MSU athletic department:
*crickets*
Some things are UNCHANGEABLE, among which is the advice, "Stupid is, as stupid does". It's been confirmed endless times, IGNORING (allowing, excusing, permitting and at worst encouraging STUPID) behavior will ONLY generate MORE of it. Football today, at the NFL and NCAA, levels are full of preening, stupid "self expression" and self gratification, at an alarming pace. Today, there is more celebratory "everyone look at me" nonsense than at a wedding party, of a Hip-Hop concert.
Where you might expect to see more childish behavior is at the NFHS level where it is STILL prohibited, prevented and admonished, but rejection is fading as the constant examples displayed in EVERY game at the higher (supposedly MORE mature) levels multiplies, weekly. "Football" is still a game epitomizing "teamwork", where success is measured by the ability to work together, and depend, on each other's assistance to advance a common objective.
Trash talking, at the upper levels has become an EVERY play occurrence. It's childish, counterproductive to the notion of sportsmanship and gradually DECAYING the very fabric of our sport. It serves no POSITIVE PURPOSE and is a constant threat to escalate into what happened after the game under discussion.
It is something WE can have direct influence over, if we choose to. I can assure you, if YOU actually mean it, putting YOUR face, in the face of an offender and telling him privately, "Keep your comments to yourself, or I'll SIT YOUR BUTT DOWN", or words to that effect, can be an effective means of avoiding repeat behavior, as long as you're consistent with such behavior by both teams, and BACK UP your threats where necessary.
Also not a bad idea, to include a reference during your pre-game discussion with each HC, YOU are not going to tolerate Trash Talking, or excessive displays by either team.
