We got 2 weeks for this team to work through this and Les to do what all head coaches have to do - be in complete control They might pull tighter together as a unit as they fight through this
This article was on nola last night: LSU football players to meet with police Tuesday in bar fight investigation | NOLA.com If this is correct, my guess is anyone not directly involved in the fight will probably be off the hook once CLM decides they've run enough. This was added to the article this morning: Here's hoping the police believe that.
I posted these thoughts on another website, but they're pertinent on this thread. Well...it's gut check time for the team. BUT...it's really gut check time for the fans as well. Now is the time where we have to put college football in perspective...proper perspective. It's time for the fan base to realize exactly what is the purpose of college football teams. It has to do with the players....not our hopes for the BCSNC trophy...Not for the fans to have bragging rights...not for the fans to feel happy and proud beating their chests thinking "we're winners". The true purpose of athletics in a collegiate setting is the same purpose as the band or the debate team. In fact it's the same purpose, ultimately, of education itself. And that purpose is to make better human beings. And making better human beings out of ALL people involved...the players on the team...the players involved in the fracas...and US, the fans, is what is going to happen. There are consequences for all of our actions. And there's also the never ending cycle of realization of wrong doing, repentance, and forgiveness. We always ask whether we know it or not...why do bad things like this happen? Especially, why do they happen to otherwise great people. This is a question we all have asked ourselves in the context of Katrina. And the answer is: Somehow, in ways that we can't understand, greater good eventually comes out of it. And that is what's going to happen.
I want to add that I agree with Cliff...I seriously believe we'll still beat Oregon without the four players implicated in the brawl. Look what UNC did against us last year with 11 starters out...they played their hearts out and I believe LSU will do the same. Miles has always been able to motivate the team to run through brick walls if needed. He reminds me a lot of Dale Brown in that regard. And no, I'm not smoking any of that Oregon/Northrn California bud....(But if anyone knows where some is...)
That's all fine and dandy and in an ideal world you're correct. The reality is far from that. Really far from that.
Last year the first play we have the starting OG go down, you have Montomery out by the 5th. game and your starting SS in the 9th. game..........and you still win 11 games? I too think this will play itself out. I like to look at track records.
It should be an ideal world...but you're correct... It'$ not !! Here's a free Rivals.com article along the same lines... College coaches, like professors, are supposed to be teachers. If that's truly the case, which it should be, LSU football coach Les Miles has a great opportunity staring him in the face. He will get the chance to bring home some valuable life-lessons to 105 young adults. At this time, everyone with an interest in the Tigers football program knows where things stand following the early Friday morning altercation outside of Shady's Bar near the LSU campus. A fight took place outside of the bar. One person received some injuries. No arrests have been made and no charges have been filed. Four LSU football players - Chris Davenport, Jordan Jefferson, Josh Johns and Jarvis Landry - have been asked to answer questions from the police. The questioning was originally scheduled for Monday morning. At the request of Nathan Fisher, the attorney for the four players, the questioning has been postponed until Tuesday morning. That's where the situation stands at this time. No one has been suspended from the LSU football team. The next step will probably be initiated by the police after the questioning of the players. No one knows at this time the status of the four players for the season opener in less than two weeks against Oregon. Miles was certainly upset when he read his statement to the media Saturday afternoon. That emotion was understandable. But, the time for anger is over. As a teacher, Miles should be excited about having the vehicle to instruct his players about the real world. It cannot be denied that coaches are judged on their won-loss record. But, in this matter, Miles has the opportunity to do some serious teaching. No. 1 - Instant gratification vs. long-term success. All decisions basically come down to these two items. When faced with a choice, an individual will make a decision which suits him at that moment - instant gratification. Or, an individual will make a decision which suits him in the future - long-term success. The teacher can point out in this incident that instant gratification would be felt by responding in a physical or violent fashion during an unpleasant situation. Throwing a punch at someone may erase a feeling of anger at the moment. However, the long-term consequences are not most desirable. A person's future career could be affected by making that wrong decision at that time. The individual may believe that he was wronged. But, that person must keep in mind what is accomplished by throwing a punch at that moment. Merely, it is the pleasant feeling of delivering harm against a person. Walking away from that situation may not be view as showing toughness. But, very rarely does making a choice based on instant gratification lead to good results. If everyone involved would have walked away last Friday morning, there would be no long-term problems for anyone at this time. No. 2 - Accountability for your actions It is hoped that from the time these 105 football players - the students in this case - reached high school, it was stressed to them that they were accountable for their actions. If any football player is guilty of improper action, they should be willing to endure the consequences. There should be no expectation of being bailed out of a situation resulting from poor decision-making. A person has free will. He makes the choice. The individual can either decide upon Plan A or Plan B. He must understand ahead of time the results of either plan. Now, it will be pointed out that emotions can take over in a spur of the moment decision. That's the reason it is so important for a person to have it ingrained in his psyche that decisions are based upon instant gratification vs. long-term success. If that proper choice of long-term success has been driven home successfully by the teacher, the student will find it second nature to make the correct decision. The teacher must point out to the student that making the improper choice will lead to some not-so-nice results. That's all about accountability. No. 3 - Handling adversity Every adult will admit that he or she has faced some adversity at some time in life. It is very difficult to shrug off adversity and perform one's task as well as possible. Becoming a successful person in the future hinges quite often upon one's ability to deal with the bumps in the road. Now, there is no one student who is facing adversity in this matter. There is an entire group - coaches, players, support staff members. Character is most definitely revealed in these types of situation. More importantly, leaders are revealed in these types of situation. MiIes, being the teacher, has the chance to serve as a role model of leadership at this point. There is no need for moaning and groaning. Some bad decisions have been made. So, those people must be held accountable for their actions. Hurdles have been placed in front of everyone associated with the team. The teacher has the opportunity to get a group of players united in one goal, which has not changed. Everyone must perform to the best of his ability each time he is presented with a task. One must block out the "clutter." Besides the teacher displaying leadership, students will have the opportunity to take ownership and become leaders. Members of a team are always better motivated when the words are coming from someone in the group. Now, some of these young adults can show they can be future leaders. People are obsessed with wins and losses in athletics. Yes, college sports is a big business. But, all parts of a university should strive to teach life-lessons to their students. Miles and his 105 players are in the classroom of life-lessons now. If the players learn these lessons well, there will be some good future results for all involved. TigerBait.com - Wonderful teaching opportunity
Great one Steve, too often kids are not allowed to grow up. Like I said, I'll go with the track record of Les.
