Cody Campbell and Texas Tech coaching staff

1 hour ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

Cody Campbell and Texas Tech coaching staff

The events of yesterday were great! Steve Sarkisian got the fan base fired up and laughing at event full of Texas fans. Fans of Texas and Texas Tech had a terrific X fight to follow. Peak off-season, especially following Lane Kiffin stirring up Ole Miss a week'ish prior. 

When Cody Campbell sent out his tweet to Sark and CDC he presented the opportunity to ask a question that I believe needs to be addressed by Campbell and the entire Texas Tech football staff. 

I simply asked Campbell on X this ... "Question ... as a former college athlete at Texas Tech, are you okay with a player that bet on a team he was a part of continuing to retain eligibility ever or period? Would you have been okay with this scenario as a starting Texas Tech player?" 

I believe this is a very important question Campbell needs to answer. And look, I'm not expecting him to answer because he can hide behind the legal process and Sorsby's agent. But it's very important for Campbell to answer this at some point. He's literally a former very good DI athlete that now wants to have one of the most important voices in the future of college athletics. If he would be okay with Sorsby retaining his eligibility and suiting up again in college athletics, every fan in the country should hear it from him. If not, the same. If he wants to be a powerful voice in college athletics, he needs to declare on the issue of a college athlete betting on a team he's a part of. And this isn't a Texas Tech vs Texas issue for me, at all. This is all about the fabric of team sports. One guarantee I can make is Cody Campbell was never on a team or never heard a speech from a coach that included it's okay for a player to bet on a team he is a part of. Whether it's the third team long snapper, fifth team running back, number seven receiver or starting quarterback. So he 100% needs to declare on this issue in my opinion.

And I also believe the entire Texas Tech coaching staff needs to declare their position as well. And they likely won't for the same reason, but I really hope I'm wrong. And I think that is bad for team sports. Can you imagine how many speeches the entire Texas Tech staff has given to a team or players over their careers? Can you also imagine how many conversations and in-home visits the staff has conducted with prospects and parents? It's in the thousands. How many times do you believe any coach on the staff has told prospects or parents it's okay if you bet on the team you play on? The obvious answer is NONE. And the reason is simple, betting on your own team is the one aspect of team sports that is an unquestioned no-no. Period. 

I grew up in coaches offices and have spent my 20+ year career going to high schools and colleges. I've heard hundreds, if not more, speeches from coaches and been around coaching offices and part of conversations for pretty much my entire life. And to the surprise of absolutely nobody, I have never heard one coach say they are okay with a player betting on his own team. As you can imagine, it's the opposite. 

For me, Cody Campbell and the Texas Tech staff need to declare where they are at. They likely all have kids growing up (or grew up) in team athletics as well. Do we think any of their conversations with their own kids involved the phrase, "It's okay if you bet on your own team". I think we all know the answer. 

Cody Campbell needs to declare as a former DI athlete with a huge voice in the future of college athletics. Does he really want to help college athletics in the future? This is a golden opportunity for him to declare strongly. And the entire Texas Tech staff needs to do the same to remain truthful and real to their profession. Otherwise, not a single person should ever listen to a word they say again. If they can't declare where they stand on an issue they have always known is a non-starter in team sports, then why should anyone listen to them in the future?

 

View full news story

 

Haha. You know where they stand. They want Sorsby to play and are fighting for him to play. 

1 hour ago, Hornsfan76 said:

The only reason this is still an open issue is because of the player. If This Were a second string linebacker Tech would have already kicked them off the team. This literally shows that the almighty buck is more important than ethics and morals.

I agree. Take the name off “The Who” in this story and it was an immediate release that day the issue was brought to light…. On any and every team across the country. 

💯 @Gerry Hamilton

🤘

Right now, we all know the answer to that question and it’s in the silence at Texas Tech!  

I think it’s funny when someone says “well if a player gets a DUI should they be banned from the NCAA too?” Obviously it’s a serious offense, but off the field crimes have 0 impact on the outcome of games. Betting on your own team not only affects the games you play in, but it can also cost millions of dollars in losses to others. The integrity of the sport is completely gone. 

Let’s please just never play them ever again. 
I fear the smack talk will induce folks to bring back some ego led game back w them. 
 

no thanks good riddance forever.  Hope I’m staying the obvious 

Damn well said, Gerry! 

3 hours ago, Joe Zura said:

Very and I mean very good read Gerry 

1 hour ago, General Grant said:

This

Agree 💯 great stuff and that this is not a political issue it’s an integrity issue. We have precedent in sports all over about betting on your team. Two of the most important players in Major League Baseball history were given LIFETIME bans for gambling on their teams or throwing games. Both of whom had much more valid arguments to be in the HOF and associated with their sport than Sorsby. It’s not the betting on Romanian soccer games or heck even CFB that he wasn’t involved in that is the issue as we all know. This is about collectively standing up and saying “if you make this choice you WILL suffer this consequence.” This is not an indictment on Sorsby as a human, and I truly hope the best for him in his recovery. This is making sure that everyone understands the boundaries and they cannot be crossed. Period. Tech gambled and lost, Sorsby gambled and lost. That’s life, you cut your losses and move on. @Gerry Hamilton is absolutely right, have a backbone and stand up for what is right. That is going to do more to move sports in a positive direction than hiding behind the lawyers.