Collegiate Chaos! MIZZOU's Troubles Unwanted - But Hardly Uncommon

I'll admit it.... this was a really tough week in Columbia, MO.  And it went far beyond Mid-Missouri.  The Missouri Tigers (my Alma mater) lost a team captain, a leading rusher and a what most believed (and probably still do) is a pretty solid kid.  All to one of the biggest mistakes anyone can make - let alone a possible All-Conference football player.

A "face of the team," Derrick Washington was charged with "deviate sexual assault".. and it involved his tutor. While he's been permanently removed from the team and his senior season, that's the least of his worries right now.  It's a Class C Felony he's been tagged with - a body slam to the turf that will take a long time to get over.  By no means am I dismissing the lady who's pressed charges... and to Head Coach Gary Pinkel's credit, neither is he.

Pinkel - Taking Ownership

"I'm embarrassed," Pinkel said. "I'm disappointed with it. That's an understatement."

The other day, Pinkel - who's made Tiger alumni like me proud over the last decade or so by rebuilding our program - started his media address by going right at the topic and dodging none of the controversy.  "Full responsibility" has always been one of Pinkel's key phrases.
"It's a very, very serious matter," Pinkel said. "And we're going to let the process take its course."  Bottom line... if he didn't take it serious.. ESPN's "ticker" would make sure everyone else did.  This was a full-blown Twitter frenzy.

To add to the turmoil... Mizzou's had a few other issues of late.  Two other players and an assistant coach have also been handed DWI charges in the last month.

Here's another quote from my absolute favorite website - PowerMizzou.com.  "I'm responsible for everything that happens with all 126 football players, and my staff, and everybody," Pinkel said. "Just like a parent. Parents are responsible for their kids, no matter what they do or what they get involved with."

Ok... so what does it all mean?  Fingers are pointed at Mizzou right now - and with good reason.  But my school is not alone.  Not by a long shot.  North Carolina's got troubles, Mississippi can't get their recent Oregon transfer... and troubled star... into the line-up.  Georgia dealt with an embarrassed alumni group after their - now former - Athletic Director found his own case of trouble.  And USC is on probation, without bowl hopes and without a whole lot of scholarships - welcome to L.A. Lane Kiffin!

Kids are kids, people are people, and mistakes will happen.  Some of them more serious than others and some of them will put careers on the shelf, reputations out with the trash and maybe people in jail.

I've been in this business for a long time... and while most know me for covering golf for a living... I've covered a lot of college sports among other things.  My company HTK Media is assembling a list of clients with designs on helping schools and stars deal with issues just like this.

The key is to accept the problem and not run from it.  I tell every Athletic Director and front office executive in professional sports that a slip up - like that which happened to Missouri, or Georgia's or USC's - is something that doesn't go away quickly.  But it can "fade" more quickly with the proper perspective and some solid interviews by those on the team.  Face it.... a big mistake on Facebook or Twitter or a bar fight on a Friday night can affect how your team is covered for an entire season.  Doing what Pinkel did... and starting his news conference by starting with the controversy and anticipating what was coming his way is exactly the right thing to do.  Don't run.. don't hide.  Far more respect comes from standing front and center and taking ownership.

In the PowerMizzou.com article, Pinkel admitted that he and his staff alert players via text messages or phone calls when discipline comes calling.... so the kids aren't blindsided by media reports or students on campus.  In the end... coaches today are just like parents... but they have more than 100 kids to deal with.  And Pinkel made it pretty clear that he's got other things he deals with that never hit the public streets.

Bottom line.. it's all part of today's big time college athletics.  And in the pros... it's worse.  The media always has the right to the "last word."  The importance of every interview that comes from kids and coaches after negative publicity comes calling is huge.  Turning the negative vibe into stories about winning, and winners and the positive role models in a locker room is not easy.

A Win Would Be Welcome

This weekend... my school... who spent much of the spring and summer dealing with rumors and pot shots about Big 10 expansion....  takes on Illinois as a double-digit favorite.  At this point.. getting on the field and hitting somebody is a welcome idea.. because being hit from the blind side by news like the Tigers are dealing with is absolutely no fun.  Ironically, Mizzou was the first school HTK Media contacted to build a relationship and help the athletes and coaches make the most of their media opportunities.   

Hey Mike Alden (A.D.)... the first beer's on me!