Vandy coach orders players to stop cussing
Associated Press
Aug. 29, 2002 08:00:00

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Vanderbilt's Bobby Johnson is a football coach a mom could be proud of.

He wants to mold gentlemen - not just winning football players. So he's issued a no-cussing order.

When left guard Jim May makes a mistake in practice, he works at saying "jit" instead of that common four-letter word that rhymes with it. Sometimes he says "frappin."

"Coach Johnson's philosophy is to do all the little things right," senior wide receiver Dan Stricker said.

The policy is not new for Johnson, who spent nearly a quarter-century at Furman, the last eight as head coach.

"We've always done that everywhere I've coached," said Johnson, who also requires players to keep their hair neatly cropped.

Those who break the rule pay the price. For each foul word, a player must perform 10 "up-downs" - a drill in which someone runs in place, drops flat to the ground, then jumps up and starts the series again.

Senior cornerback Rushen Jones said many players had sore arms in the beginning, but not now. May added that players also watch their language off the field. "Everything is habit forming," May said.

Power said the ban could mean more victories, since it involves the "psychological and sociological aspects of developing a team." Players welcome any strategy that will help them avoid a 20th consecutive losing season.

Funny? Yes.
Helpful? Maybe?

Although it is rare, I have seen a ref throw a flag for "unsportsmanlike conduct" when he caught a guy swearing, so I suppose it could make a difference on the field.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by grillrat:
Funny? Yes.
Helpful? Maybe?

Although it is rare, I have seen a ref throw a flag for "unsportsmanlike conduct" when he caught a guy swearing, so I suppose it could make a difference on the field.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">If he digs deep into the book and uses some of the "magic words," I can understand it.

That's a good policy IMO. Bobby wants a clean program all the way.