RickKarle's Blog

     By now you have heard about the comments coming from Clemson Defensive Coordinator Vic Koenning.  He was speaking with reporters other night, and said of recruiting some big studs in our state, "I ran into Julio Jones in spring recruiting.  He got in his Escalade and drove off.  Then I watched Burton Scott of Vigor High School... he went and got into his Escalade and drove off.  I'm familiar with those guys."  Vic Koenning says he was merely joking, and he has apologized to Alabama fans and two the high school coaches of Julio Jones and Burton Scott.  

     Now for my take: Has this guy been drinking? Why even joke about something like that on the record, during game week no less?  Was this all a joke? Probably- was it a shot? Of course! Look- when reporters have gathered around, and you know you are on the record, you need to watch your tongue.  If Koenning wants to have a beer with the guys and trash every program in America, he has that right.  But when reporters are present with pens in hand?

     News flash: Over the years, I have had many off-the-record conversations with college football coaches, and more often than not, these coaches will slam their competition- in fact some very familiar coaches in this state are great at it. But they always make sure we are "off the record" so that stuff doesn't get repeated.

    My idea? How about taking the high road? You seen it happen in politics:  Negative ads often backfire and help out the candidate who is getting slammed. If a coach wants to dog a competing coach or program, I say he refrains from doing so in front of a reporter wheher on or off the record.  It's a bit like getting a negative e-mail (we get plenty in the news business). Most of the time I respond to every e-mail I receive and I kill them with kindness. Do that, and those nasty letters suddenly turn to mush.

   The moral of the story? Vic Koenning is a bit like Joe Biden- he has a quick wit but loose lips. He needs to take the high road when talking with the media, and leave those shots at other programs where they belong- in the trash.