Be a good sport, don’t question the integrity of others without concrete evidence
(photo credit: AP)When you’re the underdog in a close college football game, you need all the momentum you can get. So, when Dave Doeren’s NC State Wolfpack found itself with the momentum it needed to take on the #1 ranked Seminoles, the last thing it wanted was something that would slow down the game. Unfortunately for the Wolfpack, FSU had two players go down with injuries during critical offensive drives.
As a fan in attendance, I can see why Doeren and around 50,000 biased onlookers would suspect the players of faking their injuries.
But, when all you have is suspicion, you can’t use that as the basis to attack another’s reputation. Now matter how much you believe it to be true.
I’ll spare you the back and forth between Doeren and the Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher, and instead cut straight to the ultimate apology:
“I have apologized to Jimbo Fisher & want to apologize to his staff, players & FSU fans for my comments that took away from from a tremendous football game. I left an emotional locker room & took those emotions w/ me to the press conference. It was a great college football game with tremendous plays made by both teams. That is where the focus deserves to be. I have the utmost respect for Jimbo, his staff and players. FSU played a great game and earned the win.”
An inevitable outcome, and one I am glad Doeren realized was needed sooner, rather than later.
In Repped, I discuss the many reasons why you shouldn’t talk trash about your competition. Instead, focus on your positives and let the market–or in this case, football fans–be the one to question the integrity of your foes.
I’ll leave you with the advice of author Brian Koslow: Never make negative comments or spread rumors about anyone. It depreciates their reputation and yours.
