Interesting union article

[StreamCat]

I hope this hasn't been posted. I don't like to get yelled at.
http://deadspin.com/kain-colters-union-battle-cost-him-more-than-he-ever-ex-1724831203

 

[GOUNUII]

I hope this hasn't been posted. I don't like to get yelled at.
http://deadspin.com/kain-colters-union-battle-cost-him-more-than-he-ever-ex-1724831203

Thanks for posting the article. I was hoping that Kain would already have come around to the fact that unionization is not ever going to happen and was always a high cost pie in the sky approach to the issues. It just doesn't fit. Too many powerful forces opposing it. Too many complexities. Will never happen if only because it will be a cold day in hell before a players union is authorized in Alabama. Along with many others, I applaud Kain for his courage to right wrongs. Just could not have chosen a worse approach. He allowed himself to be used as a pawn, by the USWs of all people, and he's paying the price. Doubt he will ever get the welcome back reception he seems to be looking for. Surely not as long as he maintains a pro players' union posture. That, and what NU/Fitz/Phillips stand for, are combustable opposites. I can understand why some in the athletic administration took it very personally.

GOUNUII

 

[nycat33]

I posted it to the very big news thread but super interesting article

 

[PaCat]

As someone else stated I think as time passes any bad feelings that the administration may have against Kain Colter will evaporate. A case in point. I attended Syracuse from 1968 to 1972. I believe it was in 1970 that a group of black football players literally went on strike. They refused to play for the team over their belief that the program was racially biased. As I remember it, the group was led by Greg Allen who had been a high school All American running back. A number of years ago I read in our alumni magazine that he was welcomed back for a special presentation by the school. I thought it was interesting that the presentation lauded him for his activism as opposed to his play as a football player, which frankly in my view never met expectations.

 

[Deep Purr]

As someone else stated I think as time passes any bad feelings that the administration may have against Kain Colter will evaporate. A case in point. I attended Syracuse from 1968 to 1972. I believe it was in 1970 that a group of black football players literally went on strike. They refused to play for the team over their belief that the program was racially biased. As I remember it, the group was led by Greg Allen who had been a high school All American running back. A number of years ago I read in our alumni magazine that he was welcomed back for a special presentation by the school. I thought it was interesting that the presentation lauded him for his activism as opposed to his play as a football player, which frankly in my view never met expectations.

I disagree with you. I doubt many individuals involved with the administration will forget what they interpret as Colter's misrepresentation of their efforts to support the student athlete experience. He threw Northwestern under the bus so he could attack the NCAA. This has been difficult for many to understand. Northwestern probably has done the best job in the NCAA space in supporting their athletes and gets rewarded as being the object of frustration removal for Colter. He has burned many bridges and they will not be rebuilt.

 

[Alaskawildkat]

I disagree with you. I doubt many individuals involved with the administration will forget what they interpret as Colter's misrepresentation of their efforts to support the student athlete experience. He threw Northwestern under the bus so he could attack the NCAA. This has been difficult for many to understand. Northwestern probably has done the best job in the NCAA space in supporting their athletes and gets rewarded as being the object of frustration removal for Colter. He has burned many bridges and they will not be rebuilt.

Which does raise the question, if the unionization effort had been brought at a school where there were genuine abuses if there may have been a different outcome with the reviewing authority acting to accept jurisdiction?

 

[Deep Purr]

Which does raise the question, if the unionization effort had been brought at a school where there were genuine abuses if there may have been a different outcome with the reviewing authority acting to accept jurisdiction?

You raise a very good point but I would doubt the outcome would have been different. IMO the main gist of the opinion was that they had only control of a small percentage of NCAA teams since they had no jurisdiction regarding state schools. This would have created the labor instability they mentioned since any benefits achieved from unionization would only be enjoyed by the few. Further there must have been enormous political pressure on the board. Stanford stated that if they were forced to pay players as part of any labor negotiations, they would withdraw from the D1 format as it now exists and try to form a league with institutions of similar values. Mentioned Northwestern, Duke, ND, Rice and Vanderbilt as well as a few others. This would be incredibly embarrassing to any administration associated with the board.You have a very powerful political force when all these schools join forces.

 

[Wildcatfootball12]

He testimony was pretty harsh, and it did not seem like he had a positive experience, which is what I think people were upset about, calling your former head coach the "boss man" is disrespectful and will not be taken well by those who admire him.

In any case, the senior leaders this year (Vitale, Jones, NVH) seem to be on top of their game and bringing the team back together

 

[Mr. Stupor]

I disagree with you. I doubt many individuals involved with the administration will forget what they interpret as Colter's misrepresentation of their efforts to support the student athlete experience. He threw Northwestern under the bus so he could attack the NCAA. This has been difficult for many to understand. Northwestern probably has done the best job in the NCAA space in supporting their athletes and gets rewarded as being the object of frustration removal for Colter. He has burned many bridges and they will not be rebuilt.

I disagree also. It's one thing for black guys to strike because a school is racist. There's not much doubt that black guys have been treated very poorly over the years, to put it in extremely understated terms. It's another for a kid who has opted into football and gotten idolized his whole life, not to mention a free ride to a top school to complain about it. It's not like black people opt into being black....

 

[willycat]

Which does raise the question, if the unionization effort had been brought at a school where there were genuine abuses if there may have been a different outcome with the reviewing authority acting to accept jurisdiction?

Maybe Vanderbilt or Miami would have been better subjects, since there seems to be quite a few off the field issues at these universities.

 

[gocatsgo2003]

Maybe Vanderbilt or Miami would have been better subjects, since there seems to be quite a few off the field issues at these universities.

Much less union-friendly states. Kain Colter and NU were a perfect storm for CAPA -- private school in a decidedly blue state (Rauner aside) with a well-spoken minority team leader willing to serve as the mouthpiece of the movement. If you ask me, Colter was at least in part taken advantage of by CAPA/UWS and encouraged to take his testimony to an almost hyperbolic level as the unionization movement decided that this was the best opportunity likely to come along.

But that doesn't mean Kain isn't responsible for his actions and he shouldn't be at all surprised by the bridges he burned.

 

[NUCat320]

I hope this hasn't been posted. I don't like to get yelled at.
http://deadspin.com/kain-colters-union-battle-cost-him-more-than-he-ever-ex-1724831203

I just wish that the reporter had been able to speak with Fitz and/or Phillips. The fact is that, at the start of the story, there was pride in Colter's willingness to start a real conversation.

I would love to know what threats were sent NU's way to cause those two to change their tune. Or, perhaps, their tune changed with short-term hindsight that recognized, Geez, this is a thing.

The part I don't like is the planned timing around the bowl game that didn't come. I think 'distraction' talk tends to be overrated, but I do not like the idea of a personal agenda item superseding the team's. (Google and iPhone autocorrect to say that the spelling 'supersede' is preferred to 'supercede'. I feel very dumb.)

 

[EvanstonCat]

I just wish that the reporter had been able to speak with Fitz and/or Phillips. The fact is that, at the start of the story, there as pride in Colter's willingness to start a real conversation.

I would love to know what threats were sent NU's way to cause those two to change their tune. Or, perhaps, their fine changed with short-term hindsight that recognized, Geez, this is a thing.

The part I don't like is the planned timing around the bowl game that didn't come. I think 'distraction' talk tends to be overrated, but I do not like the idea of a personal agenda item superseding the team's. (Google and iPhone aitocorrect say that the spelling 'supersede' is preferred to 'supercede'. I feel very dumb.)

Nothing wrong with starting the conversation, and indeed there is merit worth praising. Throwing your school and coach under the bus and lying during testimony, not to mention manipulating your teammates to further your purposes - well, that's what I think got Colter into trouble and burned his bridges. The other thing is that Colter didn't start a conversation. He took a position and refused to listen to his coaches and administration and chose to pursue with deaf ears a position that was absolutely the wrong way to address some of the real issues he raised.

 

[SmellyCat]

The way I see it is the Colter thing is a lot like the two-point conversion against Michigan. About half the people thought it was a good idea, half the people thought it was a bad idea, but everyone agreed that the execution was poor.