Something tells me Catch-22 isn't in the Ohio University playbook.
In a college town known more for its alcoholic decadence rather than its athletic prowess or academic commitments, the city of Athens and the OU campus have come alive with Bobcat pride this Fall Quarter. For the first time in years the Ohio football team has shown signs of life, and under the tutelage of coach Frank Solich the Bobcats have re-emerged onto the national scene. From the overtime win against then top 25 ranked Pittsburgh - on national television - to the prospect ofmore fruitful years to come, the Bobcat nation had the chance to finally be publicly known for something other than its top 10 party school moniker.
That chance was fumbled away Saturday night.
Ohio coach Frank Solich was arrested for drunken driving after local police found him slumped over the steering wheel of his car,facing the wrong way on a one-way street. On Monday Solich pleaded no contest to the charge and had his license suspended for 180 days, was ordered to complete a three-day driver intervention program and fined $250.
At a press conference on Tuesday, Ohio Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt announced that Solich would retain his position as head football coach.
After careful thought and deliberation between Frank [Solich]
[OU] President McDavis and myself it is in the best interest of Ohio University for Frank to continue his duties as head football coach Hocutt said.
Also as part of the conditions on Solich remaining with the Bobcats he will be required to participate in university programs aimed at addressing excessive student drinking. Instead of focusing on one man's grave lapse in judgment, the most pressing matter is how an institution of higher learning with an admitted party image problem will deal with the situation and imminent media firestorm. Since his tenure as Ohio University president began, Roderick McDavis has made a conscientious effort to down play OU reputation as a party school. This year it has been especially difficult considering The Princeton Review ranked OU as the No. 2 party school in the nation, the annual Halloween celebration was allegedly more violent than past years despite a smaller crowd in attendance and the student celebration of the win over Pitt included fireworks in the form of setting couches on fire.
However, it is this latest problem that will prove to be the most volatile situation for the McDavis administration.
For the 10 weeks of Fall Quarter the mantra coming from Cutler Hall has been one of personal responsibility. McDavis has seemingly made that into the new OU motto with his continual pleas and chiding of poor student behavior. But with the announcement that Solich will keep his job as Ohio's football coach, the McDavis administration has lost the ideological high ground. When it comes to future alcohol abuse predicaments - student or otherwise - the administration is morally bankrupt.
Now, that is not to say the decision to retain Solich's services is incorrect. Considering that this appears to be an isolated incident it would be unfair to remove Solich from his position. It is imperative to remember that despite his high profile Solich is prone to err just like the rest of us. One mistake is not enough to warrant Solich's termination. However, the university has not been put in a no-win, no-escape scenario. If Solich remains at OU, which he will, the university appears to care more about athletic prowess, national television exposure and increased athletic revenues than enforcing a hard-line stance against alcohol abuse. If Solich would have been fired OU might have maintained somemoral superiority, but the press, accolades and money would cease.
As unfair as it is, the reputation of McDavis and the university will be tainted by these latest actions. Although the universityhas arguably made the best decision, it will nevertheless be subject to criticism.
By keeping Solich OU has shown compassion, loyalty, understanding and a commitment to big time athletics. But in doing so the administration has also seemingly demonstrated an ideological hypocrisy at the highest level. Whether intentional or not, McDavis and his cabinet have made excuses for Solich's behavior when no valid justifications exist. In the public eye the administration has condoned its employee's improper conduct while condemning the same kind of behavior from its students. And it is that sad fact that will undermine the integrity of the OU administration in future matters concerning alcohol abuse problems, reshaping the university's public image and becoming the standard bearer for Ohio universities. Hypocrisy is poisonous to a reputation whether it is intentional or not.
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Dan Rinderle
