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Woelk: Hawk's memo to players will be heard
E nough is enough -- and Colorado football coach Dan Hawkins knows enough when he sees it.
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Hawkins lowered the boom Sunday on a young man who apparently didn't know the meaning of all the things Hawk preaches almost nonstop.
Things like accountability, responsibility and maturity.
Buff linebacker Jake Duren -- awalk-on who had been playing well enough this spring to put himself in line for a scholarship -- threw it all away by getting himself tossed in jail.
Good for Hawkins. With his decision, he sent this memo to his players: the next guy who decides to take a stupid pill faces the same fate.
Thing is, this isn't a football program "out of control." The Buffs' recent spate of finding their names in the newspaper for something other than their football exploits stems from bad decisions, not bad actors.
These situations aren't robberies, guns, sex assaults or drugs. These aren't Switzer's Sooners.
These problems are due almost completely to dumb decisions, the kind hundreds of CU students make in the course of a school year.
Yes, they've too often been fueled by alcohol, an issue that's been the bane of almost every campus across America, and a problem that is certainly not limited to athletes.
And yes, they are problems plenty of other CU students encounter every weekend when they get fueled up on the Pearl Street Mall.
But while the severity of CU players' misdeeds is relatively minor, the overall picture they paint isn't one that CU needs.
(Yes, we're aware of the assault charges against a couple of players. But call me the next time a weekend goes by that a dozen CU students aren't involved in fisticuffs of some kind. The only reason you don't know about them is that they aren't splashed across the pages of the newspapers.)
Rest assured that Hawkins, A.D. Mike Bohn and every other administrator within the athletic department are doing their level best to make sure CU's athletes are aware of the responsibility they shoulder. There's not a player in any sport on CU's campus who doesn't know that they are different from the average student in the sense that when they screw up, their names will be in the newspaper the next day.
That's the way it should be. If the media are going to write about touchdowns and buzzer-beaters, they should write about the same people when they do wrong.
Simply, that's the price of fame. If players don't want to pay that price, they need to concentrate on their degrees and forget about sports.
Of course, while there are some folks out there who will say CU's players are out of control, there are others who will insist that Hawk's penalties are actually too tough. They will point to other programs (we won't name names, but their initials are OU, USC and NU to name a few) that simply brush such issues under the carpet and go on about their business.
Both parties are wrong.
Hawk is doing the right thing. If the price of success is building a program where discipline, accountability and responsibility are ignored, it's too high of a price.
The good news is that Dan Hawkins knows that. He knows that his job is to win football games -- but he believes that his job description also includes the task of preparing young men for life.
That means teaching them that they are accountable for their actions. That means teaching them that when they screw up, there's a price to pay.
Then, when they leave football -- and no matter how good they are, they all do -- they will have those lessons and values imbedded in their lives. It greatly increases the chance that they will become productive members of your community.
That's the kind of coach -- and lesson -- more programs need.
Posted by GoldenBoy on April 15, 2008 at 1:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great article Neill. Couldn't agree with you more...
Posted by walto_clown on April 15, 2008 at 2:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yup. I pretty much agree, but, as I posted yesterday, I don't think this was a "memo" driven by a trend. If Duren had pulled his stunt--regardless of the Geer/Maiva/Katoa situations, I suspect he would have been booted. It sounds like an unusally bone-headed stunt.
I appreciate your opinion Neill. Good article.
Posted by ChicagoBuffsFan on April 15, 2008 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'd rather be a fan of a 2-10 team full of intelligent, honorable men than a 10-2 team full of criminals.
Keep up the good work Hawk!
Posted by vkberlin on April 15, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
chicago buff
Me too.
If they can't fit in to the system which requires them to behave like gentlemen off the field regardless of the situation, then they need to be gone.
A letter, a letter? What is that. I do not need my 8 year old (buff fanatic) looking at the sports pages and seeing "another Buff arrested and asking for the explanation.
Roll Buffs. Regardless we all will be at the spring game. With busloads of kids coming in we are hoping they up the 500 to 5000.
The Buffanator
Posted by MinnesotaBuff on April 15, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen, Woelk.
Posted by montanabuff on April 15, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well done, Neill. I agree with all of the above. My only lament is that the playing field is not even. It's one thing to have a disparity in attendance (and corresponding dollars), but it's another when players are allowed to play on some teams and dismissed from others for similar offenses (e.g., the Penn State player, guilty of assault, who was suspended by the school for the summer. The suspension ends August 15th - just in time to get ready for the season).
I applaude coach Hawkins for taking a zero tolerance approach. Unfortunately, all too often the coaches who do the right things end up with another title - unemployed.
www.cuatthegame.com
Posted by Seattle_Buff on April 15, 2008 at 12:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Stop the bleeding! We're 3rd in the Fulmer Cup right now. Unbelievable.
Posted by Realist on April 15, 2008 at 12:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Neil, First, it seems, from the tone of your article, that you are saying that everyone does it, so it's no big deal. Second, it appears that the Buff program is slipping back to whats been normal for CU. Please don't try to downplay the CU problem by comparing it to other schools. A crime is a crime and because it is happening elsewhere, does not make it any less so.
Posted by NorCalLovesDaBuffs on April 15, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Pretty bad article. The "our kids are still good kids excuses" are the same excuses used at those other schools mentioned. If Katao punches someone in the face while on the OU football team he is a bad kid, but it was just a momentary judgement lapse as a CU recruit.
Posted by BuffSteve on April 15, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Laughable.
If Hawk really wanted to "bring the hammer down" and get the team's attention he would've kicked Katoa and Geer off the team as well. With all of the crap that has gone on within the CU athletic department the past 7-8 years there needs to be a TRUE zero-tolerance policy. And who cares about other programs? I don't give a d*** about what USC, Nebraska or Oklahoma do. I'm not an alumnus of those schools, I don't donate to those schools and if they want to run programs with the sole purpose of making money and preparing their criminals for the NFL then so be it. I care about CU and what they do and as of now they are not being tough enough.
Posted by OutToPasture on April 15, 2008 at 5:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NorCal and Steve I want to commend you both on having lived lives where you've never made a mistake! Kudos to you both!
This article is neither bad nor laughable. Woelk presents a fair and balanced representation of what is really going on here.
This isn't a program out of control by any means. These kids aren't "criminals." Yes, they broke the law and they got arrested. Yes, they are going to go through the legal process. And yes, they are going to face whatever consequences they are dealt. I suppose neither of you ever drank a beer in your dorm room? Two of these "criminals" were cited for just that. Not to take away from the seriousness of the allegations against Greer and Katoa, but none of us were there and none of us know what really transpired in either case. Can you honestly say how you would respond if you were 18 years old, had a couple beers and someone used a stun gun on a friend of yours? Can you honestly say that you would show proper restraint if you were Greer and a couple drunken idiots started mouthing off to you at a party?
These kids, and I do mean kids, made mistakes. They are going to pay for those mistakes. Hopefully, they will learn from these mistakes and grow as individuals. If they have any similar incidents at any point during their careers in Boulder, by all means get rid of them. (I get the impression this was not Duren's first mistake).
In the meantime, how about we give these kids a break? I realize it must be difficult for you looking down from your pedestals, but I happen to remember the kind of judgment I had as an 18 or 19 year old kid, so I'm going to cut these guys a little slack and not throw stones from my glass house.
Posted by oz_in_cali on April 15, 2008 at 5:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
last I checked neither katoa nor geer has yet been convicted of a crime. in america we wait until the justice system speaks before handing down an sentences (at least that's the way it should be). don't get me wrong, if there's a punishment to be handed down it should be appropriate and fair. all I am saying is that this should happen in a court or the osa, not the newspapers.
as a student at cu I got into at least 5 scraps and the closest I ever came to the osa was when I went to regent hall to pay my tuition. likewise, the closest I ever came to the boulder jail was the time I had to take my car for a smog inspection. having said that, I have never broken into a car while drunk at the we hours of the morning. my point is that there's a difference between duren's actions and those alleged by katoa and geer (and sipili, for that matter). in duren's case I feel that the reaction was appropriate. in the cases of the other two, I prefer to let the legal system speak before forming an opinion about what are appropriate consequences.
I trust coach hawkins will do the same.
GO BUFFS
Posted by BuffSteve on April 15, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
OutToPasture - you make some good points.
I have, however, made plenty of mistakes in my life and I have had consequences that follow. I went to CU for 4 years and encountered many fellow drunk students at parties who "got in my face" and I NEVER got into a fight. It would have been very easy for me and my group of friends to just start bangin' heads but we actually did have impulse control. Even at the ages of 18 and 19. Wow, imagine that. Our parents actually worked hard as we were growing up to teach us to make good decisions and to use common sense instead of being overwhelmed by testosterone poisoning.
Posted by OutToPasture on April 16, 2008 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Steve - it's great that your parents taught you so much control. My parents were a little more "old school" and taught me to stand up for myself. For me, that occasionally meant getting physical. I was out of college before I came to understand proper restraint in confrontational situations. Maybe that makes it easier for me to understand and therefore be more forgiving to these kids.
These kids live in a physical environment. They are constantly being challenged to be tough and physical and never back down from anything. It doesn't take much compassion or understanding to see how it may sometimes be difficult for them to turn that off.
There are plenty of frat boys that go out and get in fights on a regular basis. Are you asserting that they should also be kicked out of school? Is it your contention that the Greek system is out of control and should be shut down?
The point I'm trying to make is that we should all be less judgmental in our assessment of these kids. It may well be that one or two them are bad seeds and they won't learn from their mistakes and they will continue to have problems throughout their lives. The more likely scenario, however, is that they made a mistake, the mistake has been well publicized (I'm going to venture a guess that your mistakes were never front page news?), they will face punishment more severe than that of the average person and they will move on with their lives.
Posted by BuffSteve on April 16, 2008 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OutToPasture - once again, some very good points. Good discussion; thanks.
Go Buffs!
Posted by rswright on April 16, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What do you mean by Hawkins "lowered the boom"? This kid is as "innocent until proven guilty" as Geer and Katoa. Just ask our posters who claimed Katoa and Geer are they were "innocent until proven guilty". How hypocritical. If it works for one kid doesn't it work for another? But none of them claimed this kid was "innocent until proven guilty" .
Our posters can direct you to web sites that demonstrate most football players get off of the charges, so where does Hawk get off punishing this kid?. If he gets punished by Hawk and then faces criminal charges isn't that double jeopardy? Our posters believe no kid should lose his career because of a fight because "Sometimes getting your butt kicked is a consequence of a bad decision." But let's see how many come to the defense of this kid.Or do our posters only make excuses when the kid is a 5 star recruit?
Posted by tallisall on April 16, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hawkins kicked Duren off the team because he was an expendable walk on. This way he can look tough without losing a good ball player.
Kaota and Geer are 4 star ball players that Hawkins needs to win.
Posted by OutToPasture on April 16, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
RS - Why are you so bitter and negative? Did you get beat up by a football player when you were in school?
Not one person posting here knows the real stories behind any of these incidents. Maybe Duren was sacrificed because he is an "expendable" walk-on. More likely, he was kicked off the team because this was not his first infraction (as is the case with the others being discussed here).
Geer and Kotoa were both involved in serious incidents, the severity of which should not be diminished in any way. However, from all accounts I've read, both were provoked in some manner. That doesn't excuse the fact that they got into fights. They should have just walked away. They didn't. I'm sure they both regret that fact. They made a mistake and I'm sure they will learn from that mistake. If they don't, then by all means get rid of them.
Perhaps you and some of these other posters are just trying to stir things up. I hope you don't really see the world as being so black and white and I hope you aren't really filled with so much negativity and animosity.
Since you seem to be so big on facts, two very important facts are - 1) these kids made mistakes (at the least, mistakes in judgment); and 2) they will face consequences greater than you or any other student would face in similar circumstances.
Regardless of the legal outcomes, they have already been vilified in the press; labeled as criminals, convicts and felons by posters such as yourself; and will likely face suspension by the University and/or football team even if acquitted.
How much more harshly do you propose they should be treated?
Posted by trubuff on April 16, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Hawkins kicked Duren off the team because he was an expendable walk on."
Are you serious? Duren was a possiible starter, did you not read the article on him the day before his arrest? He was kicked off the team b/c this was not the first time he has been in trouble. Kotoa and Geer have not been in trouble before, plus with a fight there are lots of unknown circumstances. When Duren is found passed out drunk at 3am with a cut arm and blood trailing to a car that was broken into there's not too much to figure out. Did the car window attack him? Did someone spike ten of his drinks that night? Please people, think before you type.
Posted by StopTheInsanity on April 16, 2008 at 8:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Instead of a "memo" maybe Hawk out to try this approach. From espn.com:
No Holds Barred
New Nebraska coach Bo Pelini has forbidden his teams from frequenting select Lincoln watering holes this spring after several Cornhuskers were involved in several alcohol-related incidents earlier this year.
In order to ensure his team was heeding his edict, Pelini and Nebraska assistant athletic director of football operations Jeff Jamrog made an unannounced stroll through several bars last Thursday night, according to a report in the Lincoln Journal Star.
Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz told the Journal Star that Pelini has said the lockdown will remain through the end of the semester.
"We're grown men," Ganz told the newspaper. "We understand what we have to do to help us get there. Like all college kids, we like to go out and have fun with each other. But if it's something we're going to have to sacrifice, it's not really a big [one] to make if we want to do what we want to do."
Posted by extrapoint on April 17, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
sure is nice not having to waste time surfing the husker web sites
oh .....and BTW
there aint no rivalry
Posted by O_ReallyFactor on April 17, 2008 at 8:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Stupid pills? Apparently they are dispensed with regularity at Buffoonland. And a MEMO? Hawkins assumes they all know how to read. Bu-wa-ha-ha-ha! You guys make me laugh!
Posted by extrapoint on April 17, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder how many Bo threw down himself during his bar hopping? Luv to see the next expense acct.
He hasnt learned how things work there yet. Osborn called a head to warn all the 1st and 2nd stringers.
Posted by rswright on April 17, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OZ:
"last I checked neither katoa nor geer has yet been convicted of a crime. in america we wait until the justice system speaks before handing down an sentences (at least that's the way it should be).
Out:
"Not one person posting here knows the real stories behind any of these incidents. "
Were that these posters really felt the way they write.
Duren has not been found guilty, nor does anyone (including Hawk) know "the real stories behind any of these incidents". Our posters claim Katoa and Geer are "innocent until proven guilty" but no one complains that
Duren is innocent until proven guilty. Isn't Duren entitled to the same presumption of innocense as Geer and Katoa? If so, isn't Hawk out of line in throwing him off the team when he doesn't know "the real stories behind these incidents".
All defendants (including Duren)are entitled to the same presumption of innocense. When you posters claim the presumption for Geer and Kotoa but not for Duren, that is what is known as hypocrisy.
Posted by extrapoint on April 17, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
rs
what is your point? Do you ever get tired of beating your gums? You are like those guys who argue politics.....who could care less about what is really going on as long as someone thinks they are right about something.
Posted by GoBuffs05 on April 17, 2008 at 3:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Remember, the football team is not a criminal court. Hawkins does not have to wait for a player to be convicted of a crime before passing judgement and kicking him off the team. I trust Hawk had very good reasons for kicking Duren off the team while waiting for judicial affairs regarding Katoa and Geer. Make no mistake, losing Duren hurts this team and was not an easy decision for Hawk to make.
Posted by mike.jo on April 17, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Typical Woelk column: Look at us, we’re CU and we’re the only ones doing it the ‘right’ way. Even though we’ve been on back to back to back probation, had both the ICC and Colorado Grand Jury say we used sex, drugs and alcohol to recruit, we’re the model school. Blah.. blah.. blah…
Posted by extrapoint on April 17, 2008 at 4:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
whadda you mean "we"?????
The only person who was proven involved in using sex, drugs and alchohol somehow got a couple of million settlement in this out of control world of media and politically correct extortion.
yeah....blah blah blah....right
Posted by extrapoint on April 17, 2008 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
dang
I almost forgot
the rswright rule of guilty applies here.
Posted by mike.jo on April 17, 2008 at 5:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Have you read the ICC report, or Salazar’s Grand Jury statement to the press? I’m not saying it, they are. But, the point is Woelk’s stupidity of calling out other schools when CU is far from the example of the ‘right’ way to do things.
Posted by extrapoint on April 17, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
so who was indicted? and/or convicted? Dont forget Governor Bill Owen's headlong plunge into an evidenceless world. Politicians are the king of using "political correctness" for there own benefit.
That had to be one of the most hysterical witch hunts in history. Even NPR, who doesnt know a football from one of their own t**ds in a toilet was calling for the elimination of the CU football program.
Woelk is merely expressing confidence the current "guys in charge" are doing the right thing. But I forgot...we are operating under the rswright and denver post rule of guilty here.
Which other school is your alma mater? or are you just another anti football guy?
Posted by mike.jo on April 17, 2008 at 5:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You’re playing the CU card perfectly – nobody was indicted or convicted, so all is good. That seems to be the mantra of CU fans, which is fine, but calling out other schools is pure stupidy, IMO.
Posted by rodrigo on April 17, 2008 at 7:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Mike.jo,
When exactly was CU on back-to-back probation? Are you referring to CU's self-imposed sanctions? Cuz it sure wasn't the NCAA.
Also, I'm curious... are you posting on Husker, Missouri, West Virginia, etc., websites, demanding that Josh Williams, Noel Devine, et al. be tossed from those teams?
If not, you're singling out CU for special treatment... which makes you a hypocrite.
Posted by mike.jo on April 17, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey clown, where did I say anything about players being booted from the team? Check the records, CU has been on some form of probation for a numbers of year – the latest being some stupid thing like meals for walk-ons. I’m not bashing CU, just the complete stupidity of Woelk, calling out other schools.
Posted by rswright on April 18, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
EP
"rs
what is your point?"
EP you know the point, just don't want to admit it. Our fans who immediately jumped to the defense of Katoa and Geer by claiming they were innocent until proven guilty, don't want to extend the same right to Duren. Why, because they construe Katoa and Geer as being in a fight whereas Duren had no redeeming virtues as he, it was reported, was found drunk and passed out after a car had been broken into.
The trouble is to say Katoa was in a fight you have to change the facts. This was not a fight. Katoa broke into an apartment pushed a kid's head through a wall and hit another with a fist which had a rock in it. Nor was he provoked by these guys as apparently they had nothing to do with what occurred previously. As a result the DA is charging him with a felonious assault.
But our posters are full of "getting your butt kicked is the consequence of a bad decision" and a la EP, poor football players are picked on by rich guys, poor guys and especially those bad hippies who make comments about them.
Learn something from five arrests since January on the heels of paying 2.3 million to two girls allegedly raped by football players.
And if that point has to be explained, you will have to learn it yourself.
Posted by extrapoint on April 18, 2008 at 11:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
why are you even using the word "allegedly" you jerk!
You know they are guilty, just like those girls that were handing out liquor, pot and condoms.
I guess I will have to learn it myself. The only thing you have taught me is that you are loonier than Tallisall
Posted by Realist on April 19, 2008 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Extrapoint...To ridicule Coach Pelini for taking positive action, to correct a problem, is simply the height of stupidity, and your suggestion that Coach Osborne called ahead to warn the players just indicates your hatred of one of the greatest coaches of all time and anything related to the Husker program GROW UP and think rationally. By the way, Pelini's action sure beats a memo.
Posted by extrapoint on April 19, 2008 at 8 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Whoa
I think you lied under the other article about being a hukster. Is that another corn trait?
GROW UP, eh? If you are grown up pardon me for declining. Growing up sounds awful boring.
Posted by rswright on April 21, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What an embarrassment; stick to football.
Posted by extrapoint on April 22, 2008 at 7:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
have we finally turned to trolling, rswright?
When you stick to football I will also be happy to oblige.
in the meantime
I'm guilty
Posted by rswright on April 23, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OutToPasture:
"I suppose neither of you ever drank a beer in your dorm room? Two of these "criminals" were cited for just that."
Only ignoring why Geer and Katoa made headlines can lead one to say they were charged with drinking a beer in a dorm room. According to the press reports and the DA Katoa broke into an apartment put a guy's head through the wall and hit the other with a rock in his hand. But rather than address the facts of why they were charged, you ignore them.
Join the ranks of our other posters who make excuses just because they play football.
I.E."every young man is entitled to a fight" they are "innocent until proven guilty" and poor football players are picked on by those hippies who make comments. Would you do the same for frat boys similarly charged, or just these guys because they are football players?
Posted by extrapoint on April 23, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
give that guy a badge.
Get him a little "action" and maybe he will shut up
Posted by extrapoint on April 29, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
someone get this guy a girlfriend
Posted by extrapoint on April 29, 2008 at 4:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
you've got a little foam there on your chin, genius
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