- 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. ~GOLF CENTEAR DRIVING RANGE MINI GOLF r. 5N 6TES O 1-94 } 1 ATU.S23 WILLIS RD. 429-3691 _________________________________ .1 ALL YOU CAN IA57FOR $4.95111 at the LEAGUE BUFFET BETWE *3Q . PM* MON: SCRUMPTIOUS STIR FR TUE: PLENTIFUL PASTA WED: TERRIFIC TACOS FRI: FABULOUS FIS *also every.T u e League Buffet serves international or American Cuisines to Suit your Taste. MICHIGAN LEAGUE " 911 N. 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