Bobby Hauck has moved on to UNLV, but football coaches continue to make news by sparring with school newspapers. TOM BAUER/Missoulian
Remember Bobby Hauck v. the Kaimin?
In case you don’t, former University of Montana football coach Bobby Hauck made national headlines last fall when he refused to talk with reporters from the campus newspaper, the Montana Kaimin, after they wrote a story – and asked questions – he didn’t like about football players in trouble with the law.
Eventually, but far too late, he called a truce with the student-journalists and returned to answering their questions.
Now comes this story out of Texas, where a football coach not only dissed the student newspaper but told his players to go collect every copy of the offending edition. And then announced it was the best “team-building exercise” they’d ever had.
And that’s when he finally, belatedly, got in trouble.
Here’s the Associated Press story:
COMMERCE, Texas (AP) — A Texas college football coach has apologized for applauding his players for removing campus newspapers from their racks because of a story about the program.
Texas A&M-Commerce coach Guy Morriss told campus police the actions by his players was “the best team-building exercise we have ever done.” On Monday, the former Kentucky and Baylor coach apologized for a “lapse in judgment” and said the comment was made facetiously.
Police were investigating the disappearance of newspaper editions that included a front-page article about two football players being arrested on drug charges.
A&M-Commerce athletic director Carlton Cooper said the Division II program would pay for the reprint of the missing edition, and that coaches and players would distribute it.
So I’m thinking: UM has a new football coach now, a new day will dawn when fall semester rolls around on campus, and with it the chance for a new warm-and-fuzzy relationship between the Griz football program and the Kaimin. How about Griz players delivering the Kaimin around campus? Kaimin reporters suiting up for the pre-game warm-up? Or best of all: a straightforward, professional working relationship that’ll show every football team and campus newspaper nationwide how things are supposed to be done.
Sherry Devlin
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