In a study that would only be lost on guys like Mike Rice, it has been learned that – NEWSFLASH! – Division I athletes don't respond favorably to verbally abusive coaches.
In the Clemson study that took place last year, the findings were in line with what you probably already guessed:
"..participating athletes were less motivated by hostile interaction with coaches, and that athletes found coaches who utilized these methods to be less credible, meaning they didn't trust them, find them competent or caring."
I get the old school mentality of breaking an athlete down with the intent of reconstructing but in today's world, it's clear that can't be a coach's sole tactic, and even when employed, the coach better be recognized as a credible and elite performer in their field or players will simply tune out.
Frankly, this shouldn't come as much of a surprise. As much as I love coach Knight, it's no secret his shtick would not fly with today's elite collegiate athlete. Instead, it's guys like Krzyzewski, Pitino, Izzo, Boeheim, Matta and others who find themselves attracting top talent.
Sure, all of these guys can get in a player's face but that's the exception, not the norm, and even when it does happen, players are accepting because the verbal tirades are typically reserved for worthy situations and come in between examples of the head coach demonstrating versatility in their communication and a pure dedication to the improvement of the kid as both a player and a person.
Consider this reason 1,038 to appreciate having Thad Matta at the controls in Columbus.
BOONE GOES THE DYNAMITE. Having overcome issues with alcohol and alcohol-fueled shenanigans early in his collegiate and professional football career, Alex Boone continues to show impressive maturity.
Just four years ago, Boone was the butt of jokes after a drunken outburst that saw him jumping on cars and trying to break windows before a police taser forced him to chill.
Last year, after getting the booze under control, Boone was a major factor in a San Francisco 49ers rushing attack that ranked 4th in the league, serving as the right guard, as the Niners made it all the way to the Super Bowl before falling to the Ravens.
Not satisfied, Boone has been working out this offseason with LeCharles Bentley, at his offensive line academy in Avon, Ohio. Focusing mostly on adding necessary strength to survive the grind of playing in the NFL's trenches, Boone has put on 10-15 lbs of muscle thus far. Sounding totally committed, Boone also acknowledges an effort to eat right amidst his workouts, while making sure he has time for his son, whom he's dubbed Johnny Bananas.
I have to say, I was pretty certain Boone would've been tossed on the NFL's scrap heap by now. Instead, he's all growns up and making a name for himself in the league, overcoming some demons in the process. Hat tip to the Lakewood product. As an undrafted player, he's overcome significant odds to perform at a near-Pro-Bowl level.
ABRAHAM SIMPSON BILL SNYDER SPEAKS OUT. Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder took to the airwaves yesterday and one of the truly respected elders of college football doesn't like the direction the sport is heading:
"College athletics, particularly football, has changed dramatically throughout my career. I think it's in a bad place right now. It's in a bad place for a variety of reasons. We've allowed it to become money driven. We've allowed it to become TV driven. We've allowed athletic programs or football programs to mean more to a university than what the university is really supposed to be all about. The last I heard, we were educational institutions. Certainly there is an education that takes place in football, and I understand all the parameters. But it's not driven by values; it's driven by dollars and cents.”
Obviously, college athletics aren't the only entity driven by the great American dollar but for a man who has been in the game as long as Snyder, it's easy to understand his angst. That said, despite his admission that he is grossly overpaid, Snyder has been a prime benefactor of the money grab and recently signed a new five-year contract worth almost $15 million.
To his credit, he's largely responsible for KSU having one of the most profitable athletic departments in the country but his words, to me, ring about as hollow as those of Bob Stoops when he voiced his opinion that college football players should not receive an additional stipend from the NCAA, though he himself has profited handsomely from the existing system.
Okafor would give Ohio State an instant post presenceOKAFOR DOING HIS HOMEWORK. Jahlil Okafor, a 6'11" junior center from Whitney Young HS in Chicago and the #1 rated player in the country, still has Thad Matta on his mind, amidst a handful of other big-time programs including Duke, Michigan State and Kansas.
Okafor's father noted the family hosted Ohio State coaches recently and, in case you weren't aware, Okafor has expressed at least some interest in playing alongside Apple Valley (Minn.) point guard Tyus Jones, who is currently ranked just behind Jahlil as the #2 national prospect in the 2014 class.
That could potentially be good news for the Buckeyes as Jones lists his top destinations as Baylor, Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan State, Minnesota and Ohio State.
The two have been tight friends since age eight. How spectacular would it be if they decided to continue their friendship as teammates in Columbus? It's pretty much a long shot at this point but there's no question the duo could do worse than playing for a true players' coach in Matta.
IS CREAN ABOUT TO LOSE ANOTHER? The Remy Abell saga took another turn last night as his former high school coach, Jason Couch, said he received a text from Abell indicating he would not return to Tom Crean's program.
Late last week, news broke that Abell was on his way out but after his mom went to Bloomington to talk with Crean over the weekend, it seemed Abell's status was undecided, at the very least. Now, with his former high school coach going public, it's hard not to believe the kid is history.
The junior-to-be averaged less than 11 minutes per game in two seasons for the Hoosiers but figured to have a shot at more playing time this season. Either way, the defection would create even more roster turnover for a team already trying to reload after having lost Jordan Hulls, Christian Watford, Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller.
THIS IS THE END... Short North circa 1961... The 9 Nastiest Baseball Brawls of All-Time... Reading Room, The Ohio State University... Sport Balls Replaced With Cats (tho I hate cats)... Record Store Day is just two sunrises away... The business of Phish... Crest Gastropub of Clintonville coming very soon... BLOWOUT!... The original Zubaz... Former OSU women's hoops coach and owner of a super-fresh Grove-cut retires unexpectedly... If you click on anything, click on this: AMERICA.
