This is a special note to the soccer players who felt their only recourse was to lob accusations anonymously at coach Ralph Ferrigno in The Tufts Daily ("Players accuse coach Ferrigno of exploitation," Nov. 18).
Stand up and name yourselves. If the matter is personal or concerns the team only, then I suggest you handle it in the proper forum. Hiding behind anonymity in this case suggests, among other things, that you can't stand by your words because of your credibility.
If you're still worried about your playing time, you are totally missing the point: you have slandered your coach publicly and now do not even deserve to wear the uniform. I watched and played with the team a couple of times this year, and they cannot suggest they would do better with another coach. Their 8-6-1 record seems pretty generous to me.
As for you former players who spoke against Ferrigno anonymously, shame on you. What exactly are you hiding? If your game eroded while at Tufts or you feel the squad didn't achieve what its talent could have, you need to look in the mirror.
If anyone thinks Ferrigno works at Tufts for his own personal enrichment, you are missing the obvious fact that coaches in Div. III college soccer aren't in this for the money. You do not understand what has motivated this man for the last 15 years. He's used his camps to promote Tufts Soccer, yet everyone fails to recognize that fact.
Ralph has stoically handled incredible adversity and worked very hard to realize his oft stated goal: to make Tufts men's soccer the best team and program in New England. Cynics have called that vanity, but I would prefer to play for an ambitious coach, and I'm very happy we won Ferrigno the New England Championship he deserved in 1994.
It's a mystery to me why the players criticize Ferrigno for purchasing a computer for team use, then acknowledge that the computer was used for reviewing video as a team. Sure, we could all use an LCD projector, but grow up and make the best of things. I wish we'd had the ability to review more tape while we were at Tufts (it would've saved us from having to watch the 1989 FA Cup Final repeatedly). In addition to reviewing video, Ralph used the iBook to create a wonderful video that generated incredible alumni interest in the program. The alumni game this year was attended by over 30 former players, many who donated to the University as a result of the experience.
Former players reading this may know that I also had a difficult time with Ferrigno during my four years on the squad. Like many players, I had issues with playing time, discipline and managerial style. Like many players, I had to sit on the bench for the first time in my life during my junior season. I had trouble with the decision and how it was communicated to me, and I channeled my frustration into negatively judging Ferrigno's every move.
Since graduation, I've often regretted the way I responded to riding the bench that year. I almost ran myself out of the program that season, but I discussed my feelings with Ferrigno in several private meetings, and I learned quite a bit about him. He cares deeply for his players. He wants the best for the program, but he does not (nor should he have to) deal with petulant, arrogant, immature players. The problems I had weren't because of Ferrigno; they were because of me.
I hope that these anonymous players will do some self-reflection and come to the same conclusion that I did. It's a tough game, Tufts is a tough place to play and I've seen a lot of Tufts players become paranoid about their game. It's really the player's problem if he can't emotionally cope with the situation. Ferrigno's is an English style, with which many players are not familiar. It requires the players to take responsibility and make things happen on and off the pitch.
If the players are waiting for Ferrigno to magically intervene and make them feel better, they need to understand that it's really each teammate's own responsibility. Ferrigno is available and approachable to discuss such matters. I know that for certain, as I did so several times during my career. Ferrigno's style made me a better person and a better player, and I've never adequately thanked him for that.
Thanks Ralph. You have had tremendous success at Tufts, and it has been well deserved. Normally, I'd suggest throwing this whole squad out and starting anew, but I know there are some really good lads there that still deserve to wear the sky blue.
