A coach has to ask a player, "What was your involvement?" and act based on what he is told by the player and others involved. If a player is charged with a crime, the coach has to step up the punishment (even before a trial) because someone as high profile as an LSU quarterback will not be brought up on charges unless there is overwhelming evidence that he is guilty. If the coach waits for a trial, which would likely be after the season is over, and the player is found guilty, this would reflect very very badly on the coach.
...and that was Alleva's exact position at Duke. But, like you said...an admission of guilt is everything. That is something you can take action on.
I think Miles has to offer some type of suspension to the players involved in the fight. Whether or not he does that prior to charges or arrrests being made is anyone's guess? According to the police, this matter may take 2-4 weeks to resolve. I think some of this comes down to how much faith and trust and cinfidence Miles has in JJ, and the others, telling the truth. IF Miles knows JJ and the others are going to be charged, he might go ahead and make the suspensions. Miles may not be the best coach, but he has always held his name out there with integrity and character. He stands to land in a pile of dung if he allows JJ to play for 3-4 games, knowing that a guilty charge is around the corner. Likewise, to suspend an innocent player would be wrong as well. This is a tough call for Miles, because his character is on the line based on what decisions he makes in handling the players in this matter. My guess is that he will hand out suspensions in conjunction with the case being resolved with the Police, which means JJ probably plays the Oregon game and maybe more without any type of punishment.
Discipline, suspension is OK...Dismissal is unwarranted until there's a final conclusion about guilt. What if some of the players are truly innocent and they get dismissed like the lacrosse players at Duke? How would that affect their credibility in front of a jury?
There is the rub. If JJ told Miles that he is innocent or his involvement was limited or self-defense, then Miles should know JJ well enough to judge whether or not to believe him. If later it is found the JJ lied, then the punishment should be swift and exceptionally harsh. But this begs the question, if Miles has a bad feeling about JJ but the evidence is not there yet, so he starts him, but mid-season charges are brought up and JJ cannot play. This scenario is even worse for the TEAM because they are mid-season with a new QB.
I agree. Like I said, I think Miles is in a pickle. He has got to be furious with JJ for putting him in this situation. Miles may be damned if he does and damned if he don't. The last thing you want to do is get mid season and then have to lose a QB who may be doing well (let's pretend JJ is doing well half way in). I think Miles had to make this decision with Perrilloux and made the correct one for the TEAM. However, JJ and RP seem to be of two different sets of character.
Hoping he does the right thing and plays JL. JJ now has the ultimate excuse for what usually was piss poor play anyway.
Very valid point. I look at it this way... The players that were at the bar put themselves in a compromising situation. While they were just acting like college kids, a football player is expected to represent the university at all times and be a step above the average college kid. So even if JJ was not in the fight, he was out past curfew, at a bar, and was involved in the fight somehow. A punishment is warranted. A suspension is harsh but not unprecedented. In-house punishment is expected for something like curfew. All in all, I do not envy Miles in having to deal with this situation. If I am him I am pretty pissed at these players for even being there to be near a fight.
What do you mean by this? There are reports out there that suggest JJ wasn't even involved in the fight?
