Les Miles reinstated Pooka Williams and levied a one-game suspension after a December arrest for domestic battery. The former LSU coach still hasn’t learned.
Les Miles was fired two years ago by LSU because of his inability to adapt, change and evolve with the modern game. In the time he’s been on the sidelines, it’s clear the now-Kansas head coach hasn’t changed after failing to send the right message regarding the status of Pooka Williams.
On Monday, Miles reinstated Williams who will serve a one-game suspension for the opener vs. Indiana State. Williams was charged with domestic battery after a December arrest and reached agreement with the Douglas County district attorney in March to enter a domestic violence diversion program. The arrest affidavit revealed Williams admitted in text messages to punching the victim in the arms and the victim had bruising on her arms and side.
Williams, a rising sophomore, is the best player on Kansas, by far. He was the Big 12 offensive freshman of the year after ranking third in the conference with 1,125 yards rushing.
Miles had suspended Williams for the last seven months. Miles has a history of being soft when it comes to punishing his players. In 2013, Miles let the team vote on whether Jeremy Hill should be reinstated to the team after he was spared jail time for punching a man outside of a Baton Rouge bar. LSU’s starting running back was already on probation for a guilty plea in 2012 to a misdemeanor for a sexual relationship he had with a then-14-year-old girl when he was a student at Redemptorist High School.
“He owes this team, this school, this community his best behavior,” Miles said in 2013 about reinstating Hill. “He will have further punishment. It will be internal. It will be comprehensive. We will see the whole person.”
College football players aren’t supposed to be the moral compass for their teams. The coaches are. Miles failed then and he failed now.
The statement Miles delivered about reinstating Williams is eerily similar to the Hill statement.
“Pooka has taken responsibility for his actions and we are happy he is back with the team,” Miles said in a statement. “This young man has learned much throughout this process and we will support him as he continues working through the required educational and accountability steps.”
Where’s the statement saying the university and the football program don’t condone violence against women? Where’s the statement expressing concern for the victim? Where’s the statement to say what the university and the football program is doing to make sure something like this never happens again? Where is the statement saying the player will face a legitimate form of punishment?
There’s always so much support for the abuser and never enough for the victim.
He hasn’t learned that brushing these cases of abuse and assault off with a hollow offseason suspension or a one-game suspension vs. an FCS opponent proves again the prospect of winning matters more than the victim.
Brenda Tracy, the founder of Set the Expectation, tweeted, “When dealing with your players and issues of sexual assault and domestic violence, a one-game suspension is never appropriate. I don’t care what else is going on. One game suspensions only send ONE message – the victim doesn’t matter and what your player did isn’t a big deal.”
Coaches,
— Brenda Tracy (@brendatracy24) July 8, 2019
When dealing w your players & issues of sexual assault & domestic violence, a one game suspension is never appropriate. I don’t care what else is going on. One game suspensions only send ONE message - the victim doesn’t matter & what your player did isn’t a big deal.
For perspective, in 2016, Baylor suspended wide receiver Ish Smith three games after a video of him abusing his dog surfaced.
If Miles wants to give Williams a second chance, that’s fine. I am all for second chances when they are earned.
I don’t have all the answers when it comes to punishments for players who abuse women, but I know a one-game suspension isn’t it.