We of the Emerald sports desk have already stated our collective opinion on the recent rash of arrests and misbegotten acts of several members of the Oregon football team. We have called for quick action from Chip Kelly and reflection from the players involved in recent events. I would like to talk about someone new, someone related to this controversy but seemingly far away from it.
It’s about a message. The message irks me, and I can’t quite ignore it every time I’m reminded of it.
Messages in recent days have been mixed. The messages are both direct and symbolic, primarily related to punishments handed down. Reserve linebacker Kiko Alonso was suspended for the entire 2010 football season after receiving a DUII. Running back LaMichael James has been accused of domestic violence and has pled not guilty. He is still an active member of the football team, but a court-ordered ankle monitor will prevent him from attending class and other activities, throwing his eligibility into doubt for the 2010 season. James’ problem appears to be taking care of itself.
A statement with every punishment, and every punishment a statement. In the big picture, none of these statements adds up to a consistently clear picture of organizational discipline sought by the Eugene community, the University community and Duck fans across the country. To put all those factions at ease, University President Richard Lariviere sent a
message of his own.
“The University of Oregon has clear expectations of how its student athletes are to behave both on and off the field of play. Lately, several of our athletes have fallen far short of these standards. This is simply unacceptable,” Lariviere’s statement reads.
“The University of Oregon does not tolerate inappropriate conduct from any of its students. I know Athletics Director Mike Bellotti and Head Coach Chip Kelly share my concern about recent events involving UO players and are working hard to address these incidents. I have every confidence that they will restore the UO athletic program’s long and proud tradition of sportsmanship and integrity. Our loyal fans and alumni expect no less and neither do I.”
Reports have not been confirmed that the filename for this insightful piece is “Generic_Administrative_ Statements.doc.”
Unacceptable? We would all hope so. It is unfair to question how hard Kelly and Bellotti are working on these matters, but it is fair to question the efficiency of their work. Lariviere is in this position and does not seem interested in acting on it.
The football program needs oversight, not unlike any other program within a department at this University. Ultimately, one would believe that the buck stops with the man in charge of all aspects, the University president.
The worst message sent from all this is the notion that football programs must sell out to win. Oregon comes off arguably the best season in school history, making a Rose Bowl appearance for the first time in 15 years and winning the Pacific-10 Conference title in a tough year. The price for success is often stated as freedom from accountability for coaching staff and management along with carte blanche for the players to treat the campus community as their own personal fiefdom.
Lariviere understands the value of a successful football program. How it defines success is up to him, Bellotti and Kelly, as well as members of the community.
“If we can’t run a clean program, we can’t have people respect our football players when they’re not on the football field, then we’re not doing our job,” Kelly said on ESPN’s Outside the Lines, which ran an exposé on the Ducks’ offseason troubles yesterday.
Lariviere ought to hold him to that statement.
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