Stand with Willie!

[Brad]

 

Data- did you read the quotes from Richard Gonzmart in the Joey Knight piece?

 

it is pretty clear what happened.  

 

Matt, do you answer the phone for Harlan?  I'm sure Gonzmart wasn't the only one to complain.  And do you know the sequence of events of what happened today?  For all we know, Harlan could have ordered someone to get Taggart into his office seconds after he heard it on the radio, if Harlan was listening.

 

We don't have nearly enough information.  The only information we definitively have is Taggart pissing off the business community and an entire section of town, and a press release by Harlan that called Taggart "the football coach".  

 

Taggart made people mad, and Harlan is mad.  The rest of the timing is pure speculation.

 

 

This will be my last response, because as I have gotten through this thread it's clear, that like Messrs Harlan and Gonzmart, the facts don't matter right now. 

 

It will be excuses and blame from here on out.

 

This makes me mad that we stomp on our memory of Kino because Harlan and Gonzmart's selfishness and self-importance.  It's a god **** disgrace that I hope just dies out locally. 

[Matt]

 

 

This makes me mad that we stomp on our memory of Kino because Harlan and Gonzmart's selfishness and self-importance.  It's a god **** disgrace that I hope just dies out locally. 

 

 

I hope Harlan and Gonzmart realize this.  

[Leviathan]

Gonzmart sounds like a godfather-type figure. He picks up the phone and pulls Harlan's strings. 

[Matt]

Gonzmart sounds like a godfather-type figure. He picks up the phone and pulls Harlan's strings. 

 

 

You say that like it's a joke.  Go ahead and research the Gonzmart family.  

[Gismo]

Harlan:

"If our donor says it's okay, then it's okay. What the head coach thinks isn't important."

Edited September 8, 2015 by Gismo

[Calibull]

Taggart is from the area, he knows what goes on in Yborg and he knows the trouble kids can get into over there.  Having just had a kid he coached, who was at the game behind the bench get brutally murdered.  I haven't always been a huge fan of him but on this... right now I have a tremendous amount of respect for the guy.  I think he handled things correctly.  I mean I get the donor thing but what he was doing was exercising a little initiative to ensure player safety.  Harlan came out with a ******** statement declaring he has always been opposed to such restrictions as a matter of principle... then it later comes out a fking booster called and made him do that.  That's fking weak.  Not only did he undermine the coach, he's basically saying that the concern of one booster trumps player safety.  People intrust Taggart and USF to provide a safe environment and to sometimes help their kids make the right decision by eliminating a bad one whenever possible.  I mean I'd hope players don't go there anyway... but better to restrict them then to have to deal with the possibility of one being injured or worse.... 

 

#Venting 

[USF_Grouper]

Harlan absolutely should have given Willie a chance to recant his words - after explaining to him how foolish he was. I am dissapointed the statement came from the AD and not Willie. But beyond that Harlan is spot on. Many USF supporters live and work in Ybor City. You don't condemn an entire area over one incident. People have gotten stabbed in on-campus housing, is Willie planning to ban players from there as well? How about the library?

 

It was stupid and said in a fit of passion. Harlan's response speaks more about their working relationship than anything else.

[USF_Grouper]

 

I get the feeling that Harlan isn't Woolard.  If Harlan gets 3,000 emails he won't change his mind.  He is ticked his football coach made a decision that should have been made by the Athletic Department.

 

For years fans wanted a hands on AD that would handle things and keep the coach out of trouble and let the coach stick to coaching.  Now we have one and everyone is mad at the AD.  You can't have it both ways. 

 

I stand with Willie Taggart because Willie was coaching.  It's more than Xs and Os.  He has to help mold those players. 

 

After the death of Elkino Watson, he was asked if it was "off limits" to his players and he responded "Yes, it's off limits".  That's not unreasonable.  That is smart.  And the words of a caring, responsible man.  Could you imagine the ****storm, if he replied "no, of course not, it's a cherished and historical place in our Bay Area community and culture."  He would have lost players, families and fans.

 

It was Harlan that kneejerked with his stupid release.  He's the one that needs to earn trust back.

 

 

He should have responded ... "Like me, the players of this franchise are saddened at this sudden and senseless tragedy. We certainly will evaluate the policies and procedures that keep each of us safe going forward."

Move on. Coach Taggart isn't some high school nobody, he is old enough to no better! It was a ridiculously stupid thing to say and Harlan's public response was likely out of an equal level of frustration that anyone would be so foolish.

[Gismo]

I get the feeling that Harlan isn't Woolard. If Harlan gets 3,000 emails he won't change his mind. He is ticked his football coach made a decision that should have been made by the Athletic Department.

For years fans wanted a hands on AD that would handle things and keep the coach out of trouble and let the coach stick to coaching. Now we have one and everyone is mad at the AD. You can't have it both ways.

I stand with Willie Taggart because Willie was coaching. It's more than Xs and Os. He has to help mold those players.

After the death of Elkino Watson, he was asked if it was "off limits" to his players and he responded "Yes, it's off limits". That's not unreasonable. That is smart. And the words of a caring, responsible man. Could you imagine the ****storm, if he replied "no, of course not, it's a cherished and historical place in our Bay Area community and culture." He would have lost players, families and fans.

It was Harlan that kneejerked with his stupid release. He's the one that needs to earn trust back.

He should have responded ... "Like me, the players of this franchise are saddened at this sudden and senseless tragedy. We certainly will evaluate the policies and procedures that keep each of us safe going forward."

Move on. Coach Taggart isn't some high school nobody, he is old enough to no better! It was a ridiculously stupid thing to say and Harlan's public response was likely out of an equal level of frustration that anyone would be so foolish.

Shameful that dishonesty and diversion rule the day.

[USF_Grouper]

That isn't dishonest and the most important responsibility of anyone in a public facing position is to understand not to speak out of emotion. Sit down, think about it, and make a rational decision - something mere time would clearly have prevented Taggart from doing.

 

At least now we know who is "the most powerful man in the building"!