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Buckskin86
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Safety net
On the field, Kurt Coleman will knock you down. Off the field, he'll pick you up
Saturday, September 19, 2009
By Ken Gordon
CHRIS RUSSELLDISPATCH
THAT'S A WRAP Ohio State safety Kurt Coleman, right, locks up USC running back Joe McKnight during last week's game. Thanks to the lessons learned from his parents, Coleman has grown into both a solid football player and solid citizen.
Not long into his Ohio State career, safety Kurt Coleman acquired a nickname from coach Jim Tressel: Krypto.
"He said I have this special kind of energy, this kryptonite," Coleman said.
Kryptonite is fictional, of course, from the Superman story. It's the one substance to which the powerful hero is vulnerable.
There's no way Tressel could have known how well that nickname fit. Because Coleman ended up developing his greatest strength -- his caring and compassionate nature -- during a time of vulnerability.
Coleman grew up in Dayton, in a blended family that includes eight step-, half- or full siblings.
He had quality role models in his parents: Ron Coleman was a teacher and now is a principal at Dayton Stebbins High School, a man who is active in the community. Heidi Williams is a speech pathologist at the Dayton Veterans Medical Center.
Ron and Heidi worked hard to make sure their children were well-rounded, that sports were not all-important and that helping others was the right thing to do.
Heidi recalls a time when Kurt was 6 or 7 and had a bad habit of throwing rocks. He hit the neighbor's dog, then pegged his brother in the head.
That was that. A coach wanted to put Kurt on an all-star football team, and Heidi would not allow it, in order to teach a lesson.
He never threw rocks again.
"We tried to impress on them to look out for other people," Williams said. "Do random acts of kindness -- be the exception, step up. Be that person to lend a helping hand."
She said Kurt would occasionally come to work with her, where she helps people who have been injured or suffered illness regain their speech.
"Kurt would ask me, 'Why do you do that? You help people talk, so what?' " Williams said. "I would tell him it's not just that. What I want to do is try to make a little bit of difference for someone, make their life just a little bit better, and that's worth more than what a lot of money can bring."
The Columbus Dispatch : Safety net
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BigJim
Hall of Fame
I'll be surprised if he's not suspended... I think he had good intentions and regrets it but it was pretty ugly.
Honestly, I wouldn't mind seeing O. Johnson or someone on the field more for a game to get more experience for next year. Hopefully Indiana wouldn't do something crazy though with Coleman out and make me regret calling for it.
Honestly, I wouldn't mind seeing O. Johnson or someone on the field more for a game to get more experience for next year. Hopefully Indiana wouldn't do something crazy though with Coleman out and make me regret calling for it.
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No way should he be suspended. It was a dumb and reckless play, but it was a football play. That rule is for people like Albert Haynesworth and Robert Reynolds and Greg Mathews.
He drew the penalty, was pulled from the game, and I assume he's paying for it at practice this week. That should be the end of this story.
He drew the penalty, was pulled from the game, and I assume he's paying for it at practice this week. That should be the end of this story.
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NateG
Can't waste the day when the night brings a hearse
To be honest McGee wasn't fully down yet. If he found a way to get away from the tackler which he was sitting on, he could have gained more yards. It just looked really bad due to him being set up for a hit and KC coming in the way he did. It was definitely a penalty for helmet to helmet but I think the main reason he got pulled was because he was laughing about it and didn't think it was that bad. Tress will deal with it and i bet he is on the field at some point on Saturday... but I don't think he will be needed.
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Had the whistle blown yet? I haven't reviewed that play but I'm not sure the play was blown dead. If no whistle, I think he won't be suspended. If they do suspend him, it sets a very low standard for what is punishable. Like Jib said, it was a football move, albeit outside the rules, but it's different than an uppercut after the play or choking the QB.
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NateG
Can't waste the day when the night brings a hearse
I just re watched the whole game and that play was kinda like when there is a pile up and a player comes in late. no whistle... not fully down... Kurt put his helmet down to spear him though. Looked extremely bad and could have been avoided. I don't think a suspension is warranted though.
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Bleed S & G
Taking Crazy Pills
I'll eat some crow.. I was a doubter before this season. I figured he was another servicable saftey. Man, he has been a stud in everygame so far this year. Keep it up Kurt, you're looking damn good.
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The suspensions for those two weren't for "football plays" but for a punch and a forearm, respectively. Coleman's act wasn't a blatant non-football act to hurt another player. As noted earlier, he was flagged for the penalty and yanked from the game (and who knows how many gassers Tressel will have him doing)...I think he's been punished enough.
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