Sad Day At ND
Sad Day At ND
For decades ND has walked to a different drummer than than the football powers of the SEC, Pac 10, ACC, BIG 12, SWC, etc. in dealing with Student Athlete misconduct.
At the Bamas, FSUs, and USCs a head coach decided what was an appropriate from running the stadium steps to sitting out the first quarter versus that all important opener against Southwest Directional State.
At ND student conduct is defined by du Lac, the student handbook for all students (athletes don't get a jock waiver) and infractions are dealt with by RAs or in more severe cases by ResLife. Coaches were not a part of the process.
Through the years ND sports when Browner, Fry, et al were suspended for a year, 1974, for parietal violation (excessive biblical knowledge) They all returned to ND after a year absence curtesy of Res/Life.
Micheal Stonebreaker was suspended for a year, 1987, for driving on campus (acutally parking a car) when he driver's license was suspended to an accident which almost killed him.
John Cerasani was suspended for a semester from extracurricular activities for punching a teammate outside a South Bend bar at 2 am. The teammate had made a crude comment about Cerasani's terminally ill mother. Had Cerasani nailed the teammate on the practice field he probably would have gotten an "attaboy" by the coaches instead ResLife gave him a "Ah $hit". Cerasani's altercation and ResLife adjudication took place during Spring Ball. Instead of suspending him for the Spring Semester, ResLife held it over to the following Fall Semester, Cerasani's senior year. He appealed the judgement requesting it be served in the Spring so his terminally ill mother could see him play and graduate from ND. ResLife said no and Cerasani transferred.
Powers-Neal, Yeatman, Furia, Floyd and many others before them got the mandated extracurricular activities suspension. Individual cases varied as did their "penance" but they all got a suspension that was not issued by a coach.
Yes, Kelly suspended Floyd over a DUI but the different was in previous situations ND coaches took no action but deferred to ResLife (who has primacy) to deal with on their schedule. Under usual procedures ResLife would have heard Floyd case later in the Spring or later as they ResLife usually meet after any law enforcement issues are resolved generally ensuring that any suspension was served the following semester. That would have been Floyd's senior season like Cerasani. By immediately suspending Floyd, Kelly finessed the situation. ResLife could now take into consideration "time served" (Spring Ball Suspension), as well as the couseling Floyd went through and the other sackcloth and ashes rehabilition.
As Kelly was still new the inner workings at ND (recall he stuck his foot in his mouth more than once with public statement like "Redshirting). Last year ND had just had a change in leadership at ResLife. Under the previous administration, President Malloy's, Floyd would have missed football season by directive. With a more recent President putting his stamp on UND through personnel changes Floyd faced a less Draconian ResLife. While Kelly got credit through the media for taking charge of the Floyd situation I believe it was handled by back channels. The team spiritual leader, the AD, or even Fr Jenkins suggesting a Spring Ball Semester Suspension would achieve du Lac's goals (corrective action) on a timely basis.
Keep in mind Parshegian (Browner, et al) and Holtz had both won National Championships at ND. They walked the walk in the football world but in the academic halls they deferred to the Administration and Faculty.
Holtz and other coaches have suspended athlete from games for team rules violations not for du Lac violations. The Rees and Calabrese suspensions may have been the determination of ResLife,. I hope so. In the past the announcement as been for example been made by the Head Coach that Powers-Neal has been suspended by the University adn is out for the semester.
Neither the tweet by Hardin and the brief statement by Kelly on Tuesday mentioned ResLife nor stated that that decision was reached by the Head Coach or Coaching staff although many(most) posting here seem to believe Kelly acted alone. If so ND just became a step closer, a giant step closer to the Bama's and FSU's. That would indeed be a sad day.
It was also a sad day for the glee some "fans" took in the suspension. Excellence and teamwork is achieved through competion and someone rising to the top and winning the job not getting it by default. Those that come in second or third or wherever are commended for their efforts and don't justify your derision.
Last year before the season started the 5 Star Crist and 3 Star Rees were tied. "After reviewing all the practices, all the drills, the coaching staff has decided there's no separation between Dayne Crist and Tommy Rees," Coach Kelly announced. Subsequently he appointed Crist the QB presumably as he was the upperclassman. Coach Holtz had an two axioms that apply:
1.) If you have two Number 1's you don't a Number 1 you have two Number Twos.
2.) At ND the fans favorite QB is the one not starting.
One half into last season Crist was benched and Rees became QB by default.
Since last season ended, fans have lobbied for ABBT, Anybody But Tommy.
"We Want Hendrix" ... "Golson's The Man" ... "Kiel Is The Future"
Now you've got your wish. Whomever starts the Navy Game and more importantly whomever starts the second half of the Navy Game deserves respect. They may succeed or they may falter but they're not the pros who play for millions that you deride with fervor. These young men wear Blue and Gold that makes them family.
ROOT LIKE A CHAMPION!
