where is the line? re: gundy tirade
Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:56 pm
One of the hottest topics in college football this week is about an off-the-field incident that concerns Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy, Oklahoman columnist Jenni Carlson, how coaches should deal with personal affronts on players by the media and if there is a line drawn for writers when dealing with such issues.
The story stems from a column written by Carlson, who had outlined reasons why Oklahoma State quarterback Bobby Reid might have been benched in favor of Zac Robinson. Reid's attitude was one cause, Carlson contended.
Gundy took offense to the column – calling it 75 percent inaccurate, although Carlson has contested that claim – and used his entire post-game news conference after the Cowboys defeated Texas Tech, 49-45, last week to berate Carlson and display the column in question.
Kansas City Star columnist Jason Whitlock, who knows Carlson, called her column a mistake. Another media outlet called Carlson and Gundy buffoons. Others have come to the support of each side. SEC coaches responded to questions about Gundy's outburst Wednesday on the media conference call. Would they have handled it the same way?
"I've had problems with some things written before," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "I understand everybody has a job to do and I respect everyone's position. I saw parts of what happened (at Oklahoma State). I know coaches get extremely tied to their players. Attacking someone's performance, that's what we get paid to do.
"I often speak to our players about being professional and understanding everyone has a job to do. Especially at the high-profile places, you just have to learn to deal with it. You're going to get it from fans as well. Try walking off a bus one time at an opposing stadium. You have to be very professional and keep your eye on the target."
The issue for many SEC coaches does not seem to be attacking player performance as much as manhood, maturity or off-the-field circumstances. Fairly criticize poor play. That's fine. But also realize some of these players are still teenagers. Even older players are still young adults and the media might not understand the effect criticism can have on a player, especially about off-the-field matters.
"Frankly, these are college students," LSU coach Les Miles said. "Frankly, the press needs to realize these are guys who are trying like heck to get their degree. Some do and some don't have all the answers. Some guys have the ability and can play comfortably and some guys struggle like heck to get on the field. There are times where there needs to be some recognition these are student-athletes and not necessarily professional players. When you're on the outside looking in you don't really know."
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier doesn't mind the criticism – as long as it's based in fact. Criticize play-calling, criticize players, criticize what you like, Spurrier said, as long as it's your opinion and it's factual. If a reporter's opinion is consistently wrong, he or she will soon be out of a job, he said. But if the criticism is on point, the coach and his team might be the ones with problems.
"Somebody said if you don't read the newspaper it won't bother you," Spurrier said. "The only thing that upsets me is if they write something that's just not true. If their opinion is wrong over and over and over they won't have a job anymore. If they write something that's not a fact, that's upsetting. If there was something that wasn't true in it I would think coach Gundy would say this is an absolute lie and bring it out."
Where is the line? Do columnists have carte blanche to criticize as they wish? Is it fair to criticize the personal lives of student-athletes if it might somehow affect their on-field performance? How should college athletes be treated differently than professionals? There are no easy answers. It's all up to interpretation and it is clear last week in Stillwater, Okla., the interpretations of Gundy and Carlson clashed. Will this unfortunate incident lead to a better understanding between columnists and coaches?
"You deal with those things personally," Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. "You don't have to go off and have a public mess. We're dealing with young people and we're trying to lead by example. If I have an issue with a writer, I'll usually pick up the phone and call him or see him after practice.
"We deal with these young people. We see them with their helmets off as young people. We're very much the parent away from home. If it gets to be personal, that gets over the boundaries. From my standpoint, I wouldn't expect a personal attack on players. They're young people in college, not professional. They're trying to use those learning experiences they have to improve themselves and grow."
Said Alabama coach Nick Saban: "The way I've always tried to do these things is you want to try to develop relationships with people. That's the best way to solve problems, talk to them one-on-one and explain what your feelings are and the consequences of what are said and done. There are a lot of cases, I go through this sometimes, too, people don't really realize how you affect the personal side of somebody.
"Our players are young people. I'm not saying we have to protect them all the time. Everyone should have a professional attitude about how you develop relationships and how you talk. I certainly respect what you guys have to do and what you're trying to do. Sometimes we make mistakes in what we're trying to do. Sometimes people in the media make mistakes, too."
The story stems from a column written by Carlson, who had outlined reasons why Oklahoma State quarterback Bobby Reid might have been benched in favor of Zac Robinson. Reid's attitude was one cause, Carlson contended.
Gundy took offense to the column – calling it 75 percent inaccurate, although Carlson has contested that claim – and used his entire post-game news conference after the Cowboys defeated Texas Tech, 49-45, last week to berate Carlson and display the column in question.
Kansas City Star columnist Jason Whitlock, who knows Carlson, called her column a mistake. Another media outlet called Carlson and Gundy buffoons. Others have come to the support of each side. SEC coaches responded to questions about Gundy's outburst Wednesday on the media conference call. Would they have handled it the same way?
"I've had problems with some things written before," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "I understand everybody has a job to do and I respect everyone's position. I saw parts of what happened (at Oklahoma State). I know coaches get extremely tied to their players. Attacking someone's performance, that's what we get paid to do.
"I often speak to our players about being professional and understanding everyone has a job to do. Especially at the high-profile places, you just have to learn to deal with it. You're going to get it from fans as well. Try walking off a bus one time at an opposing stadium. You have to be very professional and keep your eye on the target."
The issue for many SEC coaches does not seem to be attacking player performance as much as manhood, maturity or off-the-field circumstances. Fairly criticize poor play. That's fine. But also realize some of these players are still teenagers. Even older players are still young adults and the media might not understand the effect criticism can have on a player, especially about off-the-field matters.
"Frankly, these are college students," LSU coach Les Miles said. "Frankly, the press needs to realize these are guys who are trying like heck to get their degree. Some do and some don't have all the answers. Some guys have the ability and can play comfortably and some guys struggle like heck to get on the field. There are times where there needs to be some recognition these are student-athletes and not necessarily professional players. When you're on the outside looking in you don't really know."
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier doesn't mind the criticism – as long as it's based in fact. Criticize play-calling, criticize players, criticize what you like, Spurrier said, as long as it's your opinion and it's factual. If a reporter's opinion is consistently wrong, he or she will soon be out of a job, he said. But if the criticism is on point, the coach and his team might be the ones with problems.
"Somebody said if you don't read the newspaper it won't bother you," Spurrier said. "The only thing that upsets me is if they write something that's just not true. If their opinion is wrong over and over and over they won't have a job anymore. If they write something that's not a fact, that's upsetting. If there was something that wasn't true in it I would think coach Gundy would say this is an absolute lie and bring it out."
Where is the line? Do columnists have carte blanche to criticize as they wish? Is it fair to criticize the personal lives of student-athletes if it might somehow affect their on-field performance? How should college athletes be treated differently than professionals? There are no easy answers. It's all up to interpretation and it is clear last week in Stillwater, Okla., the interpretations of Gundy and Carlson clashed. Will this unfortunate incident lead to a better understanding between columnists and coaches?
"You deal with those things personally," Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. "You don't have to go off and have a public mess. We're dealing with young people and we're trying to lead by example. If I have an issue with a writer, I'll usually pick up the phone and call him or see him after practice.
"We deal with these young people. We see them with their helmets off as young people. We're very much the parent away from home. If it gets to be personal, that gets over the boundaries. From my standpoint, I wouldn't expect a personal attack on players. They're young people in college, not professional. They're trying to use those learning experiences they have to improve themselves and grow."
Said Alabama coach Nick Saban: "The way I've always tried to do these things is you want to try to develop relationships with people. That's the best way to solve problems, talk to them one-on-one and explain what your feelings are and the consequences of what are said and done. There are a lot of cases, I go through this sometimes, too, people don't really realize how you affect the personal side of somebody.
"Our players are young people. I'm not saying we have to protect them all the time. Everyone should have a professional attitude about how you develop relationships and how you talk. I certainly respect what you guys have to do and what you're trying to do. Sometimes we make mistakes in what we're trying to do. Sometimes people in the media make mistakes, too."