RIGHT MOVE? OR POLITICALLY-CORRECT BLUNDER?
WWJD? Don’t ask “Coach Boom …”
University of South Carolina head football coach Will Muschamp has parted ways with the program’s chaplain, Adrian Despres.
“Adrian was not retained because Coach Muschamp’s philosophy is to have not just one voice, but multiple voices available to assist with the spiritual development of the student-athletes,” South Carolina athletics department spokesman Steve Fink confirmed.
News of the decision was first reported by Gamecock football message boards – one of which claimed Muschamp told Despres he wanted an “inclusive” program that didn’t have Jesus as “a distraction.”
Despres didn’t confirm that alleged comment, saying he “never really talked to (Muschamp).”
Despres had served as South Carolina’s football chaplain for the last sixteen years – including the school’s unprecedented run of national success between 2011-13 under former head coach Steve Spurrier.
Despres’ termination comes amid an ongoing national culture war – one that recently embroiled Clemson University’s football program. According to the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation – which filed a complaint in 2014 – Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney‘s program was (and is) a veritable den of proselytizing.
A vocal Christian, Swinney rejected the organization’s – saying “ain’t nothing (going) to change.”
Ah, Dabo.
He was right, though: Nothing did change, and earlier this year the group renewed its threat of a lawsuit against the Clemson program.
This website has grudgingly embraced the Godless heathens in this particular battle … odd given our usual contempt for such politically-correct nonsense.
“As much as we hate to give such political correctness the time of day, the God-haters have a point here,” we wrote recently. “As long as government remains in the business of higher education – and by extension the business of major college football – there are going to be grounds for lawsuits like this.”
Which as far as we’re concerned is another reason to do away with the current structure …
Anyway, South Carolina recently concluded its 2016 spring practice schedule – and will look to rebound on a disastrous 3-9 season a year ago when it takes on Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tennessee on September 1.