Pressure to Win ?

I believe the "wink-wink" situation occurs with more frequency than we would like to think, but I believe the pressure is coming from the parents more than the community.

My son's 8th grade basketball team was very good. They had five starters that were as good as any around. The best player also had a poor attitude. In a practice prior to the last district game, he got mad, slmmed the ball, cussed the coach and announced that he was quitting. We played a much inferior opponent in the last district game and won.

Prior to the district tournament, his overbearing dad met with the AD, coach and boys athletics coordinator at the school. After they caved in, the boy was allowed to play in the district tournament, which we later won (thank goodness, I would hate to see these boys lose a stupid 8th grade basketball tournament). All he had to do was make a half-hearted apology to the team. My son said he laughed during the apology.

Parents have wedged themselves into the school athletics process so much that the pressures come from them regarding playing time, positions, etc., not so much the community to win games.

Communities aren't the ones giving the "wink".

The pressure is on the coach to win...Some for the glory, some to keep their job, some to satisfy the AD or Principal, boosters, "recruiting interests" etc.
The damage is lack of respect for the game, lack of self respect, or respect from team members.
Some turn a blind eye, some are blatant about it being the "kids' problem", or hide behind "no child left behind" or can't do anything because of nationalities, some give up, some thrive. Some even feign "disbelief", some defend, some make unfounded accusations.

You are asking more of a moral question, which reflects on the character of not only the coach, but the team & school, too.

Longtoss,

It is my opinion (becoming a standard disclaimer) that there is little pressure to win baseball games in Plano, other than that which is self-imposed by coaches that take pride in having a winning program. I think the same can be said of most sports here, despite a winning tradition overall. It seems the most pressure, as expected, occurs in football. But the Friday night lights are focused in many directions these days. I may be naive but I think young coaches leave Plano because they can advance to a meaningful spot quicker elsewhere -- and veteran coaches leave because they can benefit from the change by 1) becoming a larger fish in a smaller pond (if that is important to them), or 2) not having to coach football!

I think Plano is a good place to coach if you are seeking job security -- as long as you have a moral code that fits here. The Plano coaches seem consistent in treating kids fairly, i.e., similar punishment for similar offenses. There are always exceptions.

You'd think there would be a lot of pressure in Plano, but I don't see it that way. That doesn't mean that the coaches settle for mediocrity. It's more about PRIDE.

-PD

LT -- You're not talking about those Forney Jackrabbits are you?? They do hop around alot!

.......and always find the field.

M,

The reference is not Forney.

I agree with others that the pressure seems to come most from the parents. It is also sad to see this problem at the middle school level as well. Not surprised though.

....and I agree 100% with bbmom -- overall lack of respect in several areas coupled with the coach, AD, team & school's character

The wink wink thing for athletes has been going on for years everywhere. If anything, it happens less now than it used to because of mass communication and the internet. It is just harder to sweep under the rug.

I don’t think it is a result of outside pressure, this is an individual decision by a coach(s) and to what lengths he (they) will go to win a ball game. What sacrifices will he make? You see these things happen all the time it in recruiting violations, abusing pitchers, and other shenanigans by coaches. Sports are about winning and the enormous amount of effort and sacrifice that goes into winning. This all out effort lends itself for those involved to use poor judgment at times….corking bats, steroids, spitters, and sandpaper.
I applaud those many coaches that use good judgment like Dave Van Horn, the head baseball coach at the University of Arkansas, when he cut two of his top players for violations.

quote:

Arkansas will be playing the series without its two leading hitter, Casey Rowlett and Scott Bridges, who were suspended indefinitely on Tuesday for a violation of team policy.

If the pressure to win was ever a factor it would have to be on Coach Van Horn to repeat his previous accomplishment of taking his team to Omaha.
Fungo

I believe most of the 'wink' comes from the coach / AD / administration. Coach=job=money=family to feed. Bottom line no matter how you look at it. Throw in pride in some situations.

If a student / player violates rules, there is usually some black and white somewhere to back up any consequences. It is up to the coach / AD / school to enforce it, and they will if (and only if) they so choose.

Making the news all over the state last week: A Dallas area school is allowing a star football player to practice with the team even though he awaits trial (due to begin in October) on six counts of armed robbery / aggravated assult with a deadly weapon. The player has admitted to "putting himself in a bad situation" and he and his lawyer are saying little to convince anyone he is other than guilty.

There is law regarding the option of expelling any student who may have committed a crime of this type / magnitude - conviction is not mandated to do this. The coach, AD, school administration chooses instead not to "throw away this kid". That's all well and good, I suppose, but is it in the best interest of the community to have this kid playing football (with an ankle bracelet no less)? Most reasonable people would probably answer no to that question. But the kid is a star, the coach and AD want to get to the playoffs again this year, and apparently the administration does as well. It's obvious in this case who is doing the 'winking'. This particular kid was being heavily recruited - I wonder if on the off chance he is not convicted, what college will make an offer? What program is so desperate for 'the win' that they would welcome someone who has admittadly "put himself in a bad situation". (It's only fair to add that this student has never been in any legal trouble before and apparently is a 3.0 student.)

I am all in favor of innocent until proven guilty; that's not the point. The point is if a coach with any power / tenure / winning history wants to overlook things like this, he stands a good chance of getting away with it, unless the community as a whole chooses to loudly voice their concern.

It occurs to me that the "wink" attitude has trickled down from the professional ranks to college and finally to the high schools and middle schools.

You look at the Baltimore Ravens running back, Jamaal Lewis, and he will be back with the team after serving time for selling cocaine. Terrell Owens will play this year after telling his coach to shut up. Michael Vick's younger brother at Virginia Tech was arrested last year and is back with the team starting this year. Kenny Rogers shoves a cameraman and he pitched after missing TWO starts. On and on and on.

High school coaches are just following the lead of their college and pro counterparts. Society accepts this because they want the best players on the field. If a backup player messes up, he is cut and made an example of. If a star messes up, we need to give him a second chance.

Bottom line, don't blame the coaches and administrators...they are just giving us what we want and accept.

May I blame the courts?

You may!

Here is the nausiating follow-up on the (transfer) student who is charged with felony robbery, being allowed to "play"...Sorry for the lenghth of the post, as well as the sport. It's "winking" defined!!


Ankle monitor keeps Jackson on sideline

Lancaster QB can't scrimmage; device violates uniform code


01:51 AM CDT on Friday, August 26, 2005


By DAVE LANCE / The Dallas Morning News


While Lancaster's Brandon Jackson waits to see if the University Interscholastic League grants him a transfer waiver that would allow him to play football this season, something else might keep him off the field.

His ankle monitor.

Jackson, a transfer from North Mesquite, is awaiting an Oct. 17 trial on six counts of aggravated robbery. He must wear an ankle monitor so law enforcement officials know his whereabouts at all times. Dallas Football Officials Association secretary Charles Stephenson told Lancaster athletic director Bev Humphrey on Wednesday that the ankle monitor violates UIL rules regarding uniform attachments.

Lancaster coach Andrew Jackson held his senior quarterback out of Thursday night's scrimmage with Killeen Shoemaker after conferring with Humphrey.

"The only way he would be able to play is if a sheriff deputy would be present at the game, and he could take the bracelet off," Stephenson said. "Even something like Lance Armstrong's bracelet, they can't wear that. My call to Lancaster was kind of a heads-up to them, to give them the information."

Stephenson said once he learned Jackson had played in a scrimmage last Saturday against Adamson, he contacted the Texas Association of Sports Officials. Stephenson said a TASO official then talked to the UIL.

"And they told us what to do," Stephenson said. "Rather than have a situation at the scrimmage, I told [Humphrey] what the rule was."

Jackson, who threw two touchdown passes in the Adamson scrimmage, remained on the sideline during Thursday's scrimmage in full uniform.

"He was hurt," coach Jackson said. "But I told him, 'You can't let your faith waver.' I don't believe they're after him. They're after me."

The Texas High School Coaches Association's code of ethics says it is unethical for a school to play an athlete who is facing a felony charge. Because Jackson is going against the unenforceable code and allowing Brandon to play, the Lancaster coach believes he's being targeted.

Jackson said he had a player play an entire season with an ankle monitor when he was coach at Austin Reagan in 1995.

"We're going to obey what they say," Jackson said, "but I wish they'd show us the rule."

Lancaster opens its regular season Sept. 3 on the road against South Oak Cliff.

E-mail dlance@dallasnews.com

It's nice to see that Coach Jackson has experience with players in ankle bracelets.