Mackovic lacks Îpassion and love' UA football team needs

We are all shocked by the comments football coach John Mackovic made during Wednesday's press conference. He realized he was out of line and promised there will be a change soon. You can't change a hurting football team overnight.

I have always wanted to see the Wildcats go to the Rose Bowl and, apparently, we have been the runt of the litter for being the only Pac-10 team not to go to Pasadena. The best game I have seen is the Fiesta Bowl, when we blew out Miami in 1994. Dick Tomey coached that year, and after students' lament and anger for the next four years, he is gone.

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying bring Tomey back. But find a coach who can be caring and passionate about a football team who will get to the Rose Bowl. Unfortunately, Mackovic has not done well so far in this area.

I congratulate some of the players on the football team for standing up and going to someone when there was a problem. You have worked hard this season, despite injuries and a unsuccessful performance in the Pacific 10 Conference, you should be applauded. You should not be blamed for anything.

Hopefully, next season, things will get better, and maybe we'll have a different coach to show passion and love for our football team.

Eileen Bellamy
creative writing senior

ÎDemocrats good, Republicans bad' attitude is blind to reality

I want to know one thing: Is Kendrick Wilson really as immature and blind to real world politics as he makes himself out to be? I have never seen such blind partisanship from one person.

Kendrick reminds me of a well-trained animal that follows his master's every command. He sees the label "Democrat" and automatically, that is the best person for the job. I am a registered Independent and have voted for many Democrats in my time. I have also voted for many Republicans and even a few Libertarians. Can you not look beyond the party lines and see who will actually be the best representative for your own ideas and values?

I find fault and value for each party. I try to vote my conscience, not what my voter registration card party affiliation lists. I have a feeling that once Kendrick has moved out into the real world he will see that there is more going on than "Democrats good, Republicans bad."

Jamie Dawson
biochemistry senior

ÎHorrified' to see comic strip's Îdisgusting' joke about bulimia

I was shocked and dismayed when I turned to the back page of the Wildcat last Thursday. Although I have never been a fan of any of the comics, on Thursday I was absolutely horrified.

Eating disorders are not a joke. By making them the subject of his comic, B-Fish, Mr. Low is trivializing the suffering that victims of bulimia and other eating disorders experience. Eating disorders ÷ anorexia, bulimia and compulsive eating ÷ are not fads or trends; they are diseases.

For the women and men who are courageously battling these disorders, we should have only the utmost respect and empathy. We cannot ever make them the target of hurtful and disgusting jokes.

Esther Cardona
member, national Eating Disorder Coalition
religious studies senior

B-Fish comic crossed the line by poking fun at serious condition

I was utterly disgusted when I read B-Fish on Thursday. Bulimia is not something to joke about, especially in a comic. It is a serious medical condition that affects many different types of people, men and women included.

David Low, think of your audience before you poke fun about something so serious again.

Marianne Gibson
systems engineering senior

Too busy putting gas in my car to respond to war protesters

In response to the Iraq protest: I really wish I had a chance to respond to you guys. However, I have to go put some gas in my car.

Pete Seat
theatre arts sophomore

Mackovic's philosophy didn't work in Austin, still doesn't

I had the luxury of living in Austin, Texas during the Mackovic era and I learned many things about him and football. I moved to Austin from California, and football was really big. Mackovic was the coach of the Texas Longhorns, and I was an immediate fan. Sure enough, it didn't take me long to realize that coach Mackovic's (supreme) offense intelligence didn't belong on the college playing field.

His approach to the game was stiff, and even at that age I could sense it from his play-calling, his players' attitudes, and the way he conducted himself on and off the field. So, when he was hired to coach our football team here at UA, I knew what was in store: a highly sophisticated offense that half the team wouldn't understand or have fun in, which does little to nothing for any running back's (sorry Clarence) game. When he was coaching Ricky Williams, the Heisman Trophy winner, he had him at fullback. I have more knowledge and know better than to put that athlete at fullback, primarily a blocking position.

I really hate to beat up on the guy, but the facts are that he doesn't relate to this generation of kids and his philosophy is not consistent. Some could say he doesn't have the necessary talent to make his plan work. This is true, but good coaches realize this, and they put in a system the works for their team (to have fun in) until they get that talent level up. Instead, Mackovic went full steam ahead with his philosophy that didn't have enough depth for it to be successful.

All I know is I know the game of football like I know my ABC's ÷ it's fun and revolves around good energy. After watching one practice before the season, I could tell that our team was a bunch of high school standouts pretending to be college stars (except for Clarence, Bobby and Lance). Getting kids to make that transition from boyhood to manhood is up to the coaching staff, and that is where Coach Mackovic has failed.

We need someone like Coach Bear Bryant, the legend, or Tyrone Willingham at Notre Dame ÷ someone who players respect and fear because he makes you work hard, but love because he makes you win.

Mitchell Kapler
communication sophomore