Is there a limit on how long potshots can be taken at UCF Coach George O'Leary for lying on his resume for all of those years? I would like to think it expired, but when the same coach who spent years claiming to have degrees he didn't and cost himself the Notre Dame job is claiming he won't speak to the local media because of their errors, well it's hard not to dredge it all back to the forefront.UCF Coach George O'Leary declined to answer questions from the Orlando Sentinel and barred his players from granting interviews with the newspaper during Conference USA media day on Sunday.This should be a great source of mockery and humor. A coach refusing to talk to the media until they correct errors, yet not actually saying what the errors were. It would be, if the issue surrounding it wasn't the death of a 19-year old student.
He also refused to speak with other reporters if a representative from the Sentinel was present at the UCF table during the only session for print reporters at media day.
O'Leary said last week he would not speak with the Sentinel until the newspaper corrected errors in its coverage of Ereck Plancher's death.
The newspaper has asked UCF officials to outline the mistakes, but the school has declined to discuss the errors in detail.
Ereck Plancher died during spring drills. From the start there were discrepancies between what UCF was saying and what turned out to be true.
I don't expect you to care about this little hissing match between O'Leary and the Sentinel. But check out the corrections UCF has had to make.
Plancher's final workout was easy. Not quite.
He didn't appear fatigued. Don't tell that to the players.
UCF didn't know about his medical condition. Turns out it did.
O'Leary is mad at the Sentinel. At least that one is true.
He is apparently upset over a story in which four players contested UCF's version of events during Plancher's last workout.
Plancher's final workout was easy. Not quite.
He didn't appear fatigued. Don't tell that to the players.
UCF didn't know about his medical condition. Turns out it did.
O'Leary is mad at the Sentinel. At least that one is true.
He is apparently upset over a story in which four players contested UCF's version of events during Plancher's last workout.
After further autopsy tests, it was learned that Ereck Plancher had sickle-cell trait. A condition that put him at risk for sudden death when under physical stress.
The National Athletic Trainers Association in 2007 called for athletes with sickle-cell trait to be withheld from activity when symptoms arise. An athlete should be pulled from training immediately if he or she experiences such symptoms as muscle cramping, pain, swelling, weakness, tenderness, inability to "catch breath" or fatigue, the guidelines state.
Players in the workout with Plancher told the Sentinel in April that he was gasping for breath and staggering before he collapsed on the day of his death.
O'Leary and the coaches contend that the workout that day was not particularly strenuous. Even though, it was conceded that they were doing mat drills.Players in the workout with Plancher told the Sentinel in April that he was gasping for breath and staggering before he collapsed on the day of his death.
UCF did know about and apparently did inform Plancher of his condition. Plancher may not have shared the information with his family, however.
According to the UCF press release, they took precautions to watch Plancher for problems. In light of the descriptions of how Plancher was struggling in the drill, it hardly seems that they were watching too closely.
