- The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, May 10, 1995
TARGET
Continued from page 11
would never misreport anything.
Junior offensive tackle Thomas
Guynes commented that if Moeller had
heen "Joe the constmuction worker" no
one would have heard about anything
that had happened that night.
Guynes is right, but Moeller is not
"Joe construction worker."
Moeller is a public figure, in a very
public position, and that is why his loss
of control ended up on the front page
of newspapers across the country and
- eller knows that better than any-
body.
It is Moeller who tells his players that
they aren't quite the same as the other
students and that if they get in trouble it's
going to be in the papers.
The tapes, however, went a step too
far.
I have yet to figure out what was
gained by anyone airing the drunken
soundbites of Moeller, and if someone
can tell me, please do.
In fact, Southfield Councilman
Sidney Lantz is investigating the situa-
tion to see if the tapes were an invasion
of Moeller's personal rights.
And while the gains from airing the
tapes are difficult to find, the losses are
plain as day. A man's reputation, and a
man's career.
The tapes of Moeller's slurred
peech made his most embarrassing
foment, a moment completely out of
haracter for the coach according to all
nho know him, and made it as public
s one of the games he used to coach.
After all, how different is what
Aoeller did from what Michigan hockey
oach Red Berenson did a little more
'tan a year ago.
Berenson was stopped for driving
u:r the influence and urinating in pub-
lic, on the side of a library.
One charge was dropped and
Berenson pleaded guilty to driving while
impaired.
The charges in hoth cases were mis-
demeanors, but Berenson still has his
job.
One was much less of a story than the
other. Can you guess which?'
We've all made mistakes, and that
night in the Excalibur Restaurant wasx,
t without a doubt Moeller's biggest. But
he's human and from time to time hu-
mans tend to screw up.
Most, however, also tend to get a
second chance, and that's where the
tapes hurt Moeller the most. He had no
choice but to resign. His ability to dis- v
cipline, lead and recruit may have been
damaged beyond repair, and he knew
that.
I'mnot going to slam the media, not
becauseI'mpart of it, but because I think
that for the most part the coverage was'
fair and just. But the tapes went too far.
They were an infringement of3
Moeller's personal rights. Rights that
even those in the public eye are allowed
to have. AP PHOTO
Moeller wasn't allowed his. He's a Gary Moeller has prowled the sidelines at Michigan Stadium for the last time.
good man who made one mistake and
now doesn't have his job. "Gary's resignation," Roberson said,
And it all happened too fast for any- IVERSON "is achance forus to start again as a pro-
one to stop it. Continued from page 12 gram."
Michigan hasn't had such an oppor-
FANS
Continued from page 11
look at the program and the players
first and what is best for the university
as a whole."
With Moeller's departure, students
speculated about whom might take
over the football team. Although LSA
senior Chris Healey heard Washington
Redskins coach Cam Cameron is a
leading candidate, he had his own
ideas about who he'd like to man the
sidelines.
"I would like to see either coach
Dick Vermeil, formerly of the Phila-
delphia Eagles, or probably (ex- Chi-
cago Bears coach Mike) Ditka,"
Healey said.
what they've been up to.
Can Moeller be blamed for how his
players behave, even when he's not
around? Certainly. He didn't pick their
names out of a hat. He visited their
homes, talked to their coaches and fami-
lies and decided each of them was ca-
pable of being a responsible student-ath-
lete at Michigan. He's decided wrong too
many times.
And then there's Kerwin Waldroup
and Jon Ritchie. Both saw a decent
amount of playing time and neither was
flunking out of school, but both decided
to transfer after becoming quite disen-
chanted with the football program.
Put all of that together and you have
a team that is in disarray in every pos-
sible way. Even if Roberson handed
Moeller the pen to sign his resignation
with, who could blame him?
tunity since Nixon was president.
Schembechler, the Wolverines' coach at
the time, stayed on until Michigan lost in
the Rose Bowl in January of 1990. He
didn't leave without naming Moeller as
his successor.
While Schembechler had an out-
standing career, his final decision -the
choice of Moeller -has haunted Michi-
gan. What happened to Moeller is sad-
dening, but don't blame Joe Roberson
and the Athletic Department for it. They
didn't hire him and they didn't cause him
to lose his job.
As embarrassing as this incident has
been, Roberson & Co. have made the
best of it by freeing themselves of
Moeller ' and by not pursuing
Schembechler. The football program
now has what is so desperately needs: A
chance to start again with a clean slate.
MOELLER
Continued from page 1
Southfield. Police Detective Reginald
Phillips said officers sere called to the
scene by restaurant management after
Mueller caused a disturbance The
coach was drinking heavily, arguing
with his wife and harassing other pa-
trons, Phillips said. When police ar-
rived, Moeller became aggressive.
Phillips confirmed the coach punched
an officer in the chest.
University President James J.
Duderstadt announced Moeller had
been suspended on May 1, saying his
intention was to protect "the integrity
of our programs."
Last Thursday, Athletic Depart-
ment Director Joe Roberson held a
press conference to announce that
Moeller had resigned. Reading from a
statement written by Moeller,
Roberson said, "My immediate con-
cern is for the well-being of a very
dedicated football staff and my out-
standing team of players."
Moeller's statement also included
an apology. "I have already said that I
deeply regret what happened, and it is
a source of deep personal embarrass-
ment."
Roberson said Moeller will con-
tinue tobe a part of what he called "the
Michigan family." Though he will not
return as head coach, he may return in
some other capacity and will continue
to collect his yearly $130,000 salary
during his leave of absence.
Defensive tackle Trent Zenkewicz
also participated in the press confer-
ence. "I consider him part of my fam-
ily ... a part of (Moeller) will go out on
the field with me (next season)," he
said.
Defensive coordinator Lloyd Carr
will replace Moeller temporarily, but
he emphasized at Thursday's pres
conference that he "would not be head
coach other than on an interim basis."
Carr said the Michigan football
program was "wounded" and felt
"great pain," but added, "We have a
program of kids who have great char-
acter, great courage,'and a great will to
win. Michigan will be back."
Though Moeller's permanent re-
placement is the subject of extensive
speculation, there has been no format
announcement by the Athletic Depart-
ment.
No Mo' Mo.
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