Stickin' Up for the Knoxville Boys

One of our long-time coleagues and hopefully a future contributor, Dim, had a bone to pick with ESPN columnist over his recent article entitled Fulmer's program may be coming to a crossroads. A transcript of their correspondence follows:

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From: ESPN4D@aol.com [mailto:ESPN4D@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 3:30 PM
To: [Dim]
Subject: Re: Agree but Why was Article not about Pete Carroll

[Dim]:

Thanks for writing. I don't agree with Pete Carroll's attitude. However, we're talking about two players and an in-team fight. In Tennessee's case we're talking about 11 players, including four arrests THIS WEEK, including two felony charges, including attacks on smaller individuals from the general student body. I'd say what is happening at Tennessee is a whole lot worse.

Pat Forde

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From: [Dim]
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 2:15 PM
To: ESPN4D@aol.com [mailto:ESPN4D@aol.com]
Subject: Agree but Why was Article not about Pete Carroll

Mr. Forde,

I just read your article on Phil Fulmer and his soft discipline. I agree that these players need to be reprimanded harshly when it comes to physically harming other people, but you seem to be taking an easy kick at someone who is down. I think kicking out James Banks, the previously most gifted athlete on their team, weakens your point that Fulmer is the neighborhood grandma. How/why did you not take issue with Pete Carroll’s remark made Wednesday in response to one of his players breaking the jaw of another? Carroll said, “… I'm sorry that somebody got hurt but other than that it's not a big deal. They're fine about it."

Mr. Forde, are we to understand that you feel Fulmer’s been too lax and therefore his players are out of control? Fulmer’s punishment WAS worse than just having the players run up the stadium steps (a sarcastic slap-on-the-wrist that ironically is much harsher than the punishment Carroll was going to dole out) …the Tennessee players have been kicked off the team, contrary to what you reported. Again, Pete Carroll better reflects the type of coach you are describing. However, it seems like you are using his actions (none) and pasting them on Fulmer, therefore bolstering your point of no discipline leads to jaw breaking/face caving. Please help me understand if I am not seeing the Southern Cal player breaking a jaw as being okay versus the Tennessee player.

Thanks for reading my response,
[Dim]