director of player engagement

[cohenzone]

You're talking about a game, he's talking about life. The small minded who are parsing his words and using one quote of the interview are missing the bigger picture, and making assumptions about what he and Diaco will allow with very little to go on, but one sentence that doesn't say anything about who is or isn't welcome.

I can say without a doubt in my mind that many are taking him out of context. Unless someone can quote where he stated that anyone who disagreed with his opinion on Jesus wouldn't be welcome. It's a fair question to ask, but most aren't asking the question, they have already answered it for him.

The idea that coaches are treated like any other professor is funny. I missed the university laws that limit the time a professor can spend with a student. If a professor spoke to their students the way many coaches speak to their players, they'd be fired. But it isn't until Jesus is brought up at a public unversity that academics' panties get in a bind.

You have no idea what you are talking about. The guy made a flat out statement and I've witnessed exactly that sort of blindness to other peoples beliefs from evangelical types before. If you don't get how totally inappropriate it is for someone in a position of responsibility for a non-relgious endeavor to be introducing as an intended practice the tenets of a particular religion, which, I hate to tell you, that Lord and Savior represent, you are hopeless. If you can't understand that people can be motivated to behave in a generous, or civic minded way without being subjected to someone else's religious fervor, and in a public institutional setting in the United States of America, you don't understand anything. What would coach say if someone in the huddle said, "no way will I stand hear and let you bring up anything about Jesus or the idea that anyone is my Lord and Savior?" Tell him he has lost his way? Bench him? And of course, when you get right down to it, how would the Lord and Savior feel about it if in the very next second, one of those in the huddle, stirred by spirituality. sent some kid on the other side into la-la land with a brutal shot to the head? Football is emotional, but hardly spiritual. Let the kids hold a prayer meeting in one of the churches or at the coach's house if they are so inclined, but no way should this be pushed on them as part of the football program.

And by the way, people put up with behavior in a sports setting that they shouldn't or wouldn't in most other situations. It runs all the way from physical confrontations that are only subject to a penalty in the sport but outside the arena might be the subject of criminal and sometimes civil actions. As for locker room situations, It isn't that college kids never hear or use bad language, it's that coaches are supposedly setting some sort of example, so going on an obscenity laden tirade as some sort of motivational method is pretty much just letting the coach act like a . This coach might be at the other end of that spectrum, using in his mind "right thinking" as a motivational tool, but using an inappropriate way to do it.

 

[cohenzone]

You know what's actually pretty funny is the argument is whether or not it could be an issue.

Half the people are saying it won't, and half the people are saying it will or could be if it were them.

Doesn't that alone lead you to the conclusion that if people here have a problem with an issue like religion that even 1 or 2 guys on the team would to?

Look, I honestly don't care, but if there is a Jewish guy, atheist guy or Muslim guy on the team you can't tell me that quote wouldn't make them feel marginalized, " offended" or simply think less of the guy because he chooses to interject his beliefs.

I think that even some Christian kids might be offended as well, if not marginalized.

 

[BlueMAB]

What happened at my university? PSU. That same thing also happened at UConn by the way. This summer.

Nice taking the previous post out of context. The previous poster made it a point to say the coaches can yammer at students in a way that professors can't. Mike Rice found out that wasn't true. You twisted things for your ends.

You are a liar.

I didn't say they can say "anything they want". I said they talk to players in a way professors can't. If you don't believe that you are not only a liar, but an idiot. I'm sure a player has heard "Get your head out of your a s s" once or twice, but probably not in Chemistry.

Mike Rice went beyond saying things that were out of line and was firing basketballs at guys heads. Comparing that, to what was quoted in the newspaper, is beyond ridiculous and shows how fragile your argument has become.

That and playing the nelsonmuntz role by intentionally lying about what the person that you are responding to actually wrote shows how small minded you are being.

 

[BlueMAB]

You have no idea what you are talking about. The guy made a flat out statement and I've witnessed exactly that sort of blindness to other peoples beliefs from evangelical types before. If you don't get how totally inappropriate it is for someone in a position of responsibility for a non-relgious endeavor to be introducing as an intended practice the tenets of a particular religion, which, I hate to tell you, that Lord and Savior represent, you are hopeless. If you can't understand that people can be motivated to behave in a generous, or civic minded way without being subjected to someone else's religious fervor, and in a public institutional setting in the United States of America, you don't understand anything. What would coach say if someone in the huddle said, "no way will I stand hear and let you bring up anything about Jesus or the idea that anyone is my Lord and Savior?" Tell him he has lost his way? Bench him? And of course, when you get right down to it, how would the Lord and Savior feel about it if in the very next second, one of those in the huddle, stirred by spirituality. sent some kid on the other side into la-la land with a brutal shot to the head? Football is emotional, but hardly spiritual. Let the kids hold a prayer meeting in one of the churches or at the coach's house if they are so inclined, but no way should this be pushed on them as part of the football program.

And by the way, people put up with behavior in a sports setting that they shouldn't or wouldn't in most other situations. It runs all the way from physical confrontations that are only subject to a penalty in the sport but outside the arena might be the subject of criminal and sometimes civil actions. As for locker room situations, It isn't that college kids never hear or use bad language, it's that coaches are supposedly setting some sort of example, so going on an obscenity laden tirade as some sort of motivational method is pretty much just letting the coach act like a . This coach might be at the other end of that spectrum, using in his mind "right thinking" as a motivational tool, but using an inappropriate way to do it.

Still waiting for you to quote where the part where he said "non-believers are not welcome" to show me I have no idea what I'm talking about.

I never said people need religion to be motivated to volunteer. I volunteer in a group that has atheists, Jews and Christians. You and upstater have a lot in common as you both respond to things I haven't written.

Thank you for agreeing that coaches and professors are treated differently. I never said, of course, that's justification for any type of behavior, rather that upstater's argument comparing him to professors is apples and oranges. And comparing it to Mike Rice is moronic.

 

[upstater]

You are a liar.

What's the lie?

I didn't say they can say "anything they want". I said they talk to players in a way professors can't.

Talk = yammer. Look it up in the dictionary. It's not my fault that you never heard that word.

If you don't believe that you are not only a liar, but an idiot. I'm sure a player has heard "Get your head out of your a s s" once or twice, but probably not in Chemistry.

It's the same for both.

Mike Rice went beyond saying things that were out of line and was firing basketballs at guys heads. Comparing that, to what was quoted in the newspaper, is beyond ridiculous and shows how fragile your argument has become.

I didn't compare it. You just did. I never said Jesus in the huddle is the same as Mike Rice. I as responding to this idea of yours that coaches somehow are not held to the same standard as professors. They are. You know why? Because coaching on a college campus is a vested position in the same way as being a professor.

That and playing the nelsonmuntz role by intentionally lying about what the person that you are responding to actually wrote shows how small minded you are being.

Intentionally lying? Say wha? Holy cow. How old are you? You sound like a 10 year old.

 

[upstater]

Still waiting for you to quote where the part where he said "non-believers are not welcome" to show me I have no idea what I'm talking about.

I never said people need religion to be motivated to volunteer. I volunteer in a group that has atheists, Jews and Christians. You and upstater have a lot in common as you both respond to things I haven't written.

Thank you for agreeing that coaches and professors are treated differently. I never said, of course, that's justification for any type of behavior, rather that upstater's argument comparing him to professors is apples and oranges. And comparing it to Mike Rice is moronic.

The nonbelievers are against you!!!!

 

[The Viking]

I keep waiting for this thread to die but I'm sure someone will just resurrect it in a couple days anyway

 

[cohenzone]

Still waiting for you to quote where the part where he said "non-believers are not welcome" to show me I have no idea what I'm talking about.

You are in la-la land. It's an inappropriate introduction of religion into a group formed for reasons totally unrelated to religion and it matters not to you that some of that group may not want any part of it, have little choice but to walk away from the team or bear something they should not have to bear whether or not they are "welcome." It is being forced on to them Do you think it is appropriate to ask all recruits if they are Christians, love Jesus and think nothing is possible without the Lord and Savior? Of course not and what makes it okay to make it part of the "curriculum" once they sign on the dotted line? Wake up dude.

 

[BlueMAB]

Look, I honestly don't care, but if there is a Jewish gu0y, atheist guy or Muslim guy on the team you can't tell me that quote wouldn't make them feel marginalized, " offended" or simply think less of the guy because he chooses to interject his beliefs.

It would definitely cause me to ask a few questions. My issue is most of the people in this thread who are "offended" think they already have the answers.

The second quote ("Jesus in the huddle") contradicts with the first quote ("worship the God you love").

I choose to give him the benefit of the doubt because at the end of the "Jesus in the huddle" quote he says "That's who we are". Referring to himself and Diaco. He doesn't say "That's who our players will/must be." Which is a fair question to ask of him, but, as I said, the people in this thread up in arms already believe they have their answer. But, again, he led into the quote by saying his job is to be inclusive and supportive of other faiths, so jumping to the conclusion that atheists, jews, and muslims are not welcome is a leap of faith. (pun intended)

It is possible to help someone find the nearest mosque, or support someone who says they don't believe in God, while saying "you may not believe in but I do and I give Him the glory. That's who I am".

And it's possible to do that without making the other person feel like they must follow your religion. Unless you're on the boneyard, where people are free to pretend they know what will happen privately based on 80+/- words in an article.

 

[UConnDan97]

I'm really excited to see how much progress Jones can make on some of these Florida recruits that we are still alive on! I have my list at home, but there are some kids with UConn offers that haven't found a landing spot. Hopefully, Jones can bring them home!!!

 

[BlueMAB]

Intentionally lying? Say wha? Holy cow. How old are you? You sound like a 10 year old.

"Holy cow, coaches can't do anything they please. They can't. Ask Mike Rice"

"The previous poster made it a point to say the coaches can yammer at students in a way that professors can't. Mike Rice found out that wasn't true."

I didn't say coaches can "do anything they please".

Mike Rice was caught throwing basketballs at players on video, but feel free to pretend that had nothing to do with him being fired.

I thought calling you a liar was being fair. My mistake. You're a genius. You're just like neslonmuntz. You are responding to something I never wrote, and mocking me for it. Comical.

 

[jackl]

As long as these young men come out of the program as decent citizens, brothers, sons and fathers and husbands who gives a crap. He may have misspoken but you know that will never happen as stated. With all of the troubled "utes" in the world why not give them a hand or direction. It also speaks to the type of individuals that they hope to attract. Thugs need not apply.

 

[BlueMAB]

The nonbelievers are against you!!!!

Do us all a favor and take your medication.

 

[BlueMAB]

You are in la-la land. It's an inappropriate introduction of religion into a group formed for reasons totally unrelated to religion and it matters not to you that some of that group may not want any part of it, have little choice but to walk away from the team or bear something they should not have to bear whether or not they are "welcome." It is being forced on to them Do you think it is appropriate to ask all recruits if they are Christians, love Jesus and think nothing is possible without the Lord and Savior? Of course not and what makes it okay to make it part of the "curriculum" once they sign on the dotted line? Wake up dude

Again, you guys are only looking at one quote.

His other quote contradicts the one about Jesus in the huddle. It is fair to ask him to explain further what he means/meant.

But you guys aren't interested in an explanation, you've already decided what his answers are.

 

[cohenzone]

As long as these young men come out of the program as decent citizens, brothers, sons and fathers and husbands who gives a crap. He may have misspoken but you know that will never happen as stated. With all of the troubled "utes" in the world why not give them a hand or direction. It also speaks to the type of individuals that they hope to attract. Thugs need not apply.

I doubt he "mis-spoke". I think he meant what he said. It is a typical evangelical line that I've been in the presence of too many times when the occasion didn't call for it. His mistake would be in implementing his program as exactly as he stated it would be into a non-religious setting As I said, you can give direction without introducing religion into a non-religious setting that the players did not sign on for.

 

[cohenzone]

Again, you guys are only looking at one quote.

His other quote contradicts the one about Jesus in the huddle. It is fair to ask him to explain further what he means/meant.

But you guys aren't interested in an explanation, you've already decided what his answers are.

You want to disregard his point of emphasis on what he means by faith. The true bottom line is that he should not be bringing religion into the program period. I don't care what it would be. His overall program seems great, but he needs to understand that motivation and good citizenship don't need a religious foundation or if he thinks they do, the football program is not the place to implement it. .

 

[Stray_Dog]

You honestly believe it is okay for him to say that " should be in the center of our huddle"? Within his job role, like I said, I think it is great if a student athlete shows interest in exploring religion or expressing spirituality that they are pointed to the proper venues on campus. Places like the various churches, campus Hillel and other religious venues. However, not every player on the team believes in nor does a prayer belong in the middle of a football huddle. Will a player be made to fell guilty if they happen to have other religious beliefs? It's just an ignorant statement to make in 2014.

When did freedom of religion become freedom from religion. I mean, what if a player decides on his own to start a prayer in the middle of the huddle...well, there may not be time as guess what, you are limited in time and need to make sure everyone in the huddle is aware of their assignments. However, in a locker-room if there is time, guess what, the player can pray...and not just in some building to be hidden away from others eyes because they MIGHT offend someone. The atheists law of silencing people is their version of a religious decree. People can and should pray where they want but they will be judged when doing it. Going to a theater and shouting a prayer would be offensive to most if not all people believers and atheists alike. But a person offering up a prayer on a street corner...doesn't bother me, offering up a prayer in the huddle and not getting the proper play calling...not appropriate. In the huddle and someone praying before a victory formation...Appropriate. Notice, it is the individual doing it, and for coach Diaco to say that JC will be in the huddle, whose to say on the sideline after the play was called in, that he is not praying for his team.

 

[Carl Spackler]

What is the difference between a thug and a warrior? It's not weapons. They both can use the same weapons. It's not training. They can both be trained, and use the same training to act. It's not the abiity to inflict pain, hurt and even kill another human being. The difference is in core values, and mission. What about men and women? What makes a man a good man? How does a good man interact with women? A good man, to me, behaves in a such a way, that when a woman leaves their side, that woman feels a lot better about herself. What makes a man a good public servant? It's understanding that battlefields exist in peacetime, and they are within the minds and hearts of people. You need to find ways to connect people, and show people that they have common interests. What else? What other lessons are there? Infinite.

There are many ways to achieve a peaceful and harmonious existence with others around you, and there are most definitely times when there is no choice but to fight. When it's time to fight, contrary to what's been stated here, the last thing that matters is religion. Your faith is in yourself and your brothers next to you. If you are focused on anything else, you lose. plenty of time after, to contemplate what is god, and every human interprets things their own way eventually - if they are capable of self-evaluation.

Religion, is one way to unite people, and it's also a great way to divide people too. Religion is one tool, to use, to teach boys, becoming men, good lessons about life.

Religion has it's place, and there is no reason why religion shouldn't exist in a football program. It just needs to be done in a tolerant and respectful way, that recognizes that among different minded people, a battlefield of the mind will be created, if it is not done in a tolerant and respectful way to find common ground.

A football game for the University of Connecticut vs. University Maryland, if reports are true, was scheduled for an odd 7pm start on a Saturday out of respect for the Jewish religion. There is no reason why the Catholic, or Jesuit, or Baptist, or Islamic religions can't find respectful treatment in a football program.

It's about communication.

in my experience, it's atheists, that tend to stir the pot the most, and those atheists that do it, are the atheists, that really are doubters, of their own selves, to do such things - although they'll never admit it. The atheists I know, could care less about such things, and find it amusing, if they do end up paying attention.



NOW _ can this go away?

 

[BlueMAB]

You want to disregard his point of emphasis on what he means by faith. The true bottom line is that he should not be bringing religion into the program period. I don't care what it would be. His overall program seems great, but he needs to understand that motivation and good citizenship don't need a religious foundation or if he thinks they do, the football program is not the place to implement it. .

I didn't disregard anything, I'm looking at the full context of what he said, and acknowledging that there are legitimate questions to be asked.

"His overall program seems great, but it shouldn't happen."

Interesting take on things.

 

[cohenzone]

I didn't disregard anything, I'm looking at the full context of what he said, and acknowledging that there are legitimate questions to be asked.

"His overall program seems great, but it shouldn't happen."

Interesting take on things.

Nice misquote. I didn't say his overall idea should be abandoned. I said the religious stuff is inappropriate And you are disregarding a very key part of what he thinks needs to be part of the spiritual philosophy, and it is that part that some kids would have to feel "welcome" to be exposed to which has zero to do with football and a lousy position to put a player in. You seem to fail to grasp that some or maybe a lot of t kids would feel "unwelcome" or like outsiders.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

The coaching staff has changed their minds. Everyone will now be required to complete the latest version of The est Training

 

[BlueMAB]

Nice misquote. I didn't say his overall idea should be abandoned. I said the religious stuff is inappropriate And you are disregarding a very key part of what he thinks needs to be part of the spiritual philosophy, and it is that part that some kids would have to feel "welcome" to be exposed to which has zero to do with football and a lousy position to put a player in. You seem to fail to grasp that some or maybe a lot of t kids would feel "unwelcome" or like outsiders.

You want to disregard his point of emphasis on what he means by faith. The true bottom line is that he should not be bringing religion into the program period. I don't care what it would be. His overall program seems great, but he needs to understand that motivation and good citizenship don't need a religious foundation or if he thinks they do, the football program is not the place to implement it. .

 

[LRock34]

OMG! We are still talking about this?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

 

[upstater]

I doubt he "mis-spoke". I think he meant what he said. It is a typical evangelical line that I've been in the presence of too many times when the occasion didn't call for it. His mistake would be in implementing his program as exactly as he stated it would be into a non-religious setting As I said, you can give direction without introducing religion into a non-religious setting that the players did not sign on for.

It is exactly that line you're hearing. In his list of "other" believers in God, there are a variety of Christians. Usually that line ends with "Even Catholics."

 

[ConnHuskBask]

@WingU-Conn The only person that seems to be getting " offended" and bent out of shape is you.

Spin the quote however you want, but it just comes off as maybe not "appropriate".

I'm not offended, I just don't want to hear about it. I'm sure on a football team kids coming from all over, there has to be some that share that view point.

If you want to praise a supreme being, do it in a place of worship or amongst others that definitely share your view point. Not that hard to ask that Jesus is kept out of the huddle.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Nice misquote. I didn't say his overall idea should be abandoned. I said the religious stuff is inappropriate And you are disregarding a very key part of what he thinks needs to be part of the spiritual philosophy, and it is that part that some kids would have to feel "welcome" to be exposed to which has zero to do with football and a lousy position to put a player in. You seem to fail to grasp that some or maybe a lot of t kids would feel "unwelcome" or like outsiders.

FIrst of all, this is all coming off a quotation from the Hartford courant in all of this. So there's an issue there at the fundamental level. What was actually said, and how, when it was said, and to whom, and how it is reported may not be accurate. Other news outlets reported that same material, and got no problems - and the links are right here in this thread.

In the Hartford courant media piece, there is a clear contradiction in the context of what was quoted almost directly from one sentence to the next. One quote is generally tolerant, and a non-issue, and the other is the 'evangelical' statement that clearly is not appropriate. Evangelical Christians can be pretty whacko too, but if you communicate with them to tone down, it's a non-issue.

I guarantee 100% without a doubt that this entire subject matter has been addressed within the program, and I suppose that a certain reporter, isn't going to make friends with the new program this way.

All of this, really is a complete non-issue, all of these coaches have been at public state institutions before, and should a complaint about behavior arise, I guarantee it will be dealt with appropriately.

In my personal opinion, it's some pretty careless writing by a long time writer for a state program, that is well aware of the culture in CT, and what working at a state institution means, to put statements like that together in a media piece, and leave it unaddressed and open ended the way it was. Not generating happy readers and new readers over there.....certainly not going to make friends with followers of UCONN football stirring up stuff like this....... But whatever.

For the love of Terry Caulley - can this go away?

 

[cohenzone]

Wing-U , you belong on a certain news network. You take two parts of a sentence, separated by many words, don't use ....... to show the gap, and leave it to look like one thought, unless of course you think, unlike me, that the coach can't do anything like his program without using religion. In that case, yeah, it should be abandoned. I hope he has more imagination than that.

 

[cohenzone]

FIrst of all, this is all coming off a quotation from the Hartford courant in all of this. So there's an issue there at the fundamental level. What was actually said, and how, when it was said, and to whom, and how it is reported may not be accurate. Other news outlets reported that same material, and got no problems - and the links are right here in this thread.

In the Hartford courant media piece, there is a clear contradiction in the context of what was quoted almost directly from one sentence to the next. One quote is generally tolerant, and a non-issue, and the other is the 'evangelical' statement that clearly is not appropriate. Evangelical Christians can be pretty whacko too, but if you communicate with them to tone down, it's a non-issue.

I guarantee 100% without a doubt that this entire subject matter has been addressed within the program, and I suppose that a certain reporter, isn't going to make friends with the new program this way.

All of this, really is a complete non-issue, all of these coaches have been at public state institutions before, and should a complaint about behavior arise, I guarantee it will be dealt with appropriately.

In my personal opinion, it's some pretty careless writing by a long time writer for a state program, that is well aware of the culture in CT, and what working at a state institution means, to put statements like that together in a media piece, and leave it unaddressed and open ended the way it was. Not generating happy readers and new readers over there.....certainly not going to make friends with followers of UCONN football stirring up stuff like this.. But whatever.

For the love of Terry Caulley - can this go away?

Carl, I don't disagree with what you wrote n general. All my original post on this thread said was that the coach should be talked to. and if he's bright enough, he'll get the message and devise a program that leaves religion out of it, let alone any Evangelical message. I suspect that the Courant quote is not inaccurate, reflected the coach's belief, and may not be a bad thing that it was reported.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Carl, I don't disagree with what you wrote n general. All my original post on this thread said was that the coach should be talked to. and if he's bright enough, he'll get the message and devise a program that leaves religion out of it, let alone any Evangelical message. I suspect that the Courant quote is not inaccurate, reflected the coach's belief, and may not be a bad thing that it was reported.

I agree cohen. I'd bet the farm that conversation happened, and is over and down with. My guess, is that the statement you (and I) have issues with, was something that happened among a few like minded individuals, rather than a blanket statement made to an entire press room. I would hope that was the case, and that the reporter used poor judgement in writing his piece. I am confident, that if such a statement were made broadscope, publicly, that the mistake has been addressed and will not be repeated, and I am confident that since all of these coaches have all worked at public institutions before, that they are well aware of what it means to be tolerant of an individual's choice of belief systems and religion and it's appropriate place in conducting business.

Go and read fuller's piece from the NH Register - it's linked on page 1. The statement that created problems is not in there. Why? Good question. If the statement was made to a broad spectrum press room - or if it was made to a smaller group of known like minded individuals?

I guarantee that the coaching staff is going to be very careful about what they say to certain people now though.

 

[CTMike]