SPORTSbyBROOKS has been a forerunner of attacking college football scandals the past several months, from Ohio State to Oregon. How much substance is there to Brooks’ latest crusade, this time targeted at Arizona State and arguably the best defensive player in the nation? Over the weekend, the site’s namesake and proprietor was furiously tweeting about a fight between Sun Devil linebacker Vontaze Burfict and wide receiver Kevin Ozier in which Burfict allegedly waited for then punched Ozier.
Burfict did not participate in ASU’s media day Saturday, which fueled yesterday’s highly charged rumor mill. Anyone who ever witnessed a high school tussle knows the legend that immediately follows a fight is generally far greater than reality. Most scuffles become Ali vs. Frazier by the time they are common knowledge. This one is no exception. Headlines that the SbB report prompted mentioned Burfict KO’ing Ozier (though SBNation leads with a disclaimer that such rumors are only allegations and thus far unsubstantiated). The Arizona Republic‘s ASU beat writer Doug Haller had a far less grim account.
Fights between teammates are not an uncommon occurrence, particular at this time of the year. Players have been off the field four-plus months and have pent up aggression and competitive juices flowing. If the ASU account as told to Haller is closer to the truth than SbB’s, this is something that happens in most camps across the nation. Such matters are dealt with internally and don’t have a spotlight shone on them because they don’t feature a future NFL star and All-American. However, they also don’t feature a notoriously penalized live wire, either.
The great (great in magnitude, not in excellence) coincidence of this news breaking when it did is just a week prior, Sporting News’ Matt Hayes penned a column on Burfict entitled “The Meanest Man in College Football.” On his radio show last week, Petros Papadakis joked he wouldn’t want to be the Sun Devil assigned a room with Burfict at preseason camp — though, Papadakis did also point out the inevitable altercations that arise in said camps.
Such perceptions of Burfict are what make this newsworthy, even if the SbB account is exaggerated. Burfict’s aggression is what makes him an almost unblockable tackling force, but that same aggression has caused problems. Last season, he headbutted an Oregon State opponent to land a brief suspension. He’s drawn numerous penalties for his temper. Guiding him to a more stable approach is paramount for ASU’s very realistic Pac-12 championship hopes, and in-fighting doesn’t necessarily support Dennis Erickson’s praise of offseason maturation.
This does have to be a cause for concern both among Sun Devil supporters, and especially Sun Devil coaches. Burfict needs to be the on-field leader. But that’s something the staff needs to worry about, it isn’t worthy of the righteous indignation expressed on SbB’s Twitter. Remember, Rule No. 1 of Fight Club…don’t talk about Fight Club.