Cal swimmers walked out of practice on Wednesday morning after McKeever surprised them by reading a "basic" statement in response to Tuesday's report of longtime abuse
At this rate, more and more athletes are going to come out and say they were abused verbally and had thoughts about suicide. I mean who hasn't been verbally abused? Who hasn't thought about committing suicide? Anyone who finds herself unloved or without value is going to have those thoughts, especially if she is in a highly competitive environment. Did the coach tell her to die or kill herself? probably not. Did the coach push her to give it her best? probably Did she feel worthless because she wasn't the best? probably Is that the coaches fault? Back in my day, it wasn't. But today we're supposed to coddle anyone who makes such claim. You know what...we used to call it life. Life is hard and the beauty of sports is that it taught us life lessons. But in today's climate, we're just going to fire coaches. Our players are going to get soft. And in the olympics 10 to 20 years from now, the united states of america is not going to medal in anything. Why? because we're coddling our kids. And if you grow up in places like ukraine, you can't hide behind claims of mental illness or suicide ideation. You fight for your life or die. kids who grow up in countries like that are going to win. So I say all this so that we get the other side of the story. Let the coach have her day in court. let those swimmers who claim these things be cross examined. Am I defending the coach? No. But I'd like to think that we are a country who believes in due process. I think all of us would want that for ourselves or for the ones we love. It's might be easy for you to say they should resign. But believe me one day you could find yourself on the hot seat, and you're going to wish people were more understanding and fair.
There is no evidence anywhere that toxic leadership produces tougher people, or makes better competitors compared to compassionate or empathetic leadership.
There is plenty of evidence that it produces trauma, pain, and further toxic behaviors.
Back in your day, yes, toughness was the name of the game, and plenty of coaches and athletes thrives from it. Plenty of others were destroyed from those cycles.
That doesn't make it right, and athletes are recognizing that it isn't right, and are standing up for themselves. They're breaking the cycle. Because they know there has to be a better way.
I stated in a previous post that there are 2 sides to every story and McKeever should and will have her say. It will be behind closed doors and none of us will ever hear the "whole" story.
That said, this is now the second coach under Knowlton's regime that has been accused of the same behavior. We never heard a peep about the first coach's "trial date" and outcome. We only know he is still the coach at Cal. I have no faith in Knowlton and will be writing him an email this weekend ~ I desire that he resign and take Simon-O'Neil and McKeever with him as he walks out of the building. Solely based on process and procedure that was neglected ~ apparently by choice by Knowlton and his staff.
McKeever is done and she knows it, she should immediately resign. She is no longer respected by her team as was displayed by the massive walk-out by the swimmers two days ago. It is the right thing to do to submit her resignation ~ immediately.
No "court date" yet, pal... It's in stage of "discovery". As a parent of one the six swimmers who shared their feeling about committing suicide, I'm convinced that Coach's public shaming of targeted swimmers was REAL. Now it Coach McKeever's turn to be shamed!
Yeah the women's soccer coach was accused of body shaming and calling out players in front of the team as well. So, we now have 2 coaches at Cal. Knowlton kept McGuire as the women's soccer coach. Knowlton needs to be fired for cause and good riddance.
Maggie Mac Neil, a prized grad transfer from Michigan, might still be coming to Cal despite the recent developments. Apparently there was some bureaucratic mistake that makes it looks like she's still in the transfer portal. Cal apparently also added two breaststroke transfers from FSU and Arizona.
I see the administration's indifference as being rooted in forced tolerance of athletics. If the administration didn't have to pay attention to wealthy alums, they might just kick some of the athletic programs to the curb. The attempted reduction of programs (eliminating baseball and other sports, reducing rugby's status from varsity to club status) in the fall of 2010 is a demonstration that the administration fails to grasp the relationship of athletics to the wider campus community, including alums and non-alums alike. It also demonstrates that athletics is not what the administration would want to expend any focus (time) or resources.
Indeed, this is only one example of the tension between athletics and academia at many American universities. The Ivy League model would be preferable for most academics, but they have to deal with alums who do want robust athletic programs and prize that connection to their alma mater. This is why football and basketball are big money-makers at many universities and many universities feel pushed towards FBS status, even if they can't afford it.
Administrators don't have the courage to tell their alums that athletic programs are usually a financial drain on academics. Whole conferences would close up shop if university administrators had their way about athletics. The only ones left would be the bluebloods - Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, USC, Penn State, possibly Tennessee, possibly Georgia, North Carolina (MBB), Duke (MBB), Kansas (MBB), and a few others who actually turn a profit overall without financial assistance from the academic side.
That's been the state of affairs for Cal athletics since 1952. There isn't any real solid footing for athletics at Cal. It's a mirage held together with string, bubble gum, and bailing wire.
I just hope that if & when Knowlton does go down, the admin takes a measured approach [thoughtful, considerate, all the due diligence for as long as it takes] in finding its next GM.
Which goes a long way to explaining why Cal football has been in the doldrums for seventy years, producing one conference champion (58) and two co-conference champs (75 and 06) in that time after being a powerhouse for much of the time between 1920-1952.
I normally write a decent annual check to Cal Athletics but I won't give a fucking dime that Knowlton can touch. I'll figure some way to support the athletes in this free-wheeling era but I've really lost faith in the administration.
And, most importantly, it seems that McKeever's athletes may have lost faith in her.
My contributions to Cal Athletics are far more modest (just what's required for football season tickets), but I just emailed them saying I won't be renewing while McKeever and the administrators who enabled her remain employed. This was in response to an email I received from them this morning asking if I wanted to sign up for automatic renewals. I'd encourage others who received the same request to respond similarly.
At this rate, more and more athletes are going to come out and say they were abused verbally and had thoughts about suicide. I mean who hasn't been verbally abused? Who hasn't thought about committing suicide? Anyone who finds herself unloved or without value is going to have those thoughts, especially if she is in a highly competitive environment. Did the coach tell her to die or kill herself? probably not. Did the coach push her to give it her best? probably Did she feel worthless because she wasn't the best? probably Is that the coaches fault? Back in my day, it wasn't. But today we're supposed to coddle anyone who makes such claim. You know what...we used to call it life. Life is hard and the beauty of sports is that it taught us life lessons. But in today's climate, we're just going to fire coaches. Our players are going to get soft. And in the olympics 10 to 20 years from now, the united states of america is not going to medal in anything. Why? because we're coddling our kids. And if you grow up in places like ukraine, you can't hide behind claims of mental illness or suicide ideation. You fight for your life or die. kids who grow up in countries like that are going to win. So I say all this so that we get the other side of the story. Let the coach have her day in court. let those swimmers who claim these things be cross examined. Am I defending the coach? No. But I'd like to think that we are a country who believes in due process. I think all of us would want that for ourselves or for the ones we love. It's might be easy for you to say they should resign. But believe me one day you could find yourself on the hot seat, and you're going to wish people were more understanding and fair.
You think outing a swimmer is just tough coaching?
Is there a case where outing an athlete (or anyone) is a good practice?
There is no evidence anywhere that toxic leadership produces tougher people, or makes better competitors compared to compassionate or empathetic leadership.
There is plenty of evidence that it produces trauma, pain, and further toxic behaviors.
Back in your day, yes, toughness was the name of the game, and plenty of coaches and athletes thrives from it. Plenty of others were destroyed from those cycles.
That doesn't make it right, and athletes are recognizing that it isn't right, and are standing up for themselves. They're breaking the cycle. Because they know there has to be a better way.
I stated in a previous post that there are 2 sides to every story and McKeever should and will have her say. It will be behind closed doors and none of us will ever hear the "whole" story.
That said, this is now the second coach under Knowlton's regime that has been accused of the same behavior. We never heard a peep about the first coach's "trial date" and outcome. We only know he is still the coach at Cal. I have no faith in Knowlton and will be writing him an email this weekend ~ I desire that he resign and take Simon-O'Neil and McKeever with him as he walks out of the building. Solely based on process and procedure that was neglected ~ apparently by choice by Knowlton and his staff.
McKeever is done and she knows it, she should immediately resign. She is no longer respected by her team as was displayed by the massive walk-out by the swimmers two days ago. It is the right thing to do to submit her resignation ~ immediately.
I'm specifically talking SWIM. However, it most likely extends to a larger purpose.
Are we still talking about swimming here, because your logic could win several long jump medals.
No "court date" yet, pal... It's in stage of "discovery". As a parent of one the six swimmers who shared their feeling about committing suicide, I'm convinced that Coach's public shaming of targeted swimmers was REAL. Now it Coach McKeever's turn to be shamed!
Yeah the women's soccer coach was accused of body shaming and calling out players in front of the team as well. So, we now have 2 coaches at Cal. Knowlton kept McGuire as the women's soccer coach. Knowlton needs to be fired for cause and good riddance.
At this point, we won't be able to attract top swimmers with McKeever anyway, so she can be fired.
Maggie Mac Neil, a prized grad transfer from Michigan, might still be coming to Cal despite the recent developments. Apparently there was some bureaucratic mistake that makes it looks like she's still in the transfer portal. Cal apparently also added two breaststroke transfers from FSU and Arizona.
https://swimswam.com/olympic-champ-maggie-macneil-re-enters-ncaa-transfer-portal-amid-cal-turmoil/
The university has been aware of issues within the program for over TWELVE YEARS?! Something is rotten within the administrative ranks...
She likely got a pass by being in the hunt for a natty most years……. Success is addictive.
I see the administration's indifference as being rooted in forced tolerance of athletics. If the administration didn't have to pay attention to wealthy alums, they might just kick some of the athletic programs to the curb. The attempted reduction of programs (eliminating baseball and other sports, reducing rugby's status from varsity to club status) in the fall of 2010 is a demonstration that the administration fails to grasp the relationship of athletics to the wider campus community, including alums and non-alums alike. It also demonstrates that athletics is not what the administration would want to expend any focus (time) or resources.
Indeed, this is only one example of the tension between athletics and academia at many American universities. The Ivy League model would be preferable for most academics, but they have to deal with alums who do want robust athletic programs and prize that connection to their alma mater. This is why football and basketball are big money-makers at many universities and many universities feel pushed towards FBS status, even if they can't afford it.
Administrators don't have the courage to tell their alums that athletic programs are usually a financial drain on academics. Whole conferences would close up shop if university administrators had their way about athletics. The only ones left would be the bluebloods - Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, USC, Penn State, possibly Tennessee, possibly Georgia, North Carolina (MBB), Duke (MBB), Kansas (MBB), and a few others who actually turn a profit overall without financial assistance from the academic side.
Sad state of affairs. Knowlton appears to be operating in a house of cards.
That's been the state of affairs for Cal athletics since 1952. There isn't any real solid footing for athletics at Cal. It's a mirage held together with string, bubble gum, and bailing wire.
I just hope that if & when Knowlton does go down, the admin takes a measured approach [thoughtful, considerate, all the due diligence for as long as it takes] in finding its next GM.
Which goes a long way to explaining why Cal football has been in the doldrums for seventy years, producing one conference champion (58) and two co-conference champs (75 and 06) in that time after being a powerhouse for much of the time between 1920-1952.
I normally write a decent annual check to Cal Athletics but I won't give a fucking dime that Knowlton can touch. I'll figure some way to support the athletes in this free-wheeling era but I've really lost faith in the administration.
And, most importantly, it seems that McKeever's athletes may have lost faith in her.
Whatever sins she may or may not have committed, if the athletes have lost faith in her, I don't see how she can continue.
I "bought in" to Coach McKeever's Scholarship Fund back in 2017. Can a "recall" the money and put it to a better use?
I suppose it went to an athlete so that's good. Just sucks to have her name attached.
My contributions to Cal Athletics are far more modest (just what's required for football season tickets), but I just emailed them saying I won't be renewing while McKeever and the administrators who enabled her remain employed. This was in response to an email I received from them this morning asking if I wanted to sign up for automatic renewals. I'd encourage others who received the same request to respond similarly.