UCF Scandal

The Naples News has published an editorial calling on a full investigation into the death of Ereck Plancher. The paper’s editorial suggests perhaps the NCAA or even Florida’s Governor - Charlie Crist - may need to get involved.

There is too much at stake and one young man has died. As more time passes, recollections and will become diluted. UCF should be pressing forward and providing objective answers. The Naples News agrees:

Editorial: Football star’s death

UCF, or higher authority, must settle discrepancies

6:29 p.m., Monday, April 14, 2008

Until now, last month’s death of former Lely High School football star Ereck Plancher, 19, while practicing at the University of Central Florida, has been regarded as one of those tragedies that too often are part of life. A strong young person with a bright future is suddenly and unexpectedly snatched from our midst.

But now, Plancher’s death takes on another perspective, that of a tragedy that might have been avoided.

Four teammates — speaking under condition of anonymity — tell the Orlando Sentinel newspaper that Plancher was struggling to keep up with the rigor of the team’s workout that day and he was being scolded by the coach. He denies cursing at Plancher, but recalled telling people around him, “He’s better than that,” the Sentinel says.

In football there is nothing wrong with a hard workout. But why the differing stories? UCF officials call the workout routine while the interviewed players call it unusually tough, with other players vomiting and Plancher showing the most signs of distress.

There are NCAA rules for how strenuous springtime workouts can be, and UCF says the ill-fated March 18 indoor, air-conditioned session was within bounds.

Plancher’s loved ones say they want the truth. We all want to make sure of that. UCF also needs to know everything about what happened. The safety of future players and the integrity of its athletic program are at stake.

If the university is unable to conduct a timely and objective investigation, then someone else — such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association, perhaps — ought to be recruited.

Gov. Charlie Crist, by virtue of being the No. 1 elected official in a state where UCF is a prominent member of the public university system, ought to be in the wings ready to step in, if needed.

Nothing that anyone can do can bring back Ereck Plancher. Yet, the new comments from his teammates are serious. His legacy merits answers.

NaplesNews.com

Today’s entry in the Orlando Sentinel provides commentary from two of the players earlier reported the exercises were much more intense than UCF reported. This belief, if widely held by the UCF players, could be very detrimental to program and its student-athletes.

“After the funeral, we tried to move on and focus on football,” one player said. “We have a lot of work to do as a team, but it’s been hard because the coaches said a lot of things about what happened that day that weren’t true. I’m really angry they didn’t just tell the truth.”

This needs to be rectified. This is not about George O’Leary and the program. It’s not about lies. It’s about the death of a young man. A death that will remain a mystery if the truth is subdued.

Read the whole story in today’s Orlando Sentinel.

It is interesting that the only player to come forward to speak with the coaches on the Plancher situation, Cliff McCray, has decided to leave the program. He also turned down a follow-up meeting with Coach George O’Leary and instead talked with his parents.

From the Orlando Sentinel (April 14, 2008):

O’Leary denied the four players’ accounts (see earlier articles in which players claimed the football activity was more intense than UCF admits). He said he asked players to talk with coaches if they wanted to speak about what happened the day Plancher died. He said McCray is the only player who came forward and met with coaches.

And now he’s gone.

Read the full account on the Orlando Sentinel