Volume 125 Issue 97
kansan.com
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY GADSAN
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
COMMENTARY Mike Rice bullies his players
The question is no longer "why?" but "when?" We know the "why"
We know the "why," Why coaches like Rutgers' Mike Rice and Texas Tech's Billy Gillippe think they have the right to take one's child, some kid who came to college to better his life, and treat them like dogs.
No, "dog" isn't the right word. Legendary Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler repeatedly said he treated his players like dogs, but he never did anything like this.
Using derogatory slurs, pushing players, throwing basketballs at their heads and personally attacking players. We know why coaches do this.
None of it has anything to do with basketball.
Some are bullies by birth. Others let the power go to their heads. Neither is an acceptable answer.
Should we be shocked? Ten years ago maybe, but we're smarter now. We know this stuff happens. We're not desensitized, but we're no longer ignorant.
Hell, there's no reason to be shocked on this campus.
It's barely been four years since Kansas football coach Mark Mangino resigned after allegations surfaced that he had been abusing players. On his resume, Mangino touted an Orange Bowl victory, the 2007 Coach of the Year Award and the school record for wins in a season (12 in 2007), but of course that all means nothing the second you decide to cross the line between teacher and tormenter.
It's a stain that not even Stanley Steemer can remove.
Even with his accolades and proven coaching abilities, it took Mangino until last month to get back on a gridiron when Youngstown needed a tight ends coach and a reliable recruiter.
Except for the stigma, that is.
And keep in mind Mangino wasn't fired; he never hit a player and was never sanctioned by the NCAA.
Why coaches abuse their roles and why their assistants are afraid to speak up.
There were videos showing questionable antics and reports from players, but nothing ever stuck.
We know why this happens.
Except for the singular trait Plain and simple, this is what happens when coaches decide the rules don't apply to them. Mike Rice still has a job at Rutgers, but for how much longer remains to be seen. Whether he ever gets hired again is an even bigger problem.
Rutgers deemed a three-game suspension without pay, a $50,000 fine and sensitivity training was the appropriate action. But now that world has seen the videos of what transpired, that might not be enough.
But with so many players on Twitter, with so many people craving to hear their thoughts, with egos simmering, with kids getting fed up and with so many opportunities for a student-athlete to share his or her voice, there's really only one question left to ask:
When's the next coach going to fall?
Edited by Dylan Lysen
Senior first baseman Alex DeLeon takes a hard hit grounder in the top of the 5th inning. DeLeon went 2 for 5 with 1 RBI in Tuesday's loss against Creighton.
PITCHER PROBLEMS
LAST-MINUTE LINEUP
Poppe struggles in return to the mound
GEORGE MULLINIX/KANSAN
FARZIN VOUSOUGHIAN
fvousoughian@kansan.com
The Creighton Bluejays had Tanner Poppe's number early Tuesday evening with five runs in the second inning, allowing them to win 6-4, handing the Jayhawks their first home loss of the season. Poppe, who pitched four innings, did not have the outing he wished for Tuesday evening against Creighton.
Junior center fielder Mike Gerber got things going in the second inning for the Bluejays with a home run to right field. By the time Poppe faced his eighth batter in the second inning, the Bluejays took control. Poppe walked sophomore catcher Kevin Lamb. This allowed senior shortstop Alex Staehely to score the second run of the game for Creighton. Poppe surrendered a run against his next three batters of that inning.
"That was a tough inning for us," Poppe said. "I kind of got behind hitters, leaving pitches out. I walked guys and hit guys and got guys on base. It's kind of my fault for putting myself in a bad situation."
Poppe allowed four hits and walked three batters and was charged with the loss. He sits at 1-2 on the season.
"After a big inning like that, you just have to clear your mind and go back out there," Poppe said.
Poppe had an MRI Monday and has missed two starts in the last month because of a back injury. Poppe said he doesn't feel a lot of pain in his body now and has been able to overcome it.
Poppe was unable to pitch last month because cancellations and injury. He said he felt good physically being on the mound for the first time since the March 20 matchup against BYU.
"We didn't know until before the game if he'd be able to go out there," Kansas coach Ritch Price said. "The one positive thing for me was that he took the baseball, went on the mound, and threw 90, 91 miles per hour. He managed to grind through that bad inning and pitch four innings. I look at it as a big step forward because he couldn't even pitch last week."
After Poppe's four innings, Kansas brought four pitchers from the bullpen, including junior starting pitcher Frank Duncan, who was limited to two innings. Because Duncan came out of the bullpen. Price said the weekend starting rotation will flip, and senior Thomas Taylor will pitch Friday instead.
Kansas returns to Hoglund Ballpark today to take on the Saint Mary Spires. The game was added to make up for cancellations earlier this season. Price knows that Saint Mary, an NAIA team from Leavenworth, will look forward to coming to
Lawrence and playing Kansas tonight.
He has an earned run average of 2.79, and has thrown eight strikeouts and five walks in 19 one-third innings.
"I think that they are going to walk in here like every non-Division I team and they are civicst to play here," Price said. "They are almost all Kansas kids that grew up being a Jayhawk fan. This game is the highlight game for them."
played much this season. Price can use this game as a developmental game to try to give them experience.
"It's just another outing for me." Morovick said. "I'm looking to put my team in position to win after a loss."
Price said he hopes to include some of the younger players in the program who have not
Sophomore pitcher Drew Morovick will start for Kansas against the Spires. Morovick has appeared in seven games and started in two. Price called Morovick a "strike thrower," as his pitches have been consistent as a starter and coming out of the bullpen.
Edited by Dylan Lysen
BASEBALL
Jayhawks face Spires in midweek matchup
Kansas plays NAIA school to make up lost game
HITTING
As Kansas gets ready for its second of five games this week, the offense will be back on the field again after taking on Creighton Tuesday. The Jayhawks' offense has managed to get on base, but have only three home runs, two of them from senior first baseman Alex DeLeon and one from sophomore right fielder Dakota Smith.
PITCHING
Drew Morovick has appeared in seven games, including two starts this year. Morovick filled in for Tanner Poppe last month and get some reps as a starter. Morovick has pitched eight strikeouts and five walks off 19 and one-third innings this year.
FIELDING
Kansas' .973 fielding percentage is a step back after committing multiple errors against Creighton on Tuesday. Kansas has to be able to contain its throws and possessions and limit opponents on the bases.
HITTING
the Spires lack a lot of power behind the plate. Junior first baseman Joe Haak has the sole home run for the team as they are hitting .279 on the year. With Morovic on the mound for Kansas, the Spires hope to make a run against him.
PITCHING
Cade Brummer and Stephen Malisa both have more than 20 strikeouts on the season, but combine for a record of 3-6 and own one-third of Saint Mary's wins on the season. Saint Mary, an NAIA school, may go through a lot of pitchers when facing Kansas. Saint Mary's starting pitcher against Kansas will be a game-time decision.
1.
Saint Mary has committed 29 errors and has a fielding percentage of .962 on the year so far. The Spires must step up and do a better job of collecting balls to keep Kansas off the bases. If Saint Mary struggles, Kansas can use its speed to steal bases and rack up a lot of runs.
A
- Farzin Vousoughian and Trevor Graft