njbill wrote: ↑Fri Mar 17, 2023 1:30 pm Haha, as perhaps the preeminent Mr. Buttinski on these boards (which I say with all great affection, a comment with which I’m sure you’ll 100% agree, MD), I have no problem with hearing your calm and rational perspective on this.
Absolutely agree that it is a good thing that discussions like this are permitted on FanLax.
I understand your point that “where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” though I disagree with your (admittedly biased) conclusion that such stories “are more likely to be true than not.” Each situation is different so I think one can’t say “more likely.”
The coach says she was “cleared.” (600+ likes on Instagram. Is that meaningful? I don’t know.) I suspect she wasn’t fully “cleared” as otherwise you wouldn’t have seen the remedial measures instituted. But I also suspect she was at least largely cleared of the most extreme allegations. As I have said, I’d be interested in what the trainers said. What do the contemporaneous documents show? If the trainers had fully sided with the players’ allegations, you’d expect the coach would have been fired. So I conclude they did not.
The six players and (likely) their parents (perhaps including njm) tried to get the coach fired. That is what their lawyers’ letter expressly sought. Colgate investigated and determined not to fire the coach. The teas leaves suggest the investigation did not credit or corroborate at least some of the allegations. The report hasn’t been made public, but presumably it explains why they didn’t fire Taylor. As an alum, I am standing behind my school on how they handled the situation. If you (not you, personally, MD) want to ask how I can do that without seeing the report, that’s a fair point. But I have trust in the college.
If njm is a parent, sure, I can understand the emotional content. But that doesn’t immunize her from being accountable for some of the pretty evidently untrue things she said.
My take on what seems to be going on here now is that the six complainants were sorely disappointed they weren’t able to get the coach fired. So now they are taking to the legacy media and social media to continue their fight. Some sour grapes to be honest it seems. The lawyer letter was sent out a year ago. One of the players interviewed on camera alleges stuff from 2½ years ago. She, herself, graduated almost two years ago. The university has made its decision. Unless new evidence is brought to bear, I doubt Colgate is going to reconsider. As I used to hear from judges in my old profession, “counsel, I have ruled. Move on.”
My use of the word “shots” was too strong perhaps; however, it was in response to the unwarranted diatribe from Dasher. BTW, I never said njm was being “personal” to me in her post. I said twice I was OK with her “taking shots” at me. njm certainly was critical of things I said though what she said didn’t cross any line. It was just wrong in a few instances. If someone comes on this board with stuff, they have to expect someone else may disagree with them (you agree with that, I think). I agree that njm doesn’t deserve a “shot” back, but if you reread what I said, you’ll see I never said I wanted to take a “shot” at her; I said I should be able to “respond.” Dasher deserved a shot back which is what he got.
Of course empathy is appropriate for those negatively impacted, but that is not what Dasher said at all. He didn’t “suggest[] that empathy in your responses would be appropriate.” His comment was, to use your phrase, “overly sharp.” As I said, I do empathize with anyone in an undesirable situation they didn’t create, which seems to be true for some of the players. I’d like everyone to have a great college experience, in the classroom and on the playing fields. Unfortunately, that isn’t reality. What I don’t empathize with is some of the apparently unfair and even untrue stuff that gets written. The coach thinks she’s being unfairly defamed. If she's right, does she deserve empathy?
glad to be "preeminent" at least at something...Yes, I like to make clear what my biases are and why, insofar as I'm aware of them. In the situations with which I am intimately familiar, there's zero question in my mind as to whether what I know directly from specific players and their parents was accurate. And frankly, I don't think there's 'another side', given my views as to the preeminent duty of a coach, which ain't W's. Others may disagree, but again, that's my bias.
NJM appears to have similar specific concrete knowledge. And the reports by players, including those now gone public, are quite specific.
I don't characterize that as "where there's smoke there's fire" but rather as several people saying they've seen the fire up close and personal.
I appreciate your describing your own bias in thinking about this matter. We do apparently tilt in different directions as I don't think we have to have "trust" in our alma maters just cuz...rather I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt as to people of good character trying to weigh all the issues carefully and nevertheless coming to a conclusion that is flat wrong to do. Seen it too many times not to understand that it happens, where the institution covers up for a prior decision by protecting it. IMO, that's a mistake when kids health is at stake, but colleges regularly underreport issues on their campuses, regularly fail to take meaningful action, while saying all the right things publicly...doesn't make me a disloyal alum to see that this is a natural occurrence.
As to why these gals are continuing to press the issue, my hunch is that they feel very, very strongly that other players are at risk of abuse, given that the coach is claiming she was "cleared" and the college is not taking tougher action; the players and their families would likely feel dismissed, shushed...that they're going personally public with their details requires a level of bravery and personal responsibility to others that at least IMO adds to their credibility. This certainly appears to be way more than not liking the coach and holding a grudge.
Notwithstanding all of that, I respect your natural inclination to be a loyal alum. I feel the same way about my "small college, but there are those who love it" - Daniel Webster.
