In light of the Penn St. tragedy and the role that Joe Paterno played in the cover up of the child sex abuse, it got me thinking about the power that major college coaches have these days.
If you think about it, the college coaches, particularly in major D1 programs, have incredible power and influence. You look at coaches like Coach K at Duke, Dean Smith and Roy Williams at UNC, Bobby Bowden at FSU, Jim Tressel, formerly of OSU, Mack Brown at Texas, Bob Stoopes at OU, Les Miles at LSU, Urban Meyer at Florida and OSU and the god-father, Nick Saban at Alabama. All of these coaches have so much power and influence that they can get people blackballed if something negative is said about them in a news article, etc. They can get things covered up if a star player is in trouble. He can call in favors if something is needed for his program.
I was talking to a friend of mine recently who told me to be careful about about being too critical of Texas football or Mack. He said, if it's too critical of Mack or the program, Mack will find out and he has seen what can happen to people that Mack doesn't like.
My point isn't directed at Mack, he is just an example of the culture in today's major college sports, setting these coaches on pedestals and making them demi-gods.
If there is anything to learn from the Penn State tragedy and Joe Paternos role; it's time for reform, more accountability and checks and balances to be in place inside of athletics departments around the country.
If you think about it, the college coaches, particularly in major D1 programs, have incredible power and influence. You look at coaches like Coach K at Duke, Dean Smith and Roy Williams at UNC, Bobby Bowden at FSU, Jim Tressel, formerly of OSU, Mack Brown at Texas, Bob Stoopes at OU, Les Miles at LSU, Urban Meyer at Florida and OSU and the god-father, Nick Saban at Alabama. All of these coaches have so much power and influence that they can get people blackballed if something negative is said about them in a news article, etc. They can get things covered up if a star player is in trouble. He can call in favors if something is needed for his program.
I was talking to a friend of mine recently who told me to be careful about about being too critical of Texas football or Mack. He said, if it's too critical of Mack or the program, Mack will find out and he has seen what can happen to people that Mack doesn't like.
My point isn't directed at Mack, he is just an example of the culture in today's major college sports, setting these coaches on pedestals and making them demi-gods.
If there is anything to learn from the Penn State tragedy and Joe Paternos role; it's time for reform, more accountability and checks and balances to be in place inside of athletics departments around the country.
