LoKyBuckeye;634451; said:
The thing that is completely contradictory in all this is the persona of the the "U" team and the persona of the coach. What I mean by this is that teams do take on to a greater or lesser extent the demeanor of the head coach.
Examples from close to home.
OSU - Discipline, control, execution.
MSU - Shambolic, prone to lapses, error riddled plays.
Now call me naive, but Coker simply isn't a "thug" like character. Thus I have to conclude that his influence over this team is now effectively nil, at least when it comes to molding character. Someone else is running the asylum, if that is the players (patients) then this alone should be sufficient cause to oust Coker.
There was a report on ESPN just about a half hour back that detailed the change in public statements by Coker. The version cited by a reporter from the Miami area was thus:
At the time of the incident, and immediately after the game, Coker had not a full grasp of how bad things had been on the field of play. He was under the impression that all the UM players were pulling tussling players apart. Hence his remarks after the game about how this was a proud moment - what with all those orange clad players acting as traffic cops, saving the women and children and generally acting as Good Samaritans :tongue2:
Only after returning home did he get to really see the incident on film and then determined that this was an abomination. Hence this morning all the suspensions.
Cynics may alternatively suggest that someone high up in the administration at UM called Larry and told him that without firm, punitive and clear action, pretty damned soon, Cokie would be out the door. Of course it is remotely possible that he did not see the clear view from the sideline of the helmet swinging Miami player, nor the leg stomping and cleating that was going on.
As it is, there is scheduled an administrators meeting at UM tomorrow. On the agenda, Coker, UM, the fight, the consequences and other items that amount to a comprehensive performance review of the Cane football program. It is time to start a "death pool" on Coker at Miami vs Smith at MSU. Which is ousted first.
My money at this point is on Okie Cokie.
