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Faith

College Football Player Quits Team in Scathing 4,000+ Word Blog Post Citing ‘Abuse’ Over His Faith

Nov. 19, 2012 12:14pm Billy Hallowell

A.J. Barker Quits Minnesota Golden Gopher on Twitter, Tumblr

Minnesota’s A.J. Barker (82) runs down field with UNLV’s Kenneth Penny (17) in pursuit during their NCAA college football game at Sam Boyd Stadium, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012 in Las Vegas. Credit: AP

Quitting a football team via social media is certainly one of the most public ways one can exit from college sports. In a long-winded (and we mean long-winded) letter posted on Tumblr, University of Minnesota wide receiver A.J. Barker described, in detail, his reasons for quitting the Golden Gophers. Among them, alleged “abuse” over his atheistic views.

The post, “My Letter to Jerry Kill, why I quit,” details Barker’s contention that he was both abused and intimidated. After announcing his plans to leave the team on Twitter last night, the college junior encouraged readers to go to his Tumblr page for additional details.

“Well, its official. I am done playing football for the University of Minnesota and I will be looking to transfer next season for my final yr,” the player wrote.

A.J. Barker Quits Minnesota Golden Gopher on Twitter, Tumblr

The leading Golden Gophers receiver laid out his grievances point-by-point in the massive 4,000+ word post; Barker expressed regret about leaving mid-season, but made it clear that he feels he has no other choice. Continuing on the team, he wrote, would mean contending with further “manipulation and abuse.”

He used the post to share some of the sentiments that he purportedly heard from coach Jerry Kill (whom the letter was addressed to; caution: language):

There’s nothing special about me?

I’m a dime a dozen?

You don’t know what “fucked up things happened to me to screw me up so much as a person”?

My stock fell as a person since I got injured?

You had 5 of me at Northern Illinois?

You say I’ll never earn a scholarship under you? That I don’t deserve one?

In responding to these alleged insults, Barker had harsh words for the coach. Aside from defending his parents, whom he said provided him with a wonderful upbringing, he wrote to Kill directly, saying that he will “not accept [his] ruthless attempt to degrade and belittle” him.

Minnesota wide receiver A.J. Barker heads to the end zone on a 53-yard touchdown catch during an NCAA college football game in Minneapolis. Barker quit the team Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, in a blistering email to coach Jerry Kill that he subsequently made public through his personal blog, the messy fallout triggered by their conflict about the treatment of the junior’s sprained right ankle. Credit: AP

“My parents and friends are extremely proud of me. They don’t view me as screwed up,” he wrote. “I am an upstanding member of society and a paying/honest student at the University of Minnesota. I haven’t got in trouble with the law. I don’t have any demons in my closet. I don’t mistreat or hurt the people around me. I carry myself with dignity and respect.”

This, of course, is only a minuscule snapshot of the letter. The former player went on to detail other alleged instances of verbal abuse. While speaking with a trainer about an injury he sustained last month, Barker claims he was talked down to and that Kill called his character into question.

Additionally, in a separate occurrence, his faith (or lack thereof — according to a Twitter message in October, Barker is an atheist) purportedly came under attack by tight ends coach Rob Reeves (caution: language):

It was during this discussion that you came over and exploded on me in front of the entire team in our indoor facility. “YOU DON’T FUCKING GET TO TELL THE TRAINER WHAT YOU DO!” followed by a 20 minute tyraid where you attacked everything about me, from an athlete to my character as a person. I took every word of it replying faithfully “Yes sir. Yes sir. No, sorry sir” and watched as you demeaned me to a point of no return. You took the one thing you had a say in (my football playing career and my future) and you held it against me in an attempt to break me, going as far as to tell me I’ll never get a scholarship or see the field again. [...]

But don’t be confused by this explanation into thinking this is a quick/irrational decision based solely around Thursday’s event. Last spring before the spring game I was called a faggot for my spiritual views by Coach Reeves where other players on the team heard him say it. Coach Poore put me down the week before the UNLV, calling my play pathetic and claiming I couldn’t handle the bright lights.

You can read the entire letter here. The university’s athletic director, Norwood Teague, issued a statement regarding the situation on Sunday evening. While brief, it addresses the controversy head on.

Minnesota wide receiver A.J. Barker, center, can’t make the catch as Grayson Levine, left, and Steven Montgomery, right, defend during a spring NCAA college football game at TCF Bank Stadium, Saturday, April 21, 2012, in Minneapolis. Credit: AP

“Coach Kill received an email from A.J. Barker today notifying the Coach that he has quit the team,” Teague writes. “Coach Kill tried reaching out to A.J. after receiving the email, but was unable to connect with him.”

The athletic director goes on to say that the school understands Barker’s frustration over his injury. The note concludes by regretting that the player is leaving “on these terms” and wishes the former student well.

(H/T: Deadspin)

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Comments (147)

Conservative Queen
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 1:23pm
Baker claims he left because of his ‘faith’ and then rambles on for thousands of words about his ankle injury and how HE refused an MRI or to accept that it was a major injury. Then when HE decided the injury was bad he was furious his coaches didn’t bow down and kiss his hinny. This is what gets me, if he wants to say the coach is abusive, ok, but to try to get sympathy by trying to tie this to a faith thing is absurd. He’s an ATHEIST! Baker claimed the coach criticized his ‘spiritual’ beliefs. Many religions have spiritual beliefs but I would not put atheists in that category. After reading the whole letter it sounds like a whiny kid just trying to get sympathy. We dealt with a professional one of these whiners for years here in Cincinnati. He’s name was Chad Johnson. His ego was writing checks his performance could not cash.

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- Mapache
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 1:33pm
  hmmmm….Chad Johnson……oh where is he now….
  
  Report this comment
- TimPatriot
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 1:45pm
  Didn’t Chad make MILLIONS in the NFL and had a respectable NFL career? Maybe he gets the last laugh.
  
  Report this comment
- FlamingFartSyndrome
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 2:16pm
  So its ok to call someone a ****** because they are atheist… good christian values im sure.
  
  Report this comment
- termyt
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 2:19pm
  Sounds more like he is whining about discipline and coaching decisions than about faith to me. Welcome to College. You are no longer the best football player on your team. Get over it or go to a lower level. Looks like he is choosing the latter.
  
  He’s just angling for some sympathetic press so the NCAA will let him go elsewhere. And he’ll probably get it.
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 2:28pm
  There is no doubt in my mind that this player is a WUSS and this coach is a DEEK.
  
  They are better off without each other.
  
  I’m sure AJ will thrive in D-III somewhere… and after the ACLU gets done with him, coach Kill will be inflating balls and coaching QBs at a 1-AA school somewhere.. (or whatever it’s called now- FBS?)
  
  Report this comment
- sillyfreshness
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 3:04pm
  There is NO WAY a university……especially the University of Minnesota would look down on someone as an atheist. In fact, atheists are worshiped at universities as being “enlightened.” Nice try, but they would put you on a pedestal if you said you don’t believe in any god. Universities love leftist, degenerate thinking and call it enlightenment.
  
  Report this comment
- oldguy49
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 3:19pm
  he doesn’t have a faith…….so whats the problem
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 3:20pm
  SILLYFRESH…
  
  I agree but, the “U” has nothing to do with this yet…. It’s a college football coach’s relationship with his player and team. Many football coaches invoke God and prayer regularly… that’s why i’m expecting this to get messy.. I’m sure the ACLU is salivating over it…..
  
  I’d bet my **** that this coach gets fired within days if he can’t prove the kid is loony-toons.
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 3:29pm
  OLDGUY…
  
  I’m sure Ambulance-chasers are lining up at this kid’s door by the dozens as we speak to find out if he was denied a scholarship based on his “Faithless Faith”. Welcome to 2012. Like it or not :(
  
  Report this comment
- rickc34
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 3:38pm
  Being an athiest is a belief system just like any other and it is his choice. Maybe he should think how Christians feel when mocked for their belief. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.
  
  Report this comment
- catfanatic1979v1
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 3:57pm
  No, I don’t think we should treat atheists differently because they are atheists.
  
  Report this comment
- Cincinnati_Patriot
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 5:45pm
  Who Dey!!!!!! Good Riddance Ocho something or other. On another note, this Minnesota kid is a typical left-wing snob who thinks everything should just be handed to him without any questions being asked. I did not really get the point of the letter, but it appears the Gophers will be better off without him.
  
  Report this comment
- SoCaLCapitalist
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 6:39pm
  Sounds like the guy made his choice. He was respectful while being yelled and and didn’t forget it. Sounds like some dude named Bill Gates when he was the waterboy at Princeton. I remember a coach on the Oakland Raiders said his biggest mistake in life was bullying Gatea and talking down to him. He said something like I know I can’t call him for a job and at the time Gates was the wealthiest man alive.
  
  The kid was playing football on his own dime. Glad he had the guts to make a decision and not blindly follow.
  
  Report this comment
- FormerLib
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 8:52pm
  Well, at least he admits atheism is an article of faith.
  
  Report this comment
- FormerLib
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 8:56pm
  This kid reminds me of a 25 year old trainee I once had in a construction job . I told the kid he wasn’t ready to be turned loose on his own just yet and he launched into a riff about being ‘disrespected.” I told him he hadn’t earned respect yet, and he went ballistic. He probably would have written a 4,000 word blog if he could spell.
  
  Report this comment
- SendTheMeteors
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 9:03pm
  He’s a loser regardless of his “beliefs” or lack thereof. That’s a crock.
  
  Is the coach’s name really “Kill?” Where do you get a name like that?
  
  Report this comment
- phil1765
  Posted on November 20, 2012 at 6:54am
  termyt
  Did you even read the freaking article the dude is a walk on, he doesn’t have to do anything except find a team to go to. He doesn’t need the NCAA’s help to do anything. Damn just read the thing and you don’t end up looking like an idiot trying to talk about something with none of the facts. Oh crap our president set that example I suppose.
  
  Report this comment
- phil1765
  Posted on November 20, 2012 at 6:59am
  SendTheMeteors
  considering it is his last name I would guess that it came from his parents.dooooh
  
  Report this comment
- termyt
  Posted on November 20, 2012 at 12:58pm
  Phil – Let me help you.
  
  “Termyt,
  Did you even read the freaking article? The dude is a walk on, he doesn’t have to do anything except find a team to go to. He doesn’t need the NCAA’s help to do anything. Damn, just read the thing, then you won’t end up looking like an idiot for trying to talk about something without of the facts. Oh, crap, our president set that example, I suppose.”
  
  With punctuation and grammar, you will not look like the idiot you suppose me to be.
  
  Report this comment
yoshik
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 1:05pm
Good riddance. In these times where we have a terrorist as POTUS, the Middle East on Fire, an ATHIESTIC ASSAULT on those of us who DO believe, invasion of our privacy, loss of freedom and on and on, who needs you? Athiests are a lightening rod for negativety. You losers are the ones that get prayer banned in school, the removal of nativity scenes and everything else that discriminates against US the believers. I am glad you are feeling the heat. While we Christians are all taught to forgive, the wounds being inflicted on us daily ****** the process. One day we will, until then go cry to people who care. Maybe radical Islamists. Buh Bye.

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- athiest-infedel
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 1:31pm
  More love and understanding from a christian, there is a difference from between an atheist and an ANTI-ATHEIST. And if you want prayer in school send your kids to a christian school. Really, which form of christiality do you want taught in school? Non denom., cathloic, lutheren, episcopalian…….
  
  This is where you as a christian you wish me to burn in hell.
  
  Report this comment
- Locked
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 1:38pm
  “You losers are the ones that get prayer banned in school…”
  
  … Prayer isn’t banned in schools, you know.
  
  “While we Christians are all taught to forgive, the wounds being inflicted on us daily ****** the process.”
  
  As a Christian myself, I may feel judged for my belief but never once have I felt persecuted for it here in the US. Definitely never been wounded for it. Maybe it comes from living in the south. I’ve also never had an issue forgiving people. Perhaps you’re taking your personal failure out on an imaginary foe? “I didn’t fail to forgive because I’m a bad Christian, I failed to forgive because I’m being persecuted!”
  
  When I see people complaining about their belief being persecuted here in the US, I usually just roll my eyes and go “Yeah, uh-huh, right.” I feel the same way with this guy. Is the coach a jerk? Maybe. Did he insult your faith, or lack thereof? Take it up with a civil rights group. Is he just being extremely tough to motivate his players? Most likely. Suck it up. No one likes a whiner, whether they be injured atheist football players or whiny “Christians” with persecution complexes.
  
  Report this comment
- God_Is_Not
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 1:42pm
  Yoshik
  
  You come across as a hateful and vengeful human being. You certainly don’t represent other followers of Christ very well.
  
  Report this comment
- DTR
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 1:48pm
  That mentality right there is exactly why a lot of people paint us as Christians in a bad light. We need to be the example of tolerance. We are taught not to judge anyone because we are all sinners. Yes, our political world is going to Hell, but this young man has absolutely nothing to do with that. He is a victim. End of story. He is not a member of any movement to silence our Christian voices and has done nothing do deserve this treatement. Those coaches should be ashamed for what they did. And you should be ashamed for the evilness in your heart to condemn him so quickly for simply not being a believer in Christ.
  
  Report this comment
- Nolooters
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 2:27pm
  Atheist – Infidel. We pay nearly $5000 each year in property taxes to fund local education on top of $5000 each year to send our 2 children to parochial school. We gave up a LOT to do so.. vacation, new autos, limited gift giving because that was our choice. Many families cannot afford to pay twice for the ability to choose where they will send their children. They are stuck with bad choices and bad outcomes.
  
  It’s time for a voucher system. Let the parents decide where they want to send their children.
  
  Report this comment
- GiveUsJustice
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 2:29pm
  “And you should be ashamed for the evilness in your heart to condemn him so quickly for simply not being a believer in Christ.”
  
  So you know the whole story? You know for a fact he was not lieing? I doubt it. The fact that he puts Atheist behind his name now makes it a story and is going to get plenty of backing. If he would have put “christian” behind it, he would have been shunned. Don’t get quick with your own judgement when you have no clue what the real facts are. It is all “probably” right now for both sides.
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 2:43pm
  GiveUsJustice…
  
  You are correct…. In fact- when i saw this Headline, i assumed it was going to be about a Christian getting the shaft- not an Atheist….lol.
  
  Many college football coaches improperly invoke the wrath of our Lord to motivate players…. they should all hire good attorneys NOW… unfortunately their day reckoning may be upon them.
  
  Report this comment
- idontknow3
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 3:23pm
  “This is where you as a christian you wish me to burn in hell.”
  
  Uhmm! Well, actually, no! That will happen in the natural course of events for a lost person. As a Christian I do not wish that on anyone. To go to “hell” – in reality to end up in the “lake of fire” all a person has to do is, well… nothing. To get to “Heaven” a person needs to accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior. He is the free “gift” of GOD. A gift can be accepted or rejected. Just accept the gift.
  
  John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
  John 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
  John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
  John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
  John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
  
  Actually, it’s really very simple. Not complicated at all. Yet it is just as true as the fact you need your next breath to live. If you don’t believe that – try not taking your next breath.
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 6:57pm
  Seriously?… playing the “poor Tim Tebow” card? LOL!!
  
  Tebow is being paid $2million a year to endure his “abuse”.. This atheist wussy was paying his own way without even a scholarship… no comparison. Let the dork quit.. what do you care?… but to invoke “Saint” Tebow here is just ridiculous.
  
  Report this comment
- henryKnox
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 7:52pm
  The young man seems very troubled and lost. Perhaps if he just had a little faith that there is something greater than himself he would be able to turn the other cheek and move on with his career.
  
  Report this comment
- not a liberal
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 11:55pm
  atheist infidel
  
  i will pray for you but i should be able to send my kid to a Christian school without having to pay for other kids to go to a private school if that is fair we can be friends and a legitimate point about Christianity, if we expect people to see things from our side we must act like the Bible teaches. Thank you for pointing it out
  
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AmericanStrega
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 1:05pm
Haven’t seen Tebow quit because of all the abuse that’s been heaped on him. Maybe faith in God is needed to let this kind of “abuse” roll off ones back and carry on?

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- Pontiaku
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 1:56pm
  I can assure you there are plenty of things that don’t roll off the backs of evangelicals here.
  
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- Pomona
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 5:29pm
  PONTIAKU….Sadly, you are correct.
  
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Graffiti71
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:58pm
Welcome to football in America–College chapter!

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GoodStuff
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:57pm
What a pansy.

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Maxim Crux
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:49pm
When you quit…you lose.

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- Max jones
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 1:27pm
  This young man is troubled and should seek counsel of the …….Oh, yeah……He doesn’t have a prayer!
  
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Leader1776
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:48pm
In days gone-by coaches often invoked prayer and religion as a means to instill discipline. With the changing (read: left/secular directions) of big business universities it is quite possible the tide has turned 180 degrees. Still ……… we haven’t heard both sides. Independently, and not following the Gophers, if he is performing on the field that tends to support his allegations.

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TimPatriot
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:47pm
Transparency in the large Division I sports programs in a good thing. Just ask the faithful at Penn State.

Blogs are just one way to “even” the playing field and balance out the coach’s power & bully pulpit. Lets face it– there are coaches that have tremendous talent and make wins happen. They don’t always have “soft skills”– in fact it is because of those lack of soft skills and the laser focus on winning above all else that plays a large part in their success. That focus often excludes what is good for the athlete, student, other coaching staff, ethics, laws, NCAA rules, etc…. the list of brilliant coaches whom are disasters in these other areas is legendary.

Good for the kid– standing up for what he believes and doing so in such a way that it forces UM to take a tough look at the coach and program. Now they have a choice to make.

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- DrunkGOP_Hack
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 1:38pm
  Gotta agree with you.
  I think they singled him out for his believes.
  I don’t like the mentality of non-believers, but, and here is the BUT. He has his right to not be pummeled by coaches and treated like crap.
  Some coaches are jackwagons. They take their lost hope and dreams and failurships and at times go over the top.
  
  I had a coach that tried to fail me in high school because I didn’t want to play football on HIS team. I wasn’t even a jock, but because I didn’t want to play he tried to fail me.
  
  Explain that one to me. You can’t.
  
  Non the less, he called them out. Good for him. He cowboyed up and he got his ounce of flesh.
  Regardless of his non religious believes, he still deserves to be treated as a human.
  
  Report this comment
- shoulda coulda woulda
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 3:23pm
  Are you all insane, I have competed at the Div 1 level, my coach called me everyting from “moronically stupid” (I never did ask) to “laziest piece of “‘ _ _ _ _ “‘on the face of the earth.” When performing at that level you have to prepared physically & mentally to perform at and sometimes beyond your best. My opponents used any stratagem available (including name calling) to diminish my performance. Just get over it, thousands before you have and have lived successful lives. The pussification of America goes on.
  
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- Pomona
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 5:45pm
  SHOULDA WOULDA COULDA……The “pussification” of America. I’ve heard it all, now. Geeze.
  
  Report this comment
term limits for congress
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:47pm
He’s white? And, he’s paying for his education? How did he get on the team in the first place? Doesn’t smell right.

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BlackCrow
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:44pm
There is more to life than football. I’m suffering more and more everyday as a result of injuries I sustained while wrestling in High School. I was told in explicit terms to shut up and work through the pain. Well You don’t work through torn ligaments. But the trainer and the coach were jackasses and I am only one of many boys that are suffering in middle age from their incompetence.

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- MuhammadWazzaPedo
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 7:24pm
  No one forced you to play – quit your whining and grow a pair!
  
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nealb4zodd
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:43pm
The kid sounds like a whiner. Reminds me of my teenage daughter who tried to manipulate any situation by going on a public rant very much like a facebook rant. Doing so is classless . .and is disrespectful. i dont care if this kid is right and justified, there’s a proper way to do this, and posting a public rant is never right. Never. he’s clerarly immature. He will regret this rant a week from today.

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just slap me
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:43pm
Hey A.J., don’t forget to pack your box of tampons when you move out of the dorms on your way to Carthage College in Wisconsin for your last (sic) year of football eligibility…

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joe.r.piehole
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:43pm
Blaze readers don’t care about atheists.

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- Tractorboy
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 1:13pm
  Wrong PIEHOLE, Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’……Disagreement with atheism does not mean, we Christians lack empathy for our non-believing brothers…….The way I look at it is, Atheist are potential believer who hasn’t had a moment in their life where they have been slapped up side the head with God’s grace and mercy.
  
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- Conservative Queen
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 1:28pm
  S. E. Cupp, major Blaze contributor, is an atheist and well loved by Blaze readers and watchers. Please stop being so bigoted and educate yourself.
  
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thejackal
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:43pm
No faith, or lack of faith is not a ‘religion’ it is an absence of religon…. Barker just needs a ‘lil Jesus.

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TembRising
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:42pm
Students should be respected and treated with dignity and those bringing in the fans as atheletes deserve much more than this student received. Nobody walks away from football because of a minor injury—this young man worked his entire life for that opportunity and showed tremendous character to walk away from an abusive coach/environment.

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- MuhammadWazzaPedo
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 7:27pm
  One less puss on the field!
  
  Report this comment
noleftturn
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:41pm
…. these kids are student athletes, emphasis on student. Truth be told, this stuff happens more than is reported. Coaches need to start losing their jobs because of this.

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txn4justice
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:41pm
Shut up kid and play football.

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- Leader1776
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:57pm
  Isn’t that what Jerry Sandusky said ……….. ‘Shut up kid and play ball’. No, wait, it was …………. shut up kid and ball. Sports isn’t like it used to be and neither are the people running it. Coaches need to be damn tough. But they must be honorable at the same time. I’ll take Lou Holtz over Bobby Knight any day.
  
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- VoteRightDammit
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 1:14pm
  To “Leader1776″
  
  I just so sick and tired of the false martyrs gays have created (Milk, Shepard, Bradley Manning, etc.) …. and the way gays use any excuse to tear down society. This is exactly the faux argument YOU just concocted.
  
  In what possible way does hard nosed discipline relate to pedophilia? And what on earth is going on in your head that YOU go from this story to Jerry Sandusky?????
  
  Report this comment
Balrog28
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:41pm
Next we’ll get tirades like this from privates in the army or marines when they are unhappy with the way the Drill Sergeants are treating them. This is plain ridiculousness, let the boy go – we’ll see how few teams will want him on their squad. Why would a recruiter even want to spend any effort in getting him to come to their school now?

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- not a liberal
  Posted on November 20, 2012 at 12:03am
  already happening in the military balrog….it is a sad sight
  
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Tri-ox
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:41pm
Oh well. It’s a pretty lame way to quit the team, but, it’s his choice.

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Cavallo
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:40pm
It doesn’t sound like he was singled out because of his faith, it sounded like his faith was included in the abuse about everything. It sounds like the coach is an unprofessional jerkwad. AJ is right to leave. Hopefully his education is such that he will be able to graduate and find gainful employment, although that might be a challenge being he attended the University of Minnesota.

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lwilli201
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:38pm
“Tolerance” is a thing of the past. “Hate” is becoming the new norm.

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just slap me
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:37pm
Does that mean he won’t be getting his year end “participation trophy” like the other kids?

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irishjarhead
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:35pm
No one likes abuse, and it shouldn’t happen. But it does. It’s called life. I wonder how some of Bobby Knight’s former Indiana U players felt?? I ws taught that quitters never win and winners never quit. Finish out the season, approach the coach like an adult and tell him to his face. A 4,000 word diatribe via blog is the wrong way to handle this. He may be talented, but this would make me question his courage if i were another coach. Man up AJ!

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- joe.r.piehole
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:44pm
  What if it were a Christian being abused?
  
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- VoteRightDammit
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 1:09pm
  Bobby Knight’s former players are, almost to a man, extraordinarily grateful to Knight and supportive of him, despite the war raged by the liberal professors at IU who were jealous of the money in sports versus their academic areas. It’s very difficult to find ANY former player who says anything other than, “Coach was and is MY HERO AND FRIEND!”
  
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- M-Theory
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 1:56pm
  Joe: you ask what IF a Christian were being abused? What IF the sky were blue? Christians are abused all the time and because they have the philosophy of turn-the-other-cheek, many feel that’s an open invitation to bash. Now, abuse from a coach or staff is never appropriate, but AJ could have handled the whole thing better. I agree with the other poster who felt AJ should have waited to the end of the season and quit in person. Why would another coach want to recruit a guy who’s shown that he’s not a team player?
  
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- irishjarhead
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 2:44pm
  Not knocking BK. Nothing wrong with a hard nosed coach. I had em. Had a hard nosed Dad, and Marine Drill Instructor’s too. They all made me who I am and I thank them daily in my heart. Even if a Christian, he should man up. Talk to the coach man to man, eye to eye. Don’t wuss out via blog. I believe a Christian wouldn’t quit, not in character. The Apostle Paul said…”finish the race”.
  
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- Elena2010
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 4:11pm
  Joe — one name comes quickly to mind: Tim Tebow.
  
  The NCAA SHOULD be about a solid college education w/job potential upon graduation. It should NOT be a minor league for the NFL. A tiny fraction of players in all the NCAA sports get pro sports contracts following school. Many think they will be the next big deal and miss out on a real job after 30!
  
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- Marine25
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 6:35pm
  @m-theory
  How are Christians abused in the U.S.?
  
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- Git-R-Done
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 10:49pm
  Marine – Obamacare forcing religious institutions to provide birth control against their will. Excuse me if we’re not a Marxist dictatorship like you want.
  
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horsehockey
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:25pm
Assuming Barker is on the right side of this tif, I wish him well. If his statements are true, this incident ought to cost the coach his job, attacking one’s faith is not the way to coach at the college level, or any level. I suspect that if the player were a black muslim, he/his faith would be treated differently.

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- oldguy49
  Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:40pm
  but he has no faith……….
  
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Small_Al
Posted on November 19, 2012 at 12:16pm
It’s too bad this kind of thing happens at all, but it’s happening with a greater degree of frequency now. Read fresh political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com

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