For the record, here's Dennis Dodd of CBS giving grief to SEC boys Spurrier and Fulmer, and some grief to Pete Carroll as well.
http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/8400555/2
Notebook: Fulmer, Spurrier throw rocks from glass houses
The insult-comic coach duo of Fulmer and Spurrier last week reminded us again that college football is a year-round sport.
There's the regular season, winter conditioning, spring practice and the silly season. This is the time of year when players have too much time on their hands. And you know what they say about idle hands ...
Tennessee's Phil Fulmer and South Carolina's Steve Spurrier took much publicized shots at each other last week that deflected attention from the real issue. If this were, say, SMU and Fresno State they would be running out-of-control programs. Since it's Spurrier and Fulmer, call them only borderline out-of-control programs.
Yes, Lou Holtz's squad had character issues when Spurrier inherited the program after last season. The school held the program out of a bowl game after a fight with Clemson. Much of what has occurred since then -- 11 arrests since January -- can be attributed to Holtz carryovers.
Still, Spurrier is in charge now (at least of the offense). The latest incident: Two players were charged early Sunday with marijuana possession. Not part of that 11-player blotter: Last year's leading rusher was kicked out for a second failed drug test.
There have been other incidents.
"If you want to read about some full-blown fights," Spurrier said last week, "read about the Tennessee players, not our guys."
Fulmer has seen 11 of his players arrested since February 2004. Four were charged with assault last week. Fulmer has kicked three players off the team, while others have been made to do early morning running and community service.
Anyone else notice the possibly for 11-on-11? Throw prison garb on them and you'd have The Longest Yard.
Anyway, Fulmer doesn't want to take away playing time in the fall because it "punishes everybody including the coaches and the fans."
Here's a novel idea, Phil. It shouldn't be your -- or any other coach's -- call anyway. Not to beat a dead soapbox, at some level coaches should be removed from the discipline process. OK, we hear you muttering, "It seems like they already are." But that's why there are administrators who, theoretically at least, are these coaches' bosses.
Spurrier on Monday made a spectacularly unwise statement that was buried at the bottom of a wire story about the two players caught with dope.
"Those guys don't deserve to be talked about. We're giving them too much attention around here. Neither one of them have been a starter, never made a significant play for Carolina," Spurrier said.
No big deal, they're only scrubs, right? Come talk to the Ol' Ball Coach when a starter gets in trouble. Presumably presidents and athletic directors would have better perspective, if there wasn't the nagging fact that many times they are deferring to the highest-paid person on campus -- the coach.
"He needs to take care of his own house and leave mine alone," Fulmer said of Spurrier adding, "He's got plenty of issues over there, I'm sure, to deal with .... It doesn't bother me one bit ... maybe it rained that day and he didn't get to play golf."
For the record, that's a combined $3.55 million in salaries trying to channel Don Rickles. Hilarious if this was the
Tonight Show. Insulting if you are parents or the president at either school.
Or it should be.
Basically, both coaches are saved from being called on the carpet by extenuating circumstances -- most notably their winning percentages. Winning football trumps just about any off-field troubles.
South Carolina is still wrapped up in the euphoria of getting Spurrier. Fulmer has an extension, a $2.3 million annual salary and that 1998 national championship to fall back on.
The Gamecocks are expected to get up off the mat and at least be entertaining with Spurrier's offense. The Vols should be favored to win the SEC this year, so anything upsetting the delicate balance of nature, especially discipline, could be frowned upon.
Especially since, hey, boys will be boys. Ask Pete Carroll. That's basically the way he summarized receiver Steve Smith allegedly breaking the jaw of Southern Cal teammate Dominique Byrd over a video game. At least it was something important ...
"It's like being a parent," Carroll said. "We try to do everything we can to make it clear to them how they should operate. You are never really at ease."
So is this a case of negligent parents? For sheer volume this is one of the worst offseasons in recent memory for off-field problems. The stain hasn't escaped the champion Trojans. It is one program where offseason problems could bring the program down. "Down" defined as wrecking a chance for a third consecutive national championship.
Carroll intimated last week at the end of spring practice that academic problems could be more serious than first thought. Defensive linemen Frostee Rucker and Manny Wright, tailback LenDale White and tight end Byrd were listed at or near the bottom of the depth chart because of academic issues.
"It's going to be a challenge to get all the guys back," Carroll said.
Star cornerback Eric Wright has been accused of rape and is to be arraigned this week. There is a good chance Carroll might have to start a true freshman in Wright's place if he never returns.
That's five potential starters not being around.
"For anyone to think that any coach at any level does not care about it, they just don't get it," Carroll said. "It's like parenting. You are always afraid that something is going to go in the wrong direction. We always take the hit when something bad happens."
Deservedly. No one said coaches didn't care about their players. It's just in cases of breaking the law they shouldn't be disciplining them. There has to be some accountability, beyond media sniping, to go along with all those millions.
SEC commissioner Mike Slive has what seems like the unrealistic goal of having all 12 schools off probation by 2007. That seems like an easy goal compared to eliminating all offseason bar brawls, assaults and arrests.
