It’s funny that Marcus Monk mentioned on Wednesday that he and his team were as strong as a “band of brothers” right now.
I say that because I had thought about a scene from the mini-series Band of Brothers on the day before, after it was reported that Houston Dale had planned to demote his award-winning offensive coordinator, Gus Malzahn, after a 10 win season.
In the first episode of the mini-series set during World War II (and based on the great book by Stephen Ambrose), the protagonist of the story, Lt. Dick Winters, finds out that he’s being punished by his commander, Capt. Herbert Sobel (whose ineptness is brilliantly portrayed by former Friends actor David Schwimmer).
When Winters questions Sobel about the reasons for the punishment, he quickly realizes that the reprimand is a petty act by Sobel to unjustly discipline him out of jealousy. Winters, an up-and-coming officer, is respected by his men and very capable in his duties — two things that Sobel is not.
“Punishment for your offenses will be denial of a 48-hour pass for 60 days,” Sobel says. “Or you may initiate a letter of appeal and request a trial by court-martial.”
Winters, standing at attention, glares at him. After an awkward silence, Sobel implores him. “You spend your weekends on the base anyway, Dick.”
“Be a man…take the punishment.”
After a momentary pause, Winters defiantly grabs a pen out of Sobel’s hand. “May I borrow your pen, sir?” He quickly signs a paper, hands it to Sobel and returns to attention.
“My endorsement, sir. I request trial by court-martial.”
Sobel sits stunned as Winters looks down at him, salutes, and walks away.
Later, after hearing of the incident, the sergeants under Winters resign in support and protest. They do so knowing that their act during wartime could be punished by being lined up in front of a firing squad and shot. But better to die that way, they believe, than to die in battle under the command of an inept Capt. Sobel.
Eventually, Sobel’s regiment commander realizes his motives and summarily transfers him. The charges against Winters are dropped and he and his reinstated sergeants go on to lead their company into battle on D-Day and beyond.
But the moral is clear: Fairness. Honesty. Integrity. Principles that are worth standing up and fighting for…and rightly disassociating from those who don’t embody them.
So maybe now you can see how I could draw parallels to who I view as Sobel, Winters and the sergeants in our own little drama here on the Hill this week.
The only question I still have is…who is our regiment commander?
http://www.tulsaworld.com/SportsStory.asp?ID=0701…
Link to a piece offering a little perspective on how insane this all is. We have the best player in college football and all we can talk about is a disgruntled second string player and a coordinator who decided he'd fit better somewhere else. Who cares.
Carolina – Sounds like you've got "spin fatigue." I know you're a regular visitor, but I would remind you that our top post for most of the day yesterday was about the basketball team. Believe it or not, we are trying not to be single-minded.
Thanks for the link. Forgive me if I feel a little skepticism about anything written by a columnist in the Tulsa World, considered their school has been the only winner out of all of this. I'm sure they would very much like us to be talking about DMac and 10 wins while they finish raiding the cookie jar and landing Mitch. But trust me…we'll be talking about DMac a lot this next year.
But don't worry…we won't talk about this drama forever.
It'll just seem that way.
Again, this is really absurd.
Tulsa raided "the cookie jar" and landed Mitch? Come on.
Maybe we should wonder why Tulsa is the only school that really wants the kid.
If he's really that great, where are the Notre Dame's and the Florida's and the USC's?
Damian Williams was the best athlete we lost. And was picked up by the best school.
Seems to me, if they raided the cookie jar, they got the crumbs.
Good comment. Maybe no one wants the "Springdale two" because of the trainwreck they seem to bring to a program.
What does Tulsa have to lose, anyway?
If they raided the cookie jar and got Mitch (most of the true powerhouse teams declined a look), I guess that means that Beck goes with him!! Hallelujah!! When deciding who is the winner in all this, I can only state that the jury is still out. Nothing has really happened but a bunch of people moving around. The true test of a winner will be who wins on the field.
Good comment Bluff…everyone following this (including all the commenters in this thread) has their opinion on how all parties involved will do after the dust settles. Time will tell…
Being from the Tulsa area, this has created a "positive" spin around here the University of Tulsa. However, it has created a "negative" spin around here ABOUT the University of Arkansas. This is even in spite of the previous situation about Tulsa's hiring of a previous Razorback coach (Keith Burns).
I predict that Tulsa will have another great year next year. Maybe even the 2007 version of Boise State!
http://www.tulsaworld.com/SportsStory.asp?ID=0701…
I'm all about the links today, but this one quotes Louisville's coach saying he's not interested because of all of the hype. I know that everyone is pissed because they feel that they didn't get to see Gus's offense but the fact remains that he has yet to do much of anything at the college level so let's not get carried away with predictions of Tulsa heading to the BCS.
I predict Tulsa will struggle in a new offensive system and it will take at least two years for Tulsa to get the players they need to run the spread.
It's a shame that Mitch's mom has put a black cloud over him. This is the ONLY reason that teams may not look at him. I for one think he should wait it out and I think teams will come calling again. It's just too short notice and too close to the situation for schools to really know what has happened. When the dust settles, Mitch will be more attractive to the same schools that came offering scholarships his junior year.
Malzahn will be successfull. Wherever he is at. Tulsa or here. But I do not think they will light it up next year or the next. Their best hope is that Mustain winds up there. Becuase he likely can get it done. But it will take some time to implement it. And he will get it there. They haven't won before so a 2-3 yr implementation plan isn't going to be a problem. Just as it should not have been here.
Just one disagreement. I know a lot of people who were true winners who never won "on the field". Circumstances kept it from happening. Of course when it comes to football we want it the scoreboard to say so. Unfortunately it is not always that easy.
Link to a site that wants to make a change!
http://savethehogs.proboards54.com
It is very clear that HDN has taken the low road.We are so tired of the powers that be,instead of faceing the truth,they are just ''Waging the hog'' Arkansas must stand and say, want the truth,and we want it now.