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Colorado State basketball: Larry Eustachy reportedly abused players

By Doug Winkey

Jan 7, 2017; Fort Collins, CO, USA; Colorado State Rams head coach Larry Eustachy reacts towards a official in the first half against the Air Force Falcons at Moby Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Fort Collins, CO, USA; Colorado State Rams head coach Larry Eustachy reacts towards a official in the first half against the Air Force Falcons at Moby Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /
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Colorado State basketball is in the news for the wrong reasons right now.

Colorado State is leading the Mountain West, but they are in the news for the wrong reasons right now. A report broke this week that head coach Larry Eustachy abused and intimidated players and coaches during the 2013-2014 season.

Related Story: Colorado State downs Colorado in Boulder

This isn’t the first time negative press has dogged the coach. Back in 2003, Eustachy was documented partying with Missouri students in Columbia after a road game. He admitted to battling alcohol trouble and resigned. He has done well between then and now as he coached Southern Miss for eight seasons without incident.

I’ll start with saying I do not like what this brings on Eustachy and the Rams. This smells a lot like the 2013 Rutgers scandal where Mike Rice was fired after abusing his players. There is no tolerance for coaches who bring undue emotional stress on players in today’s basketball environment. However, this situation is not nearly as bad. There is no evidence that Eustachy has physically touched his players in harmful ways.

It’s important to remember the context and the person involved here. Eustachy has been coaching longer than any of his players have been alive and has very old-school methods to motivate guys. I get that coaches have to coddle their athletes now, but sometimes sunshine and rainbows doesn’t get wins.

Eustachy has won over 500 games in his career and continues to win with his hard-nosed approach. He is far from perfect, but he is a former National Coach of the Year and an Elite Eight participant. Eustachy also has the Rams primed to win their first ever Mountain West regular season title with only four games left.

Next: Updated bracketology

Look, I get that coaches can’t scream and yell like they used to to get players to perform. Eustachy has stepped over the line again. The press reflects badly on the program now, but he hasn’t physically hurt his players and has made the ones he has better. He has never cheated or otherwise broken any major NCAA rules either. Feel free to criticize Eustachy, but don’t crucify him.