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Unfortunately, Mark Dantonio seemingly learned nothing from Glenn Winston episodes
It wasn't that Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio didn't comment about cornerback Chris L. Rucker's release from jail that was the issue Tuesday, it was how he didn't comment.
"I'll just not answer your question - how about that."
It was like how dare anyone from the media, in this case Lisa Byington, a much-respected reporter/anchor from Channel 6 in Lansing, ask such a question.
It's a sign Dantonio doesn't get his role as a major college head football coach at a state-supported university.
It's about more than winning games. It's about representing the school properly. That includes not ignoring public questions about deviant behavior involving his players.
Last year, when running back Glenn Winston got out of jail, Dantonio immediately put him back on the team - with what ultimately turned out to be dubious results. He gave similar "how dare you ask" no comments at the time.
He didn't feel a need to explain himself then, either, but sure had to when a chain of events went wrong that led to a fight between football players and a fraternity at a dormitory.
Similar situation here. Same form of answer from Dantonio.
"I'll just not answer your question - how about that."
It was like how dare anyone from the media, in this case Lisa Byington, a much-respected reporter/anchor from Channel 6 in Lansing, ask such a question.
It's a sign Dantonio doesn't get his role as a major college head football coach at a state-supported university.
It's about more than winning games. It's about representing the school properly. That includes not ignoring public questions about deviant behavior involving his players.
Last year, when running back Glenn Winston got out of jail, Dantonio immediately put him back on the team - with what ultimately turned out to be dubious results. He gave similar "how dare you ask" no comments at the time.
He didn't feel a need to explain himself then, either, but sure had to when a chain of events went wrong that led to a fight between football players and a fraternity at a dormitory.
Similar situation here. Same form of answer from Dantonio.
posted by Pat Caputo at
12:02 PM
19 Comments:
What do you propose Dantonio needs to learn, Pat? He has a policy of not commenting on injuries and personnel issues. Most reporters should be aware of that.
Dantonio has maintained from the beginning that his policy is to discipline in-house, and if it becomes a legal issue, then it's a matter of public record. He's the program and his players from further embarrassment, not dodging the issue. It's not about accountability either, he will discipline players as he sees fit; it's his prerogative as head of MSU football. Of course journalists have a right to ask they sort of questions, but unless a standard is set forth by MSU, the BigTen or NCAA, he's running the show.
And yes, his answer was flippant, curt, or whatever you want to call it. Dantonio is just days away from perhaps the biggest game in his tenure at MSU, and the last thing he wants to do is to have to reinforce a policy he's stated from the outset.
He's not the media darling that Tom Izzo is, but to say he "doesn't get it–being a big time coach" simply because of that is ludicrous. We all know at his level, it's about one thing–winning. With the lengths some coaches have gone to to cheat and worm their way around the NCAA, one rude comment is fine by me.
It's also too bad that Patty boy doesn't get what it is to be a good reporter. Ask a question, record the answer. If you don't get the answer you want stop crying about it. Dantonio has repeatedly said that he will not talk about things like this. GET OVER IT!
While there's no doubt that many college football players have an oversized sense of entitlement, even to the point of victimizing everyone from the institution to innocent victims to themselves, they're not professionals and they're not public employees -- they're still just college kids. They are not yet at the age where they should be denied second chances, and much about their relationship with the university is and should be protected by privacy laws and policies. Rucker's latest offense is simply drinking and driving, albeit when he was under court order not to drink. But if drinking and driving is "deviant" and all the consequences and implications should be discussed publically, then perhaps Mr. Caputo could list all the employees of his newspaper and all those from the media who cover the Spartans who have committed the same deviancy -- and in a group that large there are almost certainly repeat offenders -- and discuss whether they're fit to be part of a serious journalistic endeavor.
It's no secret that Coach Dantonio is a devout Catholic, and a major doctrine of Catholicism is forgiveness and redemption. If you give 100 college kids forgiveness and a chance for redemption, there will always be some who will blow the chance, which will then be portrayed at having blown up in your face, but the morality of giving the hundred kids the chance they deserve is the more important consideration.
I'm not here to defend Rucker because I believe he is wrong and doesn't deserve to play football for MSU again, but I think you are jumping the gun here, Pat.
You can not say this is just like the Glenn Winston situation again because Rucker has not played a down for MSU yet since his probation violation. Dantonio said he was going to let the process play itself out before making any decisions and I am sure he is in step with MSU AD Mark Hollis and MSU President Lou Anna Simon on this.
Dantonio has already made this perfectly clear to the media and does not owe them another explaination at this time. Nothing has changed (Rucker is not on the two deep for the Iowa game and doesn't even get out of jail until Thursday), so there was no need to elaborate any further.
More importantly, the rest of the team is ranked #5 and has a huge game at Iowa last year after last year's heartbreaker. As an MSU fan, I can't tell you how far of the radar the Chris Rucker mess is to me right now. Maybe the media should approach the situation the same way.
Can you please point me to the archived blog you had on Darryl Stonum, U-M Wide Receiver, whose transgressions were similar (and even a little more pervasive)?
Thank you.
Pat, where is your outrage over a Michigan player, Stonum, being jailed for a probation violation of his own and yet missing not a single play?
Last time I checked, Rucker has already missed two full games. For a team competing for a title, that's a significant punishment.
Meanwhile, what happens to a Michigan player who is jailed for probation violation? Where's the moral outrage for him facing zero loss of playing time?
I will eagerly await your reply.
If I am correct, the MSU Athletic Department is not state-supported fiscally. Therefore, what does Mark Dantonio owe to the tax payers, in the sense that this blog posts purports? Mark owes nothing to reporters, that's for sure. It is a shame that when a reporter does not get the answer to which they feel entitled, they use the air and press to whine like babies.
I think Dantonio hasn't made a decision yet on Rucker, but I do think he will give him the boot. If he wants to remain silent on the issue until Rucker is out of jail and Dantonio makes the decision, then I don't see a problem
I don't see why Mark Dantonio owes the media anything regarding this story. A young kid made a mistake that he is going to have to live with. He was lucky that it wasn't more serious than it was, and I am hopeful that he has had time to reflect on it over the past few weeks. To compare one player (Rucker) to another (Winston) is not fair because they are isolated incidents. Furthermore, to compare what happens at MSU to what happens at UM is also unfair. Each player is different and nobody knows enough about these kids to write an article about their "opinion." That is why Dantonio is playing his cards to his chest. Something you will probably see Izzo do more of after the issues with Lucas last year.
I trust that Dantonio has a handle on the situation and really could care less what the media has to say. In fact, if I was a coach I would much rather have these media outlets write about how I am not "learning" from past situations then writing an article about Rucker.
By the way, MSU plays Iowa this week. I wouldn't mind reading an article on that when you have a minute.
Anonymous,
Just because he has a policy, doesn't make it right in regard to "hey-your-best-cornerback-getting-out-jail-this-week questions.
Caputo
Anonymous,
It's a state supported university with members of his football team ending up on the police blotter and serving jail time. That's a public matter, not an "in-house" matter.
Caputo
Anonymous,
My job is as a columnist is to give opinion and analyst of issues. To comment on the answers to the questions, per say.
Caputo
Anonymous,
I'm all for second chances. And I agree there are degrees of deviant behavior, but the issue here more than the actual is incident is that it came after Rucker had been given a second chance.
Caputo
Joe Nagy,
I am talking specifically about the way Dantonio didn't answer the question. As if the public doesn't have the right to know, that it's an in-house matter he will handle. Well, how did he handle the Winston thing. It didn't bother me at all he didn't comment, or delayed comment. But rather using a form of a bully pulpit not to be asked an obvious question. And the public does have the right to an explanation about why. Nobody is bigger than the school - the president, the board of trustees and, certainly, not the football coach. Especially at MSU, where bad behavior among its athletes has been so common.
Caputo
Anonymoous,
The Stonum incident was different from the standpoint he got the DUI first, then reportedly violated his probation in a number of ways, most not checking in with authority type of things. I don't know if Michigan handled that well, either. But Michigan didn't have Rather Hall incident hanging over its head with one of the participants, night after a great victory over arch-rival doing this. Also, the "Hey it happened at Michigan" defense is lame one. Two wrong don't make a right.
Caputo
Anonymous,
I do believe Spartan Stadium is on State land. I do believe the Duffy Daugherty Building is on state land. I do believe virtually everyone appointed to their position in the athletic department has state jobs.
Caputo
Anonymous,
I do agree with you that each player is different and that situations should be handled in different matter because of different circumstances sometimes. What I don't agree with the notion the public doesn't have the right to know. They absolutely do.
Caputo
Anonymous,
I have no issue with Danontio not commenting on the circumstances until a proper time, which in this case would be whether there is a decision made to keep him on the football team or not. But he should not be acting like there is no right to ask the questions about it.
Caputo
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