Time For Spurrier To Do The Right Thing
posted by Scott Hood, Tuesday, January 22, 2008
So, let’s get back to talking about the football team for a few minutes.
I think it’s time for Steve Spurrier to crack the whip.
As I write this late Monday night, redshirt sophomore tight end Nick Prochak lies in a hospital bed after suffering a fractured leg in a collision between his moped and an errant vehicle on the USC campus Friday night.
According to an article published late Monday afternoon on the Spartanburg Herald-Journal’s website, Prochak underwent surgery immediately following the accident and had a metal road inserted into his leg from the hip to the knee.
Prochak will miss the entire spring practice while he recuperates from the injury, although team physician Dr. Jeff Guy expects a full recovery.
He faces four months of intense rehabilitation in order to fully recover from his injuries by May.
Here’s the key statement from the SHJ article: “The mopeds are a popular source of transportation for USC players in getting around the congested campus area.”
Well, it’s time to make mopeds unpopular.
Yes, it’s time to for Steve Spurrier to ban his football players from riding mopeds at any time.
And while he’s at it, he should ban them from Five Points as well.
There are plenty of entertainment alternatives in Columbia, including the Vista area, which doesn’t seem to be nearly as chaotic as Five Points.
Am I being a grinch? Possibly. But I’m also being a realist.
The SHJ article says Spurrier plans to speak to his team about the dangers of riding mopeds, and that Prochak plans to join his head coach during the conversation.
Sorry, in my opinion, that’s not enough.
How many more players have to suffer serious injuries before Spurrier finally decides to ban mopeds?
There are plenty of ways to get around campus without using a moped.
A recent article in The State said about 30 players have mopeds, including potential starting quarterback Stephen Garcia.
Will it take a high profile player like Garcia being knocked out of action for a substantial period of time before people finally realize mopeds are extremely dangerous?
After all, Prochak didn’t have a single reception last season after moving to tight end from the secondary last spring.
Sadly, the answer to the question under consideration may be yes.
Grace Prochak, the mother of Nick, said it best about mopeds in the SHJ article: “They’re taking a risk every time they get out on the street on one of those. Drivers in the cars just don’t pay attention to the street.”
Now that’s a very smart mother.
She understands one important thing very well: when a car and a moped collide, the car will win every time. Moped, you lose.
But mopeds aren’t the only villains with the potential to cause serious harm to USC football players.
In my opinion, Five Points has been nothing short of a Bermuda Triangle in recent years. Numerous players have been involved in incidents there. Some of them have involved fisticuffs.
Five weeks ago, Jordin Lindsey was seriously injured when he was struck in the neck with a broken beer bottle. He lost a lot of blood and was fortunate to survive the incident.
It’s time for Spurrier to take tough measures to assure his players stay safe off the field.
I know you can't legislate against every danger that exists in life, but banning the players from riding mopeds and prohibiting them from going to Five Points would constitute a commendable start.
In the meantime, their loved ones will have to put thier foot down to keep the players safe.
Prochak’s parents have said they won’t buy Nick another moped.
Good for them.
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I know the big recruiting weekend, Dave Odom’s pending retirement and the search for a new men’s basketball coach has dominated the headlines lately.
So, let’s get back to talking about the football team for a few minutes.
I think it’s time for Steve Spurrier to crack the whip.
As I write this late Monday night, redshirt sophomore tight end Nick Prochak lies in a hospital bed after suffering a fractured leg in a collision between his moped and an errant vehicle on the USC campus Friday night.
According to an article published late Monday afternoon on the Spartanburg Herald-Journal’s website, Prochak underwent surgery immediately following the accident and had a metal road inserted into his leg from the hip to the knee.
Prochak will miss the entire spring practice while he recuperates from the injury, although team physician Dr. Jeff Guy expects a full recovery.
He faces four months of intense rehabilitation in order to fully recover from his injuries by May.
Here’s the key statement from the SHJ article: “The mopeds are a popular source of transportation for USC players in getting around the congested campus area.”
Well, it’s time to make mopeds unpopular.
Yes, it’s time to for Steve Spurrier to ban his football players from riding mopeds at any time.
And while he’s at it, he should ban them from Five Points as well.
There are plenty of entertainment alternatives in Columbia, including the Vista area, which doesn’t seem to be nearly as chaotic as Five Points.
Am I being a grinch? Possibly. But I’m also being a realist.
The SHJ article says Spurrier plans to speak to his team about the dangers of riding mopeds, and that Prochak plans to join his head coach during the conversation.
Sorry, in my opinion, that’s not enough.
How many more players have to suffer serious injuries before Spurrier finally decides to ban mopeds?
There are plenty of ways to get around campus without using a moped.
A recent article in The State said about 30 players have mopeds, including potential starting quarterback Stephen Garcia.
Will it take a high profile player like Garcia being knocked out of action for a substantial period of time before people finally realize mopeds are extremely dangerous?
After all, Prochak didn’t have a single reception last season after moving to tight end from the secondary last spring.
Sadly, the answer to the question under consideration may be yes.
Grace Prochak, the mother of Nick, said it best about mopeds in the SHJ article: “They’re taking a risk every time they get out on the street on one of those. Drivers in the cars just don’t pay attention to the street.”
Now that’s a very smart mother.
She understands one important thing very well: when a car and a moped collide, the car will win every time. Moped, you lose.
But mopeds aren’t the only villains with the potential to cause serious harm to USC football players.
In my opinion, Five Points has been nothing short of a Bermuda Triangle in recent years. Numerous players have been involved in incidents there. Some of them have involved fisticuffs.
Five weeks ago, Jordin Lindsey was seriously injured when he was struck in the neck with a broken beer bottle. He lost a lot of blood and was fortunate to survive the incident.
It’s time for Spurrier to take tough measures to assure his players stay safe off the field.
I know you can't legislate against every danger that exists in life, but banning the players from riding mopeds and prohibiting them from going to Five Points would constitute a commendable start.
In the meantime, their loved ones will have to put thier foot down to keep the players safe.
Prochak’s parents have said they won’t buy Nick another moped.
Good for them.
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.