Temple basketball coach John Chaney may have over 700 career coaching victories. He may have been honored twice as the National Division I Coach of the Year. He may even resemble the mascot of the school where he coaches, but all of that can be thrown out the window because of his actions Feb. 22 versus St. Joseph's.

Angered by the way the calls were going against his team, Chaney sent in reserve senior Nehemiah Ingram, who averages four minutes per game, to raise hell and foul anyone he could. Ingram ended up fouling and injuring St. Joseph's senior John Bryant, ending Bryant's collegiate basketball career.

Shortly after the game Chaney spoke of his actions in the St. Joseph's game and how he instructed Ingram to go into the game to foul St. Joseph players.

The next day, Chaney decided to suspend himself for a game. Then Temple decided to suspend him for the remainder of the regular season (three games), and now Chaney suspended himself for the Atlantic-10 Tournament.

I don't commend Chaney for his actions. He used his own personal Luca Brasi to make a statement. If the college basketball court has been anything through the years, it has been a safe haven for one's personal safety, and Chaney took away that safety.

I find it hard to believe Chaney would impose such sanctions on himself if he were in the position of a true bubble team that needed to win a few games to get into the tournament. I am pretty sure Chaney would think twice about leaving a Temple team that is two wins away from being a lock for the NCAA Tournament. Chaney is trying to play the role of the repentant coach, but the talent on his team doesn't run deep enough for them to make the NCAA Tournament.

If Chaney really wanted to admit his guilt he would resign, or if he doesn't he should be fired. Bryant is unable to play anymore, so why give Chaney a chance to coach anymore? Four years of college basketball are a precious thing and to have them cut short by the orders of an opposing coach is something that should not happen.

Still not convinced Chaney should get a pink slip? Imagine if Travis Diener were injured at the hands of Louisville's Ellis Myles because Myles was following Rick Pitino's orders. Golden Eagles fans everywhere would be screaming for Pitino to lose his job and for his racing horses to develop arthritis.

By keeping Chaney on, Temple is sending the message that its basketball coach is essentially running the athletic department, that he can leave on his own terms and that he can end someone else's career on his own terms, as well.

This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Mar. 3 2005.