I have spent alot of my life in a coaches office because my dad is a football coach here in Louisiana and I've been somewhat of his right hand man since my early years, so I think I can provide somewhat of an inside view of what coaches think of an incredible athlete who does stupid stuff...
We all go through those stupid years in which we act stupid, do stupid stuff, and are immature, but we all eventually mature out of it, some mature early in life, some mature when they are forced to when the error of there ways catches up to them. But everyone has that one moment when everything that has been preached to you over and over again to you by parents, coaches, and teachers clicks and you all of a sudden look back on your life with fresh eyes and see what an idiot you were.
These kids that you see doing stupid stuff and screwing up there athletic career are the ones that mature later and as a coach when you take a chance on these athletes you can preach and scream all you want at them, but it isn't gonna take until they have this moment and things come into perspective, and as a coach who takes a chance on these players, you are constantly waiting for them to have this enlightenment. Believe it or not, more time than not they grow up, before it all comes back to bite them in the butt and as a coach you feel proud of him.
But about 25% of the players who mature late never get this Epiphany and they are the ones you see in the news failing drug test, shooting people, killing dogs, raping women, getting in bar fights, resisting arrest, and the list goes on and on and just because this small percentage that doesn't get it these coaches get a bad rap and are ripped to sheds by you people.
Believe me I have seen more kids than I can count be the clown of the team, not work hard, not go to class, and still be ahead of the players that bust there butt to make a 3.0 and never miss practice. And then just all of a sudden it hits them, and you see them steadily start to work not only harder but extra, go to class and make good grades, and steadily fall in with a better crowd. And I have to say, whenever they do that, it's one of the best feelings as a coach you can have because you finally know that this guy get's it.
So don't blame the coaches for the minority of the guys that don't get it, just remember for every 1 player that coach took a chance on and got the short end of the sick, there are three more young men that he took a chance on that got it and because of that changed the players and a those around his life.
Jessica White
Michelle Damon
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Great blog and good insight. I have seen many waste away talent because of immaturity and bad decisions. Good job!
Undefeated: Gruden…
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I have the same view as Undy, but it is the coaches job to make sure his players do not waste that talent
thebasketballguru
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No Guru, It's that player responsibility, as a coach all you can do is point them in the right direction, but they have to walk there themselves
*LSU* Later Gators
West Monroe, LA
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but thanks for your comment anyways
*LSU* Later Gators
West Monroe, LA
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Nice job LR,a coach is a great impact of a young man's life,but he can't make all his players every decsion.
(Cincy)
Jamestown, OH
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No Guru, It's that player responsibility, as a coach all you can do is point them in the right direction, but they have to walk there themselves
LSUrocks is old school | 07/03/08, 12:45 AM
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I agree, a coach can only do so much. He cant hold the players hand at all times. All he can do is tell him the do and dont and consequences of his actions. After that the player has to be smart enough to know rightfrom wrong without being watched over 24-7
xxx84xxx
Columbus , OH
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Good blog. Perhaps it's because I'm getting older, or maybe it is truly just a generational difference, but I'm seeing more and more students who have no accountability and who refuse to take responsibility for their actions. That is not the fault of the coaches, but rather the parents who confuse discipline and "being mean." And when these kids who had "really nice parents" who didn't teach them anything meet "mean" folks like me who demand that they answer for their behavior, they are at a complete loss. Those of us on the outside do what we can to help, but it really comes down to learning these things at an early age-- and only the parents can teach them that.
buck-i-girl
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I think you can partly blame that on the lack of real fathers in todays society
*LSU* Later Gators
West Monroe, LA
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Yeah, I work with kids with mental problems, and I don't see fathers in a lot of these kids', mostly boys, lives. Drug abuse is a destroyer of families too mainly b/c of legal ramifications.
How 'bout 'em
Gainesville, GA
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