Dakich and beauticians

[BGorDeath]

After reading some of the posts about Dakich's hairstyle policy, I was somewhat amazed to see some people describing it as stupid because it could cost BG a recruit. Let's take a moment and compare the BGSU Men's basketball team hairdo policy to the real world.

Many of us Falcon Fans work in the corporate world. I, for example, work for a large company and represent said company to the public. For me to continue to enjoy this employment, there are certain requirements that I must follow. I cannot have a tatoo of a spiderweb on my neck. I cannot have my nose pierced. I cannot have cornrows, mohawks or hair down to my butt (this one is actually impossible for me personally for I am balding, such is life). If I choose to present myself to the public with any of the aforementioned beauty traits, I am more than likely going to find myself looking for a new job, without any questions being asked by my employer. If I choose to present myself in these manners, I assume that I will not be working as a representative for my company, but in the warehouse where nobody can see me.

Now, if we use this same scenario for the men's basketball team, I believe many will see my point. A player for Coach D. is also serving as a representative of both the men's basketball team and the university. There have been certain requirements set by the coach in order for anyone to be a part of his team. If one chooses to accept those requirements, they can be a part. If one chooses not to, they can work in the warehouse.

One part of being a college coach is teaching the players not only about the sport, but about life and how to go about it successfully after college. I believe Coach D. believes that in order to be successful, one must present themself in the proper manner and, yes to you naysayers, hairstyle does come into play. The vast majority of successful business people do not have tatoos on their necks, rings in their noses or funky hairstyles. Those that do are in the minority.

So, to sum, Coach D. has a hairstyle policy. The majority of the society abides by certain hairstyle policies. Is Coach D's policy just another reason many of the posters think the program is in a disarray? No. Coach D. policy is just another way of preparing his players for life after basketball. You should stop and give the man some credit for not only trying to win games, but for trying to prepare his players for the future so they don't have to struggle to find employment because of their looks after graduating.

Thank you for this moment. Now, back to our movie, "Smokey and the Bandit III."

[transfer2BGSU]

Yup! That's right!

Every player wears a mullet until BGSU goes to the B!G Dance!

[ZiggyZoomba]

Every player wears a mullet until BGSU goes to the B!G Dance!

COUNT ME IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BleedOrange]

Hmm, BGorDeath. In how many ways is your post wrong or otherwise beside the point? Let’s see.

DD’s rules are stupid not because they forbid just the extreme cases that you mention (hair down to waist, pierced nose, spiderweb tattoos on neck, and mohawks), but because they forbid mundane cases such as cornrows and hair below the collar. Such is basic, harmless individuality that exists all over the place. Soler’s hair, for example, would NOT have reflected badly on the program. Count: 1.

I happen to work for one of the most efficient and profitable financial institutions in the country. Some of the brightest, well-rounded, and respectable people that I’ve ever met work there with me. Some of these people have tattoos, long hair, body piercings, Buddhist beliefs, obesity problems, unusual tastes in fashion, etc, AND they 1) do some of the most spectacular work that I’ve seen, 2) have a professional commitment/work ethic second to none, 3) have an admirable sense and practice of morals, 4) are respected by coworkers across various areas of the company. One need be the conformist that you outline to be successful in this “real world” that you seem to know so much about. However, the bigoted attitude behind such “hairstyle policies” CAN cost you dearly in the real world, and THAT would be a better lesson to learn. Count: 2.

“If I choose to present myself to the public with any of the aforementioned beauty traits, I am more than likely going to find myself looking for a new job, …Aforementioned beauty traits? This is a strawman argument, and a textbook logical fallacy. Count: 3.

“So, to sum, Coach D. has a hairstyle policy. The majority of the society abides by certain hairstyle policies.” Bzzzztt. With the exception of the military, people wear there hair to suit their tastes. It not the case that institutional hairstyle dictums are what keeps 95% of society from going wild with their hair. Count: 4.

“…but for trying to prepare his players for the future so they don't have to struggle to find employment because of their looks after graduating.” Whatever. Count: 5.

Remember Devin Davis at Miami? He and Dan Majerle were the two toughest and most rugged players that I’ve seen play in the MAC in my 25+ years of being a fan. Davis’s raw tenacity led Miami to NCAA tournament wins in multiple seasons. Except for one aspect of Davis’s persona, few players walking the planet fit the Dakich ideal better than Devin Davis. Davis couldn’t have played for Dakich, however, because he wore long cornrows. I, with my short hair parted on the side (now mostly bald), could’ve played for Dakich if I had any talent at all. Count: 6.

Honesty, integrity, hard work, character, goodness of heart, self-confidence, acceptance of others unlike oneself, patience, self control, poise, etc. can be present (or taught) a college basketball player with or without wild hair. I'd prefer DD to focus on what matters.

[BGorDeath]

Aaaahhhh, BleedOrange...I knew someone would disagree with me because they miss the point. The point is in order to be able to function in society in certain organizations, sometimes someone has to conform to rules. That was the main point. Oh, and not agreeing with someones hairstyle, tatoos or piercings does not make one a bigot.

[Warthog]

Aaaahhhh, BleedOrange...I knew someone would disagree with me because they miss the point. The point is in order to be able to function in society in certain organizations, sometimes someone has to conform to rules. That was the main point. Oh, and not agreeing with someones hairstyle, tatoos or piercings does not make one a bigot.

BGor Death,
I disagree with your thoughts as well. While, yes, once in the business profession, a certain appearance may be required when representing your yourself and your employer. But that is a business. We are talking about college students here. Students want less rules, not more. they want to be an individual, not a clone of what coach/teacher/parent. If these kids are smart enough to graduate and get a degree, they will be smart enough to figure out what is appropriate appearance in order for them to remain gainfully employed. And you are limiting yourself to a business-world criteria. There are plenty of other professions that BG graudates excel in other than business. So while I think it is honorable that the Coach has somes rules regarding the appearance of his players, I still think it best to let the kids express themselves as they see fit. They have plenty of time to "act their age" once they graduate.

[Flipper]

This isn't IBM, it's college basketball. Having some policies that are unusually strict when comapred to your peers may cost you some players.

To draw a comparison with the business world, if IBM had hiriing policies that were making it difficult to make competitive hires, wouldn't the shareholders be a little ticked?

[Metz]

Ben Wallace. That is all there is to say about basketball and hair styles. Does anyone complain about him? No, and from what I see, most people love to see what hair style he comes running onto the court with next. This may shock some, but the NBA is a business and freedom of expression is allowed there (Dennis Rodman would be another good example for this). Sure I hate comparing college basketball to the pros, but some of these college kids could be looking up to NBA players. If someone wants to have an afro or corn rows because they idolize Wallace, let them! That shows me the person has dreams they want to follow after they get out of college. If you don't have any goals or dreams when you graduate, good luck in the real world. I know if I saw someone with an afro running down the Anderson Arena floor in a BG jersey, I'd be cheering for them! If the kid plays well, I'm sure you wouldn't find any alumni, students or anyone else standing up yelling, "Get them off the floor!"

One part of being a college coach is teaching the players not only about the sport, but about life and how to go about it successfully after college.

More power to DD if he is teaching players about life and how to go about it successfully. Teaching and guiding them through college is one thing. Telling them to do things your way is another. This is the time for college students to learn things on their own. Yes I understand both sides and realize there are rules to everything. In college, you still need that boss (aka Coach). But instead of making the student be exactly how you want them to be, guide them there over time. They have 4+ years of college to change from high school graduation to college graduation. That is plenty of time for them to realize they might need a better haircut on their own.

If you disagree with what I have said, that is fine. IMO though, having possible good players leave a suffering college basketball program because the aren't clean cut isn't going to gain my respect. I want to see the Falcons win some games, not be business men on the sidelines.

[transfer2BGSU]

All of this stuff about Dakich and image reminds me that I don't think anyone raised any stink over Bobby Bowdeen's comments about recruits and wanting to look like their mama's.

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Q. Are kids the same as they were 30 years ago?

A. These kids that we get nowadays, they come in and do this wrong. You shouldn't steal. You shouldn't do this. Their parents have got to teach them that. And it's got to be done when they're 2, 3, 4, 5 years of age. And kids aren't getting that anymore because the daddies ain't home. The daddies are all gone. And a boy needs discipline. He needs discipline from a male. Not a mama. They all want to wear earrings like their mama. They all want to look like their mama. Because their mama is raising them.
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I don't think Bobby likes for his players to wear earrings either.


BTW - I support Coach Dakich on his policy. If you want to play basketball at BGSU, then you have to go by the coach's rules.

[BGorDeath]

Now that everyone has had their chance to call me an idiot for my analogy of the basketball team to a business, answer me this: How many of you have said at one time or another that college sports is now big business? I bet the vast majority of you have said that. So, I still think my analogy is fair. Wait...I can hear it already...yes...people typing again to call me an idiot one more time...Congratulations! Thank you for the support.

[jlozer8]

How many of you have said at one time or another that college sports is now big business? I bet the vast majority of you have said that.

I don't know where you got the idea that everyone has said college sports are big business, but I don't believe that for a minute. I know I have never said that, and I seriously doubt that the vast majority of people have ever said it either. College sports are nowhere close to big business, and until students are getting paid to play college sports, they never will be big business. I know students may get scholarships to play collegiate sports, but they are not getting any money that goes to their bank accounts or their pockets, and until they are, then college sports are not big business.

[BGorDeath]

Dude...it doesn't matter if the athletes are getting paid. Janitors don't get paid squat either. The universities are generating millions of dollars each year. That equates into big business.

[Tricky_Falcon]

BGorDeath...I get what you're saying.

It doesn't even matter if it's a business or not. Rules are rules. If you don't like them you have the opportunity to either accept them and stay at the institution or reject them and leave.

Even in high school there were rules you had to abide by if you wanted to be on the team or find playing time. Hair at a reasonable length and no sideburns below the ear which essentially meant that most of the team had to get crew cuts. tattoos had to be covered. Is this right? Does having long hair make you any worse of a basketball player than having short hair? No. Does having tattoos covered make you better? Probably not. But it all goes toward the image that the coach wants the team to have.

Really its the coaches decision. Because in the end it all falls back on him. If his rules are way out of date and players leave, coach D is held accountable for that. I'm certain he knows the consequences of multiple sub .500 seasons.

I don't see coach Dakich changing his ways anytime soon. What most people don't understand is that Dakich is a deciple of Bobby Knight. Dakich grew up with the mentality that whatever coach says goes or youre not going to be playing. If you don't want to abide by my rules I'll find a kid with or without your talent but with a lot of heart that will follow my rules.

This has carried over to his coaching here at BG. The only difference is that today players don't have the mentality that Dakich and others had for Coach Knight...it's more of a me me me me mentality. Players think coaches have an obligation to pamper them. Players want to set the guidelines and have the coaches follow them. Any coach that has dignity isn't going to allow that.

I agree that basketball shouldn't be a beauty contest. But, the players chose to come here. They know the rules. If they don't want to follow them, they know where the exit is.

There are people out there dying to be in the position that many of the BG basketball players are in. I'm certain that having your hair short for a few months out of the year would be no big deal if you were serious about playing the game that you love.

[BGorDeath]

Ta Da! And the winner is...Tricky_Falcon! Your prize package of assorted jellys is in the mail! Finally, someone gets the point!

[Warthog]

BGorDeath,
Never said that I didn't understand your point. I just don't agree with it. Let's run through another example. Let's say there is a certain athlete at a certain University that can play both football and basketball. In football, the athlete is allowed to wear his hair as long as he likes and as many tattoos as he likes. He just has to follow other team rules (like attending classes, being on time for practice, things relevant to the success of the team and the student) in order to be on the team. This athlete does this, is very successful and despite the apparent lack of discipline from the coaching staff, the team still goes 11-3 and wins a bowl game. Now comes basektball season. Same athlete decides to help the basketball team out because they have been racked with injuries. But wait, the basketball coach says he has to cut his hair to [aly on his team???? What the heck does that have to do with playing basketball? Said player decides to focus on football and let the basketball team deal with thier own problems. Basketball team ends up 10-16. Hmmmmm, long hair didn't keep COLE MAGNER from being a successful football player (and I think many would say a fine gentleman as well, someone they wouldn't mind coming over to the house and taking their daughter out for a date.) Yet, COLE MAGNER was expected to cut his hair just to play basketball? Does that make sense?