Friday, March 7, 2014

Let's define "Inappropriate verbal communication"

Frank Martin, South Carolina's men's basketball coach, used R-rated language in telling his team the way he felt about getting curb-stomped by Florida. Now he's suspended for the regular season finale.
What the &%*#?
"The one-game suspension is a result of inappropriate verbal communication as it relates to the well-being of our student-athletes," South Carolina athletic director Ray Tanner said in a statement Thursday.
Upon hearing this story yesterday, my first question was - Wonder what colorful words Coach Tanner used while earning one ACC Coach of the Year award, three SEC Coach of the Year awards and three National coach of the year awards as a collegiate baseball coach?

Secondly...Would this even be an issue were Martin not trying to keep his team out of the cellar of the SEC? Because my guess is no. He'd be flying with the team to Starkville instead of staying behind to wash his mouth out with soap. Losing has a way of leaving a much more bitter taste in the mouths of fans than some foul language does in their ears.

Next, remember when Georgia fans had similar issues over Grantham's, er...motivational tactics? Which were mostly excused because the defense was playing better than in prior seasons.

And lastly, does anyone know the extent of Jeremy Pruitt's vocabulary? Will you even care if our defense can finally cover a wheel route?