NFL Sober Coach: Drunken Behavior Displayed By Coaches is No Way to ‘Lead By Example’.
Cali Estes
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NFL Sober Coach: Drunken Behavior Displayed By Coaches is No Way to ‘Lead By Example’.
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As the number of players being suspended for substance abuse skyrockets in pro sports, we are now seeing an alarming new trend of coaches displaying behavior that goes hand in hand with drinking and getting high. USC head football coach Steve Sarkisian was drunk and acknowledged he made inappropriate comments at the school’s “Salute To Troy” kickoff party Saturday night, and apologized today.
Reports began circulating early today on the Internet that the coach used foul language, made gratuitous foul statements about other teams and was obviously drunk. He had to be escorted off the stage by USC Athletic Director Pat Haden. The coach reportedly urged his team to “fight the (obscenity) on,” using a common inappropriate word for a reproductive function. He also reportedly said opponents Arizona State, Notre Dame and Oregon all “suck.”
In a statement issued just before noon, the Trojan A.D. said “I met with Coach Sarkasian and I expressed my disappointment in the way he represented himself and the University at our Salute To Troy event.
“While the details of our conversation will remain between us, I am confidant he heard my message loud and clear,” Haden said. As for Sarkasian, his statement said “I sincerely apologize to my players and staff and to our fans for my behavior and my inappropriate language at our kickoff event Saturday night.
“I have a responsibility to all of them and I let them down,” he continued. “Pat Haden talked to me after the event about my actions and I assured him this would not happen again.”
Last year’s Salute To Troy kickoff also had bad consequences to the team, as one player sprained both ankles jumping off a balcony after the rally, and made up a fake cover story about saving a child from a pool.
Recently, a Buffalo Bills coach was booked for a misdemeanor battery charge after police say he pushed a boy to the ground, punched him in the face and threatened to kill his family — all for using a beach chair. Bills offensive line coach Aaron Kromer allegedly confronted three boys who were fishing at a Florida beach, over “the use of beach chairs,” according to a police statement first reported by NFL.com’s Albert Breer. “Victim’s told deputies, Kromer grabbed their fishing pole and threw the pole into the water and then pushed one of the boys to the ground and punched him in the face,” the statement said. “It was stated Kromer then told the boys to return the chairs to where they found them.“The victim stated Kromer also told him if he reported him to the police he would kill his family.”
Jail records show the 48-year-old was booked at 1:51 a.m. and released on bond just after 3 a.m.
Kromer is in his first season with the Bills after stops with the Bears, Raiders, Buccaneers and Saints. He served as interim head coach for the Saints during the first six games of the 2012 season.“We are aware of the report and in the process of gathering the facts,” The Bills said in a statement.
So, you have to wonder, if the coaches behavior continues to “slide”, then where is the positive direction going to come from that the players desperately need?