Geoff Calkins...

[milohimself]

I'm simply saying anyone who would claim Miami is a "thug program" is so galactically ignorant of the facts, which show Miami players get in less off field trouble and graduate at a much higher rate than most high profile programs, that I really don't have any reason to give their opinion any attention.

Correct. As Lexvol said, it's a combination of previous history as well as racist undertones. It still exists in this country. Heck, try as I might, stereotypes can still affect my judgement of people. I try to not let it do so, but I'm not perfect.

The facts are correct, though. I can't provide any exact numbers, but Miami has been a tremendously clean program during the Coker era, with arrest numbers down and graduation rates up.

On the flip side of the coin, though, most well-known football programs in the country reside in the southeastern portion of the US. All of these programs have a majority of black players, and any negative light or names that might be thrown their way could be considered racist.

I hate using blanket statements (when I'm not saying anything in jest -- which is hardly ever :lol and look down upon those who do. So I never consider a program "thuggish." I view the situation in what I believe to be the only fair way possible; examine each individual based only on their actions.

 

[hatvol96]

Hat, I understand your intentions, and do agree that skin color is a primary instrument used by a large degree of people while passing judgement. If Chris Leake were white, he would be a hero in Florida right now.

However, I do think that Miami is still suffering from wearing fatigues off of the bus in their national championship game against Penn State. Forgive me for not remembering the year of that game.

The media really did a number on those guys back then. They set the game up has good versus evil, and discipline vs renegade. The fact that Penn State won really opened up the flood gates, and made a lasting memory on people that saw those Miami players before the game.

Though it is not justifiable, simply getting off the bus in fatigues instantly made the Miami team synonomous with the word thug.

That would have been the Fiesta Bowl after the '86 season. You'll get no defense from me for that one.

 

[Business]

The person writing the letter is an idiot and what he was trying to say pretty much goes without saying but........When most people like the ones on TV and radio sports talk shows say "Thug" they don't mean "black people".

Bill Romonowski (spitting in faces)= Thug
Carmello Anthony (for his punch and run)= Thug
That guy in hockey that about killed a man with his stick= Thug.

There's only a big deal about these kind of things if people make them big deals. Like writing an article about it.