the    sides

Back in 1925 (I think) U.S. Open Bobby Jones gave himself a one stroke penalty because he touched his ball. He ended up losing the ‘25 U.S. Open by…one stroke. (I watched the movie, don’t think I’m this great golf historian…) He said he’d rather have his integrity than the trophy.

Fast forward to 2006 and we have the exact opposite. If you haven’t seen this by now - welcome to the freak show that is known as Miami football. Hard to believe that this school was once an academic institution and not a NFL farm team, huh?

Here is what is worse than that scene - the reaction of the schools. Miami’s head coach Larry Coker says that is partly FIU’s fault for taunting his players. Are you kidding me? Coach Coker - do you honestly believe the public is that stupid? How dare you - the head coach of the MIAMI HURRICANES - complain about taunting!!

The penalty for the brawl - a one game suspension. Against Duke.

Miami’s new school slogan - Miami U - where the inmates run the asylum. Where the tail wags the dog.

What’s more damning in this is the colossal failure of leadership from the “adults” at Miami.

If a player really wants to leave the bench to start a fight, you’re not going to stop him. The whole team - now we have to ask exactly what kind of men are you recruiting and training them to be?

However here is what should have happened and what leadership SHOULD have done.

The head coach should have reviewed the tape, taken the numbers and name of every player that threw a punch, kicked a player, or swung a helmet. Called them in with their gear and kicked them off the team. Gone.

If the coach didn’t do it - then the athletic director should have done that, then fired the coach.

And if that didn’t happen, the President of the University should have done that, then fired the Athletic Director AND then the Coach.

But that’s not going to happen. We know it’s not. Worse yet - the ACC is going to get involved and look even more ridiculous than it already does. It’s a scene out of the Emporer’s New Clothes. All these suits standing around saying “we NOW have a ‘zero tolerance policy’ on fighting.” Now? After a summer of assaults and brawls? After years of taunting and acting like punks? And this is zero tolerance - missing a meaningless Duke game?

Miami is about producing professional athletes, not character-strong men. They’ve been perfectly honest about that for years.

What could happen and what would make this story a huge lesson would be if parents got involved. For example, if my son did that, I’d be on the next plane to meet him at his dorm room, pack his football gear up and drop it off at the Coach’s office as we go reacquaint ourselves with the library, the student center, and the Business Building. There wouldn’t be a need for a suspension because he wouldn’t play again this year anyway.

But that’s probably not going to happen either.

So thank you Miami for giving me one more reason to hate your guts.