Versions of the truth?....

[Bullpride08]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/college/orl-ucfside0208aug02,0,7236704.story

Well this article pretty well summarizes the discrepancies and errant actions, or rather reporting, by UCF.  Boy I am still amazed someone from UCF's SID hasn't been fired, if not the entire department.  Talk about some bumbling idiots with their releases from start to finish...also UCF's counsel has done a poor job from the get-go getting their arms around this and controlling the athletic department.  Most lawfirms would have put that department on lock-down mode and immediately starting releasing all public records as they became available, full transpirancy (law firms don't want to be found for obstruction or hampering investigations- it's no skin off their back if one of their client's employees is found negligent, their job is to defend the athletic department and University as a whole, not the ineptness of 1 or a few individuals).  They've really let this thing fumble around to now, and guys like O'Leary have made it markedly worse with their attitudes.

You don't even have to believe the anonymous players, just admit that the truth lies somewhere in the middle between O'Leary's version, and the players...unfortunately for UCF that is more than enough for a civil jury to find them wrong, and award a massive, massive settlement.  The family will probably settle because this is a state government entity and if they drug it through the courts to long, and got an obscene settlement, it's highly unlikely the legislation will give it to them, and if the past is any indication they will probably spite them and vote for the family to only get $200k.  This will drag on for 9-12 months through discovery, and then a total will be given with assurances it will get approved by the state legislation. 

I still wonder at what time UCF is going to finally break ranks and fire a few folks, discreetly of course.  Why do they continue to walk along and act like no one has done anything.  I mean if I am Hitt I'd tell Tribble that everyone from the Sports Information Department must be fired, and a wholesale changes in the training, and S&C staff should be completed.  At a minimum this would help with a settlement and relations as this thing comes closer to an end they can illustrate that changes were made to insure this doesn't happen again.  As it stands now UCF is doing an us against the world routine, and what will happen is eventually everyone will turn on them, including the legislators in Tallahassee when they see a massive settlement is imminent.  Then, instead of demanding a few token firings they'll want a wholesale change of the entire athletic department.

Don't believe me look at what's happening in Iowa- the state is up in arms there now and could care less who was actually responsible now.  By the time this concludes, and The State of FL realizes they'll be paying out multiple millions of dollars to a family they won't care who was right or wrong, they'll just want everyone in UCFAA to pay.

[___ Eats It]

Can you imagine if a lawyer got George O'Leary on the stand?

Resume Gate

Experiences with player fatigue while on the Vikings (witnessing the Korey Stringer incident)

The Georgia Tech player abuse incident

His general "eff you" attitude

The contradictions in the story

His whole "I'm not talking to the Media" stance

etc. etc. etc...

UCF will have a PR nightmare of epic proportions on their hands if O'Leary is required to testify.  My prediction is they either settle out of court or, if they do go to trial, O'Leary does not testify, pleading the 5th.

[Bullpride08]

Can you imagine if a lawyer got George O'Leary on the stand?

Resume Gate

Experiences with player fatigue while on the Vikings (witnessing the Korey Stringer incident)

The Georgia Tech player abuse incident

His general "eff you" attitude

The contradictions in the story

His whole "I'm not talking to the Media" stance

etc. etc. etc...

UCF will have a PR nightmare of epic proportions on their hands if O'Leary is required to testify.  My prediction is they either settle out of court or, if they do go to trial, O'Leary does not testify, pleading the 5th.

It would never get that far because it makes no sense to go their for UCF, but then again so far UCF and it's legal counsel haven't done much right so they might be ignorant enough to fight it in court too.

But if they got O'Leary on the stand I was envisioning a Colonel Jessup confrontation like in the movie "A Few Good Men."  The attorney badgers O'Liar until he blurts out "You can't handle the truth!!!!!!!!!"  Of course O'Liar has never handled the truth well either, but you've got to admit that seems so apropo.  Read his article to the Sentinel, and his 'clearing some points'....that article wasn't a cleansing of the truth, and actual events...it read and basically inferred, "I am O'Leary dammit so back the F up,"  he pontificated to the point of it becoming narcissistic, and then refuted two trivial points...the pontification was a half-hearted attempt to try and vindicate himself of any wrong doing and half bragging....yawn.  He's a Colonel Jessup for sure.

[BullyPulpit]

Can you imagine if a lawyer got George O'Leary on the stand?

Resume Gate

Experiences with player fatigue while on the Vikings (witnessing the Korey Stringer incident)

The Georgia Tech player abuse incident

His general "eff you" attitude

The contradictions in the story

His whole "I'm not talking to the Media" stance

etc. etc. etc...

UCF will have a PR nightmare of epic proportions on their hands if O'Leary is required to testify.  My prediction is they either settle out of court or, if they do go to trial, O'Leary does not testify, pleading the 5th.

The only way O'Leary could plead the 5th is to avoid subjecting himself to CRIMINAL liability, not Civil. From all indications, there is nothing that O'Leary has or hasn't done with regards to the Plancher situation that would lead to criminal liability. Therefore, O'Leary would be forced to testify as an eyewitness.

[Goldenbuc]

How is O'Leary at any more fault than any other coach that has had a player die on his watch of the same type?  He isn't.  Maybe is not as cuddly as Bowden or as Cunning as Meyer....but there's no difference.  GOL didn't treat Plancher any differently than any other player.

I do think that it should have and could have been avoided in some way.  But I couldn't tell you how.

[Who'sYourData?]

How is O'Leary at any more fault than any other coach that has had a player die on his watch of the same type?  He isn't.  Maybe is not as cuddly as Bowden or as Cunning as Meyer....but there's no difference.  GOL didn't treat Plancher any differently than any other player.

I do think that it should have and could have been avoided in some way.  But I couldn't tell you how.

We don't know if O'Leary is more at fault.  It may be that everyone did exactly as they were supposed to, O'Leary included. 

It may be that O'Leary ran off the trainers, or wouldn't let them treat Plancher.

It may be that O'Leary has intimidated the training staff in the past, and for that reason they didn't intervene until it was to late.

It may be that no one on the coaching or training staff were told he carried the trait, or were not told the warning signs to look out for and what actions to take.

It may be that other coaches and/or trainers weren't doing their job.

The attorneys for the family are attempting to get those questions answered.

[Bullpride08]

How is O'Leary at any more fault than any other coach that has had a player die on his watch of the same type?  He isn't.  Maybe is not as cuddly as Bowden or as Cunning as Meyer....but there's no difference.  GOL didn't treat Plancher any differently than any other player.

I do think that it should have and could have been avoided in some way.  But I couldn't tell you how.

We don't know if O'Leary is more at fault.  It may be that everyone did exactly as they were supposed to, O'Leary included. 

It may be that O'Leary ran off the trainers, or wouldn't let them treat Plancher.

It may be that O'Leary has intimidated the training staff in the past, and for that reason they didn't intervene until it was to late.

It may be that no one on the coaching or training staff were told he carried the trait, or were not told the warning signs to look out for and what actions to take.

It may be that other coaches and/or trainers weren't doing their job.

The attorneys for the family are attempting to get those questions answered.

Precisely.  And why do UCF'ers always presume it comes down to the world v. O'Leary.  This might have been a case where doctors failed to properly notify UCF's training staff and coaches of EP's condition or failed to explain how to do deal with it if they did tell them.  It's still ultimately culpability to UCF, and some extreme changes would need to come about at UCF, but it's not all about O'Leary.  O'Leary has become the focal point because of his brash attempt to challenge the newspaper, and because he clearly made some serious missteps in his early depictions of the events, for whatever reason he omitted, or lightened the details somewhat.  It probably wasn't intentional, but given the fact UCF really bumbled along in the first two weeks, almost making it impossible for the Sentinel to not vigorously investigate, with mis-quotes, misleading statements, inaccurate depictions of the workout, stand-offish attitudes, and generally not open and informative. 

Again, I contend that Hitt and Tribble look more inept not making a few wholesale changes in USAA to at least the SID, and AD in charge of football.  They clearly mishandled this from the beginning and it made UCF look even worse then any issues dealing with the workout, like they were hiding something.  At this point it's like sticking up the finger to everyone even when you know people on your side are wrong.  Not a good move, or sign.

[LunchTimeBully]

So how will O'leary balance his time between handling a lawsuit and coaching a football team?

[MavTechKNIGHT2]

How is O'Leary at any more fault than any other coach that has had a player die on his watch of the same type?  He isn't.  Maybe is not as cuddly as Bowden or as Cunning as Meyer....but there's no difference.  GOL didn't treat Plancher any differently than any other player.

I do think that it should have and could have been avoided in some way.  But I couldn't tell you how.

We don't know if O'Leary is more at fault.  It may be that everyone did exactly as they were supposed to, O'Leary included. 

It may be that O'Leary ran off the trainers, or wouldn't let them treat Plancher.

It may be that O'Leary has intimidated the training staff in the past, and for that reason they didn't intervene until it was to late.

It may be that no one on the coaching or training staff were told he carried the trait, or were not told the warning signs to look out for and what actions to take.

It may be that other coaches and/or trainers weren't doing their job.

The attorneys for the family are attempting to get those questions answered.

Precisely.  And why do UCF'ers always presume it comes down to the world v. O'Leary.  This might have been a case where doctors failed to properly notify UCF's training staff and coaches of EP's condition or failed to explain how to do deal with it if they did tell them.  It's still ultimately culpability to UCF, and some extreme changes would need to come about at UCF, but it's not all about O'Leary.  O'Leary has become the focal point because of his brash attempt to challenge the newspaper, and because he clearly made some serious missteps in his early depictions of the events, for whatever reason he omitted, or lightened the details somewhat.  It probably wasn't intentional, but given the fact UCF really bumbled along in the first two weeks, almost making it impossible for the Sentinel to not vigorously investigate, with mis-quotes, misleading statements, inaccurate depictions of the workout, stand-offish attitudes, and generally not open and informative.

Why do you presume UCFers always feel this way?

Actually, he made NO missteps in his early description.  Don't blame GO because you don't understand what he meant by "taxing".  What GO thinks is taxing is probably quite different than internet-boy haS.been thinks is tasking.  You run down the driveway and you come back panting; that's taxing.  To YOU!

Fact is, GO made his comments, KT made his comments and then RETRACTED them almost immediately and corrected the information.  The standoff-ish attitude toward the Sentinel was justified.  They fabricated a story where there was none.  They sensationalized a tragic event and failed to provide the real story, a great kid died in a tragic way.  Now everyone speaks about the Sentinel and UCF and nobody talks about the kid.  That is sad.

UCF should have waited before speaking to the media about this event.  But they were trying to get the information out there ASAP and the misunderstanding/misinformation bit them.  But they were quick to recover.  They did a great job.

Again, I contend that Hitt and Tribble look more inept not making a few wholesale changes in USAA to at least the SID, and AD in charge of football.  They clearly mishandled this from the beginning and it made UCF look even worse then any issues dealing with the workout, like they were hiding something.   At this point it's like sticking up the finger to everyone even when you know people on your side are wrong.  Not a good move, or sign.

Somebody made a mistake.  Why should they be fired?  The mistake had no consequence on what happened.  The only way UCF looks bad is if you are looking through heifer eyes.  And we all know Brahmans can't see well.  The only entity UCF has every been upset at is the Sentinel.  Quit being the drama-queen as you have been for 6 years now.

IM BACK!

[MavTechKNIGHT2]

So how will O'leary balance his time between handling a lawsuit and coaching a football team?

Most likely the same way Levitra handles hitching a trailer and his football team....