New gag rule could bite Cyclone coach

**ISUFan22** · 01-09-2007, 07:57 AM

DMR link

Ames, Ia. - Big 12 Conference officials are reviewing postgame comments made by Iowa State men's basketball coach Greg McDermott and Missouri guard Stefhon Hannah after the Cyclones' win Saturday against the Tigers.

The league is reviewing comments in the wake of a new Big 12 gag rule that went into effect Jan. 1. The new rule says players cannot comment - favorably, unfavorably or even in generalities - about officiating.

McDermott commented generally about strategy and only in passing about officials after Saturday's 66-65 win, but the only response he had Monday was a good-natured e-mail from athletic director Jamie Pollard.

"The (new) policy is that we are not supposed to comment - player or coach - in either a complimentary way or a negative way," McDermott said.

Reporters asked McDermott on Saturday to comment on the Cyclones' strategy when Missouri had the ball out of bounds with 7.7 seconds remaining and Iowa State trailing 65-64.

"We communicated with the officials (before the inbounds play) that we were not going to try to foul - that we were going to try and trap and make (Hannah) throw it out of the trap," McDermott said after the game.

"Too often in that situation, officials just assume that you're going (to foul), so as soon as you make an aggressive play, (officials) call it.

"We communicated with the officials that our intention was not to foul, so to give it a good look."

The trap forced Hannah to travel, setting the stage for Wesley Johnson's game-winning basket with 1.6 seconds to play.

Hannah's postgame comments were more specific.

"I was calling timeout," Hannah told reporters. "(Official Tom O'Neill) looked right in my face and I'm saying 'Timeout, timeout.' He's looking, I guess, at the Iowa State coach. I still had my pivot foot, but he called travel because the Iowa State coach was calling a travel."

Big 12 spokesman Rob Carolla said league officials could issue reprimands or take no action after conducting reviews.

Carolla said the league is reviewing many comments made after Big 12 games on Saturday.

"There could be reprimands," he said, "or there could be no reprimands. The league is in the process of reviewing various comments from people made after numerous games."

McDermott said the new policy could send mixed signals.

"When you're asked (by reporters) about a play in the game of basketball, you've got to respond," he said. "If you respond in a way where you don't want to make a comment, you're almost acting that something that wasn't right happened."

Pollard upheld the spirit of the gag rule when asked about his e-mail to McDermott and Hannah's comments.

"No comment," Pollard said.

**soccercy** · 01-09-2007, 08:11 AM

I think it makes a farce of the rule by calling McDermott's remarks into question, he was discussing strategy and not commenting on the officials. Basically this says the Big 12 is trying to restrict the use of the word "officials" completely, which is ridiculous. I understand not wanting public scrutiny of officials by coaches and players but this is ridiculous.

**ISUFan22** · 01-09-2007, 08:12 AM

I'd be shocked if anything came back on G-Mac - his comments were harmless at best.

**cycloneworld** · 01-09-2007, 08:14 AM

Chalk another one up in the moronic rule category for the NCAA (right behind the new football clock rules).

We all know the Big 12 refs are top of the line and never screw up therefore they do not need any criticism after a game.

**cloneaholic** · 01-09-2007, 08:15 AM

I didn't realize the Taliban had taken over the Big XII administration.

**CyinCo** · 01-09-2007, 08:56 AM

This is the Rag trying to make a story, once again, where there isn't one. McD's comments say nothing positive or negative of the officials, only strategy. Hannahs comments, on the otherhand, were about the officials.

**Kyle** · 01-09-2007, 10:51 AM

The rule is totally stupid. Imagine not being able to comment on the refs after the Kansas game a while back where they let them score despite us still having another free throw to shoot.

**BryceC** · 01-09-2007, 10:55 AM

I think the only reason he told that to the Refs is so they wouldn't be using the whistle clearly by thinking we were trying for the intentional foul.

**clone52** · 01-09-2007, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by BryceC

I think the only reason he told that to the Refs is so they wouldn't be using the whistle clearly by thinking we were trying for the intentional foul.

Thats exactly why he talked to them. If he had answered the reporter's question by saying no comment since he couldn't discuss officiating, he would be called out for some reason or another. Kind of a catch 22. Answer the reporters question and break the gag rule, or go no comment and let the reporters draw whatever conclusions they want.

Hypothetical.
Reporter: What did you think of that last call?
Coach X: No comment.
Article: Clearly unhappy with the officiating, Coach X declined to comment about the call late in the game.

Coach X can't come out and say it was the right call or else he's breaking the gag. No everyone thinks he thought it was a bad call and thinks he's a ***** for not accepting what was clearly the right call.

**ISUFan22** · 01-09-2007, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by clone52

Hypothetical.
Reporter: What did you think of that last call?
Coach X: No comment.
Article: Clearly unhappy with the officiating, Coach X declined to comment about the call late in the game.

Coach X can't come out and say it was the right call or else he's breaking the gag. No everyone thinks he thought it was a bad call and thinks he's a ***** for not accepting what was clearly the right call.

Not necessarily true. All the coaches need to do when asked about officials is state "Big 12 rules prohibit us from talking about the officials, good or bad".

Done.

**clone52** · 01-09-2007, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

Not necessarily true. All the coaches need to do when asked about officials is state "NCAA rules prohibit us from talking about the officials, good or bad".

Done.

Some reporters are still going to report it as "Although clearly upset about the call, NCAA rules prohibit Coach X from talking about the officials, good or bad." And Coach X can't say that that wasn't true.

**ISUFan22** · 01-09-2007, 11:45 AM

Sure, the coach can deny it. As long as he/she is not on record commenting about the officials - the coach is safe. Let the media report what they want.

While I think the rule is crap - it is a rule. Cite the rule when asked about the men in stripes and be done with it. It's quite simple.

A concept the folks at Missouri most likely won't be able to grasp and understand.

**cycloneworld** · 01-09-2007, 11:53 AM

Cite the rule where during a 2-shot free throw attempt, the other team can get a rebound after free throw #1, outlet, and make a 3-pt field goal, have the officials count the 3-pt field goal, and then allow the player to shoot free throw #2?

**soccercy** · 01-09-2007, 12:02 PM

This is a Big 12 rule, not an NCAA rule, just to clarify some of the previous posts.

**ISUFan22** · 01-09-2007, 12:02 PM

I think we've covered the rule stinks.

A rule is a rule and for right now the coaches and players have to abide by it...no matter how poor the call is.