Opinion
 

Play on the field should speak for itself

by Aaron Racicot

I know it is only the second week of the semester, but I have to get something off my gray-haired chest. It concerns the events of Christmas Day. There I was at my parents' house with my grandparents, two brothers, uncle and of course, Mom and Dad. I had been bragging about the UH football team for weeks, not only to them but to all my friends around the state and country.

I can't begin to describe how proud I was when UH tied the score in the closing seconds of the game. I was even content when UH lost in overtime. I felt like our team played well. That changed though, in the minutes following the game when a brawl broke out. Now, I know the UH football players involved said the Hawaii players started the fight. As far as I'm concerned, that is irrelevant. Then what is relevant you may ask?

Well, the UH football team along with every other UH athletic team represent each and every student, faculty member and alumnus associated with the University. It sickens me to know UH was represented in such a manner before a national television audience. You wouldn't believe the amount of e-mail I received asking if we are recruiting our players from the state penitentiary (I typically did not reply).

What makes the whole thing worse is up to that point the University was shining. I hope head coach Art Briles and Athletics Director Maggard nip this problem in the bud.

In my opinion, they should remove all players from the team involved with the brawl for behavior detrimental to the University. This would send a clear message that the University will not tolerate such behavior and that we are a classy, dignified university in victory or defeat. This is not the John Jenkins era of Cougar football. If those players want to act that way, let them go play for the second-place finishers in Austin or the Nazis at College Station. I'd like to think we are above them.

I have a message for all the players who talk trash or taunt the opponents. Cut it out -- it's childish and inexcusable. Let your play speak for itself. In other words, do it on the field. Let the punks like Joe Horn and Terrell Owens monopolize that behavior. They are losers. Winners don't need to show up their opponents. They let their play do the talking.

Racicot, an editorial writer for The Daily Cougar, 
can be reached at dccampus@mail.uh.edu.