The response to my column about Dennis Felton has been back and forth with some saying Georgia would be showing a lack of class to remove him given the circumstances while others claim that bigtime college basketball is a bottom line business where winners stay employed and losers get fired. Honestly, I understand both points. But one thing I felt compelled to address is the notion that Felton shouldn't be given a pass for dismissing Mike Mercer and Takais Brown because they were his recruits, meaning if Felton would have been a better judge of character in the recruiting stage he never would've had to dismiss anybody.
Technically, that's true.
But what people need to understand is that Mercer and Brown weren't out robbing banks, starting riots, driving drunk or hitting girls. You can say they were bad guys if you want. But it's important to remember they weren't any worse than many of the guys playing at most colleges right now, and they certainly had less problems. In other words, Felton didn't recruit bad guys any more than Tennessee and Pittsburgh and New Mexico State and Memphis recruited bad guys. The only difference is that when Felton got his guys to campus he -- and Georgia, in general -- tried to hold them to a higher standard, and Mercer and Brown couldn't meet that standard. So they were dismissed. But make no mistake, if Mercer and Brown played at Tennessee, Pitt, New Mexico State, Memphis or most other colleges they'd still be playing today the same way Duke Crews, Levance Fields, Herb Pope and Jeff Robinson are still playing today.
And Felton's job wouldn't be in jeopardy if Mercer and Brown were still playing today.
That's the reality of the situation.
As it is, his job is in serious jeopardy -- but not because he recruited bad kids. Rather, because he tried to hold typical kids to a standard most programs don't even strive to meet. And it'll be sad if that's what gets Felton fired because it'll send a clear message to the next coach that he better be willing to compromise his integrity if he wants to remain employed.
Comments
foppa211
Reputation: 81Level: All-Star Since: Oct 1, 2006 |
Posted on: March 7, 2008 12:26 am
Score: 75
More thoughts on Dennis FeltonBottom line is wins and losses. That is the world we live in and so do coaches. Accountability is the life a coach lives when he steps into that arena. Sure he is probably a good guy and runs a clean program, but alumni and fans want wins. Universities need the TV money its a business nothing personal! |
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EZbake
Reputation: 54 Level: Pro Since: Feb 16, 2008 |
Posted on: March 7, 2008 11:13 am
Score: 37
More thoughts on Dennis FeltonI agree with the majority of your articles on Felton. Here's my question however, why does it have to be one or the other. In other words, can't you win AND not compromise your integrity? If he wants to hold kids to a higher standard, great! I think all coaches should take a page from that book. But to suggest it's one or the other (win or integrity) is a mistake in my opinion. I am not suggesting other coaches don't compromise integrity, recruit questionable character kids and then win with those same kids. But I am also not suggesting you HAVE to do that to win. I think there are plenty of coaches & programs who hold kids to a higher standard and still win. Look at Duke (as much as I hate to say it) or Vandy. Are you telling me they don't hold their student athletes to as high a standard as Georgia? What it comes down to is Felton is a man of integrity trying to build in some accountablility to a program that has never had it. Not only that, but he's trying to rebuild the program as well. That's a tall order for any coach in today's microwave society of win now. Sadly it probably will cost him his job. That's a sad statement I agree. But to suggest you have to compromise integrity to win is a big mistake in my opinion. |
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dacey. Level: Superstar Since: Feb 14, 2008 |
Posted on: March 8, 2008 8:03 am
Score: 40
More thoughts on Dennis FeltonCoaches are expected to tun s clean program and not have programs that embarass the university. That is, or should be, one of the job requirements. You dont get extra points for that. It shouldnt be a surprise when a coach is honest and holds their players to high standards, its part of their job. |
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macdawg
Reputation: 0 Level: Amateur Since: Mar 10, 2008 |
Posted on: March 10, 2008 1:44 pm
Score: 32
You Really Must Be KiddingTo reduce Felton's situation down to ethics vs. winning is gross oversimplification. What happened to many of Felton's recruits besides Brown & Mercer? What about Younes Idrissi? He quit the team. What about Channing Toney? He quit the team. What about Rashaud Singleton? He quit the team. There's something wrong with a coach and a program that can't recruit and maintain top notch talent. Sure - he took the high road and demanded good behavior. But he also alienated players he wanted to keep. Whether you like Felton or not, the bloom is off the rose in the state of Georgia. He can no longer recruit or retain the athletes we need to be successful. And who said anything about winning the SEC? Heck at this point we just want to be competitive. This is a tough business, but Georgia is not as demanding as your article implies (now if you want to talk about demanding, let's talk about FOOTBALL). If Felton had only modest success - and if there were any chance he could continue to recruit effectively in the state of Georgia - we would not be having this discussion. But his program in dead in the water, and sadly there's only one sure way to fix it.
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MDelz Level: All-Star Since: Oct 5, 2007 |
Posted on: March 16, 2008 5:42 pm
Score: 85
More thoughts on Dennis FeltonWell, so much for all that. 4 wins in 3 days as the lowest seed? Unbelievable. |
