Minnesota State-Mankato football coach arrested in child porn case

I could be wrong, but I think you all may be equating the reality of a D-II or D-III athlete with that of a D-I athlete.

At Michigan State, I really doubt that the players have much direct contact with Mark Dantonio. At Arizona, I don't think Sean Miller is breaking bread with his players.

At Minnesota-Mankato, the bond between players and their coach is more reciprocal. The coach is more involved in the lives of his players.

These kids apparently like Aaron Keen and want to play for him.

 

It may be that they really like Keen, and also, that those who played for him and are still around didn't like Hoffner all that much. Given how long Hoffner's been gone, the freshmen and sophomores would have never played for him and wouldn't really know the guy; they probably picked the school based on an expectation that Keen would be coaching, never dreaming that Hoffner would actually get the job back.

You wouldn't expect people in their position to say a lot publicly, as the school probably made it pretty clear to them they'd best shut up, but I don't remember ever hearing or seeing a single report about players supporting Hoffner, even after the charges were dropped and things no longer looked so bad. That supports an inference that he wasn't exactly beloved before this all started.

 

Boycotting practice in the wake of an innocent man getting his job back -- like, the day of -- is the epitome of immaturity. I mean, the No. 1 thing, on a day like that, is making sure <i>your</i> voice is heard.

 

You're too noble. And they're 18.

 

Certainly it was quite apparent after Nov. 30, 2012, that there was more than a remote possibility Hoffner was going to get his job back, and everybody should have proceeded under that assumption.

And Hoffner had a record of 34-13 in four seasons before the suspension, so it's not like they are turning the team back over to some bungling loser.

Simple solution: Why doesn't Keen just apply at Minot State??

And for that matter, why wouldn't Minot hire him? If they were all set to hire Hoffner with a 34-13 record, why would they turn up their nose at Keen, 21-2 (or whatever)?

 

Yes, it was possible, but I don't know that it was likely, and I'm not sure 18- to 20-year-olds would have that possibility at the top of their minds, particularly after he took a new job at a school in the same conference.

 

Minot is not happy.

Players agree to go back.

 

Well, Hoffner would have been nuts to turn down any viable job until a final ruling came down at Mankato -- if the ruling went the other way, he would have been shit outta luck.


I can't have ANY sympathy for Minot. Can't they read a newspaper? I am kinda surprised they would have hired Hoffner under the circumstances, but they did.

As in my previous post, why not just hire Keen instead? He's younger and has a (slightly) better record, and not under the cloud of a court case which could break either way.