If I’m Charlie Strong, the new USF football coach, I’m upset. And, yes, that’s a euphemism for being #@&^ *<!>+^.
Strong should be incensed because in the last couple of months two Bulls’ players have been arrested for violent felonies–a road-rage incident and a sexual assault accusation. Look for them to be ex-Bulls.
But he should also be angry with a county judge in the latter case who called him out for not having “control” over his players. Then at a bond hearing, she implored him–in absentia–“to think long and hard about whether being head coach at USF is a good fit for you, before any other members of this community have to suffer at the hands of one of your players.”
Judge Margaret Taylor is no longer on the case, but unnecessary damage has been done.
Judge Taylor was right to underscore outrage about yet another college athlete–OK, football player–accused of sexual battery on a female. It’s beyond unconscionable. It’s a serious societal issue that needs addressing, and a tough-talking female judge is well cast.
But she went too far. The facts in this case are still evolving. No cover-up is alleged. A trial is a long way off. She lectured the university–ironically her alma mater–and the coach. Due process wasn’t given its due.
But Strong, who hasn’t coached a game yet and didn’t recruit either of the players arrested, deserves better. He has a reputation of running clean programs with zero tolerance for thugs and predators.
Judge Taylor could have helped the cause had she stayed with an overall theme that universities in general need to do some serious soul-searching about what they do to win football games. Who do they recruit and what do administrators allow? Recruits don’t typically morph from solid-citizen, high-school student-athletes to rapists once they land on campus. They’ve already manifested traits no university should want on its campus–no matter how powerful the pressure to win is.
That’s the message that needs to be conveyed–not a lecture of somebody who will actually improve the USF brand.