- Apr 14, 2017
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- 1,075
I had to pull out the laptop for this one. So many things to say.
I think we can all agree that this isn't a clear cut issue. The team and its handlers were wrong for allowing some of this behavior, but the circumstances under which these allegations came to light is mighty fishy.
Firstly: the shenanigans at the retreat weren't really cool. I know that for some it's just kids being kids -- and I'm sure that by and large, that was true -- but when you've got adults in the room who are supposed to be looking out for their well-being, it doesn't fly. It really does sound like a bunch of kids just goofing off, but it also sounds like a breeding ground for bad decisions and potential lawsuits. And for that, I could see the UK admin stepping in.
So even if you give the team the benefit of the doubt and say the "hazing" was pretty innocuous and intended only as harmless fun, it still doesn't fly. Especially with the athletes' overseers in play.
Secondly, I know the circumstances through which these allegations were made are mighty sketchy. If FB is to be believed, it came at the hands of an entitled parent on behalf of her "wronged" kid. And I'm feeling secondhand annoyance just reading those posts because I know we've ALL been there with THAT parent.
That said, I don't think UK would've taken such extreme steps if they hadn't been spooked by the credence of these allegations and the repercussions they could've led to. They knew what they had with that coaching staff. They would've lost valuable assets in deciding to terminate them. And yet they did anyway. I'm sensing they were trying to avoid a nasty lawsuit.
My takeaway is: yeah, some irresponsibility occurred. It sucks that it came to light at the hand of a s****y parent and that the coaches had to be fired as a result, especially because that parent wasn't bothered enough by any of it to make a complaint until after the season was over. The "hazing" wasn't cool, but neither were the parent's actions. I sincerely wish the coaching staff could've been disciplined in another way. Sucks for everyone.
But make no mistake: UK cheer is going to be just fine. I'm sure they've got talented coaches itching to take over that squad. I really don't think they'll miss a beat.
As for that athlete, well... if any of this is true, she just blacklisted herself from cheer. You don't want the implosion of the most decorated college cheer team in the country on your resume, and now it might as well be stamped all over hers thanks to her mom's meddling. I actually don't think the mom intended to get the entire UK staff canned. I think she just wanted to throw her weight around. But now that she's dismantled the entire UK cheer coaching staff, she's guaranteed that no one is touching her kid.
I think we can all agree that this isn't a clear cut issue. The team and its handlers were wrong for allowing some of this behavior, but the circumstances under which these allegations came to light is mighty fishy.
Firstly: the shenanigans at the retreat weren't really cool. I know that for some it's just kids being kids -- and I'm sure that by and large, that was true -- but when you've got adults in the room who are supposed to be looking out for their well-being, it doesn't fly. It really does sound like a bunch of kids just goofing off, but it also sounds like a breeding ground for bad decisions and potential lawsuits. And for that, I could see the UK admin stepping in.
So even if you give the team the benefit of the doubt and say the "hazing" was pretty innocuous and intended only as harmless fun, it still doesn't fly. Especially with the athletes' overseers in play.
Secondly, I know the circumstances through which these allegations were made are mighty sketchy. If FB is to be believed, it came at the hands of an entitled parent on behalf of her "wronged" kid. And I'm feeling secondhand annoyance just reading those posts because I know we've ALL been there with THAT parent.
That said, I don't think UK would've taken such extreme steps if they hadn't been spooked by the credence of these allegations and the repercussions they could've led to. They knew what they had with that coaching staff. They would've lost valuable assets in deciding to terminate them. And yet they did anyway. I'm sensing they were trying to avoid a nasty lawsuit.
My takeaway is: yeah, some irresponsibility occurred. It sucks that it came to light at the hand of a s****y parent and that the coaches had to be fired as a result, especially because that parent wasn't bothered enough by any of it to make a complaint until after the season was over. The "hazing" wasn't cool, but neither were the parent's actions. I sincerely wish the coaching staff could've been disciplined in another way. Sucks for everyone.
But make no mistake: UK cheer is going to be just fine. I'm sure they've got talented coaches itching to take over that squad. I really don't think they'll miss a beat.
As for that athlete, well... if any of this is true, she just blacklisted herself from cheer. You don't want the implosion of the most decorated college cheer team in the country on your resume, and now it might as well be stamped all over hers thanks to her mom's meddling. I actually don't think the mom intended to get the entire UK staff canned. I think she just wanted to throw her weight around. But now that she's dismantled the entire UK cheer coaching staff, she's guaranteed that no one is touching her kid.
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