Hurt suspended from Air Force football team
8/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Hurt suspended from Air Force football team
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Air Force offensive line coach Pete Hurt has been suspended indefinitely by the Air Force Academy Athletic Association pending investigation of alleged violations of his contract. The violations involve alleged inappropriate striking of a player during practice.
The suspension begins immediately. Fullbacks' coach Paul Hamilton has assumed Hurt's role as offensive line coach in his absence. Offensive coordinator Chuck Petersen is coaching the fullbacks, which he previously coached. Director of Athletics Dr. Hans Mueh has launched an immediate internal inquiry into the situation.
Hurt is in his second season as offensive line coach at the Academy. He came to Air Force from Clinton High School in Clinton, Miss., where he was head football coach and athletic director from 2002-04. Prior to that, Hurt was the head coach at Division I-AA Samford from 1994-2001 where he accumulated a 42-39-1 record.
Post-practice Q&A transcript:
Can you describe what the nature of this alleged incident is?
DeBerry -- "The alleged incident is an isolated incident. The coach hit a player trying to impress something on him. It's not accepted (and) certainly not condoned in this football program, according to our expectations as far as the coach."
Is it something you saw?
DeBerry -- "I'm not sure I saw all of it. I saw a little bit of it. I'm not sure I saw the entire thing."
When and how did you learn about this?
DeBerry -- "I saw it happen on the field. I didn't see all of it, but I certainly spoke to the coach after practice about it."
When did it happen?
DeBerry -- "It happened last Wednesday (Aug. 9)."
So the concerns (regarding the incident) came from you, to Dr. Mueh, as opposed to the players?
DeBerry -- "Yes. Very much so. We haven't had complaint from any player."
Pete (Hurt) has been in this business a long time. Has he ever had a history like this, or any incidents in the past, or is this a one time scenario?
DeBerry -- "This is very uncharacteristic of this coach. This coach has great character. Has a real passion for kids. Wants kids to do well. Loves his kids. These kids love him. Football is a very volatile game."
Fisher, where does the process go now with coach (Hurt) and looking in to it and the decision process?
DeBerry -- "There's a process of inquiry and we'll see how that process goes. Then the action will be accordingly."
Mueh -- "Let me answer a part of that because it's over in my court right now. I was gone a lot of the time after the event (took place). I was gone Thursday, Friday, the weekend, was here Monday, but gone all day Tuesday. We had some people discussing it within the department. We had heard the rumors. That last little piece from people that indicated to me there was something there. Fisher indicated to me there was something there. Fisher came to me. We discussed it. I left it up to him because he's the head coach. He suspended (Hurt). Technically, he can't because he's a contractor and I have to suspend (contractors). But coach is the boss and he suspended Pete. I initiated an inquiry and we're in the process of doing that now. Because I want all the details out. I want to talk to people who were there, who saw this. When I'm satisfied with the inquiry, I will decide on Pete."
Coach, what you saw, is it something that would have been considered appropriate 20-30 years ago, but is not today? Or is something that would always be considered inappropriate?
DeBerry -- "I can't answer that. But as long as I have been the head football coach, we have a coaching retreat. We go through our philosophy. We go through how we're going to treat our players. And we treat our players here at the Air Force Academy just like we would expect another coaching staff to treat our own sons and daughters wherever they might be playing."
So the line for disciplining players, what is that line that is established at that retreat?
DeBerry -- "That we do not ever put our hands on our players."
Dr. Mueh, is it a paid or unpaid suspension?
Mueh -- "It's paid. It's suspension with pay."
The suspension began today?
Mueh -- "Yes, correct."
Do you project any timetable on the inquiry?
Mueh -- "I don't want to rush this. I'd like to have it done as soon as possible, for the potential good for the team. We don't need any additional distractions. On the other hand, it's serious enough that I need to do this seriously and correctly. When I'm satisfield, I'll look at all the data and make my decision."
Have you been able to see the incident on tape?
Mueh -- "I have."
Can you elaborate on when you said you heard rumors the week prior?
Mueh -- "It's hard to elaborate on rumors. All I know is that cadets talk. There was locker room talk, I'm guessing now, and it sort of spread. The first I heard of it, was yesterday afternoon. I don't like rumors, but it was part of my fault, because I was gone so long. But once we put the pieces together, I said, 'Yeah, there's something to this.' And coach (DeBerry) certainly agreed. It's directly opposite of what he has stood for, for 25 years."
How long have you known coach Hurt and how did you come to bring him here?
DeBerry -- "I've known coach Hurt for many, many, many years. I knew him when he was coaching down at Rice and down at Baylor. I knew him when he was coaching with a good friend of mine that coached here on the staff, Chan Gailey, in the World Football League. Then he became the head coach at Samford University. He came out here and visited a lot with us. He ran a lot of our offensive attack. He has always been a person that has impressed me with his character, with his love for the game but most importantly the way that he treats people and the way that he treats players."
How much does this disturb the preparation now that you have kind of an interim offensive line coach?
DeBerry -- "I don't think it really hurts at this particular time. We're just in our eighth practice today. Obviously we'd like to have our staff intact. But, at the same time, like Dr. Mueh said, this is a serious enough situation that we need to follow this course of action. And at the same time, I feel very confident of the coaches that we have. I feel very confident that our offensive line knows what they're doing. They've been schooled. They've been coached very well. Maybe as an improved area in our football team thus far this fall has been our offensive line, in particular, in their technique. Pete is a demanding coach. He's an exact coach, but his players truly, truly love him and respect him."
Do you notice any effect on your players as far as attitude or preparation or morale is concerned?
DeBerry -- "No, I really don't think so at all. The players know the coaches and they know their heart."
Fisher, is he allowed in the offices, or does he have to stay away from the offices?
DeBerry -- "No, he has to stay completely away until this inquiry is done to our satisfaction."
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Air Force offensive line coach Pete Hurt has been suspended indefinitely by the Air Force Academy Athletic Association pending investigation of alleged violations of his contract. The violations involve alleged inappropriate striking of a player during practice.
The suspension begins immediately. Fullbacks' coach Paul Hamilton has assumed Hurt's role as offensive line coach in his absence. Offensive coordinator Chuck Petersen is coaching the fullbacks, which he previously coached. Director of Athletics Dr. Hans Mueh has launched an immediate internal inquiry into the situation.
Hurt is in his second season as offensive line coach at the Academy. He came to Air Force from Clinton High School in Clinton, Miss., where he was head football coach and athletic director from 2002-04. Prior to that, Hurt was the head coach at Division I-AA Samford from 1994-2001 where he accumulated a 42-39-1 record.
Post-practice Q&A transcript:
Can you describe what the nature of this alleged incident is?
DeBerry -- "The alleged incident is an isolated incident. The coach hit a player trying to impress something on him. It's not accepted (and) certainly not condoned in this football program, according to our expectations as far as the coach."
Is it something you saw?
DeBerry -- "I'm not sure I saw all of it. I saw a little bit of it. I'm not sure I saw the entire thing."
When and how did you learn about this?
DeBerry -- "I saw it happen on the field. I didn't see all of it, but I certainly spoke to the coach after practice about it."
When did it happen?
DeBerry -- "It happened last Wednesday (Aug. 9)."
So the concerns (regarding the incident) came from you, to Dr. Mueh, as opposed to the players?
DeBerry -- "Yes. Very much so. We haven't had complaint from any player."
Pete (Hurt) has been in this business a long time. Has he ever had a history like this, or any incidents in the past, or is this a one time scenario?
DeBerry -- "This is very uncharacteristic of this coach. This coach has great character. Has a real passion for kids. Wants kids to do well. Loves his kids. These kids love him. Football is a very volatile game."
Fisher, where does the process go now with coach (Hurt) and looking in to it and the decision process?
DeBerry -- "There's a process of inquiry and we'll see how that process goes. Then the action will be accordingly."
Mueh -- "Let me answer a part of that because it's over in my court right now. I was gone a lot of the time after the event (took place). I was gone Thursday, Friday, the weekend, was here Monday, but gone all day Tuesday. We had some people discussing it within the department. We had heard the rumors. That last little piece from people that indicated to me there was something there. Fisher indicated to me there was something there. Fisher came to me. We discussed it. I left it up to him because he's the head coach. He suspended (Hurt). Technically, he can't because he's a contractor and I have to suspend (contractors). But coach is the boss and he suspended Pete. I initiated an inquiry and we're in the process of doing that now. Because I want all the details out. I want to talk to people who were there, who saw this. When I'm satisfied with the inquiry, I will decide on Pete."
Coach, what you saw, is it something that would have been considered appropriate 20-30 years ago, but is not today? Or is something that would always be considered inappropriate?
DeBerry -- "I can't answer that. But as long as I have been the head football coach, we have a coaching retreat. We go through our philosophy. We go through how we're going to treat our players. And we treat our players here at the Air Force Academy just like we would expect another coaching staff to treat our own sons and daughters wherever they might be playing."
So the line for disciplining players, what is that line that is established at that retreat?
DeBerry -- "That we do not ever put our hands on our players."
Dr. Mueh, is it a paid or unpaid suspension?
Mueh -- "It's paid. It's suspension with pay."
The suspension began today?
Mueh -- "Yes, correct."
Do you project any timetable on the inquiry?
Mueh -- "I don't want to rush this. I'd like to have it done as soon as possible, for the potential good for the team. We don't need any additional distractions. On the other hand, it's serious enough that I need to do this seriously and correctly. When I'm satisfield, I'll look at all the data and make my decision."
Have you been able to see the incident on tape?
Mueh -- "I have."
Can you elaborate on when you said you heard rumors the week prior?
Mueh -- "It's hard to elaborate on rumors. All I know is that cadets talk. There was locker room talk, I'm guessing now, and it sort of spread. The first I heard of it, was yesterday afternoon. I don't like rumors, but it was part of my fault, because I was gone so long. But once we put the pieces together, I said, 'Yeah, there's something to this.' And coach (DeBerry) certainly agreed. It's directly opposite of what he has stood for, for 25 years."
How long have you known coach Hurt and how did you come to bring him here?
DeBerry -- "I've known coach Hurt for many, many, many years. I knew him when he was coaching down at Rice and down at Baylor. I knew him when he was coaching with a good friend of mine that coached here on the staff, Chan Gailey, in the World Football League. Then he became the head coach at Samford University. He came out here and visited a lot with us. He ran a lot of our offensive attack. He has always been a person that has impressed me with his character, with his love for the game but most importantly the way that he treats people and the way that he treats players."
How much does this disturb the preparation now that you have kind of an interim offensive line coach?
DeBerry -- "I don't think it really hurts at this particular time. We're just in our eighth practice today. Obviously we'd like to have our staff intact. But, at the same time, like Dr. Mueh said, this is a serious enough situation that we need to follow this course of action. And at the same time, I feel very confident of the coaches that we have. I feel very confident that our offensive line knows what they're doing. They've been schooled. They've been coached very well. Maybe as an improved area in our football team thus far this fall has been our offensive line, in particular, in their technique. Pete is a demanding coach. He's an exact coach, but his players truly, truly love him and respect him."
Do you notice any effect on your players as far as attitude or preparation or morale is concerned?
DeBerry -- "No, I really don't think so at all. The players know the coaches and they know their heart."
Fisher, is he allowed in the offices, or does he have to stay away from the offices?
DeBerry -- "No, he has to stay completely away until this inquiry is done to our satisfaction."
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