I hesitate to even get involved in this thread because everyone has an emotionally charged opinion that isn't going to change. Somehow it has turned in to a "you're with the team or you're not" which is a bit ridiculous. A couple of non-truths are getting stretched and stated as fact that I can't let go by.
1)The athletic fee is $46.00 per semester, $92.00 per year. Obviously, more money comes from season tickets then the student athletic fee. However, it is
optional for season ticket holders to spend that money, the students do not have a choice. The highest amount of non-optional financial support for the athletic department comes from the student population, as very little general fund (state taxpayer) money ends up in the athletic department. Yes, students get free tickets, but not all 14,000 of them. The athletic departments gets thousands of dollars from students every year that have zero interest in sports and never attend a game. Because of this, the athletic department should be accountable to the student body. I am not saying in this situation per se, but in general.
2)The football program is not more important than the University. One could exist without the other, but not the other way around. It seems like some on this board hold the football team above all else and feel that everyone should acknowledge their greatness. It seems like there is a double standard though. People get upset when someone on this board says "we" when talking about the team success and are quick to point out that it is the gifted athletes who did it, not the other Grizzly students who don't play sports. That is a perfectly fine sentiment, but it is hypocritical to then say that the student news paper shouldn't be publishing articles that put the football team in a poor light because they are attacking their own institution. If we put the football team on a pedestal and make it clear that they are distinguished from the rest of the student body, then the student paper is not out of line to question them if they see fit. We obviously don't have to agree with their method or story (and many here don't
) but anyone that is mad at the Kaimin simply because they published a negative article about the Griz is letting their Griz fandom skew their objectionality on the issue.
3) The statement that the Kaimin did not try and get both sides of the story is plain wrong. They got a lead on a story because two players missed the first game of this season. They did absolutely give both Coach Hauck and the student's father a chance to talk about the issue. The father deferred to the coach, and Hauck refused to answer. That is certainly his prerogative, but
the Kaimin did try and get the other side of the story. The standard for printing articles is giving the sides the opportunity to talk, not whether they decide to. If the facts as stated in the Kaimin were really off base, O'Day would have said so. They would not stand by and let their players be slandered. They commented that Coach Hacuk took care of the situation, if the facts of the incident were wrong it certainly would have been pointed out by O'Day in the Missoulian article. They are upset the story came out, but when the players missed the game, it did become relevant, even if the incident happened six months before. If all media followed the standard implied by some of us on this board, no investigative journalism would ever be printed. Nixon didn't talk about Watergate, he certainly didn't want that to come out...you get the idea.
4)A student fee supports the Kaimin, thus they are responsible to the student body as well. I do not believe that any state tax dollars directly supports it, though I could be wrong. The student body turned down a fee increase for the Kaimin a few years back, if the students are upset they have ways to take action.
5)I generally am not a big Kaimin news fan. They sensationalize stories for the wow factor from time to time, or play up one side of a two sided issue. All the stories about interim housing in the dorms was particularly one sided last fall. It is unusual for me to defend their work, and I think that they would be better off writing Griz articles with information from other sources than doing a Cal Poly cover. I don't necessarily agree with every part of their coverage of this incident, but I will continue to support their right to cover it.
6)Coach Hauck could have prevented this whole thing with one sentence. "The two players violated team rules, we have dealt with it internally and they were suspended for the the first game of the season." By saying simply "They are unavailable leads any reporter worth his name to ask why..." I do think that the thought that his relationship/treatment of the media has and will continue to hurt some of his job prospects. Pro coaches can get away with coach speak a lot easier than college coaches. You need to be more a fundraiser and public relations guy with a bit of charisma to handle the fund raising and face of the program responsibilities at big time college football schools. I think that his cold relationship with the media and perceived arrogance towards anyone who questions him will at least be part of the discussion at the bigger programs.
7)The argument that the Missoulian hasn't picked this story up because they know that Griz football pays their bills and the Kaimin doesn't have to worry about paying its bills doesn't support the Missoulian, it actually implies that when it comes to Grizzly Athletics, the Kaimin can be more objective because they don't have to worry about their funding disappearing. If the Missoulian is afraid of being cut off from the program, they have to be careful not to piss off the coach. That could very easily mean not asking the tough questions every time.
8) I wish this would stop happening so we could all support the large majority of great young men that play football.
9)I think that the anger on this subject on this board is not matched in the Griz population as a whole. I would bet there are more Kaimin supporters out there than many of us realize. I also think a lot more people just don't care. And some think it is embarrassing for all parties involved.
10)I hope the Griz win today! Go Griz
Can anyone translate?
