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Football Practice Fight Lawsuit

ScriptOhio

Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Re: A jury ordered Bill Romanowski to pay former Oakland Raiders teammate Marcus Williams $340,000 in damages for smashing the tight end's face with a punch during a practice drill in 2003.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2019325

Does this remind you of anything that happened at Ohio State a few years back?:

Tyson Walter, now an offensive lineman for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, filed the lawsuit against LeCharles Bentley, the lineman who played next to him on the Buckeyes' offensive line. Bentley now plays for the New Orleans Saints.

A jury awarded a former Ohio State football player $6,000 on Wednesday in a lawsuit against an ex-teammate who punched him in the face after a team workout in 2000.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/news/2003/0430/1547404.html

Tyson must not have as good a lawyer; he only got $6000.

Somehow I have problem with teammates sueing each other. Although I guess a lawsuit is a much better way to resolve the situation than having one of the players bring a gun to the next practice and shoot the other player, etc.

Idealy the coaches should have total control over the practice situations so fights like this aren't allowed. Yea Right!!! However, maybe Andy Geiger thought so as he did mention this one of the examples of the "deterioring climate" that led to John Cooper's dismissal in a Lantern article:

Cooper Fired
Geiger cites ‘deteriorating climate’

By Paul S. Rovnak
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Published: Wednesday, January 3, 2001 [/font]
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978528818484.jpg
Media Credit: Melissa Hoppert
Former Ohio State head coach John Cooper addresses the press last night at the Woody Hayes Athletic Facility.

</td> </tr> </table></td></tr><tr><td align="center"><TABLE BORDER="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="10"> <TR> <td align="center">
978528870968.jpg
Media Credit: File photo
Andy Geiger

</td> </tr> </table></td></tr></table>“I’m out of here.”
Those are the four words a distressed John Cooper uttered as he sauntered out of a crowded interview room in Tampa’s Raymond James Memorial Stadium on Monday.
His Ohio State Buckeyes were just lambasted, 24-7, by a mediocre South Carolina team in the 2001 Outback Bowl and those four words were Cooper’s way of telling the media that he was done answering questions.
How prophetic that statement turned out to be.
Thirteen years and three days after Cooper was named OSU’s head football coach he was fired by OSU Director of Athletics Andy Geiger.
Yesterday, in an afternoon press conference Geiger announced, with the support of OSU President William “Brit” Kirwan and the university’s Board of Trustees, that he had fired the second winningest coach in OSU history.
Cooper was fired with three years remaining on a five-year contract and will receive a buyout of $1.8 million.
Geiger said the Buckeyes loss in the Outback Bowl had nothing to do with the firing, but rather it was a culmination of things.
“It did not hinge on winning or losing the Outback Bowl,” said an emotional Geiger. “I would say yesterday was a capstone on what we had seen as a deteriorating climate within the football program, concern about discipline, competitiveness, academic pursuits, a whole series of things.”
Leading up to the Outback Bowl, lingering concerns about the image of team surfaced.
First, senior wide receiver Reggie Germany was declared academically ineligible after he reportedly earned a 0.00 grade point average, casting another black eye on the program that is already near the bottom of the Big Ten in graduation rates.
Then, within a span of a week:
• Senior tailback Derek Combs arrived to the Tampa area later than the 2 p.m. team deadline on Dec. 26, earning a one-play suspension;
• Sophomore linebacker Matt Wilhelm publicly criticized teammate and captain Ken-Yon Rambo’s leadership tactics;
• Offensive lineman Tyson Walter filed a lawsuit against teammate LeCharles Bentley over an alleged incident that occurred in February.
The 63-year-old Cooper said he was surprised and distraught with Geiger’s decision, but will continue to support OSU and will always be a Buckeye.
“Obviously I was shocked,” Cooper said. “I was shocked, and it was unexpected. I thought at least I would coach one more year, but Andy (Geiger) has a job to do, and I respect his decision.”
Cooper, who leaves with an overall record of 111-43-4, was often criticized for his team’s poor performance against rival Michigan and in bowl games. He has won a combined five games against Michigan and bowl opponents, compared to 18 losses. Six times in his 13 years he ended the season with consecutive losses.
Before coming to OSU, Cooper had been the head coach at Tulsa (1977-84) and Arizona State (1985-87). This is the first time in his career he has been fired.
Even though Geiger said the firing was a result of many things, he did mention that he was disappointed with the team’s performance on New Year’s Day.
“If you look at the fact that there was six weeks to prepare for (Monday’s) game and six weeks to work on the issues that (people) have raised and have a competitive and enthusiastic performance which we all hoped, it simply did not materialize,” he said. “I think all that coalesced my concerns.”
Cooper disagreed with Geiger’s assessment of the Outback Bowl and thought his poor record in big games was the main reason he was fired.
“We took a football team (to the bowl game) this year that was picked to finish as low as eighth in the league and won eight football games,” Cooper said. “At one time we were 8-2. At one time we were ranked fairly high in the country.
“Certainly we are disappointed with the outcome of the last two games. Obviously I am sure that was a big factor and the reason why I won’t be coaching here anymore.”
Kirwan agreed with Geiger that a change needed to be made. Kirwan said he was very distressed by the way the team represented itself during the Outback Bowl.
“I felt disappointed for all Ohio State fans and supporters, for the team and everybody associated with the university,” he said. “I don’t think the performance represented the standard that we have come to associate with Ohio State and what we expect in the future.
“I am not talking about the score. I am talking about the spirit, the effort, what I thought was an excessive number of personal fouls on players, and that is not the standard we want to reflect at the university.”
During the game OSU was flagged for three personal fouls. All of them were flagrant and appeared to be intentional. All were inflicted on South Carolina superstar, game MVP and former Ohio Mr. Football Ryan Brewer.
Geiger said an extensive search will begin immediately to replace the oft-maligned Cooper. He said an advisory committee consisting of nine individuals, including himself, will help pick the next head coach. Two of those members are football players who have yet to be named.
“We’ll look for the best person we can find to meet a variety of criteria which the group and I will put together in the next 24 to 48 hours.” he said.
“The search is absolutely and completely wide open. Let me emphasize that we will do this well. If we do it rapidly, that’s fine, but that’s not as important as doing it well.”
Geiger added that the timing of the firing came at a weird time with this being a very heavy recruiting time of the year.
“We are recruiting and will continue to recruit,” he said. “The assistant coaches are still part of the Ohio State University football staff and until any decision is made otherwise, they will be actively working on their contacts and will continue to have weekends and work at it.”
Cooper said he will be devoting time to helping his assistant coaches either keep their current jobs or finding them new ones. He has already endorsed current assistant head coach Fred Pagac for OSU’s head coaching job.
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978528818484.jpg
Media Credit: Melissa Hoppert


Former Ohio State head coach John Cooper addresses the press last night at the Woody Hayes Athletic Facility.



</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width=10 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>
978528870968.jpg
Media Credit: File photo


Andy Geiger



</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>“I’m out of here.”
Those are the four words a distressed John Cooper uttered as he sauntered out of a crowded interview room in Tampa’s Raymond James Memorial Stadium on Monday.
His Ohio State Buckeyes were just lambasted, 24-7, by a mediocre South Carolina team in the 2001 Outback Bowl and those four words were Cooper’s way of telling the media that he was done answering questions.
How prophetic that statement turned out to be.
Thirteen years and three days after Cooper was named OSU’s head football coach he was fired by OSU Director of Athletics Andy Geiger.
Yesterday, in an afternoon press conference Geiger announced, with the support of OSU President William “Brit” Kirwan and the university’s Board of Trustees, that he had fired the second winningest coach in OSU history.
Cooper was fired with three years remaining on a five-year contract and will receive a buyout of $1.8 million.
Geiger said the Buckeyes loss in the Outback Bowl had nothing to do with the firing, but rather it was a culmination of things.
“It did not hinge on winning or losing the Outback Bowl,” said an emotional Geiger. “I would say yesterday was a capstone on what we had seen as a deteriorating climate within the football program, concern about discipline, competitiveness, academic pursuits, a whole series of things.”
Leading up to the Outback Bowl, lingering concerns about the image of team surfaced.
First, senior wide receiver Reggie Germany was declared academically ineligible after he reportedly earned a 0.00 grade point average, casting another black eye on the program that is already near the bottom of the Big Ten in graduation rates.
Then, within a span of a week:
• Senior tailback Derek Combs arrived to the Tampa area later than the 2 p.m. team deadline on Dec. 26, earning a one-play suspension;
• Sophomore linebacker Matt Wilhelm publicly criticized teammate and captain Ken-Yon Rambo’s leadership tactics;
Offensive lineman Tyson Walter filed a lawsuit against teammate LeCharles Bentley over an alleged incident that occurred in February.
The 63-year-old Cooper said he was surprised and distraught with Geiger’s decision, but will continue to support OSU and will always be a Buckeye.
“Obviously I was shocked,” Cooper said. “I was shocked, and it was unexpected. I thought at least I would coach one more year, but Andy (Geiger) has a job to do, and I respect his decision.”
Cooper, who leaves with an overall record of 111-43-4, was often criticized for his team’s poor performance against rival Michigan and in bowl games. He has won a combined five games against Michigan and bowl opponents, compared to 18 losses. Six times in his 13 years he ended the season with consecutive losses.
Before coming to OSU, Cooper had been the head coach at Tulsa (1977-84) and Arizona State (1985-87). This is the first time in his career he has been fired.
Even though Geiger said the firing was a result of many things, he did mention that he was disappointed with the team’s performance on New Year’s Day.
“If you look at the fact that there was six weeks to prepare for (Monday’s) game and six weeks to work on the issues that (people) have raised and have a competitive and enthusiastic performance which we all hoped, it simply did not materialize,” he said. “I think all that coalesced my concerns.”
Cooper disagreed with Geiger’s assessment of the Outback Bowl and thought his poor record in big games was the main reason he was fired.
“We took a football team (to the bowl game) this year that was picked to finish as low as eighth in the league and won eight football games,” Cooper said. “At one time we were 8-2. At one time we were ranked fairly high in the country.
“Certainly we are disappointed with the outcome of the last two games. Obviously I am sure that was a big factor and the reason why I won’t be coaching here anymore.”
Kirwan agreed with Geiger that a change needed to be made. Kirwan said he was very distressed by the way the team represented itself during the Outback Bowl.
“I felt disappointed for all Ohio State fans and supporters, for the team and everybody associated with the university,” he said. “I don’t think the performance represented the standard that we have come to associate with Ohio State and what we expect in the future.
“I am not talking about the score. I am talking about the spirit, the effort, what I thought was an excessive number of personal fouls on players, and that is not the standard we want to reflect at the university.”
During the game OSU was flagged for three personal fouls. All of them were flagrant and appeared to be intentional. All were inflicted on South Carolina superstar, game MVP and former Ohio Mr. Football Ryan Brewer.
Geiger said an extensive search will begin immediately to replace the oft-maligned Cooper. He said an advisory committee consisting of nine individuals, including himself, will help pick the next head coach. Two of those members are football players who have yet to be named.
“We’ll look for the best person we can find to meet a variety of criteria which the group and I will put together in the next 24 to 48 hours.” he said.
“The search is absolutely and completely wide open. Let me emphasize that we will do this well. If we do it rapidly, that’s fine, but that’s not as important as doing it well.”
Geiger added that the timing of the firing came at a weird time with this being a very heavy recruiting time of the year.
“We are recruiting and will continue to recruit,” he said. “The assistant coaches are still part of the Ohio State University football staff and until any decision is made otherwise, they will be actively working on their contacts and will continue to have weekends and work at it.”
Cooper said he will be devoting time to helping his assistant coaches either keep their current jobs or finding them new ones. He has already endorsed current assistant head coach Fred Pagac for OSU’s head coaching job.
 
I am actually on the other side of the fence on this one. I think assault should be treated as an assault whether it happens during a game or practice. The bottom line is that you shouldn't punch somebody in the face and not expect consequences. Unless of course it was done in self defense.:wink2: Think of it this way, an average Joe like any of us would not only get sued by the person we struck, but we would also be charged with a crime by a prosecuter. These guys get off with a hit to the wallet, no jail time, no criminal record. I will shed no tears for these guys.
 
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