Quote:
Originally Posted by patteeu
(Post 11889605)
I think the post game demonstration was outstanding and speaks well of the family-like relationship Pinkel develops with his team, but that alone doesn't justify Pinkel's decision. His action was instrumental in causing significant damage to the university beyond football. I'm sure he didn't intend to have that effect, but he did. I wish him the best in retirement though and he deserves a statue for what he did for Mizzou over the course of his career.
In fact, the statue should be him standing in the middle of a circle of his players whooping it up like he did that night.
|
This was a quality post and said what I was feeling better than I could have. He totally took the easy way out instead of what he always preaches - doing what's right for "his kids." If these kids learned anything about this it's that it's OK to strike over accusations that aren't true, aren't vetted, and/or are part of a changing landscape.
He might have served his kids better by sitting them down, telling them that not playing is a decision they alone would need to make, but what they're "not playing" about is goofy:
* A poopsika that nobody knows who put there, and that in this day-and-age, it might have been put there by the CS1950 kids to incite a reaction (that they're now part of). Then he might want to tell them the Tawana Brawley story. That's what a good parent would do.
* The evil red truck. Again, nobody knows who it is, so explain to them that there are measures to be taken to better-protect themselves, perhaps get pictures for the police, but with what they have to go on there's little they can expect from the university's leadership in an ACLU America. That's what a good parent would do.
* GAs losing their healthcare coverage in its previous form. Just show them a picture of Obama, then explain to them that college is a 4-year deal, maybe 5. Explain that after their undergrad work is done, if certain things are a priority (healthcare), well hanging around a college campus grading papers for a professor, teaching a class, or three, and "getting even smarter" might not be the best choice (based on those previously established priorities). Then, explain to them (again) that those career students actually DO still have coverage, and if anybody is to blame for the change it's Obama, and it's NOT the school's leadership. That's what a good parent would do.
* Systemic racism. Show them the make-up of the very team their on, and then the basketball team, then the make-up of the student leadership, and the make-up of the staff, then the national averages in terms demographics (after explaining what the big word means), graduation rates and then tell them their (CS1950's) arguments are bunk based on all that evidence. And if they still resist, hit them with the numbers of kids getting merit-based financial aid vs. supposed needs-based financial aid. Then tell them to chew on that before they decide to throw-away their careers.
But I agree, he sure did have his player's backs for a short-term feel-good story to be aired while he's walking away (just one week later).
Many people would say it was short-sighted, and self-serving... I certainly think it's exactly that.
****Official 2015 Missouri Tigers Football Thread****
(https://chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=289639)