Purify Suspended For One Game
15 comments so far
July 20, 2007 by
As I was working to convert Michael Vick's current NFL contract in to a currency that may do him more good in the next 3-5 years (8,600,000 cartons of cigarettes, to be exact) and trying to get my head around the scope of an NBA official being investigated for allegedly gambling on games he was actually refereeing, the news broke about Maurice Purify being suspended for one game this upcoming football season. And since this is a Husker blog site, that last item is the one readers would be most interested in. Here's the thing, folks. I'm not sure what to think about this choice by Coach Bill Callahan. On one hand, Mo's transgressions this summer were pretty stupid and might merit more punishment. On the other, the school must show some commitment to the player and seek to get him help more than merely punish him. Either way, this is one of those "should" situations, where everybody has an opinion. And in the end, only one opinion counts.
Beware of "Should" Situations
A very wise teacher helped me understand that "should" is the most dangerous word in the English language, because it is the ultimate opinion word. And, unfortunately for Bill Callahan, this is a situation where everyone before and after the fact has a take on what should be done. Well, this isn't a right-or-wrong answer situation. It's not a discreet thing, like any one number is the "correct" answer. So, no matter what decision got made, somebody somewhere thinks something else should have been done. Nobody ever really "wins" these arguments.
Okay, so it is one game. Most fans agree that NU won't miss Mo for the opener against Nevada. Is it a punishment? I suppose. He's losing 1/12 of his opportunity to compete this season. Honestly, when pressed, I admit that two games felt more like an acceptable number to me. One doesn't feel like enough, considering the summer this kid had. The rub with a two game suspension is that it makes it seem like they just want him back in time for week three against USC. Remember, nobody wins.
An Obligation to Help
Let's remember also that football coaches take in young men - some from not-so-great backgrounds - and pledge to those kids' parents and guardians to help them, guide them, and provide structure. No kidding. It is very real for college players to see their coaches as their strongest role models. In that mindset, Callahan and his staff have at least some obligation to help Mo with his social or alcohol related problems. Don't scoff at the part of NU's sanctions related to Mo that deal with him getting help.
Through a leadership role in helping young men with my fraternity, I've been exposed to things very much like this. Young men deal with anger, or alcohol or depression or any number of things. Yes, there is a need to correct them and even punish. There is also a need to help.
There are a few on the very fringe of this issue who believe that a player like Mo should lose his entire season. Those people are nuts. Does kicking this kid off the team really help him, the team, or serve justice any better? No. The player would miss out on his best chance for a lucrative profession in the NFL, the team would lose one of its best offense players, and neither would atone for his transgression nor make it okay with those who may have been harmed by them.
A Question of Detriment
Some will see this one game suspension and criticize Callahan for having a win-at-all-cost, pro football mentality. That isn't fair or true, if you study his actions previous to this. If he was really that guy, he wouldn't have thrown his best player - Richie Incognito - off the team right before the start of the 2004 season, when he really could have used another good player. And, he wouldn't have thrown Grant Mulkey off the team at a time when NU wasn't exactly deep at wide receiver. I think I see a distinction made in Purify's case.
By the accounts I have heard, Incognito and Mulkey were, at least in part, a detriment to the team. The kinds of things involved there are divisive and can be bad "in the locker room". A coach can't afford to have that on his team. From what I have seen and heard in the Purify situation, he's a detriment to himself. If there are people willing to say Mo is a bad teammate (on or off the record), I haven't found them. So, when a player is a detriment or danger to himself, the prevailing thought in the coach’s office appears to be more about help than punishment. Oh, and if Mo happens to catch a dozen touchdowns while getting that help...well that's okay too.
Like I said, nobody wins.
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ze bop Jul 21 07
One game only, yippeeee!
I'm not saying the DUI was not a serious thing, and hopefully he's getting some further disciplinary activity on the side(I have to read up on it).
I hope that MO has gotten the msg and gets back on the straight and narrow. Anymore screw ups and I'm sure he'll be outta there for much longer.
But for now, it will be great having him back on the field!
So is he now reinstated back into team practices, workouts, etc.?
ze bop Jul 21 07
O.K., I read the LJS article and it looks like the situation is being handled pretty well.
Keep it together Mo!
Chad Goldapp Jul 21 07
He should be suspended for no games. We need to get him in sink with sammy k.
OU7times Jul 21 07
OK, It's official now. "MO" is back on the team. I figured as much. Can you imagine the pressure "coach" (and I use that term loosely)is feeling having to fill the shoes of the likes of Coach Devaney and Coach Osborne not to mention replacing a previous coach with a 10 win season? Wins over morals is the new order I had made a post earlier last year (on another website)that Nebraska has settled for "mediocrity" and it looks like the day is here. Imagine having to recall a previously suspended player just to insure that you can win enough games to save your butt. "Just win baby" was good for Oakland (Raiders) but not for Nebraska. I would expect more from NU as NU should expect more of itself. I see a proud institution settling for less. This is certainly not the Nebraska we have known over the years. Coach Devaney is rolling in his grave right now. Bye the way, 2 incidents and 4 charges, how many more "second chances" does a guy get?
Steve Jul 22 07
Wow, I've seen it all. An OU fan trying to put down another program for putting "wins over morals". Your moniker is "OU7times" is that 7 national titles or 7 major NCAA probations? It's so hard to keep track.
Darren,
I must admit that while no one wins, it sure felt like a "win" as a Husker fan. I couldn't stomach no games, but was pretty nervous about heading to Wake Forest without Purify. I'm not one to praise Sipple, but he put it right when he praised Purify's attorney after the public statement he made. Didn't it just scream remorse and responsibility? It had to make Callahan's decision that much easier.
OU7times Jul 22 07
Yea Steve, I'm sure it stings even worse for you. You know, your university being called out for making an immoral decision (my opinion),especially by a rival teams fan(whose team got dinged). If I remember right, Coach Stoops did dismiss the players involved. Right? Or do you subscribe to the "love affair" that the NCAA has with OU, resulting in minor punishment. Yea, let's punish 102 players for what 3 did. Makes sense to me! Bomar was set to be the top notch Big 12 QB and a viable Heisman candidate, but it had to be done. As mentioned before, Callahan will definetly be feeling the heat this year if he doesn't produce. So therefore, he made his decision and he'll have to live with it. I hope Husker fans can live with the fact that their coach just took a starting WR position from a kid who did what he as supposed to do and lived by the rules. Now tell him that this is his reward. I've seen "crazy Callahan" calls on the field but the off the field crap is just as "entertaining". I've heard your "7 times" comment before. Want to post it again for good measure? Heh, heh. I hope NU wins the North division so we can meet in the title game again. I hope we can win the South because I want to witness it personally. Honestly, Steve, we may not agree on much but I would LOVE to sit with you guy's during the game and talk the talk. We don't know who'll be our QB,yet, but it shouldn't matter. We have beat NU with a freshman QB (in Lincoln), a junior college QB... As far as I'm concerned the first shot has been fired in this seasons smak-off. It's your ball, Steve, don't fumble it.
Steve Jul 23 07
What a standup guy that Stoops, throwing his players under a bus once an e-mail detailing their violations was sent to the NCAA.
It's "immoral" to suspend a guy for a game who has two drinking incidents in college. I'm glad you weren't the dean when I was in school. I have to admit I had a few drinking incidents and yet was allowed to finish school. I wonder why that immoral administration at UNL permittted that. Lord knows that Purify and I were the only two guys drinking while in college.
Staci Jul 23 07
Let's not forget the punishment put on him by the law. He gets a year probabtion, a $1250 fine - what college student has that kind of money to throw away?-and, he can't even enter a bar for a whole year. That means when all of his football buddies are downtown at the bars, he gets to sit at home and ponder about what could have been. Callahan may have only suspended him for a game, but he definitely has other things to worry about.
Katie Jul 23 07
I expected some commenting on the Purify punishment, but I certainly did not think an Oklahoma fan would be the one questioning the morals of Nebraska.
"Coach Devaney is rolling in his grave right now" I assure you there are more things in the world going on more then Mo Purify's suspension that would cause him to be rolling. Pah-leeze, you may be overstating this issue. College Football is changing. DUH!
You take care of your business in the south and we will take care of our business in the north. As I look at the schedule now, Mo is not a concern for the Sooners. I wouldn't be worrying about Nebraska right now, I think your plate is full enough.
Mase Jul 23 07
Not to mention the fact that reinstating him with the team does not guarantee him a starting spot. I would be very surprised to see Mo starting in the WF or USC games...after that, depending on the performance of Mo and the other receivers...we'll see. One game may seem a little light given the two incidents, but are more games really gonna change him?
OU7times Jul 23 07
You may be onto something. The report did say that "Mau" was reinstated but not necessarily at a starting level. Why do you suppose he would be allowed back after all the bad press? I feel it's because he is going to start. There really could be no reason except that coach feels that although he's a royal pain, he has more talent than his backups. Otherwise, you tell him to hit the bricks. Staci, What a tragedy that he won't EVEN be able to enter a bar, gosh, for a whole year. That's rich! Social retardism would probably tell you that he doesn't belong in a bar. And Katie, I AM a Sooner fan questioning the morals of whoever is making the decisions at NU. I don't hate NU I just see a definite change there coinciding with the hiring of your Athletic Director. Steve can make fun of Coach Stoops but the fact is that he cannot babysit any or all of his players as you could guess. Mom and Dad have a hell of alot more to do with kids taking money for no work than the coach does. Take responsibility for your actions and be accountable for and to yourself. Will you give me that much? Please remember that there is a big difference between being a coach that lacked in monitoring his players work habits as opposed to a coach who gets a student pregnant and then is dismissed after winning 10 games. As far as whatever coach Stoops would have decided to do in this fiasco,no NU fan would see it as the right move.
Steve Jul 24 07
OU7, You never cease to amaze. Now Solich was fired for a love child?! That's news to most Husker fans! You're quite the insider...
Katie Jul 24 07
"As far as whatever coach Stoops would have decided to do in this fiasco,no NU fan would see it as the right move."
Replace the name Stoops with Callahan and NU with OU and we AGREE!
OU7times Jul 24 07
Katie, "here's what's up", your so blind. I hope your kid lost his starting position to your buddy "MO". Heh,heh...
John Sullivan Aug 18 07
I must admit, after reading the banter between Steve and OU7.....I agree with the sooner. I am the ultimate Husker fan, but have to side with OU7. THE PROGRAM is no more. We have lowered standards and are forced to face the ugliest word in Webster's dictionary.........mediocrity. The current hierarchy, beginning with the A.D. is terrible. If Steve Peterson knew much about coaching, honor, and tradition.......he would have named Turner Gill head coach. Or at the very least, went after Joe Glenn at Wyoming. But after he turned the coaching search into a one-man comittee (headed by himself), it turned into an embarrasing debacle. Ultimately, he had to settle for Callahan, a coach way down the list. How sad. I am still a Husker fan.......just not the same one I was 10 years ago.