UCO football coach Adam Dorrel arrested on suspicion of DUI

[Mule Dad]

I couldn't disagree with this post more. Coaching might be and probably is the only thing keeping him grounded. If we are going to yank football from him, let's talk about his personal life. Is he in a happy marriage? How are his kids doing? I'm not a psychologist but I play one here on the D2 football message board, I would argue having stability in at least one facet of his life is paramount to his long term recovery and mental health.

Grounded, are you trying to tell us that AD is grounded? Go back and watch the video of him driving under the influence and unable to coherently answer basic questions and remember basic information. That is the exact opposite of someone who is grounded. And yes, that is almost certainly not the first time he has done that, but he's been lucky enough not to get caught every other time. All while working high stress coaching job.

[Wallst]

Grounded, are you trying to tell us that AD is grounded? Go back and watch the video of him driving under the influence and unable to coherently answer basic questions and remember basic information. That is the exact opposite of someone who is grounded. And yes, that is almost certainly not the first time he has done that, but he's been lucky enough not to get caught every other time. All while working high stress coaching job.

I'm not excusing his actions. But you are missing the point. We all have or need anchors in our lives. My point is coaching is his anchor. Why is everyone so quick to take coaching from him? If we found out his trigger was something in his personal life would we all be so quick to judge and rip that from him? Wife cheating, kid with a disease, losing a parent etc etc IF it was his wife cheating should we make him get a divorce?

So coaching is high stress? How about the commission only salesperson? The single parent working multiple jobs? The lawyer trying the murder case? Doctor trying to save a life? Out of those 4 examples plus coaching id put HC as 4th or 5th.

[libertybearcat]

I'm not excusing his actions. But you are missing the point. We all have or need anchors in our lives. My point is coaching is his anchor. Why is everyone so quick to take coaching from him? If we found out his trigger was something in his personal life would we all be so quick to judge and rip that from him? Wife cheating, kid with a disease, losing a parent etc etc IF it was his wife cheating should we make him get a divorce?

So coaching is high stress? How about the commission only salesperson? The single parent working multiple jobs? The lawyer trying the murder case? Doctor trying to save a life? Out of those 4 examples plus coaching id put HC as 4th or 5th.

Not making excuses...it is another trigger mentioned earlier in this thread.

[SW_Mustang]

I'm not excusing his actions. But you are missing the point. We all have or need anchors in our lives. (1) My point is coaching is his anchor. Why is everyone so quick to take coaching from him? If we found out his trigger was something in his personal life would we all be so quick to judge and rip that from him? Wife cheating, kid with a disease, losing a parent etc etc IF it was his wife cheating should we make him get a divorce?

So coaching is high stress? How about the commission only salesperson? The single parent working multiple jobs? The lawyer trying the murder case? Doctor trying to save a life? (2) Out of those 4 examples plus coaching id put HC as 4th or 5th.

1 - This might be the single wildest thing I've read on this board. I've seen people lose real jobs for far less than committing a serious crime, and those jobs aren't their "mental anchor," it's their means of survival. A head coaching job is a privilege, not a right - and if one can't uphold the standards, he should be let go. Sorry, but that's life sometimes. Maybe a different anchor without so much responsibility is needed.

2- Just because there are more stressful jobs out there doesn't mean being a college coach isn't a high stress job. Never understood this false-equivalency.

[SW_Mustang]

I read through this entire thread (which was a trip, honestly) and there are two things that don't have to be mutually exclusive:

1 - You can be empathetic for coach's circumstances regardless of the crime in-question. It sounds like he dealt with horrific trauma, and I genuinely feel for him in this regard.

2 - Coach committed a crime, and there are consequences for that crime. Experiencing trauma is not an excuse for committing crimes, and I hope the consequences are realized. Many people who experience this kind of trauma don't drive under the influence.

I'll add a third too - just because the crime happened does not make coach a bad human being.

I was at a hockey game on Saturday - it was attended by the parents of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau. They were killed together by a drunk driver in August the night before their sister's wedding. The tragedy isn't because they were hockey players, but because two parents lost two sons, a sister lost two brothers, two children lost their father, and two more children will grow up having never met their father. In fact, Johnny's wife announced her pregnancy during the eulogy for her husband. She told him three days prior, so at least he knew before he passed. Meanwhile the arrested is dragging out the court process to skirt responsibility. If you read that and still believe "drunk driving isn't that big of a deal, let's not put coach on blast" - that's messed up.

We don't take drunk driving seriously enough in this country. It's a little shocking to see so many excuse coach's behavior and want it swept under the rug. I really hope none of the people advocating for this ever have to deal with any serious loss.

Also, the comments about the "liberal media" were disturbing. How sick of a society are we that we have to politicize a crime committed by a D2 football coach? Ironically by those who always preach about "law and order" and "accountability." I guess those things only apply if they sit across the aisle from you or they aren't in your good graces? Very, very strange behavior. My suggestion is to touch grass and interact with another human being.

I'll get off my soap box now - I sincerely hope coach gets the help he clearly desperately needs, I hope he finds sobriety, and can work his way back to being healthy enough to be a head coach again. I hope coach finds a path to peace for the trauma he dealt with.

[Alfred33]

I don’t think anyone is making light of AD’s issues with PTSD, or that it has led to his alcohol dependency. I think there’s a disconnect between that and getting behind the wheel of a car though… it doesn’t excuse it or make it any less of a f**k up. He publicly embarrassed his employer and thank god that’s all he did. If you’ve ever spent any time with AD, you know he’s a great guy… both of these things can still be true.

None of us are worthy of throwing stones, but it does put UCO in a tough spot… he’s a representative of the school in a position of and influence and authority over student athletes. If we embarrassed our employer, how would that go? It’s like the fools that do or say something stupid, caught on someone’s camera phone and “made famous” online… it almost always ends with their employer having to make a tough decision. It’s not about anchors or whether or not coaching is a saving grace from UCO’s perspective… Let’s just be honest, if the Bronchos were 5-7 last year, he’d already be gone. As bad as it could’ve been, this seems to be the wake up call that was needed for AD to seek help and UCO is obviously supporting AD in getting that. If they’re able to move past the embarrassment without a lot of backlash from the community and donors, not everyone is going to agree with it, but that’s likely what they’re going to do.

[SW_Mustang]

I don’t think anyone is making light of AD’s issues with PTSD, or that it has led to his alcohol dependency. I think there’s a disconnect between that and getting behind the wheel of a car though… it doesn’t excuse it or make it any less of a f**k up. He publicly embarrassed his employer and thank god that’s all he did. If you’ve ever spent any time with AD, you know he’s a great guy… both of these things can still be true.

None of us are worthy of throwing stones, but it does put UCO in a tough spot… he’s a representative of the school in a position of and influence and authority over student athletes. If we embarrassed our employer, how would that go? It’s like the fools that do or say something stupid, caught on someone’s camera phone and “made famous” online… it almost always ends with their employer having to make a tough decision. It’s not about anchors or whether or not coaching is a saving grace from UCO’s perspective… Let’s just be honest, if the Bronchos were 5-7 last year, he’d already be gone. As bad as it could’ve been, this seems to be the wake up call that was needed for AD to seek help and UCO is obviously supporting AD in getting that. If they’re able to move past the embarrassment without a lot of backlash from the community and donors, not everyone is going to agree with it, but that’s likely what they’re going to do.

Totally agree - nobody was making light of the PTSD, but I got the sense that some felt they needed to downplay coach's actions otherwise they would be invalidating the PTSD. I just wanted to throw out there that two things can be true at once and one doesn't need to "pick-a-side" (and frankly shouldn't in this situation).

Personally, I sincerely hope coach gets the help he needs and that he can UCO can find an opportunity for a second chance, with the understanding that drunk driving isn't an "oopsie" that a grown adult makes and there will be no third chance. I probably made it sound like I was advocating for his immediate removal and I wasn't, just speaking broadly to highlight how people lose their jobs for far less than drunk driving besides needing said job for actual survival. Granted I don't have a dog in this fight, nor do I have the moral high ground or authority to dictate what should happen. All just an opinion.

[briansperry1998]

I'm curious how much a DUI costs today with fines, court costs, attorney fees?

[GreenwoodBearcat]

Myself, 2 City Officers, and an off-duty Trooper were the first to arrive. My first "big call" after getting out of the Army.

It was a mess. I wonder how many young Spoofhounds that were there that night and witnessed it are going through what AD is going through....

A bunch. Everyone that was at that party.

[Wallst]

I'm curious how much a DUI costs today with fines, court costs, attorney fees?

Roughly 10k. Depends on how flagrant the alcohol content is fairly sure greater than .16 makes it a felony DUI at least here in Missouri. Depends on if it 1st offense etc. Judging from his talking and appearance and size I would wager he was much higher than .08.

[Bearcat06]

A bunch. Everyone that was at that party.

I'm sure correct.....hopefully, others will get needed treatment after hearing about AD.

Sad thing is that is brother ended up working as a Deputy in Sarpy County, Nebraska and got killed in a off duty motorcycle accident.

Both those incidents took a hell of a toll on thier mother.

[HookemHerd]

Get treatment. How many lives could have been at risk. He had expired tags for a year. Don’t let this man drive. If they want to let him coach, fine. Don’t let him drive.

Mental health problems I understand until it affects others. Your trauma is not an excuse to put others at risk

[Wallst]

Dorrels tags were over a year expired?

[GorillaTeacher]

Dorrels tags were over a year expired?

As the officer said in the video.

[Wallst]

As the officer said in the video.

Thanks. Video wouldn't load where I was.

At some point PTSD ceases to be an excuse and the guy paints himself into a corner as a vehicle moron.