UM-FIU: Stop The Madness

Ah, the pomposity, the self-righteousness, the holier than thou.

The University of Miami (UM)-Florida International University (FIU) brawl was an absolute disgrace. It was definitely a true embarrassment for all parties involved. We all can see that. Stevie Wonder could see that.

However...

The “analysis” that is being spewed forth from the talking heads, primarily on the “worldwide leader,” has now reached the peak of utter absurdity.

The only voice of reason on this whole topic is Bill Curry. His column on ESPN.com was so refreshing in the sturm and drang of the current drivel being written across the country. Unfortunately, this voice of clarity and restraint is overwhelmed by the din of the infallible, pure and perfect mass media that gloms on to quite possibly one of the easiest stories to have an opinion on and pass it off as journalism. It disgusts me.

How in the world can Head Coaches Larry Coker (UM) and Don Strock (FIU) have ANYTHING to do with one player body slamming another player after an extra point? How does Coker have any control of Anthony Reddick swinging his helmet with bad intentions? How does Strock have any control of one of his injured players doing the same with his crutches? (yes, I said crutches) How in any way does that show “control” or lack thereof? This is completely ludicrous.

Was Tennessee Titans' Head Coach Jeff Fisher excoriated for having “lost control” after Albert Haynesworth tried to kick-start the face of the Dallas Cowboys' Andre Gurode? I don’t recall that he was.

On Tuesday, October 17, 2006, Mike Golic of ESPN Radio commended FIU for dismissing 2 players and suspending the others indefinitely and condemned Miami for its response of suspending 12 players for one game and one indefinitely. Hmmm…let’s see…FIU is 0-6, their season is basically over, UM is 2-2 and still very much alive for a berth in the ACC Championship Game….Do you think if FIU was 4-2 and in the running for the Sun Belt Championship that the penalties would have been as harsh? I think not. If UM was 0-4 and had absolutely no shot at getting to Jacksonville in December would the penalties have been harsher? You tell me…

Why hasn’t the moral majority blasted the ACC on how “lenient” the suspensions were? The ACC agreed with the majority of the penalties handed out by UM and extended that of Anthony Reddick, who was clearly shown wielding his helmet as a weapon. Why is it that UM is being too lenient? The ACC saw the same tape as everyone. They clearly have a great deal of concern for the image of their conference. If they wanted to “send a message” (I hate that cliché), they had the opportunity and the ability to do so.

But wait, there’s more:

Later that Tuesday, Golic made the following incredulous, and certainly rhetorical, query on his radio show , “Would this have happened at Penn State?” Well, I think I might be able to answer that for him...

From the Penn State University Collegian, February 10, 2004:

University police are investigating the incident, which took place at the Greenberg Ice Pavilion at about 4 a.m., but no one has been charged.

The altercation resulted in two broken trophy cases, said Ice Pavilion manager Chris Whittemore.

"There were a lot of football players at the function, and not all of them were involved, but there were some involved," Alpha Phi Alpha President Chris Johnson said. "Also, some of their friends from Virginia that were up were involved. For a while, it was really uneven, and the football players were pounding on other guys; at times, it was even, and it was like a bar-style fight."

According to the Collegian, the letter claims the altercation involved at least 10 people and describes the results of the fight as "horrifying." The letter went on to say that the fraternity brought this to the paper's attention because it did not want the incident to be ignored, adding "anything involving athletes is always swept under the rug."

Also, this story was curiously underreported this past weekend:

College officials are also investigating this incident at the football game, following Dartmouth's 24-21 overtime loss to Holy Cross:

The Big Green players were gathered on the sideline after the game when Holy Cross began dancing on the Dartmouth "D" in the center of the field. This was perceived as an insult by many Big Green players. Punches, and even crutches flew as a brawl broke out in the middle of the field. After nearly 10 minutes, the conflict was broken up by police and intervening members of each team's staff.

“Punches and even crutches flew…” “After nearly 10 minutes…” Wow, that sounds really familiar…

Considering the level of hyper-morality of our pundits and "talking heads" in the sports media, I find it interesting that athletically-related violence among the "true student-athletes" went relatively unreported.

Let me be very clear. I am NOT excusing what happened in Miami last Saturday night. It was the worst that college athletics can offer. No question about it. Can we all, however, for a moment, gain a degree of perspective? Young men were playing a violent game in an emotionally-charged atmosphere. A fight broke out. All over this country, young men live violent lives in an emotionally desperate atmosphere. Homicides break out. Unfortunately, many of our young men walk in both worlds. Why are we so surprised, shocked, horrified, and crestfallen when these things happen? Maybe because behind all of the blame leveled at athletes, coaches, athletic directors, and even college presidents-we feel the shame for where much of the blame lies:

The society we ALL have created, celebrated, and promoted.