Excellent fairly balanced (with a gentle slant towards let’s not over react) post ! Well articulated!ah23 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2024 4:55 pmIt happens with college football programs. Happened with Iowa (13 players), happened with Oregon (3 players), and happened with a number of others that I can’t remember off the top of my head. IIRC it’s also more common (relatively speaking) in high intensity activities like CrossFit or spin cycling.
As a few people have noted - rhabdo doesn’t automatically indicate that some inhumane workout was conducted. It CAN, but ultimately it’s ‘just’ the body’s response to overexertion, especially after a period of lessened activity. That’s why the football examples are from the preseason, after guys have spent the summer away from team-structured S&C and suddenly get thrown back in. Similar for CrossFit or spin…people push way too hard and go past their limit without realizing it. A few days later, they end up going to the hospital.
Beyond what the workout actually was, I’m most curious about who the ’trainer’ was and what kind of background/preparation/support they had. If they were a legit trainer? Easier to see this as an unfortunate mistake/misalignment of expectations and preparation, but not indicative of negligence or poor management. However, if they were just some BUD/S grad who was brought in because HOOAH but weren’t actually capable of leading legit athletic training? That would be a different, much more damaging story.
I will say: there is nothing inherently wrong with having a SEAL/Marine/member of any branch lead workouts. Good and bad training happens in all environments, and the “D-III kids shouldn’t be doing military workouts!” stuff just doesn’t make sense at all. Teams at all levels do "military workouts" without issue. In my experience, “military workouts” in a sports context are just challenging workouts with a greater focus on overcoming adversity as a group while using unusual implements. Carry this log. Hoist this sandbag. Jump in that pool. Etc. I absolutely think there are valid criticisms of how orgs like The Program view and teach leadership, but that’s not because I think D-III athletes shouldn’t be working out hard in September. Just plain do not understand that line of thinking at all.
Finally…the same nuclear “toxic culture!! fire everyone!!” hot takes will come from many of the same people for many of the same reasons they always do, but ultimately no one in here knows anything. Alleging forced drug/alcohol abuse or power-drunk coaches trying to pull off a coverup and knowingly endangering their players, etc. is ridiculous.
I assume the investigation will be made public. Looking forward to some actual facts on this to understand what went on and whether this was just an unfortunate situation or actual malpractice took place. If the fact pattern says negligence and direct responsibility, the response should be cut and dry. If the fact pattern says this was just an unfortunate mix of hard training + not being physically ready for that (completely understandable - it's September), don't think there should or will be major consequences.
(meant to respond to more than just pcowlax, but I'm on mobile and had a hard time scrolling/finding everything)
Quick point to mull over - over 25% of the players participating were hospitalized ….