Parents, do you lock your kids in dark places?

by Chris Wright

Texas Tech University football program recently fired their head football coach for (in my opinion), unacceptable and inappropriate behavior. He locked a player diagnosed with a concussion inside of a dark closet as discipline. Ok, it was not a closet. That's the way that it was originally reported, but it actually was a dark room about the size of a single car garage. I believe it is called an "equipment locker".

Believe it or not, this is a controversial issue in sports this week! To be fair to the controversy, let me give you a little more background on the story. The player in question is named Adam James. His father is Craig James; a former NFL football player and currently an ESPN college football commentator. He is reported to be very much involved in the development of his son's athletic education and mentoring. He has been accused by Mike Leach, the former Texas Tech football coach, of being a meddler. Coach Leach said the father Craig James complained about his son's playing time and other directions of the coaching staff. Basically, it sounds like Craig James is not much different than many parents who has children that are athletes. I used to coach AAU girls basketball and I witnessed it first hand. Parents meddle. Also, being that Craig James works for the "world wide leader in sports" in a position of intimidation; college football commentator, I am assuming that Mike Leach felt that this put daddy in a position of power also. Or at least a perceived position of power.

On Coach Leach, he also has a reputation of being a tough minded coach and for some athletes, difficult to play for. He also had some contract disputes with the university and was very outspoken with his discontent with the contract offered. There you have it. The brief synopsis on the background of both parties. Does that change your opinion on his behavior?

As parents, we entrust the mentoring, coaching, and well-being of our children to the hands of coaches and teachers everyday. From the moment they leave your hands when you drop them off at daycare and beyond. This trust continues in elementary school and up through college. And I do not believe that most of you would condone your child, who has been diagnosed with a concussion or any injury, to be stuck in a "dark room" or disciplined at all for being advised to resist the urge to practice or play by a doctor; not a coach, not a trainer, but a doctor. That is what this Coach told his trainer to do. And like a dummy, the trainer followed 'orders' and locked the kid in the 'dark room' and then lied to the media and the university saying that he never did. Then the trainer recanted his story and told the truth saying he did! What the hell is that all about? Then the coach says, "the punishment did not cause any further medical damage to the player". What is that? In summary, you don't like the kid, you don't like his dad, you're a bully, and you bully not only your players, but your assistant coaches and trainers too. So you lock the kid in a 'dark room' because the doctor advised that he should not practice or play. Nice move coach.

Parents, wouldn't you prefer that a coach cut or release your child from the team, bench your child, verbally reprimand your child IF indeed he's not playing or participating up to his or her potential? Wouldn't you prefer that the coach was able to show by detailed developmental reports and statistics that your son is just not standing up to the task? I would. You would NOT lock my kid in a dark room with a concussion because your next step may be the grave!

Many pundits and people who approve of Coach Leach's behavior fall back on the "tough" coach argument. They reference Bobby Knight, the former Indiana basketball coach who was known as a tough as nails coach who would berate players and throw chairs and intimidate the media. They reference former Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes, who was caught on video punching a player. They reference NY Giants coach Tom Coughlin who former Giants running back Tiki Barber said was the catalyst for his retirement. They reference Coach Bear Bryant, the former Alabama football coach who had very unorthodoxed ways of coaching and disciplining his players. Ok, so these men that I mentioned have storied careers and are very successful. But their methods would not be tolerated with today's athletes or parents. There was a time that a parent said "i don't care what you need to do to make my boy successful'. There was a time that strict physical discipline was the rule in homes. Kids were used to it. I know that the beatings that I received as a child would surely have me in a foster home today! Child Protection would have removed me and my siblings from the homes immediately. Ladies and Gentlemen, we are in the days of "time-outs" and "talking". Therapy and family counseling. You don't beat the crap out of your children anymore and you certainly don't stick them in dark rooms. So, if the kid doesn't get it at home, you really expect him to accept it from a coach? And if you didn't administer this type of discipline, would you accept it from a coach?

There are good coaches in sports also. Coaches that do not impose this kind of will on their athletes and coaches. Men and women who do not coach by fear. I am a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and I admire the way their coach Mike Tomlin coaches and disciplines his players. He motivates them with playing time, roster assignments, and details. I like Patriots coach Bill Belichek who tells his players 'my way or the highway'. You try him, you won't be a Patriot long. I like Lakers coach and former Michael Jordan/Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson, who has coached some of the most polarizing personalities in sports; Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Kobe Bryant, and Shaq. He managed personalities. He did not have tirades. I like coach Calipari and Coach Rick Pitino and Nick Saban and Mack Brown. Look at these guys careers. They're known as mentors and leaders. Not bullies and feared. Players love these men as much as they love their own fathers.

I'm not sure if Coach Mike Leach is a father but if he is, I hope that he when his child says, "Mommy, i'm sick, can i stay home from school today?", Mike doesn't shove him in a closet until he learns not to ever ask again.