Clemson Coaches Tame their Tigers

With the recent suspensions of two athletes it seems that the saying “spare the rod spoil the child” is a Clemson Tigers motto. These deferrals also show that Clemson coaches are “no non-sense” type people and sticklers for the rules. Although some folks say the suspensions are little extreme, and that the players are still kids and should be expected to make the occasional mistake. But I’m willing to bet that these coaches would argue that that punishments lead to  improvements, just as much as practice makes perfect.

[caption id="attachment_74" align="alignright" width="150" caption="Joe Craig"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_72" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Milton Jennings"][/caption]

It was announcecd that Milton Jennings was indefinitely suspended from the basketball team January 31st. And a few days later, two-sport athlete Joe Craig was dismissed from the football team. Both Jennings and Craig had been “sat down” earlier in their given seasons, making them repeat offenders. In December, Jennings was suspended for one game during the Hawaiian Diamond Head Classic because of the conduct he displayed during a timeout. Craig was prohibited to practice with the Tigers during the summer following an altercation with one of his fellow track teammates.

So what exactly is expected to happen as a result of being suspensions? What lessons are supposed to be learned?

After Jennings was suspended in Hawaii, he later apologized for his behavior and was very supportive during his benching at the Tigers game against Southern Illinois. His playing improved significantly with the turn of the New Year and Jennings was beginning to play like an actual McDonald’s All American. And after sitting out a couple of games this month, Jennings rejoined the Tigers for last Tuesday’s game against Maryland scoring 14 points. Unfortunately Craig's ended his football career "with three receptions for 18 yards in seven games this past season” according to clemsontigers.com.

With Jennings and Craig’s reactions to their suspensions being almost polar opposites, whether or not suspensions hurt or help players is still questionable. So below I’ve listed five well known athlete suspensions and my verdict as to whether or not the players benefited from their given punishments.

1. Michael Vick

Crime: Managing an illegal dog fighting ring

Punishment: 23 months in prison, two game suspension from NFL

Afterwards: Returned to NFL, signed with a new team, and starred in a reality show

Verdict: I rule that punishment helped him.

2. Ron Artest

Crime: Being involved in brawl during basketball game & punching a fan

Punishment: Suspended for the remainder of season

Afterwards: Won NBA Championship and changed his name to Metta World Peace

Verdict: This case a ruled as lesson learned. The suspension helped.

3. Latrell Sprewell

Crime: Attacking his coach, he choked the man! C'mon son.

Punishment: Suspended for 68 games

Afterwards: Returned to NBA, now in debt

Verdict: Latrell, Latrell, Latrell will he ever learn?!

4. Ohio State football players

Crime: Violating NCAA rules

Punishment: Suspended for five games, fined

Afterwards: All the players issued a public apology. Terrelle Pryor was drafted into NFL, Daniel Herron and DeVier Posey were suspended again for being over paid at summer job, but are now hoping to be drafted into the NFL. Mike Adams and Solomon Thomas both also returned to OSU the next season.

Verdict: 3 out of 5 seemed to have learned their lesson the first time around.

With such a variety with players’ actions after their suspensions it is hard determine what is best for players, so I would just have to agree with Lucius Annaeus Seneca when he said, “a punishment to some, to some a gift, and to many a favor”.