comment by thenewgreen

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thenewgreen · 4644 days ago · link · · parent · post: Why an ESPN Columnist Didn't Blow the Whistle on High School Football Injury Bounties

“I want someone hurt!” the high school coach was screaming. “I want some kid’s mother crying in the stands because her son was carted off the field! Unless someone from that team is taken off injured in the second half, you will do punishment drills at 6 a.m. tomorrow!”

I understand why a coach would say this, they want their players to put forth the most intensity they possibly can. Especially in football.

I wonder though, could he have said, "You need to be as aggressive as you can!” the high school coach was screaming. “I want some kid’s mother crying in the stands because her son was is getting his ass kicked all over the field! Unless the players from that team are lying embarrassed on the ground, you will do punishment drills at 6 a.m. tomorrow! Now go out there and win!” ?? Would this have the same impact?

I guess it's less measurable than a stretcher and an ambulance.

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riemannman · 4644 days ago · link ·

Of course, it really depends on how he said it. It seems that the columnist chose not to speak on it, not because he thought the coach was just trying to rile them up, but because he would be breaking some sort of confidentiality between the coach and himself. From his words and actions, it is obvious that he had some serious ethical issues with what the coach was saying - but chose not to report it anyways.

Did the coach actually intend for his players to injure other opponents? Only those that witnessed his words would be able to know - and the journalist himself seems to think he did.