Columnist Ty Duffy calls for Notre Dame to ask football coach Brian Kelly and athletic director Jack Swarbrick to resign over the student death.
Kelly because he was responsible for the situation and Jack Swarbrick for trying to minimize it.
From Duffy, "The lift student was on was unstable, in even modest winds. It was not approved for use beyond 25mph. ... Other coaches realized the risk. Jim Tressel said Ohio State would not practice outside because he feared for the safety of the cameramen in the wind."
"Notre Dame is a university. Brian Kelly is an educator. He chose to practice outside in hazardous conditions. His decision placed students under his charge at risk. One of them died. That’s negligence. That’s an abdication of the most basic responsibility of his job."
"Jack Swarbrick ... twisted the story of a student’s death to deflect blame ..."
"According to Swarbrick, conditions were tranquil before a sudden and almighty gust of wind toppled Sullivan’s tower. He had no idea why Sullivan would have tweeted from the tower “holy f— this is terrifying holy f— this is terrifying.”
"The Tropical Storm force winds had been blowing for two days, throughout the Midwest. It was among the country’s biggest news stories. I knew about it on the East Coast. Notre Dame had practiced indoors the day before because of it."
"The conditions during the practice are irrelevant. South Bend was under a wind advisory from the National Weather Service. Forecasts explicitly warned of dangerous wind gusts. The risk was apparent."
Notre Dame's coach ignored knowledgable warning. Notre Dame's Athletic Director obfuscated the facts.
END OF STORY, END OF CAREER.
Paul in PA
