Ernest Jones resigns

[WhereistheDove?]

Says one side. On the other hand, it is quite difficult to separate the inappropriate comment from religious beliefs, when the subject of the inappropriate comment is a religious belief.

Nope, it's very easy to separate the two. One is an obviously inappropriate PUBLIC comment for a person in his position and the other is someone's personal beliefs. There is quite a difference between the two.

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

No we won't and true about freedom on a message board, but freedoms don't come without consequence either, good or bad.

Joe Zone has a bigger responsibility than we on a message board. To indicate potential malfeasance and not expand on his platform does the situation a disservice.

I'm with you on the Joe Zone thing. He did the same thing with the Marchi mess. Presented one side. He should be perona non grata in everything UConn.

 

[huskymedic]

... the Alcorn St. findings...should've been vetted better by the school.

Possible but have a hard time believing that WM didn't know about it - the issue/incident @ Alcorn State happened (2008) before he was hired @ UBuf in 2010 when WM was AD there. It was fairly well publicized.

 

[Husky25]

Nope, it's very easy to separate the two. One is an obviously inappropriate PUBLIC comment for a person in his position and the other is someone's personal beliefs. There is quite a difference between the two.

Distinction without a difference, IMO. The inappropriate comment was a personal religious belief.

That said, I will take Coach Diaco and President Herbst at their respective words in the absences of additional details.

 

[UConnDan97]

Carl....any more sweater puppies?

 

[Confident Carl]

Right... a football coach deciding maybe he'd rather coach at a university that explicitly endorses religion instead of a university that asks people in positions of authority to not use their authority to proselytize to students, is the exact same thing as the Romans driving giant nails in the hands and feet of the Son of God.

No Ernest

This fascination our society has with assigning blame to everything is really unhealthy. Sometimes s%it happens. Ernest decided to leave. Was he uncomfortable because of the comments and backlash? Probably, but we dont know. Maybe he hated Storrs, he wouldn't be the first. Maybe he wasn't thrilled with winter in New England, God knows I'm not at the moment.

The guy decided to move on. I'm sure all of you have done that at some point. Rarely is it any one thing, it's just a decision you make. There is no point looking for anybody to blame here, as nobody has done anything wrong. Jones made one comment that I'm sure in hindsight, he knew he shouldn't make and that's it. Herbst said what needed saying. There is no villain in this movie. No bad guy responsible for it. Let's stop overanalyzing it.

We all really should. Our common goal is for UCONN to get back to winning on the gridiron. Jones might have expressed his thoughts differently. In addition to being the running backs coach was the director of character development (my words). In his life experience, Jesus was a man who exhibited great character and I believe he was using him as a role model. He could have said Knute Rockne or Peyton Manning (who happens to be a Christian) was going to be in the center of our huddle and nothing more would have been said. It's and unfortunate public misuse of words (Jesus is a hot potato) in our ultra politically correct society, resulting in a fumble strategy wise. We all have our own thoughts on the issue but let's focus on winning and getting back to a bowl game.

Strong Character is an intangible quality that most good leaders have. Speaking of Character, I like what Keven Durant said about Kevin Ollie in the attached article. I respect Jim Calhoun more than ever for making sure His man got the job. Kudos to Ward Manual too! I doubt if anyone cares that Kevin Ollie is a man of faith! No one would have had a problem with Jone's either. Sometimes the right choice of words is critical. As they say discretion is the better part of valor.

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/20...lie-is-responsible-for-thunders-winning-ways/

 

[Husky68]

Yes. It has nothing to do with state representatives trying to do their job and uphold the laws and constitution. Just a desire not to offend soccer moms.

Every time you think the board can't go further off the deep end ....

Yeah, just like Hillary and the Doper in Chief just trying to do their job by getting that bad guy who made that video that sparked the peaceful demonstration in Bengazhi that unfortunately turned into something more that overwhelmed their best laid plans to protect the ambassador. And not a single fib by them to protect their butts. And how about college officials, always doing right, just ask Penn State.

 

[uconnbill]

Coach Jones was not fired, he resigned.

Keep believing that. How many times have you seen coaches pushed out and they resign? Just saying.

 

[jackl]

From Wikipedia:

3 areas listed below that he worked on at Notre Dame. I guess he might have thought the Land of Steady Habits could handle all of them.

Jones will be responsible for helping develop the Fighting Irish football players in three of the five core areas Head Coach, Brian Kelly uses to develop complete student-athletes: intellectual development, social development, and spiritual development, as the coaching stall is charged with skill development and the strength and conditioning staff is responsible for physical development.
I don't have a problem with counseling players who would have come to him as a father figure while they are away from home but I guess this should have been left unsaid or at least not put out in language such as it was. But of course that is now over and done with. Hopefully there is no more stuff for damage control. Come on Spring Game. Go Huskies!!!!!!!!!

 

[kibblesnbits]

Keep believing that. How many times have you seen coaches pushed out and they resign? Just saying.

That doesn't make any sense at all. If they were about to fire him why would they have released a "Meet Coach Jones" type video last week?

 

[Husky25]

Keep believing that. How many times have you seen coaches pushed out and they resign? Just saying.

I would hope the University would be smarter than to put themselves in that position. Just sayin'.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

That doesn't make any sense at all. If they were about to fire him why would they have released a "Meet Coach Jones" type video last week?

Bingo, and they wouldn't have sat on their hands for a month and done nothing and then force him out. I would be shellshocked if this decision was anything but Jones's and his alone.

 

[metsfan2323]

Yeah, just like Hillary and the Doper in Chief just trying to do their job by getting that bad guy who made that video that sparked the peaceful demonstration in Bengazhi that unfortunately turned into something more that overwhelmed their best laid plans to protect the ambassador. And not a single fib by them to protect their butts. And how about college officials, always doing right, just ask Penn State.

Exactly, you could have also mentioned Chappaquiddick or Abscam. For God sakes, Franklin Roosevelt married his cousin and she wasn't even hot.

 

[Carl Spackler]

C'mon - You really, really think that this wasn't known before he was hired? Sounds like the Doug Williams etal issue @ Grambling .

No sh---t. You got people around here trying to dig up stuff, then some reporter reads it looking for info to write a story, because they don't think for themselves anymore and just read message boards.......and the thing won't die, and before you know it you'll start reading about the slush fund crap again in the associated press......

The guy, made some mistakes many years ago, and I'm sure has learned his lessons, with regards to actual business of college football, and he clearly wasn't fit to be making statements to the press for a division 1A football program at UCONN and needed a little instruction on correcting those mistakes as well, and I'm sure has learned his lessons, and for whatever reasons, of which I'm sure the media storm was one, and the winter we're having probably another, (we're at the point now, where 3 inches of snow is a dusting and I'm not shoveling - at least for me) and he came to the conclusion that the he didn't want to be at UCONN anymore. I'm glad he decided quick.

The rest of this entire 9 page discussion is people blowing their own sails full of hot air and fluffing themselves at the expense of a real person, in Ernest Jones, that I'm sure just wants to make a living for himself and support his family, through coaching football.

...and if we're going to be filling sails with hot air.....I'd rather not dig on a guy that's got nothing to do with UCONN, and I'd rather those sails be full of wind in the Caribbean, and I'm not in the Carribbean right now, I'm in Connecticut, , so I'd rather be dealing with the one wonderful thing that Connecticut winters bring - and that's...

sweater puppies.

 

[brasssbonanzaa]

Carl, mistakes in the past? What are you alluding to?

 

[rich1122]

That doesn't make any sense at all. If they were about to fire him why would they have released a "Meet Coach Jones" type video last week?

Not much on this thread makes any sense - even my post. But this does.

 

[Carl Spackler]

Carl, mistakes in the past? What are you alluding to?

You must not have an interest in sweater puppies. That's a shame.

 

[Stray_Dog]

This is a brilliant idea! Boobies should always take precedent!

Yes, because we played so well with them last year at 3-9! I think, as a football fan, I would like to hear progress on all aspects developing the program. Stadium, fan climate, conference alignment student participation (try this, have can food drives by student groups at the stadium) have students and fans engage one another. But this thread is turning into a what is administratively wrong with UConn regarding freedom of speech. So here is my (insert sarcasm) my conspiracy theory. Susan Herbst/Ward Manual, unable to get us out of the AAC, unable to get funds to build a 100,000 person stadium, unable to get television dollars, unable to get the fans rose colored glasses, unable to get Nick Saban to CT, are intentionally distracting us by highlighting a liberal agenda where religion won't be tolerated and where bad assistant coaches were hired so we wont focus on all the aforementioned things that we can't do. And I know this to be true and so do you cause like you I just read it on the internet!

 

[CL82]

Because it's Connecticut. This wouldn't be an issue at Texas, Alabama or many other schools. In Connecticut? It is.

As I said in my original post, the vetting/hiring process failed.

If true, then that's a very sad statement.

 

[CL82]

So if UCONN hired a Muslim soccer coach who thought having Allah on the sideline would help him recruit, you would say Herbst should just keep her mouth shut and let the coach win?

Well if UConn hired a Muslim soccer coach who said that faith, integrity and holding yourself personally accountable for your actions was a point of emphasis in the program, I'd be all for him. Being open to life of faith and accountability, I find to be generically acceptable, even desirable. It is the requirement of a particular faith that is problematic. I don't believe that Jones intended to that, but it is what is.

 

[FAIRTIDES]

All this because of one slow news day in January and a non-story turning into a media storm on UConn Football. This is really too bad, and should have just been handled internally. I really hope that comment did not lead to this, and I wish Coach Jones the best of luck. We lost a passionate, promising coach on this staff.

As soon as the Courant ran the "Letter to The Editor," a very minor internal issue became something that couldn't be allowed to fester. What could have been handled with a quiet conversation between the coaches and WM, or even SH, became something that UCONN, SH, and even the Gov, had to address. SH's thought process?

"Crap, I've got Gloria Allred up my butt, and now, I'm about to get visited by the ACLU. The John Birch Society won't be far behind with their two cents. Oh, and I can't wait for calls from our liberal politicians. I've got to end this now!" SH did what she had to do.

Remember the tired old rule about "never mentioning religion or politics" at cocktail parties? Put some of those posting to this thread in a room. Add booze. Stand back. Observe. Some rules are timeless.

 

[Excalibur]

As soon as the Courant ran the "Letter to The Editor," a very minor internal issue became something that couldn't be allowed to fester. What could have been handled with a quiet conversation between the coaches and WM, or even SH, became something that UCONN, SH, and even the Gov, had to address. SH's thought process?

Did the editorial/letter come before or after Herbst's statement?

 

[Gregory Koch]

Desmond Conner reports that Jones' statements had nothing to do with his resignation. I wouldn't be too quick to assume one of them is connected to the other, especially when this took several weeks to happen. Besides, Herbst admitted she considered it a closed matter. And if they wanted to do anything to him, they would have done it a while ago.

On the other hand, "personal" reasons could mean "I don't feel accepted here because of my religion. I'm not comfortable so I'm quitting" which would be incredibly ironic given the circumstances, but still possible. As I've said before, I don't approve of what Jones did, but if he was in fact forced to resign over this, I think that punishment went too far. Considering players on the football team have, among other things, gotten DUIs, beaten up their girlfriends, and gotten into fights without getting kicked off the team, I think what Jones did is not nearly as bad as those things. He deserved a stern talking to, but that's it. Lyle McCombs got suspended for a quarter for assaulting his girlfriend. If Jones lost his job for invoking and I'm not convinced that was the case, then UConn Football really needs to get its priorities straight.

 

[FAIRTIDES]

Did the editorial/letter come before or after Herbst's statement?

After my "post," I hope after. Otherwise, OOPS.

 

[huskymedic]

Did the editorial/letter come before or after Herbst's statement?

SH comments were in response to the Letter to the Editor.

>>Herbst was responding to a letter that appeared in The Courant on Tuesday, in which Rena Epstein of West Hartford said that she felt "alientated" after reading Jones' statement.<<

 

[RedSoloCup]

any takers on the over/under that this will fester?

given confirmation bias, bad snowstorms and all that... I think there is at least 2 days of pent up anger left.

thoughts?

 

[FAIRTIDES]

SH comments were in response to the Letter to the Editor.

>>Herbst was responding to a letter that appeared in The Courant on Tuesday, in which Rena Epstein of West Hartford said that she felt "alientated" after reading Jones' statement.<<

Thank you. I should have checked.

 

[Excalibur]

Thank you. I should have checked.

I wasn't accusing, by the way. I honestly couldn't remember and was too busy/lazy to check

 

[rich1122]

That doesn't make any sense at all. If they were about to fire him why would they have released a "Meet Coach Jones" type video last week?

Nobody ever responded to this. It's the only piece of hard evidence we have.

 

[Zorro]

"The guy, made some mistakes many years ago, and I'm sure has learned his lessons, with regards to actual business of college football, and he clearly wasn't fit to be making statements to the press for a division 1A football program at UCONN and needed a little instruction on correcting those mistakes as well, and I'm sure has learned his lessons, and for whatever reasons, of which I'm sure the media storm was one, and the winter we're having probably another, (we're at the point now, where 3 inches of snow is a dusting and I'm not shoveling - at least for me) and he came to the conclusion that the he didn't want to be at UCONN anymore. I'm glad he decided quick."

From a strictly grammatical point of view, that is one helluva sentence! Complex, compound, subordinate clauses, parenthetical comments, the works. A truly admirable achievement. (The first one, not the second.) And absolutely no sarcasm intended! One comma fault early on, but once you got rolling, wow!