News Article: Hawaii Coach Todd Graham blames Transfer Portal after 12 players leave program amid mistreatment allegations

[GrayTide]

IIRC he had similar problems at his previous stops at Rice, Tulsa, and Arizona State. He obviously needs professional help or get out to coaching, he is dangerous.

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

deleted

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

I don't think I was clear. I don't think the coaches actually held back water for the reason of being hard on the players, but that's what it seems like. Looking at it from the outside, that's the appearance the whole thing has. It's as if they were just trying to be mean. I figured they had some reason for doing what they were doing. It was just like they were in the stone ages but we are only talking about the the late '60's to early '70's.

Heck yeah, they did. Back in the day on my high school basketball team, "water torture" was a popular coaches' response to indicate displeasure. Football was worse. Some of those incompetent clowns bordered on sadistic.

 

[Bamabuzzard]

At my son's high school we had a short stop who made a bone headed play and essentially cost the team the game. The coach jerked him out of the game, said a few choice curse words and shoved he player toward the dug out. What surprised me was how many parents and fans said " The kids need that kind of discipline. It's good for 'em". That could be considered assault. Why tolerate that kind of behavior because it happens on an playing field.? Young people today don't respond to that kind of ill treatment.

I'm 46 and "back in my day" we didn't put up with it either. It's one thing to learn to put up with harsh verbal discipline, which most sports played at the HS level and above have some sort of this involved in it. But WE NEVER put up with a coach "grabbing" a player, and now as a parent who has four kids involved in baseball and HS softball, if I EVER witness or am told that any coach "grabs" one of my kids as a form of discipline, he/she will have a much bigger problem than a kid making a bonehead play on the field.

 

[day-day]

Heck yeah, they did. Back in the day on my high school basketball team, "water torture" was a popular coaches' response to indicate displeasure. Football was worse. Some of those incompetent clowns bordered on sadistic.

Of course there are bad-guy coaches. But the point was that water was restricted during practices by a number of good coaches year's ago as a generally accepted practice.

 

[4Q Basket Case]

I think we’re really talking about reading intent. And the object of the anger can do that, whether a child or a high school or college football player.

There’s a major difference between (1) giving a 10-year-old a deserved swat on the butt cheeks and (2) punching his lights out. There’s a difference between holding a player accountable and devolving into personal denigration.

I have no problem with delivering a message with a greatly raised voice, even if it contains a lot of profanity. I have a major problem with aiming the profanity at the player personally.

”You’re playing like )(*^)(*&….we’ve taught you way better than that and you’re disrespecting me, your position coach and all your teammates when you give that kind of (*)*^&& effort. Your choice: You will get with the ^%$%(*&^ program. You will (*&)*& practice with focus and &^%$*%^ effort. If you don’t want to do that, not a ()*&)(*& problem in the world….we’ll )(*^*&^&. fix it so you hever have to set foot on this *)&%(&%^ field ever again.” No problem whatsoever. Even if the message is delivered in the loudest voice the coach can muster.

”You’re a (*&)(*&^& and I’m #^%&*&^*&^ finished with your sorry(*)&*^. You’re not fit to lick my (*)&^^ shoes. Get your )(*^*&%%)*&% out of here and go hang with all your other (&^*&^* buddies.” That’s unacceptable, even if it’s delivered in a Mr. Rogers voice.

It’s also counter-productive. People of whatever age don’t respond well to personal insults. They respond greatly when they’re called on behavior that they know is disappointing to someone they also know cares about them deeply.

Children might not be able to articulate it, but they know when they deserve punishment. They also know when a parent crosses the line and a spank becomes no-foolin’ abuse, or when the punishment is disproportionate to the offense.

Football players are no different, except they are old enough to express the distinction verbally. They know when the coach is trying to get maximum effort out of them. They also know when the coach is being sadistic because he can be.

I’ve seen examples of both types of coaching / parenting, and you know the results by the way the people relate to the coach or parent after they’re no longer under that authority figure’s control.

Late Note: I know there are some people who, no matter how much you care, and no matter how much you try to work with them, using any method you can, will not respond positively to anything. Not love, not tough love, not profanity, not Bible language, not begging and pleading, and not a boot in the hindquarters (figurative or literal).

Absolutely nothing gets through to these guys.

Fortunately, there aren't many, and they're not indicative of the vast majority of people. You just have to deal with them on a one-off basis, sometimes to the point of separating from them when you've exhausted all alternatives.

This is especially true in a team context where you have to worry about an entire organization. The organizational leader simply can't allow a bunch of members, who are all trying to do the right thing, to be dragged down by one individual who has made a clear and unshakable choice not to buy into the collective good.

 

[GrayTide]

Surprise, Todd

Todd Graham's son becomes 14th Hawai'i player to enter portal

The program put out a statement addressing the glut of players looking to leave... and then the head coach's son joined them.

footballscoop.com

 

[4Q Basket Case]

Surprise, Todd

Todd Graham's son becomes 14th Hawai'i player to enter portal

The program put out a statement addressing the glut of players looking to leave... and then the head coach's son joined them.

footballscoop.com

Guessing Todd Graham at home isn't any different from Todd Graham at the coaching facility.

Further guessing that Michael Graham just declared Independence Day. I feel so bad for him having gone through this for 20 years.

 

[TriCountyTider]

I remember coach clark giving a fired up speech at halftime and punching a locker. I would of ran through a brick wall for him. He never berated us or made us feel worthless. There is a difference in motivation and verbally abusing..sounds like Graham has some issues.

 

[deltatider]

I'm pretty sure this is the coach that left Rice for another school...and Rice happened to be playing that school the next year. At halftime of that game I think the Rice band spelled out Graham is a Doche for their half time performance....