Penn State thing has me thinking

Come on man. You cant compare those things to what happened at PSU. Have i seen coaches cross the line? yes. Have I seen players cross the line? yes. Have I seen what happened at PSU no and I hope and pray I never do.

Coach, I think you raise a good point.

Crossing a line is a crossing a line, period. No matter how big or small something may be, if it's inappropriate, then it has to be dealt with. You can't tolerate destructive words, deeds, or behaviors.

Granted, the Penn State situation is an extreme exampe. However, things like berating players, using tobacco during practices and games, and other things that we witness from colleagues...are wrong, period. If we see them happening, we have an obligation to step up and speak up, and do something about it. We have an obligation to our players, to their parents, and to our school (which we represent at all times, and which every member of the program represents at all times.)

There's a saying: "If it's happening in your program, then you're either coaching it that way, or you're ALLOWING it to happen."

The point: wrong is wrong; right is right. If something wrong is taking place, then you have to deal with it. You can't tolerate it. You cannot allow it to continue.

"The only thing that evil needs in order to succeed, is for good men to stand around and do nothing."

An action might be a "little" thing. But as coaches, we know that there are no such things as "little" things. Everything counts in some way. Attitudes, lead to words, and words lead to actions. If something wrong is being said, being done, or being allowed to happen... then you have to put a stop to it.

Little things become big things. Making fun of a player may turn into berating a player may.
Berating a player may turn into hitting a player.

"Always let people know what you stand for. Just as importantly: always let people know what you WON'T stand for."

As far as dealing with issues goes...

As an assistant, it can be hard to make a big difference. But you certainly can make your opinion well-known. You certainly can speak with your colleagues and the head coach, and do everything you can to help remedy the situation.

As a head coach, you always have more leverage. However, it's important to talk to, try to work with, and try to point a colleague in the right direction. If you can help change an attitude or behavior, it will pay off in the long-run in life. If you just cut a coach loose, then he simply will go and coach elsewhere. A coach will influence people--for good or for bad... and he will do it, either in your program, or somewhere else. So, if you can work with that individual, get him to understand what he is doing is wrong, why it is wrong, and what he can do to improve it... then you can help change his coaching (and maybe his life), and you can help change/shape the impact that he will have on others.

If all else fails, one of my coaches always had a saying: "Do things the right way... otherwise, leave your keys on my desk."

I am currently in a situation like this, only not with our football program. Informed of some possible violations about one of our other programs coaching staff. Our contract makes us obligated to come forward about these types of things or we can be fired.
Let me tell you, it is awful hard to walk the walk when it is your turn in a situation like this, but you have to.

In Mike Leaches book, he has a statement that applies to these situations. Your character matters more than your reputation. If you tolerate a wrong doing, your reputation is going to be seen differently by other people. Some may like, some may not.

Doesnt have to be wrong just a different opinion. which is okay in this country, for now.

Havent been on that road in a while.

I think there's a big difference in a coach who says "I want you to rip his head off" and "I want you to rip his {censored} head off". The difference is that the kids will take that blue print that you have just role modelled and carry that forward as how a man should act on the football field.

Now, what I think is a problem is when you shut down every little thing they do with punishment. If one kid starts to tease another kid, that kid getting teased needs to learn how to deal with it because it can happen on the football field. You can't teach them that smack talk will get punished because it doesn't. You need to teach them how to deal with each other and other alpha male egos.

Disclaimer: I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT THE PENN STATE SITUATION IN THIS POST.

There are lines, but, in many instances, where they are drawn is very relative to peoples' opinions, community expectations/tolerance and the administration. Now, I'm not telling anyone NOT to address a situation that you feel has crossed a line but you may not get the result you hope for.

I coached under a guy that made a QB strip down to his girdle and t-shirt and do up-downs. We saw it, pulled him aside and told him to knock it off. Now, this isn't just crossing a line, it's abuse and everyone on the staff told him as such. An email was sent to the administration about it and the parents were obviously informed by the player. Mom and dad didn't care because it "was making him tougher". The administration didn't care because mom and dad didn't. The coach got a slap on the hand, a letter in his permanent file and I a pat on the back for the team making the play-offs. BULLSH-T.

What do you do in this situation? Do you call the cops?

So should Bear Bryant be dug up from the ground and charged for what he did to the Junction Boys? Im sure the Bear wouldnt have had any of yall on his staff. lol

coachcb i agree, But hey times have changed We got beat with switches and electrical cords lol you cant do that today

If you read the end of the Junction Boys, to his dying day one of the biggest regrets Bear had as a coach was what he did to the boys at Junction. I have a cousin who was a freshmen at A & M that year and did not get to go to Junction. He said he would have finished the camp but was glad he didn't have to go.