I tried to post this on the thread that was removed, but wasn't fast enough. Sorry!
We all rejoiced at every Griz win, ugly or not. However at times, the cost of victory was too high. The Football team and its supporters sacrificed the integrity of the program for wins. That is plain enough. I applaud U of M for taking the steps to clean up this mess, even though they are years late in being taken. It is tragic that the cost of the clean up is the jobs of the HC and the AC, but there are times when things like that are unavoidable. Regardless of whether or not the University is correct in letting Phlugrad and O'Day go, it is taking action (someone once told me that failure is compounded by inaction. If you are wrong and you still act, then you are doing at least one thing right). That action will help heal the black eye that the program has had for a while now.
As for Player Rep and company, I think that people misunderstand him. I'm not saying his point of view is correct, I am just saying that it is misunderstood. PR is an attorney. As such he has an instinct that tells him that someone is not guilty until proven as such, and that they should enjoy all the rights, freedoms, and privileges they have until such a time as they are proven guilty. That is PR's professional instinct coming out. His instinct as a lawyer is to look for holes in a story and turn them into reasonable doubt. That is being confused as being an apologist for what is undoubtedly one of the worst spats of student and staff misconduct in UM history. PR is passionate about football, and about the Griz. Like it or not we are all on the same team, we all want what is best for the University and what is best for the football team. We all have a vested interest in the University through our attendance, our donations, and our support.
That being said, I am very happy that UM is taking the necessary steps to clean up an image that has been drug through the mud. Even with the drama that is unfolding in Missoula and across Griz Nation, this is still the premiere program at the FCS level. This is the University of Montana and it is not the place to go to escape discipline, escape consequences, or escape obligations as a law abiding citizen. If anything the court of public opinion will hold everyone to a higher standard. It is high time that that very message was spoken loud and clear by the University, and I am personally glad that it stepped up and did so.