Your thoughts on this one?

[Concerned_Journo]

Let's paint a picture ...

A major Division I school has its annual spring scrimmage today, to great fanfare. The head coach invites six journalists from the state to be "honorary coaches", and all six accept. Today, at the game, five of the six wear all/most of the free clothes GIVEN to them by the school on the sidelines. One does not.

Thoughts?

Edited as per the Rules.

 

[Piotr Rasputin]

Thoughts: Who cares? They were honorary coaches for a spring scrimmage. Today, they can wear the clothes. The actual season is five months away.

 

[Chi City 81]

The one who did not still can say he has his integrity.

 

[BigRed]

Speaking only in general terms, I have no problem with the "honorary coach" thing, especially if it means maybe building a good working relationship with the SEC coach and program I think this concerns.
But I would have concerns about wearing the gear. That's a slippery slope. You certainly wouldn't do it on a game-day in the fall - is the spring game different?
Of course, I also don't know if they were "pushed" to wear the gear or not, and what, if any consequences not wearing the stuff brought.
That's a question I could only answer if I was in those writers' shoes.

 

[The Rules of Golf]

Let's paint a picture ...

A major Division I school has their annual spring scrimmage today, to great fanfare. The head coach invites six journalists from the state to be "honorary coaches", and all six accept. Today, at the game, five of the six wear all/most of the free clothes GIVEN to them by the school on the sidelines. One does not.

Thoughts?

My thoughts? "major Division I school" is an 'its', not a 'their'.

 

[brettwatson]

They should have declined the invitation.

 

[fishwrapper]

They should have declined the invitation.

Yep. Thanks, but no thanks.

 

[Willie-Butch]

Spring game is no different than any other time you'd be covering the team.

Thanks, but no thanks.

 

[sportschick]

They should have declined the invitation.

Yep. Thanks, but no thanks.

What they said.

 

[write then drink]

They should have declined the invitation.

Yep. Thanks, but no thanks.

What they said.

cosign

 

[MileHigh]

Ditto.

 

[jaredk]

Not in this lifetime or the next.

 

[RokSki]

Depends on if their 'honorary coach' status affects what they write.

 

[Moland Spring]

Before everyone makes a decision to turn it down, let's assume this context:
Let's say this is a very competitive beat, with very limited access. This might be the only time said writers have a chance inside the locker room, with a chance to talk to coaches and certain players. Wearing the clothes is one thing (I'm against it), but standing on the sidelines is another.
Not to mention, if one of them turns down the invite, his/her five competitors all have stories tomorrow that one does not. Think any editor would be happy?
Now decide.

 

[Flying Headbutt]

At first you think, honorary coaches, you must be involved with what happens in such. But if it was just a way to stand on the sidelines to be in the mix, a chance to develop relationships and get insight, then absolutely do it.

 

[SteveThePirate]

The one who did not still can say he has his integrity.

Right on the money. I'd have to say I'd also think long and hard about taking part in the "honorary coaching" gig. Too weird. Think my editor would back me on that one, too.

 

[write then drink]

Before everyone makes a decision to turn it down, let's assume this context:
Let's say this is a very competitive beat, with very limited access. This might be the only time said writers have a chance inside the locker room, with a chance to talk to coaches and certain players. Wearing the clothes is one thing (I'm against it), but standing on the sidelines is another.
Not to mention, if one of them turns down the invite, his/her five competitors all have stories tomorrow that one does not. Think any editor would be happy?
Now decide.

mine would

ethics are more important to us than getting a story

this is preposterous

you just can't do this stuff

 

[HejiraHenry]

I would frown on such a thing.

But my SEC guys would tell the schools to take a hike anyway ...

 

[spnited]

One simple thought:

There is nothing in the entire world more usless than spring football.

 

[JayFarrar]

When you say journalists, do you mean print guys, broadcast guys or a mix and if it was a mix, what was it?
I saw a D-I school do this once for a basketball scrimmage, they had the "coaches" miked and it was broadcast. The world didn't end, nobody complained and it was amusing.

If I was offered a chance to guest coach I'd do it and I'd make a point of changing the offense and tell the players it was because "your coach doesn't know what the hell he is doing."