Believe me, E—, I hope you are right. And I do agree that from a current and near-term practical point-of-view, our losses haven’t been that huge. Frankly, I’m not sure which part(s) of my post you disagree with, exactly. My real point, and the part that continues to concern me, is the convergence of bad news—especially the degree to which such a large portion of a hopeful and much-ballyhooed recruiting effort has been eroded to such a degree, in the manner in which it has. Does it not concern you? I’m at a loss by now to understand whether “bad luck”, “the society and times we live in”, or WHAT are at work here. Neither coaches nor anyone or anything is likely to do differently once these young men get here is likely to effectively change their basic sense of values, honor and decency—so for us it is only in how things are dealt with after-the fact is all we are left with. I’m not sure which part of all that you found issue with, my friend.
But there is something else here I know IS debatable, a potential arguing point: As I have offered (vented?) elsewhere, I DO suspect what standard of behavior and attitude our community holds not just for these players but how they are viewed and treated by supposedly responsible and well-meaning “authorities” IS a factor here, it seems—and those folks ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF OURS. From top (the ones who set policy-official AND unwritten) to bottom (towtruck drivers, for example), they are public figures: we know who they are and directly or indirectly we have a certain amount of control over them—if not their actual behavior, then at the very least their continued paid presence in our community. Perhaps it is time to take a closer look at all of that?
I welcome debate on any or all of these points...I admit not even I am sure how much of all this I say now is just an emotional reaction brought on by worry and frustration; I do my best to be self-honest, but I suppose this last part is part of a feeling that has been growing for years with respect to the contrast between how our players have fared at the hands of local authorities and citizens, as compared to how it is elsewhere. I’m not in favor of the “give them a complete slide” apparent in a place like Tuscaloosa (or to a great extent in outlets state’s Capitol, while I’m on the subject), but it all too often has seemed our guys have been getting chewed up in a “make an example of them” policy.
Look, anyone who cares to tear pieces off me in disagreement is welcome to do so...but it took a lot, in time and examples, for me to even come out with this here.