Nutting Up: Arkansas Does the Right Thing by Firing Petrino
At the stage, it is difficult to pontificate on the Bobby Petrino situation at Arkansas without stepping on what someone else has already stated. But, we love a challenge.
~~Don't lose your job in a roadside ditch!~~
To recap, the former head football coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks was involved in a motorcycle accident on 1 April 2012. Riding on his Harley on the backroads of Arkansas, Petrino lost control of his bike and was thrown into some shrubbery. He was taken to a hospital and treated for broken ribs and various cuts and scratches. Petrino soon faced the media, something that along with his return to practice local papers hailed as a reflection of how tough a man Petrino must be…Montana-hardened! [NOTE: that article has since been "archived"...hmm.......well, thank God for LexisNexis].
But this “tough man” was evidently lying to everyone about the incident. Oh sure, there was a crash. But he was not alone. AND, not only was he not alone, but he was riding with a female companion…one that was not his wife. AND, one with whom he was apparently having an “inappropriate relationship”…AND this young woman was a former student and volleyball player for Arkansas…AND she was recently hired by Petrino.
Oh, the tangled webs we weave! And this sinister web led to discussions about what type of punishment would be handed down to Petrino. Placed on administrative leave (with pay) while university administrators investigated the incident, people wondered if he would get suspended. Some hinted that maybe he would be fired………but only if he had a losing record. Given that Petrino was a winner — 34-17 with back-to-back double-digit win seasons and a BCS bowl game appearance (2011 Sugar Bowl) — many did not think the Razorbacks would dismiss Bobby. Not in the SEC — God’s football country!
And then came THE DECISION! A real decision…not one floated by narcicissm but one that was brought about by necessity; one driven by doing what was right.
I have informed Coach Petrino that his employment with the university was being terminated immediately. I have spoken with Assistant Head Coach Taver Johnson and have asked him to continue the responsibility for the football program’s administrative operation through the completion of spring practice April 21. –Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long
In the words of Brett Myers, “Boom! Outta here!”
Wow! How refreshing it is to see someone make a very difficult — but very necessary — decision. To be sure, this will hurt Arkansas’s football program…at least in the short term. Some recruits may leave. But, long term this is what is best not just for the football team, but for the university.
With regards to the football team, if Arkansas opted to retain Petrino, how could he as the leadership of that time preach responsibility to his young men? How could they ever take him seriously when he attempts to discipline players for poor decisions? How could they ever be expect to sacrifice “for the team” when he committed such a selfish act? Because of his actions, he was destined to lose the team…this team. Furthermore, you know other SEC schools would use this incident against him in recruiting. He was doomed from the get go.
But the football team will get through regardless. But it was more about the university’s integrity than that of the team and players. Players are going to go to Arkansas regardless of whether or not Petrino is there. Maybe Petrino would have been able to overcome the reputation hit, keep his players on task, and recruit well…again, had Arkansas retained him. Hell, no one seemed to care about him walking out on the Atlanta Falcons!
BUT, regardless of how the team would have performed under a tainted Petrino, the university would have suffered. And, college football would have suffered. In both cases, the suffering would have come down because a decision to retain Petrino would have meant that football (and winning) mean more than integrity. Retaining Petrino in light of what happened would have undermined university regulations and authority, thereby insinuating that it was okay to do whatever one wanted…so long as they win. Hell, Petrino could have been raping hogs while pouring sugar in the governor’s gas tank as long as he was winning.
So, the university had no choice. They had to fire Petrino. And while we may pretend that this was a tough decision, in reality it was an easy decision because Arkansas had no choice! Petrino brought this on himself not because of anything on the football field. And really not because of his infidelity. Again, I will use Long’s words (and i will piece parts of it together):
By itself, Coach Petrino’s consensual relationship with Ms. Dorrell prior to her joining the football staff was not against university policy. By itself, it’s a matter between individuals and their families. However, in this case, Coach Petrino abused his authority when, over the past few weeks, he made a staff decision, and personal choices that benefited himself and jeopardized the integrity of the football program. In short, Coach Petrino engaged in a pattern of misleading and manipulative behavior designed to deceive me, and members of the athletics staff, both before and after the motorcycle accident. He used the athletic department funds to hire, for his staff, a person with whom he had had an inappropriate relationship. . . . Coach Petrino knowingly misled the athletics department and the university about the circumstances related to his accident. He had multiple opportunities over a four-day period to be forthcoming with me. He chose not to. He treated the news media and the general public in a similar manner (emphasis added).
It was not his coaching nor his actual relationship, but that he abused his authority and circumvented university policies, leading to the need for Petrino to misled Long. It was a “conscious decision” to manipulate the facts not just of the accident — again, not the reason for his firing — but of the relationship with Jessica Dorrell and her hiring that led to Petrino’s dismissal. After all, he hired Dorrell knowing that he had a relationship with her that apparently no one else knew was occurring. Their relationship gave her “an unfair, and undisclosed, advantage” over the 159 applicants applying for that position. And, apparently Petrino had given Dorrell $20,000…for what, I do not know.
[Side note: Some have tried to shelter Jessica Dorrell and make her out as a victim. No, she is just as guilty with regards to the relationship as Petrino. She maintained a relationship with him despite being engaged and allowed for that relationship to help her gain employment on his staff. She is not absolved of anything here and is just as much of the problem as Petrino.]
It is not as though this is the first time that a university or a sports organization has made such a tough decision. Remember that Mike Price was fired from the University of Alabama before he even coached a single football game because of a boozing and strip club incident in Pensacola, Florida. Apparently, Price had already been warned about excessive drinking in Tuscaloosa, so that incident led to the quick release.
And, let’s not forget Larry Eustachy, who “resigned” (i.e. forced out) as men’s basketball coach at Iowa State after pictures surfaced of the Cyclones’ coach getting down at a party on the campus of Missouri!!! This was following a game between Iowa State and Missouri, and it later came to light that he partied at a fraternity gathering at Kansas State following a game in Manhattan. He was suspended with the recommendation of termination before Eustachy “resigned.”
So, the decision is not new ground. But, it was the correct decision. And, Petrino and Arkansas will be better off for it. Price eventually landed at UTEP, while Eustachy restored the Southern Miss program before accepting the head coaching job at Colorado State. So, it is likely that Petrino will land on his feet once again; he will be fine.
And the University of Arkansas will be fine. It is sad that we have to applaud Arkansas for doing the right thing; it should be a non-issue. But in this era of win-at-all-cost, the decision to cut ties with Petrino is held as an anomaly rather than what should be the norm. Nevertheless, the football program will be fine, the university maintains its integrity and authority, and college football does not suffer another black eye for embracing the winning-trumps-all attitude. So, big ups to Arkansas and athletic director Jeff Long.
Oh, and if Petrino is interested, I hear that the New Orleans Saints are looking for a temporary head coach. After all, Petrino does have experience with short-term NFL gigs.
The NFL’s Death Penalty: Why the Penalties for the Saints Were Not Only Justified, But Necessary
Three letters in the English language can quickly conjure up the epitome of corruption in college sports.
S.
M.
U.
And those same three letters also bring to mind one of the harshest penalties ever handed down to a college program — the so-called “Death Penalty.”
In 1986, the NCAA handed down the “Death Penalty” to Southern Methodist University for it widespread pay-for-play scheme that lasted for nearly a decade. The NCAA had already stepped in and told the university to cut it out, even placing the program on probation in 1985. That probation should have served as a warning, but instead seemed to embolden the boosters and alumni as the payments continued to flow in.
The NCAA had no choice. In an era when there were several ongoing investigations to such schemes, the governing body of college athletics needed to send a message that this would not be tolerated. And SMU, perhaps the most egregious offender at the time (though by no means the only offender), became the burned body hanged over the bridge. A symbol to all of what would happen if you followed the Mustangs’ slippery path.
Death.
Penalty.
SMU was banned from football in 1987. The effect was so bad that the Mustangs could not even field a viable team in 1988, once the ban ended. It shook the program so terribly that they did not field a competitive team for two decades, dropping from being a once-proud (albeit corrupt) program to being the laughingstock of college football. In their first season back, SMU lost to Houston 95-21 and for the season gave up an average of over 45 points per game (over 51 points per loss). It would not be until 1997 — ten years after the Death Penalty year — that SMU would have a winning record (though no bowl) and not until 2009 that the Mustangs returned to a bowl game.
In other words, the penalties were devastating, but continues to serve as a reminder to NOT follow the path of SMU.
This is exactly why the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell needed to sentence the New Orleans Saints to its own “Death Penalty” for its bounty system. And the parallels between SMU and the Saints are striking.
Just like the Mustangs, there was a pay scheme based on a slush fund. Saints players would put up money for big time plays. This could be something as simple as an interception, or something more devious like purposely injuring an opposing player. Of course, the issue here is twofold.
First, in an era of the NFL trying to show more concern about player safety, a bounty system that rewards injurious plays runs counter to the NFL’s mission. Second, such bonuses circumvent salary cap regulations and therefore circumvent the collective bargaining agreement.
In 2010, evidence first surfaced of a possible bounty system under Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. This came in light of the numerous hard shots placed on Arizona Cardinals QB Kurt Warner and Minnesota Vikings passer Brett Favre during the 2009-10 playoffs. There was nothing concrete at the time, but the NFL told the Saints organization that if there were a bounty system that it needed to end and the “culture” needed to be cleaned up. Saints’ brass agreed. We can call this the probation.
But then in March 2012, more firm evidence was revealed that not only was there previously a bounty system in place, but it continued through the 2011 season! Like SMU, the Saints continued with their ways despite being warned. And like the NCAA, the NFL needed to send a message — that charred body over the bridge to warn all!
And so, the NFL dropped their death penalty. Former Saints DC (now with the Rams…kind of) Williams is suspended from the League indefinitely with a review after the 2012 season. Saints head coach Sean Payton is suspended without pay for the entire 2012 season (beginning 1 April). General Manager Mickey Loomis is suspended for the 2012 regular season (beginning after the preseason). And the organization must cough up $500,000, as well as draft picks in both the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
The only thing missing here is a ban on the Saints even participating in the 2012 season. Maybe the NFL could have stripped the Saints of home games…or force them to play in an empty Superdome for all the home games (a punishment that is often seen in soccer). But, that would be punishing the fans of New Orleans — fans who did nothing wrong — although it would hit the organization hard. Furthermore, I doubt that the NFL would want that to be the catalyst for the Saints bolting to, say, Los Angeles because of the lost revenue.
Like in SMU’s case, there were likely cases were other teams also had bounties. And perhaps the NFL and Goodell know about those (hence the mandatory certification that no such system exists). But also like SMU, an example was needed and the Saints fit that need.
Many have wondered if the penalties were too harsh. After the bounty system was made public — and before the penalties were announced – Sports Illustrated‘s Peter King thought that the penalties would be severe, but that Payton would only lose a few games in the 2012 season. Instead, the hammer was brought down.
But, the penalties are not “too harsh.” Hell, given that we are discussing the livelihood of NFL players, the penalties may not have been harsh enough. Certainly more penalties will be handed down as the Saints’ players that were involved in the scheme receive their punishment. But in the end, the NFL’s penalties were likely just right.
The NFL needed to make an example that bounty systems will NOT be tolerated. Do you think head coaches and coordinators want to miss a year without pay? Do you think GM’s want to be so heavily penalized? Do you think that the owner wants to be parting ways with half-a-million dollars?
Universities looked at what happened to SMU — and in many ways, what is still happening to SMU — and decided that they did not want that kind of punishment handed down to their program, especially in the era of big money college football. Oh sure, there is still a level of corruption in college sports. But it is no where near what it was in the 1980s with SMU (or, at least, not as visible).
NFL teams will do the same when considering what happened to the Saints. Certainly, teams and players may try to offer some incentives for big plays (interceptions, for example), but placing bounties on opposing players will not likely return for fear of the “Death Penalty.” The NFL was not only justified in its decision, but the decision was necessary for the safety of the players and the viability of the League.
That’s Special: Disabilities, Athletics and the Case of Brett Bowden
Brett Bowden was a football player for Hobbton High School in Newton Grove, North Carolina. And he has Down Syndrome.
The “was” and “has” is very important as Bowden is still alive and attends the school; he did not commit suicide like Brad Evans. However, he is no longer part of the football team.
Here is the background to this story. Bowden became a member of the Wildcats’ football team a couple of years ago despite his “disability.” The team allowed Bowden to participate in all activities, suit up, lead the team on the field, and, according to Yahoo! Sports, score touchdowns after the game. Allegedly, according to WWAY, he even scored in a football game (I cannot confirm that). Great story; awesome times!
Bowden is entering his junior year at Hobbton High. He is also 19 years of age. While there is a variance from state to state about the age at which students are no longer allowed to attend high school, students with disabilities are allowed to attend until the age of 21 (per the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). So, no problem for Bowden there.
The issue that came about was related to athletics. According to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA),
No student may be approved for any athletic contest if his or her 19th birthday comes on or before August 31, 2011; i.e., the date of birth was on or before August 31, 1992 (pg. 120).
So, the kid is too old.
Now…why is this an issue? Why is everyone so up-in-arms about Bowden not being allowed to play?
The issue of course is that it is being painted as though the NCHSAA is not allowing Bowden to participate because he has a disability. Even the hook used to get you to read the article on Yahoo! Sports is somewhat misleading:
Of course, once you click on the story the title of the article is “Player with Down Syndrome kicked off team by rigid age limit.” But even that is misleading.
Now, I could be a dick and simply say fuck this “kid,” as was done elsewhere. But allow me to be more logical about it.
First off, he was not “kicked off” of the team; his eligibility expired. This expiration happens all of the time! Football players run out of eligibility all of the time. I don’t see Brett Favre deciding to return to play football at Southern Miss. I doubt that Trent Richardson is debating whether or not he wants to return to Escambia High School. You know why? Well, not just because of the money they are making (um………), but because they could not do it even if they wanted to do it!!! They are no longer eligible!
Meet Jerry Joseph. He was a 16-year old basketball player for Permian High School in Odessa, Texas. The six-foot five player helped lead the football-driven school to the state playoffs. The guy was good; he displayed sharp skills that helped him push his way into the starting spot and even started garnering offers from universities such as Texas Tech.
Now, meet Guerdwich Montimere. Actually, you already have. Montimere is Jerry Joseph…and he is actually 22!!! Montimere was spotted at an AAU tournament in Florida by opposing coaches who recognized him. Seems he had previously played at a high school in Pensacola, Florida. Out of eligibility, it seems he falsified his identification and re-entered high school, play a little bit more ball, and apparently bed some teenagers. He is in prison now.
Eligibility runs out; you cannot go back. Why should it be different for Bowden? The eligibility rule is there for a reason. Circumventing it now for this “one special occasion” is undermining the rule itself. It will lead to other students questioning why they cannot play while Bowden was allow to do so.
Again, this is not a case of the NCHSAA kicking Bowden off of the team; his eligibility ran out! And where are the school officials or the coaches in this mess? Are they now suddenly being made aware of this rule, a rule that has been on the books since 1974? Did they not inform Bowden and his family of the potential of his eligibility expiring? So, why is this a surprise now?
And, he is not being ruled ineligible because of his disability! Christ, if anything, his “disability” has afforded him many opportunities that are lacking for others. No one gave me an opportunity to play basketball in high school. Why? Because I was white…well, more because I was comparatively short and my offensive game sucks! But, I was not given a bench spot and the opportunity to come into a game and play…just because of my whiteness…ERRRR, shortness.
Bowden was a member of the team for two years! He was allegedly allowed to score a touchdown in a game! How many kids in high school dream of that? And yet, Bowden was gifted the touchdown! Granted, nice story, even if it has been done before. But, this would not be done for other high school students. I know several people who were on the high school football team that never saw the light of day on the football field. Yet, Brett Bowden, because of his disability was able to not only get onto the field but even scored a TD!!!
AND, the NCHSAA is even willing to allow Bowden to wear the uniform and be on the sidelines. I do not know if there is precedence for this — certainly ineligible players can still be on the sideline — but he is still “part of the team.” Why can this not be acceptable? Why is it that a kid that does not even get on the field under NORMAL circumstances get a special privilege over others?
To me, this is an issue where too many heart-strings are being pulled. It is easy to get caught up in the sentimental story of the kid with a disability getting a chance to be just “one of the guys.” Problem is that he has been “part of the guys” for two years and, as a friend noted to me, there comes a point where one has to say it is “time” to move on. Now is that time.
Yeah, I know. I am a dick; I am an asshole. I am heartless. I am sure that you pray that I have a kid with Down Syndrome so that I “know what it is like.” Go ahead and flood the comment section and E-mail with your hatred. But, this is not about Bowden’s disability. It is about that he had his moment and, at some point, he will need to move on. Remember, he is a 19-year old junior. If it is allowed this season, what about when he is a 20-year old senior???
If Bowden had just now — as a 19-year old — attempted to join the football team and the NCHSAA said no, I’d ask why not? I’d see the logic for allowing him to play. But the fact remains that he has been part of the team for two years. He is still being allowed to be on the sidelines. Is this not enough? Hell, I’d even say let him wear pads on the sidelines so long as he does not enter the game [NCHSAA rules state that ineligible players cannot be suited up lest they forfeit the game; I'd be willing to allow for that in this case so long as he could not enter the field]. But, if you are going to make the argument that he is not going onto the field anyway, then it should not matter whether or not he wears pads on the sidelines.
Allowing the emotion of this situation to dictate what should happen is erroneous. But this is honestly devolving into a situation where too much is trying to be done for someone who, quite honestly, has already been given a lot due to his disability. I mean, what is next — make Brett Bowden be the next “Mr. Football” in North Carolina!?
No one is saying that he cannot be “one of the guys”; he can still do the same things he was doing before. Again, it is not like he will be missed on the field anyway!
“Let Brett Bowden Play“? He already played! At some point, he needs to move on.
You should, too!
