Open Minds, Open Doors

It’s the catch phrase Oregon State has adopted. Open Minds. Open Doors. It’s everywhere, banners, posters, pamphlets and even on some T-shirts. But lately, a portion of Beaver nation hasn’t followed this motto. The Oregon State basketball fans have been stricken with closed minds, closed doors – for about a year now.

For good reason, too. Last season ended with a losing record, the final game was a blow out and there was a mid-season announcement that C.J. Giles, who had been in trouble with the law, was transferring to Oregon State. The fans that were already perturbed during the season became more perturbed-er.

And now, it is reported that Giles is struggling, again.

Last season a lot of people came out and said that Giles is not the right choice. There was another direction this program could go for a big man that played defense. Sure, Sasa Cuic was bad, but no need to get drastic. It was said that Giles would be a blemish on the schools reputation. What happened once, can and will, happen again. Giles couldn’t be trusted.

His track record was less than stellar. He got into trouble with the law, allegedly didn’t follow team rules and was by his own account young and immature. Some people say Oregon State shouldn’t have given someone with that reputation a second chance. They screamed, he hit a girl, he is a criminal. Claiming it sends a bad message to the rest of the country. That leaves this writer more virtually insane than Jason Kay.

Giles’ situation is not condonable but is understandable. Not too many people know what it is like to be a heavily recruited basketball player out of high school. They can’t relate to playing with a big time college program. Giles probably felt like any other person that was young and famous. Invincible.

Someone once told me: Building trust is like building a house; it all starts with a good foundation. I’ll admit. I bit. I trusted. I opened my mind. I built the house and opened the door and so far the only thing I have gotten is a burning paper bag. With unknown contents.

I still have faith in Jay John, I even have trust. Open minds. Open doors. Remember?

But that’s too hard for some people to comprehend. People point to troubled players that have a history of unruly behavior and say They will continue to cause problems and expect the same. Trusting a coach that doesn’t win is always difficult. That is why the news of Giles struggling again isn’t encouraging.

But it wouldn’t be the first recruit that has been brought in under Jay John that didn’t exactly feel good. John recruited Nick DeWitz in similar fashion in the middle of the 2004 season from Iowa. Jim Hancett and Jason Fontenet were also transfers that worked out. Obviously Giles is different, but why not trust Jay John again?

When Coach John says Giles is looking to start over. I trust him. When he says Giles will make the most of his second chance. I trust him. What person wouldn’t make the most of a second chance? Does anyone ever say “Man I messed up; I wish I could do that again, the exact same way?” I know from personal experience, if someone gives you a second chance, you prove that you are the very best regardless of the obstacles placed in front of you.

What gives me this sense of implicit trust? Oregon State’s own school motto: Open Minds, Open Doors. Be open to giving a young man, who has shown interest in turning his life around, the opportunity to get an education by opening the door and allowing him to help a program to get back in the right track.

To the people who fail their arms in disagreement, I have one question: Why should the motto of the athletic program be any different than the motto of the school?