Page 10 - Florida Sentinel 9-11-15 Edition

Opinions
Citizens React To USF Athletic Director Reversing Head Football Coach’s Decision
ELKINO WATSON
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
At 3 a.m. Sunday morning, an incident in Ybor City re- sulted in two former Univer- sity of South Florida football players being stabbed.
Elkino Watson died from his injuries, and Desmond Horne is reported to be in stable condition.
Following the incident, USF Head Football Coach, Willie Taggert banned his
COACH WILLIE TAGGERT
players form hanging out in Ybor City. Before his ban could be implemented, his boss, Ath- letic Director Mark Harlan reversed the ban after some of USF’s biggest boosters who are Ybor City business owners, complained the area was un- fairly being singled out after the tragedy.
According to published re- ports, among the complainers was Columbia Restaurant
MARK HARLAN USF A.D.
Group President, Richard Gonzmart, who said USF’s athletic department often holds events in Ybor City and also they take recruits their during visits.
Harlan was quoted as saying he wants to make it clear the school’s athletics’ hold high regard for Ybor City and its cherished and histori- cal place in the area commu- nity and culture.
These are the opinions of some citizens on Taggert’s decision and Harlan’s veto- ing it.
Joe Troupe, who has a training program for athletes: “The kids are under the pro- tection of the head coach, and he was just trying to protect his players. I think Taggert made the right decision, and I think he was acting as a men- tor and a father to the players.
“I think Harlan was out of place reversing the decision. I understand what he was doing, but I don’t agree with it. His approach was from a busi- ness perspective, and he put the safety of the players sec- ond to the interest of the boosters and business owners of Ybor City.”
Former NFL Player Ty- rone Keys: “In a coach/player relationship, you’re with your players all the time and this is not an overre- action by Taggert. He’s emo- tionally connected to his players.
“During my career, things like that weren’t made avail- able to the media. This whole thing should have been han- dled in-house. If the A.D. wanted to make that decision he should have talked to Tag- gert first. The way this hap- pened could affect the confidence level between the players and the school.”
High school coach and mentor, Rev. Kenneth Muldrow: “I think Willie Taggert was taking precau- tionary measures to protect his players. The coach knows the culture and that’s why he made that decision. The safety of the players is the top prior- ity.”
James Ransom: “The bottom line is this incident oc- curred at a time when the
JAMES RANSOM
players shouldn’t have been in Ybor City. When you’re out that late, there’s always a chance something negative is going on. There are businesses in Ybor City that have never had any negative incidents.
“I think Coach Taggert should mandate a curfew for his players. The school needs to take a position on this issue to send out the message that they are committed to protect- ing its students and athletes. The businesses in Ybor City have a right to benefit from the athletes and students spend- ing money there, but that has to be tempered with some kind of control.”
Ransom said he would advise Taggert to get some public relations help, or have Harlan talk to the players and hand down mandates.
“I don’t think the alumni should put pressure on a coach who is trying to protect his players and the students as well.
“Taggert’s mandate was not anti-Ybor or intended to hurt any businesses in Ybor City. This is about the students and athletes. Taggert was right to get his players to use common sense. I’d hate to see what happens if another player or student is hurt. Gonzmart gives back to the community and area schools, and has always been favored by patrons and school officials.
“I think Tony Dungy said it best when he said,’ nothing good ever happens after mid- night. It may be too strong for Taggert to tell his players not to go to Ybor at all.”
Hiram Green: “From a parents’ perspective, I under- stand the concerns of Coach Taggert because he has the trust of the parents of his ath- letes in his hands. I tell my boys about the dangers of being out late at night. In terms of the athletic director, I don’t want to get into that.
“The head coach has the trust of the parents because he’s promised to take care of their child.”
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