i**r
发帖数: 998 | 1 Not buying Dantonio's trust-me decision - FWD from ESPN
A large part of Mark Dantonio's job is to get people to trust him.
To succeed as Michigan State's coach, he has to earn the trust of
current players, recruits, parents, school administrators and fans,
among others.
Dantonio asked for your trust when he reinstated senior cornerback
Chris L. Rucker on Thursday, the same day Rucker was set to be released
from jail after serving eight days for violating his probation.
Michigan State issued a 434-word statement from Dantonio on Thursday
night explaining the decision.
It reads in part:
"The poor decision [Rucker] made had need for serious consequences
which he has now met and resolved from a team and legal perspective. It
does not; however, rise to a lifetime banishment. Our decision to
immediately reinstate Chris has been endorsed by the team's unity
council and the program at-large. This was a difficult decision. After
much soul searching and dialogue with those who are vested in the
program, I am comfortable and confident in the decision I have made."
The coach could have been significantly more concise: I know my team
better than you. I know my players better than you. I know the
situation better than you. I'm not making this decision for you or
anyone else outside the program. And I don't care if you don't like it
or respect it.
I'm sure Rucker is happy. I'm sure the players are happy, especially
since Dantonio amazingly put the decision largely in their hands. I'm
sure a portion of Michigan State fans are happy.
The outside world will be outraged. That's just the way it goes.
You don't reinstate a player the same day he's released from jail once.
You certainly don't do so again, after the first player totally burned
you by getting busted for a second time. And you don't do it after
talking about a zero-tolerance policy.
Let me make this clear: Chris L. Rucker is not Glenn Winston. Rucker's
actions don't come close to what Winston did in his time at Michigan
State. But no matter the circumstances surrounding Rucker's arrested,
he was drinking, got cited and had to spend time in jail after reaching
a plea agreement.
Rucker deserved to return to the team this season. But not this fast.
Dantonio comes off soft on discipline. He looks like a win-at-all-costs
coach who puts standards aside before the nation's No. 5 team plays a
huge game at Iowa. Michigan State looks like the Land of Second
Chances, the program where you can wear a jumpsuit and a jersey in the
same day.
From reading this statement, it's clear Dantonio doesn't care at all
what the outside world thinks of him.
"I made this call, and I should be held accountable. I hold myself
accountable. To some critics, it might be seen as a low-percentage call
or the wrong decision. It is neither. To me, our coaches, and our
entire team -- the men in the arena -- it was the right call for the
right reasons."
Again, it's all about them. It's not about you.
What about the zero-tolerance policy Dantonio talked about regarding
the players involved in the residence hall assault, including Rucker?
"We have no tolerance for Chris L. Rucker’s actions. I repeat, I have
no tolerance for his actions. He was immediately suspended. He has
served his civil punishment, and there are other internal disciplinary
measures nobody will know about outside the program. Again, zero
tolerance does not mean automatic dismissal. When I find something I
cannot tolerate, my response is not found in some playbook. There is no
call that fits all situations. Sometimes, the reason for calling a play |
|
