Quiet news about two key opponents status for the 2008 season was made yesterday. One was the reinstatement of Michigan receiver Adrian Arrington after being suspended from spring practices for violating team rules and a domestic violence arrest (charges were dropped). The second is the undecided status of Penn State safety, Anthony Scirotto, and tackle, Chris Baker.
The optimist in me says that the young men involved have shown character by accepting their punishment, learning a valuable lesson, and should be allowed to continue. The pessimist in me wonders if these punishments were more about appearing tough than reform - in Arrington's case, his position as a a starter was not in question during spring ball and he has been reinstated jus before fall practice. If Scirroto returns for the home opener, then JoePa will appear tough as nails (pick up trash, throw the bums out), then get credit for his compassion without a player missing so much as a single practice.
I contrast this to the way ND has handled a couple of discipline cases in the past. Lou Holtz, for all his critics, has a history of suspending talented starters for key games and the suspension of fullback Rashon Powers-Neal was handled in a way that punished the team but protected his privacy and didn't allow any PR-hounding by coach, Charlie Weis. Are Michigan and Penn State posturing about being tough while Notre Dame stays true to its beliefs or are we generalizing individual cases? We may never know.
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2 comments:
In the epic battle of Pirates versus Ninjas, who do the Leprechauns side with? http://www.wellingtongrey.net/miscellanea/archive/2007-07-25--pirates-vs-ninjas/pages/2007-07-25--pirates-vs-ninjas-03.html
A complex question as there is actually a leprechaun divide due, in large part, to the great ninja-pirate feuds.
The pirate siding leprechauns are captured by their love of gold, their most famous representative being Padraig O'Tuial of the four films by the title Leprechaun.
The ninja leprechauns are known more for their playful side and mirthful demeanor, the inspiration for the Lucky Charms leprechaun.
While some attempts at detente have been made, notably the Tipperary 4Leaf Clover Patch summit of 1987, the dispute continues to divide the wee magical creature community.
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