04-03-2009, 07:22 AM
I'm more troubled by the betrayal of trust this "coach" exhibited. There are people in civil society who accept positions of trust, such as teachers, law enforcement, military officers, doctors, clergy, judges, certain civil service positions, etc., that come with a certain degree of power and authority over others. Along with that power comes expectations of higher ethical standards and personal responsibility in certain aspects of those individuals' lives. Coaches at the collegiate level and below are perfect examples.
Universities give them the authority to determine who makes the team and who gets playing time, and entrusts them to safeguard the welfare of the student-athletes while helping them fulfill their potential. Collegiate teams travel together, eat together and stay over for away games and tournaments. Coaches are supposed to protect their players during these times, not exploit their vulnerabilities. Coaches that do so are predators and should rightly be drummed out of the profession.
I understand that these girls weren't minors and the activity was consensual. The problem is the coach's callous exploitation of his "office" and how his actions diminish the esteem of the position of collegiate coach itself.
People wouldn't be nearly as angry or suprised if it was the equipment manager or a member of the custodial staff bopping these girls. These positions carry no special public trust; we don't expect any high standard of personal behavior from a member of the custodial staff - just the opposite. If a coach, or anyone in one of the other positions listed above, is looking to get his weasel waxed, then he needs to look for someone from outside his professional life with whom to do it. The same goes for cops and someone they met on a call, clergy and a member of their congregation, judges and lawyers/parties who appear before them, etc.
Universities give them the authority to determine who makes the team and who gets playing time, and entrusts them to safeguard the welfare of the student-athletes while helping them fulfill their potential. Collegiate teams travel together, eat together and stay over for away games and tournaments. Coaches are supposed to protect their players during these times, not exploit their vulnerabilities. Coaches that do so are predators and should rightly be drummed out of the profession.
I understand that these girls weren't minors and the activity was consensual. The problem is the coach's callous exploitation of his "office" and how his actions diminish the esteem of the position of collegiate coach itself.
People wouldn't be nearly as angry or suprised if it was the equipment manager or a member of the custodial staff bopping these girls. These positions carry no special public trust; we don't expect any high standard of personal behavior from a member of the custodial staff - just the opposite. If a coach, or anyone in one of the other positions listed above, is looking to get his weasel waxed, then he needs to look for someone from outside his professional life with whom to do it. The same goes for cops and someone they met on a call, clergy and a member of their congregation, judges and lawyers/parties who appear before them, etc.