The boozing coach

Earlier this week the head coach of the Iowa State men's basketball program Larry Eustachy was suspended by the Iowa State athletic department. The suspension follows allegations of questionable behavior.

The coach was photographed holding a beer and kissing a co-ed during a late night party at a Columbia, Mo. on Jan. 22 following his team's loss to the University of Missouri. The photo was published in last Monday's edition of the Des Moines Register.

Apparently Eustachy has made a point to party it up with the college crowd. Eustachy's appearance at the University of Missouri party was not his first or last at a college party. Eustachy has also been spotted at a party hosted by a Kansas State fraternity. Eustachy has most likely hit all of the hot party spots in the Big 12 Conference.

Eustachy should not be suspended. He should be canned faster than the domestic brew he was holding in the photograph. There is no place in college athletics, or coaching in general, for someone like Eustachy.

Just the fact that Eustachy was at the party shows a lack of judgment on his part. Even if he is not partaking in the frat festivities, he has no place being on the premises. If the 47-year-old is going through a mid-life crisis, he should consider buying a convertible or bleaching his hair rather than binge drinking with the students he is supposed to be a role model for.

The fact he is drinking is not the point. Obviously it is a stressful position and he may want a beverage after his team gets worked over by the University of Missouri. If he wants to sit back and enjoy a cocktail he should do so in an environment that is not filled with college students and possibly his players.

Eustachy claims he has a problem with alcohol. The abundance of booze has obviously made him a bit stupid. If he does indeed have a problem with the fermented drinks, the last place he should be is a party. He should be at an AA meeting, or better yet, preparing a gameplan so his team does not get smoked the next time they play Missouri.

Eustachy has lost his credibility as a coach and recruiter. If Iowa State decides to keep the coach on the payroll, they too will lose their credibility. Steve Alford and the Iowa Hawkeyes will be laughing all the way to the NCAA tournament as they sign every major prospect coming out of Iowa high schools. Iowa State will be attracting only the finest players from the local fraternity teams.

If your son was considering Iowa State, would you want Eustachy to be his role model for the next four years? Iowa State needs a coach that can teach the fundamentals of basketball, not the basics of beer bonging.