Ford’s profanity alarming

The profanity used by OSU basketball coach Travis Ford, calling Obi Muonelo a “f****** idiot,” is alarming on two levels. First, a human decency scale. How did sports ever develop to the point where anyone, even if it’s just the coach himself, thinks that’s acceptable? But also, how could this happen ONLY THREE DAYS AFTER an Oklahoman story detailed how Ford’s vocabulary already had landed him in hot water with some, including his wife?

There is no way OSU administrators can be happy with their coach. Athletic director Mike Holder seemed strong in his statement that Ford must change his behavior – “He’s got no choice” — and while that’s not necessarily a line in the sand, it’s on the record.

Sean Sutton was fired not because he didn’t win enough, although he didn’t, but because Holder came to believe Sutton didn’t display the kind of leadership OSU desired. But Sutton never put OSU in this kind of light. Never treated players this way.

Here’s a quote from Terrel Harris last week on Ford’s language: “It’s funny to hear the comments from other teams, like ‘Wow, your coach is wild.’ At A&M, (Donald) Sloan, I think, is saying how our coach is crazy and stuff because he can just hear everything he says. When he gets into the game and his emotions take over, he says anything, really.”

That was Ford’s defense on his WWLS interview with me, Jim Traber and Al Eschbach on Monday. That he’s an intense personality who let his emotions get the best of him. It’s no defense, of course. Would Ford accept that excuse from Muonelo, that he was just into the game and let his emotions get the best of him?

Traber, who played college football and major-league baseball, said he’s heard coarse language all his life from coaches but hardly ever did it include name-calling. Which is why OSU probably is lucky this thing so far hasn’t gotten even bigger. You’ve got a coach with almost-limitless power berating, with profanity, an athlete with little recourse. Throw in the racial makeup — white coach, black athlete — and it wouldn’t be surprising to see activists get involved demanding further action taken against Ford.

In apologizing, Ford said, “that’s not me.” Maybe so. But no one in Oklahoma knows whether that’s true. He’s been here 15 minutes, and now twice within four days his language has become an issue.

Until Ford gives anyone reason to believe otherwise, we have to assume that’s exactly who he is.

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The following comments are archived from the original publication of this post

stuart on Feb 14, 2009 @ 9:43 pm

Tom, yes I have watched an OU game, and yes, I am aware that there is profanity involved. Fortunately, these coaches are out of earshot of most fans, and the televisions operate on a five second delay. I do not recall mentioning Jeff Capel at any time, nor did I choose to mention race. Writers are entitled to opinions, and in the realm of sportswriting, there are a lot of opinions rendered. The more you agree with the opinions of a writer, the more you are likely to find him or her enjoyable to read. As you mention Stoops and others, you bring to mind my point exactly. One reason that there is little said about their choice of language is based largely on the fact that they are winning. Racism is a perceived, and often misdiagnosed form of human action. Tom, a question for you. If Jeff Capel were to make a comment toward Blake Griffin that was not well taken by some, would you say he was directing it towards a black athlete or a white one?
Tom on Feb 14, 2009 @ 1:26 am

Stuart, a question plz. have you ever watched an OU game on tv..Stoops and Venables burn the tube. Did you see anything mentioned about that by Berry. Are you saying Capel has never said a cussword to a black-or white player? Yoe see if ur fair you cant have it both ways. Obi reported he was even aware of it- and hes ok. Are you ok with a writer saying maybe the coach is a racist. Dont you think thats a bigger issue? Think..
stuart on Feb 13, 2009 @ 5:53 pm

Funny how when I read the comments posted, two things occur. One, a lot of people bag on the writer of the story, saying he has a slanted point of view. The second is how quickly OU is thrown into the mix. The basic issue here has nothing to do with either of these views; it is whether it is acceptable for an NCAA coach to aim profanities at an individual during a televised event. Saying that it is a common practice, saying that your coach cursed at you and you blocked three people the next play, does not make it an acceptable practice. It will be interesting to see how this story develops. If OSU, and Holder, have the desire and energy to hold coaches to a high standard of ethics and integrity. Sure if Ford's team was ranked #2 in the country, atop the Big XII, his style and approach might be more accepted. That to me is the bigger problem, not the language.
Joshua Hass on Feb 13, 2009 @ 3:24 pm

In Response to Rhett's comment: This is pretty far from “alarming.” My favorite line-of-reasoning that’s come up in the wake of all this is that people who cuss aren’t smart enough to express themselves in other ways. 90% of the 100 smartest people I know use the FCC’s banned 7 or 8 words brilliantly. It adds spice to their vernacular and to our dialogue. That’s not to say that the people I’m speaking of can’t communicate without cussing, because they can - very well. Here’s one: the people who claim you’re stupid if you can’t communicate without cussing aren’t smart enough to explain the real reason’s they’re offended. Either that, or they know the real reasons are lame. This is how I do it: if you’re around somebody that doesn’t want to hear it, don’t cuss. It’s just courtesy. The words aren’t bad in and of themselves; they’re bad when other people may not want to hear them. I doubt Coach Ford thought anybody but his players would hear him in Phog Allen. By the way, are we sure he said “idiot”? I SAY RIGHT THE HELL ON!!!!!!!!!!
Joshua Hass on Feb 13, 2009 @ 3:22 pm

I don't understand why it is such a big deal? I don't agree with him calling him a name I guess, but anyone that has played football especially can tell you coach's cuss. I was in the 7th grade and had a coach tell me that if I ever missed another block he would rip my f*&^%$#@ head off and throw over the trees! Guess what, I blocked 3 guys on the next play all by myself. Completely blew them up. Not a big deal. It is just words. I am an OU fan, and let me tell you, I hate OSU worse than Texas, but because of Mike Gundy and his "attack" on Jenni Carlson, and Travis Ford I have gained a smidgen of respect for OSU. They have the program on the right track. Everyone needs to chill out and back off.
Randy on Feb 12, 2009 @ 6:44 pm

Hey Berry. A couple years ago the NCAA wanted to crackdown on profanity. If referee heard it, no matter who is was directed at, it is a technical. Could you check on this?
Jim B on Feb 12, 2009 @ 6:17 pm

The Oklahoman and the sports animal have no right to get on the back of Ford. These two operations are so pro OU nothing of what they say should be taken seriously. I will take Ford over Sean Sutton any day. Sutton with his no involvement coaching was sick coaching and Traber is such a good friend of Sutton he can not let go. Berry throwing in the race card..WEll what can you expect from an OU booster. It's sports, people and players and fans should get used to what has always,(from the beginning of sports) been accepted as the norm. All this politically correct junk has nothing to do with sports. If you want to watch politically correct stuff go to a cricket match.
Steve on Feb 12, 2009 @ 12:05 pm

F for Fail on Tramel on this one. Not a god article at all. Today's society is laced will all kinds of foul language. I might not approve of it in all the situations it is happening in bit I Tramel doesn't like it maybe he should quit trying to be the language police and move on to another pass time. The race card Tramel, give me a break. In all of my 57 years I have noticed the first people to pull a 'race card' are journalist and your use of that is just as offensive as Ford's use of the four letter word. Quit stirring the pot.
Jan on Feb 11, 2009 @ 8:58 pm

Reading these comments makes me wonder wny so many readers spell Tramel incorrectly. It doesn't have 2 m's! Duh!! It's right there on the page!
Rhett on Feb 11, 2009 @ 7:45 pm

This is pretty far from "alarming." My favorite line-of-reasoning that's come up in the wake of all this is that people who cuss aren't smart enough to express themselves in other ways. 90% of the 100 smartest people I know use the FCC's banned 7 or 8 words brilliantly. It adds spice to their vernacular and to our dialogue. That's not to say that the people I'm speaking of can't communicate without cussing, because they can - very well. Here's one: the people who claim you're stupid if you can't communicate without cussing aren't smart enough to explain the real reason's they're offended. Either that, or they know the real reasons are lame. This is how I do it: if you're around somebody that doesn't want to hear it, don't cuss. It's just courtesy. The words aren't bad in and of themselves; they're bad when other people may not want to hear them. I doubt Coach Ford thought anybody but his players would hear him in Phog Allen. By the way, are we sure he said "idiot"?
Mike Jackson on Feb 11, 2009 @ 4:36 pm

Maybe Berry Tramel should have interviewed Thomas as to why he departed the program in the manner in which he did. Or maybe--if Berry was really out to get OSU hoops then he would have gone full bore on the entire story as to Sean Sutton's buyout last spring. Berry Tramel did neither unless I missed it in the paper--and for whatever it's worth he should be commended for it. Not everything needs to be in the paper. Total BS on the OSU/OU journalism slant. I sat right behind the O-State bench when they played Rhode Island at the All-College. Are you kidding? It was brutal and that was a game they won. I wish Coach Ford the best, but he needs to address his language in public for no another reason than he makes himself and his program look completely foolish. All during Mike Holder's rationales for getting rid of Sean Sutton--he cited that he wanted something else in regards to the experience for his student-athletes. I can't really imagine calling a kid like Obi a f------ idiot in public is what Mike Holder had in mind. MJ
EDBONOZ on Feb 11, 2009 @ 3:25 pm

I am having trouble seeing where the race card was played here by Ford. I sure don't condone the language, especially in a family setting where young children and families are in the crowd, but the race card? Give me a break. What is it with all the hyper-sensitive, thin skinned attitudes that are permeating our society to the point that anything said or done is either hate speech or race baiting or anti-semetic? We are being taken over by the thought police. What makes this worse are people like Trammel who suggest this was anything but very poor judgement in language and lack of discipline on Ford's part.
Eudell on Feb 11, 2009 @ 2:51 pm

Oh, ok.
rick on Feb 11, 2009 @ 2:48 pm

So Barry, what should we do? Run his effing arse off?
Joe on Feb 11, 2009 @ 1:44 pm

Eudell, I was referring to an incident he had a few years ago with Frank Anderson, the OSU coach after a game when he told Frank to walk away or he was going to kick his a--. It was really just a bad joke.
Stan on Feb 11, 2009 @ 1:10 pm

Only Barry (Boomer Sooner) Trammell would turn this into a race issue. He also forgot what Capel said at an 0u game during his first year.
Eric on Feb 11, 2009 @ 1:01 pm

Okay Berry, There are no college coaches who cuss at their players... Bob Stoops doesn't do it, Mack Brown doesn't do it... Urban Meyer, Mike Gundy, Jeff Capel, Mike K? You're kidding right? None of their assistants do it either? You're just writing this article to be on the highside right? Wrong, they just don't get recorded doing it.
Eudell on Feb 11, 2009 @ 12:24 pm

No I'm not Coach Galloway. Don't really no anything about him. I'm not even violent. I guess I think of coaches as mentors, and always having the players and teams best intentions at heart. You can have a player, that maybe isn't the smartest and have been dogged about it their entire life. Then have someone they look up to call them a F*&$ Idiot. Not saying it's the case. But again whats the upside? Those are very harsh words. Does Travis have kids? How do you think he would feel? He's not even Coach Ford to me he is "Travis" from now on.
Landon on Feb 11, 2009 @ 2:24 am

Very good article, Trammel. Ditto.
kenny on Feb 11, 2009 @ 1:19 am

Another 1 sided Tramel story. Why dont you just go write for the school news, paper o wait...
HGW on Feb 10, 2009 @ 11:53 pm
If I remember correctly, Berry was very critical of Stoops' BCS record at OU.

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BY BERRY TRAMEL

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Berry Tramel, a lifelong Oklahoman, sports fan and newspaper reader, joined The Oklahoman in 1991 and has served as beat writer, assistant...

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Berry Tramel, a lifelong Oklahoman, sports fan and newspaper reader, joined The Oklahoman in 1991 and has served as beat writer, assistant sports editor, sports editor and columnist.

Tramel grew up reading four daily newspapers — The Oklahoman, the Oklahoma City Times, the Norman Transcript and the Oklahoma Journal — and entered the newspaper business at the age of 17, with the Transcript in 1978. His first game assignment was the Lexington-Elmore City high school football game, and he has enjoyed the journey ever since, from high school wrestling duals and regional track meets to Orange Bowls and the NBA playoffs.

Tramel was born and raised in Norman, Okla. He and his wife, Tricia, were married in 1980 and live in Norman near their daughter, son-in-law and three granddaughters.

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