Editor,
According to the Daily Lobo, Coach Locksley says that those team members who aren’t “doing their job(s)” will be replaced. I’m curious about how globally this philosophy might be applied.
It’s easy and common to scapegoat the players in the sports world. But that doesn’t make it ethically right or effective in improving team success. Personally, I think it is both improper and counter-productive for a million-dollar coach to publicly berate and insult the players, who, in spite of some scholarships, are essentially paying for their educations and opportunities with incredible commitment and quite a bit of sacrifice.
Locksley and Daily Lobo columnist Isaac Avilucea call for “discipline,” another easy sports cliché that puts the blame on the players. I wonder how a little respect, encouragement and support might work.
Derek Roff
UNM staff
Isaac Avilucea responds: “Derek, I would point out respectfully that if you read my column, it’s noted that discipline is instilled by the head coach, and in that respect, discipline is not one of Locksley’s strongest character traits.”
