Spring Break
Dear Mike Riley, nice job
Nick Lilja
Issue date: 8/8/07 Section: Sports
Even Helen Keller could see that Francies is no longer with the team because there was a risk of distraction. The Beavers are starting this season and a coaching staff and team needs to trust that players aren't going to jeopardize the team or the team goals for their own personal benefit.
While wielding a loaded gun has no real benefits to someone living in Corvallis, Oregon, the fact remains that Francies showed that he was willing to breech that trust by being arrested in the first place.
Teams with players that put themselves in front of the team struggle to keep discipline down the stretch because players think there will be no consequences for their actions. This is what led to the bad-boys of the Erickson era. Thankfully, Riley has some cahones.
In recent years, athletes at every level have turned into celebrities. They feel an entitlement to a "free pass" for run-ins with the law. Most times they think they can scoot by and not follow the rules that the rest of the American citizens follow. Riley bucked that trend.
That is why Riley has won gobs of points in my book. So props to you Mike Riley. You took a stand where other coaches might not. You took a risk knowing the consequences of that risk. You understand that a player can be replaced quickly but the reputation of a team cannot. You deserve a high-five from every person wearing orange and black.
Riley cut Francies because it was the right thing to do. That "right thing" is something that is thoroughly lacking in sports these days. That is why today, I am a Riley fan.
While wielding a loaded gun has no real benefits to someone living in Corvallis, Oregon, the fact remains that Francies showed that he was willing to breech that trust by being arrested in the first place.
Teams with players that put themselves in front of the team struggle to keep discipline down the stretch because players think there will be no consequences for their actions. This is what led to the bad-boys of the Erickson era. Thankfully, Riley has some cahones.
In recent years, athletes at every level have turned into celebrities. They feel an entitlement to a "free pass" for run-ins with the law. Most times they think they can scoot by and not follow the rules that the rest of the American citizens follow. Riley bucked that trend.
That is why Riley has won gobs of points in my book. So props to you Mike Riley. You took a stand where other coaches might not. You took a risk knowing the consequences of that risk. You understand that a player can be replaced quickly but the reputation of a team cannot. You deserve a high-five from every person wearing orange and black.
Riley cut Francies because it was the right thing to do. That "right thing" is something that is thoroughly lacking in sports these days. That is why today, I am a Riley fan.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Jim
posted 8/08/07 @ 6:54 PM PST
Nick,
you sound like you are the jilted lover an OSU football player. This is not the first player that Riley has cut for violation of team rules and unfortunatly it probably wont be the last. (Continued…)
Matt T
posted 8/09/07 @ 12:09 AM PST
I'm sure that I'm not the only person that is tired of the Nick-Lija-is-a-negative-person campaign. Read his articles, he isn't negative he is a smart-ass. (Continued…)
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