Last night the Vanderbilt Commodores played their in-state conference rival Tennessee Volunteers at Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, TN. The Commodores came away with the win, but what is making the most noise is what happened after the game. Following the end of the game while players were getting ready to enter the handshake line, Wade Baldwin was seen clapping his hands in the face of Tennessee player Armani Moore. Coach Kevin Stallings was informed of this by a member of the Volunteers staff, and did not take very kindly to this. Stallings exploded on Baldwin on live television, screaming at him, yelling obscenities, and at one point said to Baldwin, "I will f-cking kill you."
A lot of different opinions have been made about this incident. Some people think that Stallings was right in what he did, and others do not agree with his approach. While I agree that Baldwin was in the wrong with his postgame taunting, I don't believe that Stallings went about it the right way.
Stallings is the head coach for the team. He is a representative of the team and the university. I like his stance on good sportsmanship, but the way he went about it was completely uncalled for. I don't feel as though he was truly threatening Baldwin with murder. It was more about Stallings' anger towards Baldwin taunting opposing players after you just beat them. His language was inappropriate, his conduct was inappropriate, and cussing out his player in front of everyone on live television was inappropriate. I understand that in locker rooms there is all kinds of colorful language, and I am fine with that. Outside of the locker room, players and coaches both need to be aware of what they say and do. Basketball is a game where spectators sit close, and some can hear what you say. Families are there with their kids, and they don't take their kids to a basketball game with the idea that they are going to hear a coach scream obscenities at his players out of frustration. What Stallings should have done is quietly go up to Baldwin and tell him how he felt and make him apologize to the opposing player and team, then yell at him in the locker room.
I don't think this is a fireable offense, but I do think it should warrant at least a one game suspension. A coach can't keep his composure toward a player on the court makes him look bad. I don't have a problem with the Coach yelling at his player for poor sportsmanship, but the way he went about it should have been saved for the locker room.
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