Line Between Tough, Abusive Coach has Changed

**cigaretteman** · 03-09-2010, 09:03 AM

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...ine/index.html

**cyclone13** · 03-09-2010, 10:08 AM

Their circumstances are different except one thing.

Leach, he dealt with a very powerful father and an administration that didn't like him after combative contract negotiations and his interview with UW prior to last season.
Mangino: he had a history of creating problems especially with the DPS personnel. The football team is also undisciplined with fights against the men's basketball team that is a crown jewell of the university. Imagine what will the uproar be if 2-3 starters out for the season because of injuries resulting from fighting against the football team ? You might see a mushroom cloud from Lawrence
Leavitt: He hit a player. Guilty as charged. Oh yeah, there have been negative publicty when he tried to replace Wally and other coaches leaving him: a lot of stories that he was not the easiest person to work with, forcing his assistants to stay really late after defeats.

One significant similarity: they were not winning at the level they expected to have.

Plus now I think the society is more litigious - you basically can sue for anything and even if you're not guilty, the cost for the university will be huge.

I don't mind coaches yelling at players but it has to be constructive. Instead of saying: e.g. "You're dumb, weak and slow" - it has to be reworded : Are you dumb ? if you're not dumb, weak and slow, show them that you're smart, fast and strong on the field. Show me, show them". This might not be a perfect example, but at least it's not demeaning but "challenging".