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A last chance, and then another last chance

by Tony Basilio

The recent legal trouble and subsequent controversy involving Tennessee quarterback/receiver James Banks offer further evidence of the deplorable state of major college sports. Banks, of course, was recently charged with underage drinking when he acted out in front of police at a Cumberland Avenue filling station.

It wasn’t the first time Banks had misbehaved, and UT head coach Phillip Fulmer’s subsequent three-game suspension of the troubled player has prompted some observers, particularly in the local media, to wonder aloud why he wasn’t hit with stiffer penalties.

But the same day the state’s dailies were dissecting Banks’ incident, “student athletes” at other SEC schools were making his transgression look insignificant by comparison. In Gainesville, Fla., linebacker Channing Crowder and teammate Jarvis Herring were suspended for the Gators’ season opener after physically scuffling with police outside a nightclub.

Not to be outdone, star Mississippi running back Jamal Pittman was indefinitely suspended along with teammate Ken Bournes for brandishing a gun during a recent weekend incident in Memphis.

An indefinite suspension in major college sports is code for “until everyone forgets what happened.” See Bob Huggins at Cincinnati for details; the Bearcat head basketball coach was “indefinitely suspended” after a late May DWI arrest. A tearful press conference followed, along with the word that Huggins was going to seek treatment. Less than seven weeks later, Cincy officials allowed that Huggins will be reinstated in September—just in time for fall basketball practice.

And Huggins’ return isn’t even the most disgraceful. That dishonor belongs to Larry Eustachy. The former Iowa State head coach had to bail out of Ames amid the circulation of scandalous photos showing an inebriated, married man in his late 40’s partying and carousing with college co-eds. Eustachy called a press conference, admitted to being an alcoholic, and sought immediate treatment. Less than a year later, Southern Miss named him their new head coach.

The sad fact is that Southern Miss coaches and administrators have to win football games just like those at Florida, just like those at UT, just like athletics officials at all other major college programs must. To put it another way: Are the fans going to remember Fulmer’s integrity in disciplining Banks if Tennessee loses four games this year? Will he get any extra leeway from fans and administration for being a disciplinarian? Ripping Fulmer for not being tougher is hypocritical of all of us.

Former Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins head coach Jimmy Johnson said it best: “I’m not paid to develop character. I’m paid to win games.” His comment came after he signed former LSU running back and multiple offender Cecil “The Diesel” Collins to a free agent contract with the Dolphins.

Granted, that’s comparing NFL to college football. But therein lies the rub; college football is really just an ill-disguised version of pro football. The only thing keeping it nominally non-professional is that the players don’t get paid; everything else about it is high-stakes. And just as professional coaches are judged by their win/loss records, so it goes with major college head coaches, too.

The same people who now express outrage over a lack of firm discipline in the Banks situation will be in the stands cheering when UNLV comes to town. Back in the spring, Fulmer said that James Banks was down to his last chance. Make that his last chance plus one. Banks’ own father was quoted in the Knoxville media saying that he would like to see his son suspended for the year to get his life back in order. Sorry, sir. Three games will have to do. That’s about as much “discipline” as you’re liable to find in today’s college sports.

After a month off, Tony Basilio returns to Knoxville radio Aug. 6 on 1180 WVLZ-AM with a regular show running weekdays from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. His “Saturday Sportsline” will also return to the airwaves on the same station in early August.
Tune in and talk sports with “The Tony Basilio Show” each weekday from 3-6 p.m. on the network (670 WMTY-AM, 850 WKVL-AM, 1140 WLOD-AM, 1290 WATO-AM, or 1400 WGAP-AM)

July 29, 2004 • Vol. 14, No. 31 © 2004 Metro Pulse