Don

January 8th, 2020 at 11:37 AM ^

"In January of 1980, it appeared to most at MSU that Perles was set to become the Spartans head coach after Darryl Rogers left abruptly, with athletic director Joe Kearney, for Arizona State.

Perles wanted passionately the Spartans job he had dreamed about for all his coaching life. But at the last moment, MSU stunned all of college football when it opted for Muddy Waters, who had previously coached at Hillsdale College and Saginaw Valley State."

I still remember hearing that Waters had been hired and thinking "who the hell is Muddy Waters?" Can't believe that the MSU AD fucked that easy choice up so badly.

4godkingandwol…

January 8th, 2020 at 11:40 AM ^

What’s complicated about it? He ran a morally corrupt organization and ended up a career .500 coach. He then was one of the overseers off  the greatest moral scandal in American athletic history, then attempted to cover it up, along with his cronies, every step of the way after it was discovered. 

mGrowOld

January 8th, 2020 at 11:54 AM ^

All true but.....

Is there any obligation to mention it in an RIP thread?  I mean i've been to a bunch of funerals where the dead guy was an asshole and not once did I feel compelled to turn to someone in the line to pay our last respects and say "You know what?  In life that dude was an asshole"  I just say nothing, smile and move through the line.

Like me late father used to tell me "Donald, just because you can say something doesn't mean you have to.  Even if it's true.  Actually especially if it's true."

xtramelanin

January 8th, 2020 at 1:40 PM ^

it is a sadly safe assertion that monocle has not likely said a nice word about anyone in his (or her?) life.  and i say 'sad', not in a condemning way, but in the way that means anyone who is that exceptionally negative and trying so hard to be condescending is undoubtedly dealing with personal issues that weigh very heavily on him. the lens of his life is a bitter, unhappy color and that is a shame.    

Witz57

January 9th, 2020 at 2:09 AM ^

This rubric is in opposition to learning from mistakes once someone dies and is actually kind of a pocket veto for anything besides whitewashing. It's pretty anti-intellectual policy.

I'm curious if you think it should be applied to world leaders as well? Certainly, a football coach is a public figure. Some are even the highest paid employees of their state of residence.

What's the sociatial benefit of ignoring  factual actions that caused material harm to others?

 

 

ijohnb

January 8th, 2020 at 12:34 PM ^

For those curious, Perles was on the Michigan State Board of Trustees from 2006-2018.  The only implication of him in the Nassar scandal was that he was alleged, in a lawsuit, to have covered up Nassar's drugging and raping of a field hockey player at Michigan State in 1992. 

The allegations were debunked, as it was found that Nasser was still in medical school in 1992 and had no affiliation with Michigan State at the time.  The field hockey coach who had allegedly reported the incident to Perles has stated that she does not remember the individual ever playing field hockey at Michigan State, and that she had almost no contact with George Perles while he was there.  The lawsuit was dismissed.

The independent investigation conducted by William Forsyth into Nassar's crimes and Michigan State's response discredited the allegations that Perles covered up any allegations against Nassar.

Jota09

January 8th, 2020 at 1:15 PM ^

I'm a little confused.  As I understand it, his time as head football coach ended with MSU being put on probation for improper benefits and fudging academics.  Am I missing something else?  I was under the impression this board was all for giving athletes compensation.  I also don't think helping some athletes stay eligible is the worst thing in the world.  Against the rules, sure, but not morally corrupt per say.  That is just my opinion.  And as another poster has already stated, he was cleared of any cover up of the Nassar investigation.  Is he being treated as guilty by association?  I don't know much about him personally.  His MSU coaching tenor was when I was 4-15, so I don't remember much of it.  So unless I'm missing something I think you're being unduly harsh.

bOttOmfeeder

January 8th, 2020 at 12:10 PM ^

My sophomore year, George Perles came to my high school on a recruiting trip and he spoke to me.  I didn't want to talk to him, but felt obliged. 

I remember it like it was yesterday.

He asked me, "Hey, where's the john?"

1974

January 8th, 2020 at 12:14 PM ^

Condolences to his family and friends.

Perles was a goon. In a properly ordered world he would have topped out way short of head coach or regent.