[2006alum]

No, I'm not blaming the parents.  What I am saying is that I don't think Rittman is or was the only top level coach that fudges hours, but he's probably the only one who had parents after him, particularly given that that was a direct threat they made during the meeting with Muir.  And the appearance of that threat or Muir's reaction may not have diminished in the eyes of coaching candidates.  Or maybe it has.  We'll find out later this year.

I am in no way qualified to speak as to the prevalence of this trend in softball, but putting on my lawyer hat for a moment, Rittman (like any other coach) has absolutely no justification for violating this in such a flagrant fashion. It puts him in the position to be held hostage by a single parent who's keeping track and wants the coach out, and if the result is major sanctions and a show-cause penalty that forces the University into a position where they have no choice but to fire an otherwise outstanding coach, then the practice should be avoided at all costs. Unless the NCAA's show cause penalties against Rittman were really about the other allegations and they used the practice hours as the justification, then this seems like a pretty serious offense you would want to avoid.

[2006alum]

No, I'm not blaming the parents.  What I am saying is that I don't think Rittman is or was the only top level coach that fudges hours, but he's probably the only one who had parents after him, particularly given that that was a direct threat they made during the meeting with Muir.  And the appearance of that threat or Muir's reaction may not have diminished in the eyes of coaching candidates.  Or maybe it has.  We'll find out later this year.

I am in no way qualified to speak as to the prevalence of this trend in softball, but putting on my lawyer hat for a moment, Rittman (like any other coach) has absolutely no justification for violating this in such a flagrant fashion. It puts him in the position to be held hostage by a single parent who's keeping track and wants the coach out, and if the result is major sanctions and a show-cause penalty that forces the University into a position where they have no choice but to fire an otherwise outstanding coach, then the practice should be avoided at all costs. Unless the NCAA's show cause penalties against Rittman were really about the other allegations and they used the practice hours as the justification, then this seems like a pretty serious offense you would want to avoid.