Did Graham Couch write a good article?
So, it looks like Graham Couch has now “turned” on Izzo/MSU. In the article he seems to realize that this is not a bunch of isolated incidents and that maybe there was some substance to the ESPN reports.
“If the school’s counselors aren’t believing victims of sexual assault and, instead, are protecting their alleged perpetrators, beloved athletes in this case, MSU is sicker than we realized.”
I think Izzo said after he lost to eleven seeded Syracuse that “You’re not breaking me, I know that.” Well if his biggest slappies and supporters in the media are turning on him too, what will break him? Is there going to have to be two, three, four more stories like this for something to happen?
I know people will say we post to much about MSU and I don’t care about them. Thought it was relevant after he wrote some stupid s*** after the ESPN report first broke. Just seems to be seeing everything in a different light now that more info/more cases are out there.
https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/sports/columnists/graham-couc…
April 12th, 2018 at 12:56 PM ^
in response to msu's statements, they are definitely circling the wagons around izzo and dantonio. to say that the athletic department and coaches were never notified about the incedent is almost condoning the actions of the alleged perpetrators.
if i'm a coach i want to know everything going on in my program. and i make sure everyone knows that. hell, in Bo's book he talked about how he wanted landlords of players to let him know if there were late rent payments. we are talking about multiple gang rapes going on here. it's insane.
further, the athletic dept and coaches weren't told about the incedent, but they went ahead and told the woman's academic councelor about it. what a fucking ridiculous double standard that is.
i have many friends and familty that went to msu. hell, i grew up in EL, going to many football and basketball games there. i fucking hate that place now.
April 12th, 2018 at 12:58 PM ^
I'm a head football coach in a small high school, and this past season we had to send a player home from the state championship game because he used an e-cig in his room. A parent of a manger is who informed us it was going on. No police involvement, no school involvement. Head coaches know what's going on in their programs. Accusations of rape? Program like MSU? Not a chance in hell those coaches don't know what's going on.
a group of his players were accused of raping a student? "Those are some bad dudes. Why was she around those guys?"
As you said, head coaches know what's going on with their program. They have lots of sources who feel they need to keep them informed. And what kind of coach doesn't want to know?.
They all knew. That type of heavy shit does not just go poof.
April 12th, 2018 at 12:52 PM ^
I actually complimented Graham on twitter because I was so amazed that he had a rational thought about MSU, let alone put it in writing, in a column. To me it means he must know something that hasn't been reported yet - it isn't like him to burn a bridge unless that bridge is due to be dynamited in the coming weeks.
Very surprising.
April 12th, 2018 at 12:55 PM ^
I'm a noted Michigan State graduate, lifelong Michigan fan and long-time board member. I'm glad we can discuss these things. This issue is specifically frustrating for me on a number of levels.
First, I attended MSU while the Nasser situation took place. I knew many male and female athletes and they could have just as easily been victims.
Secondly, MSU graduates who know my sports fandom try to tell me I'm looking at this through Maize-colored glasses and that's not right. I don't know why we as humans would have to be biased to be against rape.
Third, the cover up is worse than the crime. With each story it seems like there are more layers of corruption. Items like this latest story, or Engler's appointment as interim president makes me feel like MSU feels as if they are above the line.
Finally, I have a daughter and I have to ask myself do I want her to even go to Michigan State? (Spare me the jokes). Seriously though this issue is beyond MSU. The rape culture that surrounds athletics at many large institutions is a scary thing and I'm admittedly not sure what I can do as a person to change that.
TLDR: I am an MSU grad who is embarrassed and frustrated about the University.
My oldest daughter graduated from MSU in 2010. Fortunately, she never experienced any kind of assault or harrassment, so had no experience with the Title IX Office, counseling services, or campus police. I f we were going through the whole college selection process now, I doubt MSU would be her choice. I will never know for sure, of course.
But, as you point out, it's the cover up (and I would also add what sure looks like victim blaming / shaming by various administrators as well) that makes this even worse. And it is this circle the wagons, head in the sand, attempts to protect the brand, victims be damned approach that has me most upset.
I don't donate large sums of money to any university, but I will certainly not be giving even one more cent to MSU for the foreseeable future. If all the powers that be are concerned about is dollars and cents and believe that their public statements are part of a PR and legal strategy to limit liability in law suits, they better start paying attention to in-coming money as well, because I have to believe I'm not the only donor / potential donor who is this pissed off about MSU's response.
MasterCard is already pulling funding for a scholarship program it has at MSU
has done. I think it's the enabling.
Sorry to say, but lots of places try to keep things like this quiet. But the players transfer out, are suspended or dismissed without any indication that's why. Or their employees resign.
At MSU, offenders stay in place, with little indication anything meaningful is done to correct their behavior.
April 12th, 2018 at 12:55 PM ^
I'm a noted Michigan State graduate, lifelong Michigan fan and long-time board member. I'm glad we can discuss these things. This issue is specifically frustrating for me on a number of levels.
First, I attended MSU while the Nasser situation took place. I knew many male and female athletes and they could have just as easily been victims.
Secondly, MSU graduates who know my sports fandom try to tell me I'm looking at this through Maize-colored glasses and that's not right. I don't know why we as humans would have to be biased to be against rape.
Third, the cover up is worse than the crime. With each story it seems like there are more layers of corruption. Items like this latest story, or Engler's appointment as interim president makes me feel like MSU feels as if they are above the line.
Finally, I have a daughter and I have to ask myself do I want her to even go to Michigan State? (Spare me the jokes). Seriously though this issue is beyond MSU. The rape culture that surrounds athletics at many large institutions is a scary thing and I'm admittedly not sure what I can do as a person to change that.
TLDR: I am an MSU grad who is embarrassed and frustrated about the University.
April 12th, 2018 at 12:55 PM ^
I'm a noted Michigan State graduate, lifelong Michigan fan and long-time board member. I'm glad we can discuss these things. This issue is specifically frustrating for me on a number of levels.
First, I attended MSU while the Nasser situation took place. I knew many male and female athletes and they could have just as easily been victims.
Secondly, MSU graduates who know my sports fandom try to tell me I'm looking at this through Maize-colored glasses and that's not right. I don't know why we as humans would have to be biased to be against rape.
Third, the cover up is worse than the crime. With each story it seems like there are more layers of corruption. Items like this latest story, or Engler's appointment as interim president makes me feel like MSU feels as if they are above the line.
Finally, I have a daughter and I have to ask myself do I want her to even go to Michigan State? (Spare me the jokes). Seriously though this issue is beyond MSU. The rape culture that surrounds athletics at many large institutions is a scary thing and I'm admittedly not sure what I can do as a person to change that.
TLDR: I am an MSU grad who is embarrassed and frustrated about the University.
about 96% of the way in. Barely mentioned him at all.
I didn't take that piece as Couch "turning" on Izzo.
Generally, I thought it just stated the obvious. The University as a whole has opportunities to do a better job in protecting sexual assault victims.
for so long..Slowly the drip drip drip of the truth emerges..This goes for Dantonio as well..Ive said all along I dont see how they survive this..either of them
Am I doing it right?
It will be interesting to see how this affects MSU's enrollment numbers. If it has any effect at all, I suspect we might see a different strategy from them. Or maybe not.
Couch (like all other internet writers) wants clicks, an OP is delivering!
He’s the ultimate MSU fan— in a nutshell —who will never believe any of this matters no matter what the facts say because winning and one upping michigan is their heaven.
Only its the only “heaven” they will ever see. (not a religious comment just an analogy).
April 12th, 2018 at 10:00 PM ^
No. Graham Couch is an over paid hack who shouldn't be rewarded for trying to exercise self preservation while still leaving an escape hatch into Izzo's good graces. Screw him and that rape enabling university.
April 13th, 2018 at 12:44 AM ^
April 13th, 2018 at 10:15 AM ^
Who?