Wardle investigation?

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/...|topnews|text|

The Cerroni leaving thing is troublesome....because he is a quality kid from a good coaching family....he got in Wardle's doghouse and never made it out....he didn't seem to be in over his head on the court.....would like to see how this plays out...

The Bross leaving thing is a joke....he's a freakin walk-on....a project.....his parents were meddlesome since the 4th grade.....they were unrealistic in grade school and high school and always cackling and whining about something....nothing was ever good enough or fair....in this case, size doesn't matter....if you can't play, you can't play.....he got a shot at a D1 school.....he is better off at a lower level or just getting a degree....laugh this one off....his parents are text book, clinical, unrealistic, whining interveners....ask anyone who knows Menomonee Falls sports....MU72 agree?????

I hope Wardle can right the ship....

I was told Cerroni didn't like being a role player and wasn't having fun anymore.

As for Bross - I heard there was an issue a while back, the kid didn't like getting yelled at. Seeing the report say there was never any physical contact makes me believe that what I heard is exactly the case.

Do these people not realize how serious this is? This isn't just complaining about playing time, this is an NCAA investigation. This could ruin the guy. My guess is that the investigation turns up absolutely zilch - nothing. But Wardle has been doing well, and close to getting a shot at a bigger program - on the heels of the Mike Rice thing, this could prevent him from getting a bigger job even though he looks like he is ready for sainthood compared to Rice.

If something real did occur, then yes, it is serious, but I am sick and tired of parents complaining when they are completely clueless.

I didn't see this was a NCAA investigation...but the fact that Wardle was left on the job by the school means the administration thinks it is minor to me.

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Originally Posted by BLT

I didn't see this was a NCAA investigation...but the fact that Wardle was left on the job by the school means the administration thinks it is minor to me.

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Didn't Rutgers think what Rice did was minor?

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Originally Posted by Jim Ganzer, "IWB"

I was told Cerroni didn't like being a role player and wasn't having fun anymore.

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I heard it was a little deeper than that...nothing physical...

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Originally Posted by GOMU1104

Didn't Rutgers think what Rice did was minor?

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Exactly, but you would have thought after Rutgers, the UWGB admin would have put him on paid leave unless they already were very familiar with the issue. If it proves deeper, the administration just opened themselves up to a lambasting.

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Originally Posted by GOMU1104

Didn't Rutgers think what Rice did was minor?

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They did suspend Rice for 3 games without pay and fined him $50,000. I would not say that they thought it was minor. They had the video. They knew what it was. They did not take the proper action at the time, but they definitely thought it was serious.

We are in sort of a super-sensitive season these days. I did not see the original OTL video of Rice, but what I saw leaked to YouTube was not all that shocking. I saw him "kick" one player, which consisted of hitting one of his legs with the side of his foot in order to get him to position it correctly. He screamed a lot. He threw a ball at somebody. I expect there was more in the original video, but what I saw was not too shocking.

Of course, his famously used some terms that would not be acceptable to the gay community, but until recently, most of America would not have been too offended by that, and I doubt that most basketball players actually are. The first thought that occurred to me was that Rick Majerus reportedly used to refer to many of his players by a slang term for female anatomy, and now everybody thinks he is a saint. Every single basketball coach who has been at Marquette since I have been a fan, with the possible exception of Hank, used less than delicate language around his players. Kevin O'Neill used to come up with obscenities that nobody had heard before. Fans with small children would be advised to keep them out of earshot of Mike Deane during games. And Buzz has mentioned that he has to clean up his mouth in public. What he says in practice is not for public consumption. Physical abuse is a whole different thing, but even there, teams practice hard, bang into each other and coaches, often on purpose, and somehow manage to survive.

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Originally Posted by eddiedswang

The Cerroni leaving thing is troublesome....because he is a quality kid from a good coaching family....he got in Wardle's doghouse and never made it out....he didn't seem to be in over his head on the court.....would like to see how this plays out...

The Bross leaving thing is a joke....he's a freakin walk-on....a project.....his parents were meddlesome since the 4th grade.....they were unrealistic in grade school and high school and always cackling and whining about something....nothing was ever good enough or fair....in this case, size doesn't matter....if you can't play, you can't play.....he got a shot at a D1 school.....he is better off at a lower level or just getting a degree....laugh this one off....his parents are text book, clinical, unrealistic, whining interveners....ask anyone who knows Menomonee Falls sports....MU72 agree?????

I hope Wardle can right the ship....

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Yeah Eddie, I know the Bross's pretty well. Two softest giants I have ever seen. Not to mention, they have been coddled by the parents. Kids get opportunities because of their size, but there really isn't much talent or potential there. Both of them are very nice, very smart kids. They just don't have the mental makeup or drive in my opinion to be college athletes.

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Originally Posted by mufansince72

Yeah Eddie, I know the Bross's pretty well. Two softest giants I have ever seen. Not to mention, they have been coddled by the parents. Kids get opportunities because of their size, but there really isn't much talent or potential there. Both of them are very nice, very smart kids. They just don't have the mental makeup or drive in my opinion to be college athletes.

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Wasn't Wardle a player here while Rice was an assistant? Maybe he learned some "bad coaching style" as a player here? (Not saying anything physical), as my buddy said, who was an student manager at the time when Rice was here, that was a pretty typical practice back in the day at MU, minus any physical touching/ball throwing. Yelling/language was definitely a part of it.

I hope the public doesn't view Wardle as guilty when there isn't many feel facts out there. Even if Wardle is found not-guilty of any wrong doing, this still hurts Wardle and the Green Bay basketball program.

The COMMENTS made by people on JS ONLINE attached to the Wardle article are priceless.....

When delusional parents raise their children from cradle until they dump them off on their wife (or next mommy) (unless the kid prefers to live in their basement for the rest of his life), this is what you get.....people like Bross' mother are painful to watch in action. Watching them over the years make me want to kick my kids in the a$$ and tell them to grow a pair. Life is never fair. It's about dealing with tough situations and people. Man up. The sad thing is all along they had no clue that everyone was laughing at them!!!!! And still are....

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Originally Posted by eddiedswang

The COMMENTS made by people on JS ONLINE attached to the Wardle article are priceless.....

When delusional parents raise their children from cradle until they dump them off on their wife (or next mommy) (unless the kid prefers to live in their basement for the rest of his life), this is what you get.....people like Bross' mother are painful to watch in action. Watching them over the years make me want to kick my kids in the a$$ and tell them to grow a pair. Life is never fair. It's about dealing with tough situations and people. Man up. The sad thing is all along they had no clue that everyone was laughing at them!!!!! And still are....

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See, I hate stuff like this. I don't know anything about Bross, but why do people have to make assumptions on this issue without understanding the entire story?

What I have been told is not it not necessarily just yelling that is the issue, but inconsistent communication...pitting players against one another..."head games," etc.
Now is any of this an "actionable" offense? Most likely not. However does it paint a bad picture of Wardle as a coach? Probably.

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Originally Posted by eddiedswang

The COMMENTS made by people on JS ONLINE attached to the Wardle article are priceless.....

When delusional parents raise their children from cradle until they dump them off on their wife (or next mommy) (unless the kid prefers to live in their basement for the rest of his life), this is what you get.....people like Bross' mother are painful to watch in action. Watching them over the years make me want to kick my kids in the a$$ and tell them to grow a pair. Life is never fair. It's about dealing with tough situations and people. Man up. The sad thing is all along they had no clue that everyone was laughing at them!!!!! And still are....

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I think Eddie summed this up pretty well!

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Originally Posted by TheSultan

See, I hate stuff like this. I don't know anything about Bross, but why do people have to make assumptions on this issue without understanding the entire story?

What I have been told is not it not necessarily just yelling that is the issue, but inconsistent communication...pitting players against one another..."head games," etc.
Now is any of this an "actionable" offense? Most likely not. However does it paint a bad picture of Wardle as a coach? Probably.

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I would like to hear more, but head games, inconsistent communication, pitting players against one another ... sounds like a normal coaching situation in any sport. Especially at the D1 level. Painting Wardle in a bad picture? Really? Give me a break!!!

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Originally Posted by TheSultan

why do people have to make assumptions on this issue without understanding the entire story?

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Sultan - eddiedswang is basing his statement off of observing the kid and his parents since he was in early grade school. I would think that would qualify him to speak on more than an assumption basis.

I have known Brian Wardle for years. I have watched him coach. He is not any different than any other coach out there. Yelling at kids, playing head games with them and pitting them against each other is called "COACHING".

This is an absolute crock. A mom writing a letter to a University complaining about how a coach yelled at and mistreated her son? When does it stop?

I have coached a total of 20 youth sports teams between basketball, baseball and football as either a head or assistant coach. 20. That is a hell of a lot, and I have yet to coach my third kid in anything. Out of all 20 teams, I had never received a complaint about playing time or what position they play until this year. This year in basketball I had 7 girls on my team. 7. Only two of which were guards, so I literally could never take them out because no one else could dribble. The rest alternated.

The girl whose parent complained went in at the mid way point of every quarter. So, she split time equally with the girl in front of her. The only time that did not happen was in two games in the fourth quarter where it came down to the buzzer. Mind you, in this grade we do not have equal playing time rules, but if we did, she would still be doubling the time in that rule.

Now - the parent complained to the athletic director, every member of the athletic board and anyone else who would listen, but never said a word to me. Never asked me why she wasn't playing more, never asked me why she wasn't starting, but basically complained about me to everyone in town.

I never coached the kid any differently than I coached anyone else, I never sat her more than anyone else despite the fact that she was our biggest liability, yet the mom complained to the school.

Should the school have launched an investigation? Should I have been dragged through the media for being a horrible person?

Wardle is coaching D1 basketball. He needs to yell at theses kids, he needs to pit them against each other (its called competition) and he needs to play head games with them to get the best out of them. This is what coaches do.

Tim Maymon complained about playing time and everyone assumed he was nuts. This kid's mom complains about her son being yelled at, and it launches an investigation?

I think this is BS. I know Wardle, he is a great guy and a talented coach. This is absurd.

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Originally Posted by Jim Ganzer, "IWB"

Sultan - eddiedswang is basing his statement off of observing the kid and his parents since he was in early grade school. I would think that would qualify him to speak on more than an assumption basis.

I have known Brian Wardle for years. I have watched him coach. He is not any different than any other coach out there. Yelling at kids, playing head games with them and pitting them against each other is called "COACHING".

This is an absolute crock. A mom writing a letter to a University complaining about how a coach yelled at and mistreated her son? When does it stop?

I have coached a total of 20 youth sports teams between basketball, baseball and football as either a head or assistant coach. 20. That is a hell of a lot, and I have yet to coach my third kid in anything. Out of all 20 teams, I had never received a complaint about playing time or what position they play until this year. This year in basketball I had 7 girls on my team. 7. Only two of which were guards, so I literally could never take them out because no one else could dribble. The rest alternated.

The girl whose parent complained went in at the mid way point of every quarter. So, she split time equally with the girl in front of her. The only time that did not happen was in two games in the fourth quarter where it came down to the buzzer. Mind you, in this grade we do not have equal playing time rules, but if we did, she would still be doubling the time in that rule.

Now - the parent complained to the athletic director, every member of the athletic board and anyone else who would listen, but never said a word to me. Never asked me why she wasn't playing more, never asked me why she wasn't starting, but basically complained about me to everyone in town.

I never coached the kid any differently than I coached anyone else, I never sat her more than anyone else despite the fact that she was our biggest liability, yet the mom complained to the school.

Should the school have launched an investigation? Should I have been dragged through the media for being a horrible person?

Wardle is coaching D1 basketball. He needs to yell at theses kids, he needs to pit them against each other (its called competition) and he needs to play head games with them to get the best out of them. This is what coaches do.

Tim Maymon complained about playing time and everyone assumed he was nuts. This kid's mom complains about her son being yelled at, and it launches an investigation?

I think this is BS. I know Wardle, he is a great guy and a talented coach. This is absurd.

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I love your analysis when it comes to Maymon and Bross situations. The difference is Maymon only had one crazy parent that we know of. Bross has two! Maymon is/was a high level D1 athlete. Bross is a seven foot walkon redshirt! It might be worth it as a coach to take all the stuff that is involved with a difficult parent in a situation like Maymon's, because of the talent and the potential. It is not worth it when you are dealing with a project who's parents have very unrealistic views of their child's athletic ability. What is really funny is I think at one time Bross's parents were trying to get Buzz to take him as a walkon at MU. One day of bootcamp and there probably would have been child endangerment charges:cool:

Maymon does have two parents, but to me his mom seemed pretty quiet and reserved. I do remember when he committed, Tim told me that Jerrone wanted to stay close to home because he didn't want to be too far away from his mom.

I've had many conversations about this with older coaches. They all say that they use to get complaints from parents that the coach wasn't being hard enough on their kid. Today, parents complain that they are being too hard on their kid. They'd tell me stories how their football coach would grab their face masks, hit them on their helmet, shoulder pads etc. It's certainly a different world when someone thinks that pitting kids against each other, while playing a sport is cause for an investigation. I will say this. I coached girls for a long time, and the past few years I've been coaching the boys. My style is hardly intimidating, but I expect full effort. There is so much more drama, coaching the boys, than there is the girls. I tell people this and they think it's counter intuitive, but it's true. Because of this, I have had to raise my voice with the boys so much more than the girls. It's almost as if I have to do that to get a point across. After the season, I'd have my post season 1 on 1's with the kids, and most of them say they need yelling in order to stay motivated. Some kids don't like that. The challenge nowadays is figuring out what motivates each kid because everyone is different. However, even though kids might not like it, what they think brings out the best in them is not true, because they are not giving full effort. I always talk about taking yourself out of your comfort zone. Striving to be a better person in everything you do. Kids might think they are giving their full effort, but in reality, all they want is to be in their comfort zone.

Guess UW-GB went public with this to avoid bad publicity and to avoid the New Mike Rice syndrome. In the meantime, Brian has literally been thrown under the bus. It's hard to see how he comes out looking good no matter the outcome. Wish this could have been done quietly, but I guess we we have a new normal in our world, GBOW. Does the school really need to hire an outside party to review the situation? That seems like a real overkill...and one has to wonder if the independent reviewer would do any better than the AD or general counsel...? The world is getting to be a strange place to live in. Glad I am retired ( and, that's the opinion of most in my generation ).

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Originally Posted by Nukem2

In the meantime, Brian has literally been thrown under the bus.

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Wow. That's a really harsh punishment for an allegation. :eek:

In all seriousness, you are correct that this is absurd. It's reached the point that a mere allegation of a coach not telling junior that he's super-duper special is enough to potentially ruin a coach's career.

How can we get Wardle in touch with people in Menomonee Falls who coached this kid growing up -- and put up with the parental meddling and whining -- so he can build his defense? Does he have an email that is open to the public? He needs to start deposing people down here to get the true flavor of the delusional parents that he is up against. Their reign of terror went on for years in the Falls. But, people just laughed at them. Now they are going for the jugular of a good man. They need to be stopped! They need to let their son grow up to be his own man!

How dare they attack Wardle's professionalism. He's a coach....not a freakin psychiatrist or teacher. Jump on the Mike Rice train while it is rolling. these parents smell blood....

Coaches yell and scream and motivate by many different tactics. This bogus witch hunt is an attack on his family and future! Every coach in America from Coach K on down yells at his players.....all have kids leave their program -- and some are pissed because of playing time or they just couldn't fit into the system. Every one of the kids that leaves sees it THEIR way.....the coach sees it his way....the truth usually lies somewhere in between. College kids who play D1 ball all think they should start...they've been coddled and groomed for this......they all think they are a gift.....this kid has no business playing D1 ball.....let alone any ball. He and his parents need to move on like ADULTS....by trying to ruin Wardle's life does this make their life any better?

What a crock!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by eddiedswang

How can we get Wardle in touch with people in Menomonee Falls who coached this kid growing up -- and put up with the parental meddling and whining -- so he can build his defense? Does he have an email that is open to the public?

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wardleb@uwgb.edu

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Originally Posted by TheSultan

wardleb@uwgb.edu

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With copies to UW-GB's AD an prez ( or chancellor or whatever ).

I actually might be a good idea to let the entire process play out first. We have no idea what the truth is...even their beat reporter cautioned people not to jump to conclusions.

Thanks sultan.....

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Originally Posted by eddiedswang

How can we get Wardle in touch with people in Menomonee Falls who coached this kid growing up -- and put up with the parental meddling and whining -- so he can build his defense? Does he have an email that is open to the public? He needs to start deposing people down here to get the true flavor of the delusional parents that he is up against. Their reign of terror went on for years in the Falls. But, people just laughed at them. Now they are going for the jugular of a good man. They need to be stopped! They need to let their son grow up to be his own man!

How dare they attack Wardle's professionalism. He's a coach....not a freakin psychiatrist or teacher. Jump on the Mike Rice train while it is rolling. these parents smell blood....

Coaches yell and scream and motivate by many different tactics. This bogus witch hunt is an attack on his family and future! Every coach in America from Coach K on down yells at his players.....all have kids leave their program -- and some are pissed because of playing time or they just couldn't fit into the system. Every one of the kids that leaves sees it THEIR way.....the coach sees it his way....the truth usually lies somewhere in between. College kids who play D1 ball all think they should start...they've been coddled and groomed for this......they all think they are a gift.....this kid has no business playing D1 ball.....let alone any ball. He and his parents need to move on like ADULTS....by trying to ruin Wardle's life does this make their life any better?

What a crock!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Agree 100% Eddie. By the way, look at the top right of your screen, as you have mail!

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/...|topnews|text|

Assuming Wardle is okay, I hope this this ends quickly so that he could make a push for Jake Thomas and Jesperson.

Add Jake Thomas and Jesperson to UWGB and they will be pretty tough.

Still a possibility that Jake returns to MU.

Thought this investigation was bull, but maybe not! http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/...-UWGB-s-Wardle

Things getting worse for Wardle.....where there is smoke...........

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebask...h-brian-wardle

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Originally Posted by Markedman

Things getting worse for Wardle.....where there is smoke...........

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You are probably right, but Cougill did not have the greatest reputation either. I can empathize with someone suffering from depression, but unfortunately know what happens when it is not treated properly from a close family member (and can see how it would disrupt a basketball team). If this was not one of our own guys potentially being railroaded, I admittedly may look at this differently, but I am not ready to compare Wardle to Rice just yet.

Wow - I'm really surprised by all this - he seems like such an easy going guy. If this turns out to be true, I just don't understand that approach - do you really need to resort to that type of stuff to get results?

I don't know if Wardle is guilty of this or not, but I just hate these pieces that present one side of the story. Would like to hear what Brian has to say, if anyting.

Lets hope it isn't a big deal.

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Originally Posted by warriorfan4life

You are probably right, but Cougill did not have the greatest reputation either. I can empathize with someone suffering from depression, but unfortunately know what happens when it is not treated properly from a close family member (and can see how it would disrupt a basketball team). If this was not one of our own guys potentially being railroaded, I admittedly may look at this differently, but I am not ready to compare Wardle to Rice just yet.

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I totally admit that I am completely biased. Not only is Brian one of ours, but I have always liked him. While he was at Marquette, and afterward, he always conducted himself as a perfect gentleman. I went down to Rockford to interview him when he was down there. He was great. He didn't need to be.

Looking at these two cases, at least as they are set out, I am not all that impressed. One is from a walk-on with a pretty notorious mother. The other seems to be about the same. Here is a kid who started out as the player of the year in Iowa, lasted one year at the state school, and was a fair player at Green Bay. While I would not find it acceptable for a coach to ridicule a player with mental illness problems, I can see a coach getting on a kid if he fails to take his medication, melts down during a game, and creates a crisis. I can understand a coach telling a player that he has to take responsibility for his own health and being ready to play. That does not mean not getting the flu. It does mean taking the medication you know you need to stay mentally balanced. I also look at this and wonder why Mom was not allowed to talk to the head coach while her son was on (as she notes deserved) academic probation. First, what does she need to talk to the coach about, exactly? To get him to talk to profs to up the kid's grades? If she got shuffled off to his trusted assistant, I think it was more a matter of "I don't have time to deal with this woman right now. You handle it."

There may be more to the matter than that. An investigation is in order. But so far, I have not seen more than a few parents whose noses are out of joint.

Justin Felder ‏@Justin_Felder 14m

Spoke to a former Green Bay men's basketball player about Coach Wardle's style..."he made you have tough skin." Hear more soon on @fox11news


Drew Smith ‏@DrewSmithSports 5m

Seth Evans on Wardle: "...he was pushing me in the right direction, I just wasn't ready for it at the age of 18."

http://www.fox11online.com/dpp/sport...R-wwtg.twitter

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Originally Posted by unclejohn

I totally admit that I am completely biased. Not only is Brian one of ours, but I have always liked him. While he was at Marquette, and afterward, he always conducted himself as a perfect gentleman. I went down to Rockford to interview him when he was down there. He was great. He didn't need to be.

Looking at these two cases, at least as they are set out, I am not all that impressed. One is from a walk-on with a pretty notorious mother. The other seems to be about the same. Here is a kid who started out as the player of the year in Iowa, lasted one year at the state school, and was a fair player at Green Bay. While I would not find it acceptable for a coach to ridicule a player with mental illness problems, I can see a coach getting on a kid if he fails to take his medication, melts down during a game, and creates a crisis. I can understand a coach telling a player that he has to take responsibility for his own health and being ready to play. That does not mean not getting the flu. It does mean taking the medication you know you need to stay mentally balanced. I also look at this and wonder why Mom was not allowed to talk to the head coach while her son was on (as she notes deserved) academic probation. First, what does she need to talk to the coach about, exactly? To get him to talk to profs to up the kid's grades? If she got shuffled off to his trusted assistant, I think it was more a matter of "I don't have time to deal with this woman right now. You handle it."

There may be more to the matter than that. An investigation is in order. But so far, I have not seen more than a few parents whose noses are out of joint.

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I think we should let the investigation play out because my understanding is that there are more than just a couple unhappy fringe players. Again, nothing physical... I think Wardle may have made some mistakes recruiting wise and has some players who may not have been good fits with his program and what he is trying to do.