“Iron Mike” Locksley’s name precedes him.
As the first-year head coach jogged off the field on Saturday, a group of Texas Tech fans in the South end zone heckled him, chanting, “punch, punch, punch,” according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
“I’m reaping what I sowed,” Locksley said. “I have to deal with that. It’s a part of the game. It wasn’t a big deal to me. I’ve always been of the opinion that if people pay their money, they’re allowed to say what they want to say as long as they don’t cross the line by becoming physical.”
Well said, coach.
I have to praise Locksley for his openness and public contrition in the media. He’s said all the right things — from apologizing to those he let down to “welcoming” the probe. Instead of fielding only football-related questions, he’s answered queries from the media about the Sept. 20 altercation with wide receivers coach J.B. Gerald.
Locksley admitted the episode has taken a toll on him.
“In my 20 plus years of coaching, this hasn’t been Mike Locksley,” he said. “Does it bother me? Of course. I’ve got family. I’ve got friends. I’ve got people that really know who I am. It’s oftentimes said that I’m writing the big book of my life. This is just one chapter — a pretty important chapter — that will help me move forward in my life.”
I must confess that, despite the negative stigma that follows Locksley like a shadow, his charisma has had an effect on me. By no means am I a homer, but I am rooting for Locksley to overcome this early adversity. In my opinion, he’s not the “Lock” Ness Monster.
Still, I have a public responsibility to be scrupulous.
Do I believe Locksley deserves a second chance? Sure — unless UNM’s Human Resources investigation turns up a drop of incriminating evidence. And I’m not necessarily talking strictly about University policies being violated.
We, the media, are, in a sense, badge-less detectives. We must report what the public ought to know. Albuquerque is a fishbowl, and Locksley’s the great white shark. All the outlets in town are scrapping and clawing for every tidbit pertinent to this case.
All I know is that this entire “coaches’ meeting” is suspect. If this incident took place at University Stadium during an offensive staff meeting inside the Tow Diehm facility, why wasn’t UNMPD called instead of APD? The UNM police have jurisdiction over on-campus complaints.
APD spokesperson John Walsh clarified that point. He said that since Gerald “didn’t remember” where the dispute occurred, APD was obliged to file the report instead of referring Gerald to University campus police.
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And Walsh said it’s not possible that the reporting officer misheard Gerald or knowingly omitted the address where the event took place.
“No, that’s not possible,” he said. “If you read in there, the officer put that he had asked for the location and that the individual making the report said that he did not know the location. He was very specific about why he put the location as (Gerald’s) address, because no other location could be determined.”
Peculiar, to say the least.
It doesn’t help that the report was filed at 10:35 p.m., more than three hours after the report says the incident happened: at 7:15 p.m.
Perhaps it’s just me. Maybe I’m entirely too jaded — but I’d like to think I’m just going over things with a fine-toothed comb, hesitant, at best, to take anyone at their word.
The question I keep pondering is: Is there incentive for the Athletics Department to cover up this fallout? Absolutely.
Picture the bad press, not to mention the litigation which could potentially ensue.
Locksley has a clause in his contract under which the University can terminate his agreement for “adequate cause.” If push came to shove, and Locksley was terminated as a result of the University investigation’s findings, the University wouldn’t have to pick up his $300,000 base-salary tab. However, under the University’s Business Policies and Procedures Manual — which is the book Human Resources is going by since the Intercollegiate Athletics Polices and Procedures Manual is in the process of being amended, according to Associate Athletic Director and Head of Media Relations Greg Remington — a contract employee can only be terminated for “proper cause,” which could constitute grounds for a potential hang-up on legal lingo.
Here’s to hoping that this chapter in Locksley’s life isn’t the last one with the University.
