Day 1. Kelly should be ashamed of himself, and it amazes me to see how greedy people can truly be. Apparently coaching college football has turned into a business, where getting a head start on recruiting for a new coaching job given to you is more important than coaching your team to the biggest game of the year, and the biggest game of any of the players’ live, especially for the seniors.
I can understand leaving a team to coach another; the opportunity that awaits, the challenge, the pride and glory of starting fresh and rebuilding a program, but after the season has ended. You do not abandon ship when you are pulling into the harbor.
What a selfish, unacceptable move on Kelly’s part. This is a wake-up call to all coaches out there that think of themselves before their players. I have lost all my respect for him and believe his demeanor to be fake and seriously flawed. Shame on you Kelly.
by Timothy Weisberg | Oct 26, 2009 | Blog
Published on October 14, 2009
After starting the season 3-0, the UCLA Bruins football team has lost two straight Pac-10 games, and looking worse as the season progresses into the heart of Pac-10 play.
Their offense has been anemic to say the least, and its been the play of the offense that has led to a two-game losing streak.
Saturday against Oregon was a collapse of the ages. Up 3-0 at halftime, the Bruins must have had something happen to them in the locker room that would justify what exactly happened in the beginning of the second half. In a blink of an eye, they were down 14-3.
26 seconds had elapsed, and Oregon had already returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and returned the Bruins’ first play from scrimmage for a touchdown. 26 seconds, 14 points.
The Bruins offense could not recover, and even had two opportunities to score inside the ten-yard line: no luck. Getting no points in two red zone trips simply doesn’t cut it.
Bruin fans might have their theories to why they came out in the second half and totally let the game get away.
I have my own theory: the aliens called the Nerdlucks from the movie Space Jam entered the Bruin locker room and stole their talent. How do I know this? Because not only did they give up 14 points in 26 seconds, the second offensive drive resulted in a fumble and subsequent Oregon touchdown. 4 minutes, 21 points.
On top of this, three of their key players got injured: Senior linebacker Reggie Carter, Senior linebacker Korey Bosworth, and Freshman running back Jonathan Franklin.
Those aliens came in the locker room and sucked out their talent. This is how the Ducks got 21 points on the Bruins in less than four minutes.
A second half collapse? Bruin fans need to blame it on the Nerdlucks stealing the Bruin players’ talent.
by Timothy Weisberg | Oct 21, 2009 | Blog
Published on October 21, 2009
Tim Weisberg
Sports editor
All we needed was three outs: Three outs from our big closer Jonathon Broxton.
Watching from my bedroom, I could not help but get worried when the bottom of the ninth came around. The Dodgers were only up 4-3, and Broxton has struggled on the road his entire career. It is sad to say I felt this way, but what can I say? Most Dodger fans probably had the same negative vibe I had, even if they did not want it to become a reality.
A one-run lead in the playoffs, let alone the LCS, is never a secure thing. The Phillies have explosive hitters in Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jayson Werth. Even the bottom of their order features great hitters in third baseman Pedro Feliz, and the catcher tht has been picking the Dodgers apart all season: Carlos Ruiz.
Broxton walked Pedro Feliz and hit Carlos Ruiz to put runners on first and second. With two outs, all he needed to do was shut down Jimmy Rollins. Do this, and we tie the series at two games a piece. Broxton makes 1.875 million to save games, and he failed to do his job in the most crucial point of the season.
When Jimmy Rollins hit the ball in the Right-Center field gap, all I could think of was Matt Stairs’ crushing home run off Broxton last year, which was also in Game 4. The runners rounded the bases, and the Phillies pulled off another comeback, stomping on the heart and souls of Dodger fans everywhere.
I think I felt my stomach hit the floor, and the frustrating part was I had nothing to say. What is there to say? Now we are down 3-1, with the series pretty much over. I have seen crazier things happen, but this to me proves to be another disappointing NLCS exit on account of the Philadelphia Phillies.
You put guys on base, and they will take advantage. Broxton walked Feliz and hit Ruiz; when you do that, you will pay. I felt like most of the Dodgers in play, Furcal, Hudson, and even Loney, just a swollen heart, a stomach dropping to your feet, and having a cat gripping your tongue. They could not say anything. Neither the players nor Dodger fans alike.
Game 5 is this Wednesday, and even if they do win then, I don’t think they will be able to win two back in Los Angeles. This was a crushing blow, a disappointing loss, and a loss that leaves Dodger fans and players a like lost for words.
It simply amazes me how Broxton struggles so much on the road. He is such a dominant force at home, posting an ERA less than one, but posting an ERA over 5 on the road.
Is it time to get a new closer? Maybe. Maybe not. I could simply be rationalizing.
The fact of the matter is that if the Dodgers are not able to pull a rabbit out of the hat and win three straight games, it will be another playoff series with lots of “shoulda” “coulda” “woulda.”
