Mouton Punch..

[Don]

From ESPN: "Rodriguez says what Mouton did wasn't malicious and shouldn't be compared to Oregon's LeGarrette Blount's punch against Boise State that led to his coach suspending him for the season."

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4487563

Here's the video in case you haven't seen it (I hope).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPYueAc5XAE

How was that punch NOT malicious? He didn't go after his own player or the fans but that's not relevant. He DID deliberately punch another player.

ESPN goes on: "Rodriguez insists there's no room in the game for throwing punches, adding that Mouton understands he hurt his team. Rodriguez says he told commissioner James Delany he will tell the Big Ten to hold other players to the same standard as it did Mouton for non-football acts such as his jab."

So, is he saying that the Big Ten DOESN'T enforce a ban on punching by other teams????

[MasterBevo]

Roid Rage?? :mad: :confused:

[Hero1957]

No comparison to Blount.

No excuses though. He was held out of Saturday's game and that was just.

[Lincoln Tower]

Rodriguez was pretty dickish in the post game presser. I don't think it's comparable to Blount, but he defense of it was weird.

He first of all obviously didn't think he should've been suspended, which is pretty bad. Worse yet, he tried to turn it on everyone else in the conference, pretty much assuring he'd have someone watch every BT game vigorously, threatening to tattle on every other team.

Then, he says, "I don't want to mention any names but", and describes an incident at the end of a BT game, that ended as his game ended, where a player threw a forearm. He "didn't mention any names" but it obvious he was talking about the end of the Purdue game.

The Purdue kid probably will get suspended, because he did hit another player late. But is that really the way to publicly handle this? Defend an indefensible act, promise to tattle on the rest of your conference, then turn it on another team.

Was he not smart enough to say, "Jonas made a bad decision, he served his punishment, and while we don't condone his actions, we believe he's a good kid, has learned from his mistake, and will put this behind him." Was that so hard?

[Don]

Rodriguez was pretty dickish in the post game presser. I don't think it's comparable to Blount, but he defense of it was weird.

He first of all obviously didn't think he should've been suspended, which is pretty bad. Worse yet, he tried to turn it on everyone else in the conference, pretty much assuring he'd have someone watch every BT game vigorously, threatening to tattle on every other team.

Then, he says, "I don't want to mention any names but", and describes an incident at the end of a BT game, that ended as his game ended, where a player threw a forearm. He "didn't mention any names" but it obvious he was talking about the end of the Purdue game.

The Purdue kid probably will get suspended, because he did hit another player late. But is that really the way to publicly handle this? Defend an indefensible act, promise to tattle on the rest of your conference, then turn it on another team.

Was he not smart enough to say, "Jonas made a bad decision, he served his punishment, and while we don't condone his actions, we believe he's a good kid, has learned from his mistake, and will put this behind him." Was that so hard?

that there is/are some internal factor(s) at play here. Remember, he had a team unity problem to start the season (players going to the press about practices). Perhaps, RR is trying to show support for his players in hopes they will support him among the team. That's not to say it is the right way to go about garnering team unity but it could be the reason.

Of course re-reading my comments about RR reminds me of Lame Kiffin trying to pass of his stupidity as a brilliant stratagem to take the pressure off of his players.

[Lincoln Tower]

that there is/are some internal factor(s) at play here. Remember, he had a team unity problem to start the season (players going to the press about practices). Perhaps, RR is trying to show support for his players in hopes they will support him among the team. That's not to say it is the right way to go about garnering team unity but it could be the reason.

Of course re-reading my comments about RR reminds me of Lame Kiffin trying to pass of his stupidity as a brilliant stratagem to take the pressure off of his players.

Not that I am trying to be argumentative, but I think he could easily have done this without promising to police the BT by himself.

Another odd thing: the Bt didn't inform UM about the suspension until Thursday night, meaning they basically had 1 walkthrough left to deal with his replacement. If I am Rodriguez, that is what upsets me. If he criticizes the BT for a late notice, that is understandable, and even very justifiable, IMO. But to turn it on every other team is an odd response.

[Hero1957]

that there is/are some internal factor(s) at play here. Remember, he had a team unity problem to start the season (players going to the press about practices). Perhaps, RR is trying to show support for his players in hopes they will support him among the team. That's not to say it is the right way to go about garnering team unity but it could be the reason.

Of course re-reading my comments about RR reminds me of Lame Kiffin trying to pass of his stupidity as a brilliant stratagem to take the pressure off of his players.

RR is a good coach, but he seems to be a fish out of water since he left the hills.