Earlier this school year, I wrote about how some Ball State University head coaches will be in the hot seat this season if their teams do not show some signs of improvement from the season before.
In doing so, I mentioned that Cardinals football coach Stan Parrish was not one of those who should be heavily scrutinized should his team not have much of a successful season. I don't think I need to repeat myself about how much the team lost from the 2008 season and how many younger players are in starting roles for Ball State.
I still stand by this assessment. Nobody really expected an 0-4 record at this point of the season, but let's remember that this team was picked to finish near the bottom of the Mid-American Conference West Division this season and has a freshman quarterback learning on the job and a defense learning a new scheme.
The team took huge leaps forward in Saturday's loss to Auburn University, and just in time, as the University of Toledo comes to Scheumann Stadium on Saturday for a Homecoming match up in which the Cardinals open up MAC play.
OK, enough about the team.
Although I still feel he should not be in the hot seat until next season, the 63-year-old Parrish is obviously beginning to turn sour on those he encounters on a daily basis.
The Star Press reported Tuesday that Parrish has cut off access to most of his players for interviews by the media.
In doing so, he is portraying a "you'll talk to who I want you to talk to" attitude to those whose job it is to talk to players and coaches alike to report on the team.
First, before referring to Parrish acting his shoe size, I'll say this: If the Ball State athletics department does one thing right in its own eyes, it's protecting and babying its players.
I've covered a few teams for The Ball State Daily News and have seen first-hand with one team in particular how a coach and their media relations person restrict access to the student-athletes.
In these instances, however, both the coach and the media relations person remained professional and we were able to work out our problems.
It was also reported that other Indiana football schools like Purdue University and Indiana University honor all requests for player interviews unless the student-athlete has prior academic obligations. Throughout the season, anywhere from 10-20 football players are available each week for interviews - often more than once a week.
This is in stark contrast to Ball State, where media access is limited to one weekly press conference with Parrish followed by interviews, usually with three players who are picked by Parrish and Joe Hernandez, the associate athletic director for media and alumni relations.
Then, if you're lucky, Parrish and a player will also be available after a practice.
Bologna.
Coach, jump on board with the rest of the college football world and realize that media encounters come with the job not only for you, but also for your student-athletes. Most coaches don't like the media, but there isn't a choice in the matter. All programs want coverage.
You want to protect your freshman quarterback? That's your call, but Kelly Page has proven more than capable of handling the media's questions thus far.
Your team isn't stupid. They watch ESPN and read Sports Illustrated. They realize they are winless and questions are going to arise.
We get it. You are frustrated because your team hasn't performed well to open the season and you haven't won a game as a head coach in more than 20 years.
Let your players tell the story and take your hand off the choker.
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