Rich Jackhammer can be a jerk while Jackie Sherrill can still be a crooked coach at the same time. (This part seems to be lost on folks, esp in MS).
ATM was put on probation for violations during Sherrill's tenure as coach. In fact, the announcement was made the week before the infamous Hurricane Gilbert game. They were found guilty of 16 violations, including the dreaded LOIC. Jackie knowingly played Kevin Murray, a pretty good QB, despite knowing about his "substantial extra benefits."
Two months after the announcement, a former RB said he'd been paid hush money by Sherrill to keep quiet about the violations. Then, he retracted his claims and said it was a loan. The NCAA never bothered to find out (amazing, isn't it?).
So a guy is at a school for 7 years and gets them put on probation....leaves in the wake of said probation......goes to another school and after starting off pretty good and sinking all of a sudden fields some of the best teams in MSU history......and then gets hit with sanctions. But he had nothing to do with them? Hell, the only common thread in the violations is Jackie Sherrill himself.
Once you're at TWO SCHOOLS where violations occurred under YOUR OWN WATCH, let's not pretend Sherrill is some wronged innocent discovering sin in the church basement. He was either driving without touching the wheel or he was involved with it - and it doesn't matter how deep.
Incidentally, his excuse at ATM was he was "never directly linked" to the allegations. That's like saying Judas Iscariot was "never directly linked" to the crucifixion.
Jackhammer was a jerk and fine for Jackie. But the idea that Jackhammer ruined the reputation of a guy who left two schools in the wake of NCAA violations is laughably absurd. It's like saying Louis Freeh ruined Joe Paterno's reputation with his report.
