While I realize that the Tribune’s edition of Nov. 12 contained stories of considerable social significance, I am writing to express my appreciation for a sports story.
In that edition, your paper broke a story revealing that Wisconsin assistant football coach Bill Callahan was disciplined by the Big 10 for foraging in the University of Illinois’ scouting booth after the Oct. 2 game at Purdue. I was pleased to see the story because it gave people a glimpse of the methods that Wisconsin is willing to employ in order to obtain a winning football program.
Following the release of this story, Wisconsin head coach Barry Alvarez expressed outrage over the story and claimed Illinois unethically “leaked” the story. Based on Alvarez’s reaction, one can easily conclude that his anger was not due to the apprehension of his coach in unethical conduct but rather due to the fact that such misdeeds were publicly disclosed.
This is a sad commentary on Wisconsin football, yet it is not unexpected. The Alvarez regime at Wisconsin has been marked by numerous off-the-field arrests of players and even recruits on their weekend campus visits; censure by the Big 10 for unethical recruiting practices; excessive negative recruiting-the Wisconsin staff was reported to have told current Illini quarterback Johnny Johnson of North Chicago that he would never play quarterback at Illinois simply because he is black; and forfeiture this past spring of four practices because the Wisconsin coaching staff violated NCAA rules.
In brief, the Alvarez regime appears to be dedicated to winning by any means necessary. Ethics and observation of the rules have been cast aside in the pursuit of victory.
That is why I found Alvarez’s outrage particularly rich. In view of Wisconsin’s lusty disregard for ethics and fair play, Alvarez speaking out as to what was or was not ethical behavior is absurd. The only thing I can imagine more so would be a Bob Packwood seminar on proper conduct in the workplace.
