Angry Frank . . .

[akaGatorhoops]

I was at the game today... sitting in row 2 behind the mizzou bench. There was an on-going and simmering tension between a couple fans and the mizzou bench. A fan in row one often yapped at the bench. . . nothing terrible from what I herd, but did seem to reference Haith's walk-on son as the "waterboy". His son made the mistake of engaging.... staring at the fan constantly, and at one point mouthing something that seemed pretty vulgar.
At halftime, Frank came out and walked directly to the fan. His posture and tone was angry. He told the fan to "have class" and identified the player as "his son". He repeatedly yelled at the fan to have class and become more visibly angry. The fan offered nothing in return, but Haith continued. Security came over and spoke with the fan. The half started and the scene ended.
It was a very odd situation to watch. On one hand... I understand Haith defending his kid, and recognize that fans can go overboard. On the other hand, he has an obligation to coach his team and not be yapping with opposing fans. More importantly, it seemed like a very bad idea. Whether his kid or not, players should ignore fans.... and certainly so should coaches. If anything, he could have discreetly alerted security. Instead, he made a scene that I think sent the wrong message to his team. As a dad, I can empathize... but I think it was a very poor example of coaching and leadership.
I was also very surprised to see him put back into the game... very late in the game... a kid that shoved a referee.

[gator7_5]

Something tells me if they were up at half, that conversation wouldn't have taken place. Either way, totally bushleague by Frank. Coaches should never engage fans. Listening Roy?

[diamondted13]

Can u elaborate on that aka? Who shoved a referee and when did it happen? Are u referring to a prior game?

[akaGatorhoops]

Originally Posted by diamondted13

Can u elaborate on that aka? Who shoved a referee and when did it happen? Are u referring to a prior game?

murph and a mizzou player got tangled up late in the game. the refs separated them when it got a bit chippy. the mizzou player pushed aside the ref. my wording was poor in the initial account... he did not shove him, but pushed him aside. he then went to the bench and the fans were all over him. he stared at a couple fans.
he clearly lost his cool.... and consdiering the circumstances, you cant blame a kid for that. but haith probably should have kept him out.

[Brewski]

Getting in the coaches helmet would seem to help the home team. Silly for Haith.

[gatorbogey]

calling someone 'waterboy' is taboo now??! what?? that gets under someone's skin? wow!! they've got to be a little bit tougher mentally. remember the stuff noah would endure? geezus. haith needs some sort of perspective on this...but since he's an ex-cane coach, it is probably rooted in that rivalry or mindset that anything out of a gator fan's mouth is infinitely worse than it actually is. if that same taunt came from a usf bulls fan, for instance, haith and the player would be laughing it off.

[akaGatorhoops]

Originally Posted by gatorbogey

calling someone 'waterboy' is taboo now??! what?? that gets under someone's skin? wow!! they've got to be a little bit tougher mentally. remember the stuff noah would endure? geezus. haith needs some sort of perspective on this...but since he's an ex-cane coach, it is probably rooted in that rivalry or mindset that anything out of a gator fan's mouth is infinitely worse than it actually is. if that same taunt came from a usf bulls fan, for instance, haith and the player would be laughing it off.

the fan could have said something worse that i did not hear. this was what i heard directed at his son, but i could have missed something.

[HALLGATOR]

I wonder if the possibility of outside trouble looming for Haith could also be adding to a short fuse?

[LeafUF]

How often would you say the person yelling at someone to show some class could have done more with that advice themselves?

[irish2u2]

Haith should have ignored the fans but.... the real issue is staying classy and we had two Gator fans who clearly missed that class.

[diamondted13]

I'm still confused. Wasn't it Jankovic that got tangled with Murph? The TV camera's cut away from it too quickly. So you couldn't see the push/shove. It seemed like you were referring to Haith's kid being the shover, although I never saw him in the game.

[iam4uf]

Haith - what do you expect from a former 'cane?

[FranceGator]

Originally Posted by diamondted13

I'm still confused. Wasn't it Jankovic that got tangled with Murph? The TV camera's cut away from it too quickly. So you couldn't see the push/shove. It seemed like you were referring to Haith's kid being the shover, although I never saw him in the game.

Yes, it was him. Just before that, on the other end of the court, he slipped on a wet spot on the floor and got beat by Young. He then went over and gave Young a bump after the play. He lost his cool.

[akaGatorhoops]

Originally Posted by diamondted13

I'm still confused. Wasn't it Jankovic that got tangled with Murph? The TV camera's cut away from it too quickly. So you couldn't see the push/shove. It seemed like you were referring to Haith's kid being the shover, although I never saw him in the game.

it was jankovic.

my post was just very poorly worded.

i was referring to that separate incident as one in which i thought haith's interaction with the fan maybe helped fuel tempers from his players.... and i also questioned haith's decision to put jankovic back in the game.

[NoahBeanBizzel]

People aren't perfect. If Haith lost his cool, then that's something he'll have to work on going forward. SEC fans are ruthless when it comes to mocking the opposition. It's not going to stop. I would've thought he knew that going to venues such as Cameron and Chapel Hill.

Still, depending on what was said about his son, I could see how that would frustrate somebody. It would upset me if somebody mouthed off about mine.

[akaGatorhoops]

Originally Posted by NoahBeanBizzel

People aren't perfect. If Haith lost his cool, then that's something he'll have to work on going forward. SEC fans are ruthless when it comes to mocking the opposition. It's not going to stop. I would've thought he knew that going to venues such as Cameron and Chapel Hill.

Still, depending on what was said about his son, I could see how that would frustrate somebody. It would upset me if somebody mouthed off about mine.

I agree.

[diamondted13]

Jankovic was definitely getting chesty during that sequence. As for Haith, I have to assume he heard something worse than "waterboy" that aka might have missed. If not, it is gonna be a long season for him and his son if they are that thin-skinned. I just think of Tubby and Saul. You know it was vicious all those years with Saul and I can only imagine the stuff they heard (including in Rupp Arena). Haith may need to chat with Tubby to get a little perspective on how to deal with such matters.

[tupacbiff]

Always a horrible idea to coach your son at this level. Nothing positive can come from it.

[Go2gtr]

Beatdown.

[g8rboy]

Acknowledging it would only show it is getting to you. Would have totally ratcheted it up if I was the fan.