MBB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Mr. Ypsi]

IF her father is accurate (and I'm sure he was quite emotional at the time, so no firm judgment), for the teammates to refuse to call 911 and simply lead her outside the motel and leave her is absolutely unconscionable.  IF her father's statements are accurate, I fully defend suspending ALL of the team members who were around at the time.  (Good God, SOMEONE should have called 911 on her behalf, if they have a shred of human decency!)

I'll reserve judgment on the culpability of the HC.  I am in no position to judge whether or not he set a toxic environment (and assume he was not actually present).  But from the sound of it, he no longer has a team to coach anyway.

[Pat Coleman]

nescac........

I can assure you most of what you have read is inaccurate.  Some truths, some stretched, and twisted to have an even better story.

If you have something to share, share it.

[5 Words or Less]

"In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing."
― Theodore Roosevelt

[fanofball]

Pat, like I said, as time goes on I would have to think the whole story comes out.  I am simply responding as I too have seen the articles, and also attended the game.
I've read numerous different accounts of the event, and the one thing that is certain, is that he punched a defenseless girl.

5words or less........easy to say as adults, or people not involved in the situation.  I'd have to think a mass panic was occurring, disbelief, shock,  grogginess from being awoke etc...

Ypsi I agree wholeheartedly.  But since neither of us was there, it's presumptuous of anyone to say they would have done differently.  Remember we're talking about teenagers here.  They don't tend to act rationally or with morals in stressful situations.  This one surely had to get everyone a bit disorientated.


The main conversation should really be focused on the jerk that hit a woman and caused serious injury, and created the ensuing issues that are now taking priority somehow.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Pat, like I said, as time goes on I would have to think the whole story comes out.  I am simply responding as I too have seen the articles, and also attended the game.
I've read numerous different accounts of the event, and the one thing that is certain, is that he punched a defenseless girl.

5words or less........easy to say as adults, or people not involved in the situation.  I'd have to think a mass panic was occurring, disbelief, shock,  grogginess from being awoke etc...

Ypsi I agree wholeheartedly.  But since neither of us was there, it's presumptuous of anyone to say they would have done differently.  Remember we're talking about teenagers here.  They don't tend to act rationally or with morals in stressful situations.  This one surely had to get everyone a bit disorientated.


The main conversation should really be focused on the jerk that hit a woman and caused serious injury, and created the ensuing issues that are now taking priority somehow.

Both of my sons recently left teenager status (now 24 and almost 21); my younger son until recently hung with mostly a pretty bad crowd.  But from what I know of their friends it is totally inconceivable to me that NONE of them would call 911 in a case like this.  MANY of them would not call, but for NO ONE to call??!  Being a teenager is not a valid excuse.  IF the father's statement is true, I fully agree with suspending every single player who was present.

[Pat Coleman]

That's my impression, is that this one-game full suspension is because nobody called 911.

[Mr. Ypsi]

That's my impression, is that this one-game full suspension is because nobody called 911.

Your front page story (still up) calls it an 'indefinite suspension'.  Have you now confirmed that it is one game?

[AO]

Pat, like I said, as time goes on I would have to think the whole story comes out.  I am simply responding as I too have seen the articles, and also attended the game.
I've read numerous different accounts of the event, and the one thing that is certain, is that he punched a defenseless girl.

5words or less........easy to say as adults, or people not involved in the situation.  I'd have to think a mass panic was occurring, disbelief, shock,  grogginess from being awoke etc...

Ypsi I agree wholeheartedly.  But since neither of us was there, it's presumptuous of anyone to say they would have done differently.  Remember we're talking about teenagers here.  They don't tend to act rationally or with morals in stressful situations.  This one surely had to get everyone a bit disorientated.


The main conversation should really be focused on the jerk that hit a woman and caused serious injury, and created the ensuing issues that are now taking priority somehow.

David, while we wait for the whole story to come out (which I doubt happens), how about you shed a little light on your relation to Tyler?  We understand the bias that Kayla's father has when giving his side of the story, but you've yet to disclose your bias.

Was Tyler under the impression that Kayla's injuries were not serious?

[Pat Coleman]

That's my impression, is that this one-game full suspension is because nobody called 911.

Your front page story (still up) calls it an 'indefinite suspension'.  Have you now confirmed that it is one game?

I don't have that on the record. I expect them to play their next game, however. I suppose there will be suspensions of varying lengths depending on the degree of the various kids' involvement.

[fanofball]

AO, if I were Kayla's dad I would be just as mad, disheartened, and disgusted as he was.  I don't think he was being biased at all, I think he made statements that were not completely accurate, or truthful based on info he may have had at the time of his statements.  His statements do make the teammates seem cold hearted, and without morals.
Regarding the team, and what was done, or not done by others members other than eugene, I can only say there are many assumptions being made regarding what happened after the fact, who was involved, who knew who, what actually transpired etc.
In no way am I attempting to make excuses for no one calling 911, I am simply saying that without the whole story (which I do actually think will become known) its very presumptuous to cast judgement on others other than eugene himself.

More importantly the suspension of the HC is IMO way too harsh, and shouldnt of came to that.
This kid eugene is obviously an angry person, and his action alone should not be able to affect a mans career.  Remember none of the suspensions occur without his horrendous act.
The suspensions of the players, as hamlines statement said was varying lengths for what they deemed appropriate regarding the players involvement, if any, or to what degree.

I still say the conversation should not be about the collateral damage, it should revolve around the idiot who committed the act.

[nescac1]

The story needs to be about both.  Of course the guy who punched Kayla is most to blame, but he is also receiving by far the greatest consequences: dismissal from the school and, more importantly, criminal liability.  But fanofbball, you've said nothing so far that leads me to believe that a relatively minor consequence -- missing one or more basketball games is all that has happened to anyone on the team to-date -- is in any way disproprotionate to what happened AFTER Kayla was punched.  The guys on the team are not 10 year olds.  They are old enough to vote, serve in the military, etc.  No excuse that you are making makes any sense for placing your own fear of being caught breaking curfew (or your own confusion, or whatever other lame excuse you are pushing) over ensuring that someone who suffered severe (and given that we are talking about blows to the head here) potentially life-threatening injuries receives immediate medical attention.  Now, of course, if certain members of the team were not there / did not see what happened, nothing should happen to them.  But for ANY player who saw Kayla and chose not to act, they have to man up and accept responsibility rather than make excuses, and I fully hope and expect they will.  Being suspended, again, should really be the least of their concerns.

What happened here has eerie parallels to the Steubenville situation.  Once again, a young woman was assaulted by an athlete while others around her failed to step up and either stop the act or do the right thing in the aftermath of that act.  Should the Steubenville coaches, players, etc. be let off the hook because they were even younger than the guys on the Hamline team?  I'm not saying the situations were exactly the same, but too often, women are treated as disposable by young men, and too often, members of a team will just go along to get along rather than stepping up to do what is right.  Something has to change, and making excuses for the team is not going to make that happen.  But again, for anyone who was not actually THERE at the scene, of course, they should suffer no repurcussions (other than the coach, and that is a distinct issue).

As for the coach, well, listen, part of being a coach is instilling the right sort of culture among your team.  I'm not blaming the coach for one criminal act.  But if the team somehow had an idea that getting Kayla medical attention the first priority was of lower importance than whatever consequences they might suffer, well, the captain of the ship has to take some responsibility.  I'm not saying the coach should necessarily be fired, and as of now he has not been, but until the full facts are sorted out, a suspension seems perfectly appropriate here.  I mean, Joe Paterno didn't abuse any kids, but it was his looking the other way that allowed it to happen.  Somethiung is wrong with a team culture ni which events transpired in this fashion, and the leader of that team, who is the coach, has to be at least somewhat accountable for that. 

[fanofball]

This will be my last reply regarding this issue, unless it focuses on the monster that committed this horrendous act of violence.
Coming at me concerning offering lame "excuses" is a false impression of my thoughts on this matter.
I, along with others feel that an ambulance, or 911 should have been called. 
My point is how do we know for sure it wasn't offered to the girl?
Maybe it was.....
Maybe a phone call was being discussed when the police showed up? Minutes after the incident?
Maybe the girl didnt want anyone called?
Maybe the reports of how she ended up at the hotel are inaccurate..
Maybe some of the kids were rudely awoken to chaos..
Maybe none of us know the whole story, and should realize that the news itself attempts to get the juiciest story possible...
Which leads people to believe only what is told by the victims dad..
Lots of maybes I'd say.

I find it most amusing tho, how moral high ground is being used against the players of the team, and the coach when that high ground is based off statements made that obviously emphasized what the players "allegedly" did not do,
Or refused to do, or never offered to do.  Those are assumptions based on one mans second hand information, at a very stressful time I would have to think.....will the moral high ground be used against him later, if his statements later on are challenged regarding the entire incident, or will he be vindicated because he was obviously under duress?


My whole point that is being missed is that there is no possible way the HC could monitor every action by every kid, at 3? AM?  My guess is he himself was sound asleep.

The suspensions of the other players I also believe are justified based on their part in the incident.  But Some are paying a price for simply waking up.  I just am not able to vilify bystanders who certainly had never had an experience like this.

It's pretty easy to sit behind a computer, and say what you would have done, how you'd have done it, why you'd have done it, and in what timeframe you'd have done it.  But since you were not there, it is presumptuous to believe you know the entire situation, and cast some type of judgement on an entire situation, and series of events that noone knows for absolute, including myself, and Kayla's father.

There are many factors that I am certain played out during, and immediately after this incident, and the guy who committed the crime is taking a back seat I'm regards to what is being discussed.
He's the criminal, he created the situation, and somehow the other players, along with HC, are taking the brunt of people's opinions on the matter.

Eugene should pay the ultimate price, it is the one thing I'd think everyone could agree on that actually happened.  How the other players reacted, what they did or did not do is entirely speculation from people attempting to pass judgement.

Making statements regarding what the HC preaches, or standards he holds,regarding responsible behavior is also presumptuous.  How could one possibly know what he teaches his players.
I am certain he doesn't instruct them to behave such as this..
It's akin to an honorable, trustworthy family, with strong religious beliefs, well mannered, and respected in their circle of friends, and community, being held to blame if their son/daughter were to commit some serious crime......I don't think in that case anyone would blame the parents, they would almost certainly just realize that their kid was messed up in the head, but for whatever reason, this instance it's a lynch mob mentality, blaming the other players as they were the assailant...

Since this "debate" could go on forever, I will leave at this.

One person alone, as an adult, committed this crime, and has managed to drag many others around him down right with him.

And the girl who was victimized will also pay a lifelong price for his actions.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

OK... I have read enough and decided to bring in a different point of view...

For starters, the fact this took place after 3 AM leads me to see countless reasons why players and a coach are suspended:
1) a non-team member in team hotel rooms clearly late at night and I am willing to bet WAY after curfew.
2) team members clearly doing anything but going to bed and behaving like adults.
3) for the coach: not keeping tabs on his team after curfew, especially when there is a non-team member in their midst.

Secondly, the fact the girl reportedly drove a few of the players back to the hotel - I am pretty sure players aren't allowed to leave the team and travel with a different party (other than their parents) when teams are traveling - especially that far from their campus. The person who holds the responsibility here is the head coach who is also happens to be an assistant athletic director!

As for your rant, fanofball, a couple of things:

Maybe none of us know the whole story, and should realize that the news itself attempts to get the juiciest story possible...

This... is a crock. As one who has been a television news producer for 11+ years... news doesn't attempt to get the juiciest story possible... it reports what it learns. The story was NOT based on just the father... but also what police told the station and newspapers. Furthermore, the police and the school (Hamline) interviewed the team and if you think for one moment that their statements didn't lead police and the school to make their own decisions in this matter, you are nuts. Clearly there was enough "evidence" for the school to suspend all members of the team indefinitely. That isn't information made up or made more "juicy" by the news... those are facts. Also remember, the police talked to the victim... not her father... and came to their own conclusions after probably also talking to other teammates (which would be standard protocal when you are at the scene). Clearly other team members may not have done something criminally wrong... but they did enough for the school to say this isn't one individual problem... it is a collective problem... and have punished each member of the team as they see fit for their role in this. I can't imagine the school would suspend members of the team that had NOTHING to do in this matter.

Remember... this team wears "Hamline" on their jerseys and on warm-ups, etc. and thus represent the school especially off campus. Any team with this "responsibility" is thus held to a higher standard. Just because one guy was an idiot doesn't mean others if not all on the team also made bad decisions that not only reflect badly on them and the team... but reflect badly on the institution. And as a result, there is one man in charge of that team... the head coach. No coach should skate free when clearly there were several things going on here that were bad (the punch, the alleged refusal to help, the fact a girl was in one of the rooms at 3 AM (!), the alleged fact she drove several players back to the hotel, something clear with the fact curfew wasn't being observed (being in your room isn't always the basis of a curfew), etc.)

Now... they all may be back in time for their next game since the school has NOT announced that game is canceled (thus, Pat's assertion that this is a one-game suspension for many involved). However, I wouldn't be surprised if the suspension is longer for those directly involved and for the coach.

Maybe a phone call was being discussed when the police showed up? Minutes after the incident?

By the way... seriously?! Yeah... a phone call was discussed when the police showed up... so who called the police? And minutes after the incident? She was knocked out... she doesn't "come to" instantly! I bet you check with police... the first and ONLY call was from her and at that point I think it can be fairly assumed that no call was going to take place from any one else.

You have said a lot in defense for many... and to be honest... as a producer... your story without facts and just "I know what I know, but you have to wait" would be something us in the news business would start ignoring and chalk up to "he's just making it up." Either step up and tell the story you have been told (as the victim's father has)... or stop pretending or telling us there is more to the story.

Yes... more will come out. And yes... we certainly don't know the whole story. But to keep playing this card of "you don't know what I know and I'm not telling you" BS... is just... well... BS.

[fanofball]

You want a fact. Ill give you a fact.
This was not a HS reunion. Tyler was not planning to meet her.
She did not give him a ride, nor did as one news site reported, give her a ride..
They were not HS friends.
Tell me then how the news only reports "facts"??
So your BS statement is now me calling BS to your statement that the news only reports "facts".

That's enough for me to say again,
If you don't know the facts, don't assume what you think you know is true based on a statement from her obviously upset dad.

The news reported a story as quickly as they could.
Don't blame em...good for ratings, and is a sad story, and it included college athletes...if I were a reporter I'd of reported quickly as well.
Maybe the mention of his name in the stories was to not come across as a girl meeting up with people she didn't know.
Some of what was reported btw, was accurate. She was at the hotel, and did get punched.

I think what happened to her was horrible, but again, what is being overlooked is who is to blame.
It keeps being said regardless of what he did, others share in the blame....the coach, the players and so on.
In my eyes the coach is paying a bigger price as of now than the kid who did it.
If D1 schools held the HC accountable such as this, there would be about 2 Teams in each Div 1 conference.  There would also be about 90% less professional teams across the board.


Again. Please read again.
The suspensions of the players was justified being nothing was done immediately, but there are other factors people just refuse to believe possible, since apparantly everyone but these players are perfect, and would react just as what they say the players should have, regardless of other "possibilities", or what the girl "may" have said, or requested be done, or not be done...

I've given enough facts for your consideration to see that some of the other "facts" may just not be what you believe due to one statement from an obviously upset father, or maybe his statement came from the girl, who dropped a name of someone she had heard of, and didnt want to come across as a girl who would just go somewhere with random people she didn't know..
(This does not justify in any way, shape, or form what happened to her, so don't spin my words)


Eugene, and eugene alone created this. Not the HC, not the players, and not the girl.
Eugene is the story.
Eugene is the one accused.
The others are casualties.

[(509)Rat]

On a semi-related note, Tyler Pannell seems like a real stand up guy...

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