Ex A&M athletic trainer says coaches forced him to clear “good” players

[cptau 169]

HBO Real Sports is picking on Texas A&M this time.

This former athletic trainer was fired in 2013 and is also suing A&M.

http://collegesports.blog.statesman.com/2016/01/26/former-am-athletic-trainer-says-coaches-forced-him-to-clear-good-players/

Karl Kapchinski, a long-time athletic trainer for Texas A&M who was fired two years ago, says coaches made him clear injured athletes before they were fully healed.

Kapchinski is a part of a segment featured in the season premiere tonight of HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.

In an interview with Jon Frankel, Kapchinski said A&M coaches “put pressure on you to get good players back.”

Kapchinski is a 1979 graduate of A&M. He worked at the university for 31 years. He was fired, abruptly on Nov. 1. 2013. That was the day before A&M played Texas-El Paso at Kyle Field.

Kapchinski filed a lawsuit against A&M a year ago, claiming athletic director Eric Hyman terminated him because of his age. Kapchinski was 56 when he was fired. Hyman resigned from A&M earlier this month.

Kapchinski was named Division 1 College Athletic Trainer of the Year in 2005 by the National Athletic Trainer’s Association and was inducted into the Southwest Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame in 2014.

Here’s a transcript provided by HBO of Kapchinski’s interview.

JON FRANKEL: “Did you ever feel pressured to return a player to the field before you thought he was ready,”

KARL KAPCHINSKI: “I would say yes.”

KARL KAPCHINSKI: “While we’re considered part of the medical staff in a lotta cases, the head coach just sees you basically, in some cases, being subservient to his situation.”

JON FRANKEL: “Did you ever have a coach say to you, ‘I need this kid back?’”

KARL KAPCHINSKI: “Yes. They would always, you know, tend to put pressure on you to get good players back.”

JON FRANKEL: “Is there anybody you put back into a game and you said, ‘Mm, I wish I hadn’t done that?’”

KARL KAPCHINSKI: “Yes.”

JON FRANKEL: “Because it went against your better judgment, or because it resulted in the player limpin’ off the field two plays later?”

KARL KAPCHINSKI: “Because it resulted in the player having a subsequent injury.”

JON FRANKEL: “If you said to a coach, ‘Coach, I know we said it was gonna be four weeks, but we need an extra week.’ What would the coach say to you?”

KARL KAPCHINSKI: “You would be challenged on your character, your credentials. You know, maybe you were the wrong guy for the job.”

KARL KAPCHINSKI: “There’s been a lotta great quality athletic trainers that have subsequently lost their jobs because they stood up for the players or were doing the right thing.”

[AU64 10,122]

Happened under Sumlin...sounds like the aggies have some problems in their football program other than just keeping QBs. .

[lionheartkc 6,150]

Happened under Sumlin...sounds like the aggies have some problems in their football program other than just keeping QBs. .

Hopefully the press hounds will focus on them for a few years and stop looking for any reason to go after Auburn, while Gus rights the ship.

[Tiger 8,930]

I think most schools have some of this going on to some extent. Comparable to Chiz not keeping kids out for repeatedly failing drug tests because they were an important piece to the playing rotation

You never hear a coach keeping his job for a sub-par season because his ethical values were off the chart. They NEED the best players out there and although I don't agree with these practices I understand from a coach's perspective what his thought process would be to pressure staff to clear a kid.

[I_M4_AU 9,773]

I recall the T A&M game in 2013 where Johnny Football injured his shoulder, went out of the game for a series or two and miraculously returned to the game. I wonder if this incident had any bearing on the firing of the trainer?

[AU64 10,122]

I think most schools have some of this going on to some extent. Comparable to Chiz not keeping kids out for repeatedly failing drug tests because they were an important piece to the playing rotation

You never hear a coach keeping his job for a sub-par season because his ethical values were off the chart. They NEED the best players out there and although I don't agree with these practices I understand from a coach's perspective what his thought process would be to pressure staff to clear a kid.

There should be a line somewhere....players with behavior or discipline issues versus injured players. Lots of coaches have shaky value systems when it comes to discipline and I don't think I've ever heard about Chiz ignoring drug issues but Gus has been pretty loose on that kind of thing.

The TAMU issue involved playing an injured player....could have been Manziel ....but I expect during any given football season there are decisions to make about playing injured players.....for example, this season I never felt good about seeing SW limping around and thinking how vulnerable it made him to other serious injury. Just saying that i watch a lot of football and I can't recall seeing a QB playing in his condition.

[lionheartkc 6,150]

...for example, this season I never felt good about seeing SW limping around and thinking how vulnerable it made him to other serious injury. Just saying that i watch a lot of football and I can't recall seeing a QB playing in his condition.

You probably would have hated to see Cam's MRIs after 2010.

[AU64 10,122]

...for example, this season I never felt good about seeing SW limping around and thinking how vulnerable it made him to other serious injury. Just saying that i watch a lot of football and I can't recall seeing a QB playing in his condition.

You probably would have hated to see Cam's MRIs after 2010.

Probably not but Cam never looked like he could not protect himself....and he's a big dude too. Was just noting that I had never seen a QB as gimpy as SW who was actually started or put into a game in that condition. JMO but he was pretty lucky that some big DE or LB did not do damage to his arm or shoulder with a big tackle.

I still think Gus took a bid risk playing him. Glad he made it through and hope he's fully recovered before he's needed on the field again.

[Tiger 8,930]

I think most schools have some of this going on to some extent. Comparable to Chiz not keeping kids out for repeatedly failing drug tests because they were an important piece to the playing rotation

You never hear a coach keeping his job for a sub-par season because his ethical values were off the chart. They NEED the best players out there and although I don't agree with these practices I understand from a coach's perspective what his thought process would be to pressure staff to clear a kid.

There should be a line somewhere....players with behavior or discipline issues versus injured players. Lots of coaches have shaky value systems when it comes to discipline and I don't think I've ever heard about Chiz ignoring drug issues but Gus has been pretty loose on that kind of thing.

The TAMU issue involved playing an injured player....could have been Manziel ....but I expect during any given football season there are decisions to make about playing injured players.....for example, this season I never felt good about seeing SW limping around and thinking how vulnerable it made him to other serious injury. Just saying that i watch a lot of football and I can't recall seeing a QB playing in his condition.

I'll try to find the article where it was mentioned. This one dives deep into the overall issue of Chizik's reign but is not the exact article I remember where someone insinuated that they would be suspended because "they aren't Michael Dyer". Interesting read imo and glad Chizik's gone lol

http://espn.go.com/espn/e60/story/_/id/9133824/a-darker-side-downfall-auburn-tigers-espn-magazine

[AU64 10,122]

I think most schools have some of this going on to some extent. Comparable to Chiz not keeping kids out for repeatedly failing drug tests because they were an important piece to the playing rotation

You never hear a coach keeping his job for a sub-par season because his ethical values were off the chart. They NEED the best players out there and although I don't agree with these practices I understand from a coach's perspective what his thought process would be to pressure staff to clear a kid.

There should be a line somewhere....players with behavior or discipline issues versus injured players. Lots of coaches have shaky value systems when it comes to discipline and I don't think I've ever heard about Chiz ignoring drug issues but Gus has been pretty loose on that kind of thing.

The TAMU issue involved playing an injured player....could have been Manziel ....but I expect during any given football season there are decisions to make about playing injured players.....for example, this season I never felt good about seeing SW limping around and thinking how vulnerable it made him to other serious injury. Just saying that i watch a lot of football and I can't recall seeing a QB playing in his condition.

I'll try to find the article where it was mentioned. This one dives deep into the overall issue of Chizik's reign but is not the exact article I remember where someone insinuated that they would be suspended because "they aren't Michael Dyer". Interesting read imo and glad Chizik's gone lol

http://espn.go.com/e...s-espn-magazine

Not a happy piece to read but I do recall that Dyer was Gus's guy.....even was willing to take him to Arky State after all the issues came to light. Those were bad days and I'm glad they are behind us...but think this issues were deeper than just Chiz and I worry about Gus now...the Duke "adventure" for example.... but those things are not unusual these days at lots of schools.

The pressures to win are huge and even the most well intentioned coaches tolerate things they hope will not come back to bite them.

[Tiger 8,930]

I think most schools have some of this going on to some extent. Comparable to Chiz not keeping kids out for repeatedly failing drug tests because they were an important piece to the playing rotation

You never hear a coach keeping his job for a sub-par season because his ethical values were off the chart. They NEED the best players out there and although I don't agree with these practices I understand from a coach's perspective what his thought process would be to pressure staff to clear a kid.

There should be a line somewhere....players with behavior or discipline issues versus injured players. Lots of coaches have shaky value systems when it comes to discipline and I don't think I've ever heard about Chiz ignoring drug issues but Gus has been pretty loose on that kind of thing.

The TAMU issue involved playing an injured player....could have been Manziel ....but I expect during any given football season there are decisions to make about playing injured players.....for example, this season I never felt good about seeing SW limping around and thinking how vulnerable it made him to other serious injury. Just saying that i watch a lot of football and I can't recall seeing a QB playing in his condition.

I'll try to find the article where it was mentioned. This one dives deep into the overall issue of Chizik's reign but is not the exact article I remember where someone insinuated that they would be suspended because "they aren't Michael Dyer". Interesting read imo and glad Chizik's gone lol

http://espn.go.com/e...s-espn-magazine

Not a happy piece to read but I do recall that Dyer was Gus's guy.....even was willing to take him to Arky State after all the issues came to light. Those were bad days and I'm glad they are behind us...but think this issues were deeper than just Chiz and I worry about Gus now...the Duke "adventure" for example.... but those things are not unusual these days at lots of schools.

The pressures to win are huge and even the most well intentioned coaches tolerate things they hope will not come back to bite them.

Yup I'm in the same boat as you in terms of being concerned with Gus and character assessment. The MD thing is inexcusable IMO and Duke basically had a red flag sticking out of his forehead that we knew about before he even committed to AU.

[lionheartkc 6,150]

Not a happy piece to read but I do recall that Dyer was Gus's guy.....even was willing to take him to Arky State after all the issues came to light. Those were bad days and I'm glad they are behind us...but think this issues were deeper than just Chiz and I worry about Gus now...the Duke "adventure" for example.... but those things are not unusual these days at lots of schools.

The pressures to win are huge and even the most well intentioned coaches tolerate things they hope will not come back to bite them.

Yup I'm in the same boat as you in terms of being concerned with Gus and character assessment. The MD thing is inexcusable IMO and Duke basically had a red flag sticking out of his forehead that we knew about before he even committed to AU.

Per several inside accounts, the Duke issue wasn't Gus. He apparently wanted him gone in the Summer, but Garner and Craig talked him into giving him one more chance.

As for Dyer, I think Gus thought that if he could get him back to Arkansas, where he was near family and away from the bad network he had created in Auburn, he could get straightened out. One strike, and he was out at Arkansas State.

I think Gus's discipline track record speaks for itself. He usually has some sort of punishment for stupid act #1, and then it's a second strike and your gone. He also doesn't seem to tolerate divas. I can name A LOT of SEC schools who have had star players do far worse than anyone at Auburn and not even get a slap on the wrist.

The thing that annoys me about that article is, all along, the guys knew what they were doing was wrong. They knew it was hurting them as players and it was effecting others, yet the tone of the article is that Auburn should have done more. That's crap. If you can't do what's right just because you aren't getting punished for doing what is wrong, that's on you. Auburn was stuck between a rock and a hard place, because if they had kicked someone off the team before they could officially ban Spice, they would have gotten sued. What you have here is a glaring example of how the millennial generation has lost the ability to take care of themselves, and why I dread what this country is going to look like when they are in charge.

[AU64 10,122]

Not a happy piece to read but I do recall that Dyer was Gus's guy.....even was willing to take him to Arky State after all the issues came to light. Those were bad days and I'm glad they are behind us...but think this issues were deeper than just Chiz and I worry about Gus now...the Duke "adventure" for example.... but those things are not unusual these days at lots of schools.

The pressures to win are huge and even the most well intentioned coaches tolerate things they hope will not come back to bite them.

Yup I'm in the same boat as you in terms of being concerned with Gus and character assessment. The MD thing is inexcusable IMO and Duke basically had a red flag sticking out of his forehead that we knew about before he even committed to AU.

Per several inside accounts, the Duke issue wasn't Gus. He apparently wanted him gone in the Summer, but Garner and Craig talked him into giving him one more chance.

As for Dyer, I think Gus thought that if he could get him back to Arkansas, where he was near family and away from the bad network he had created in Auburn, he could get straightened out. One strike, and he was out at Arkansas State.

I think Gus's discipline track record speaks for itself. He usually has some sort of punishment for stupid act #1, and then it's a second strike and your gone. He also doesn't seem to tolerate divas. I can name A LOT of SEC schools who have had star players do far worse than anyone at Auburn and not even get a slap on the wrist.

The thing that annoys me about that article is, all along, the guys knew what they were doing was wrong. They knew it was hurting them as players and it was effecting others, yet the tone of the article is that Auburn should have done more. That's crap. If you can't do what's right just because you aren't getting punished for doing what is wrong, that's on you. Auburn was stuck between a rock and a hard place, because if they had kicked someone off the team before they could officially ban Spice, they would have gotten sued. What you have here is a glaring example of how the millennial generation has lost the ability to take care of themselves, and why I dread what this country is going to look like when they are in charge.

Good commentary about the issues...but I have to say that it's likely that most of us have no idea how many strikes it actually takes before a player is told to hit the road. Things have mostly settled down lately and that's good news...

[AUwent 3,972]

^^Why is it always "kids these days?" You don't think previous generations have done stupid things as well?

[AU64 10,122]

^^Why is it always "kids these days?" You don't think previous generations have done stupid things as well?

Probably so but seems there are many more "stupid" things to do these days...and more enticements to make them look cool or attractive....drugs of every type,guns, ....you name it. Things that ruin their lives...or worse yet....get them in jail or killed.

JMO but I'm glad that my kids are long ago grown up and out on their own. I would hate to be raising teenagers "these days". My prayers to anyone with that responsibility.....these days.

[auburnphan 6,050]

I think most schools have some of this going on to some extent. Comparable to Chiz not keeping kids out for repeatedly failing drug tests because they were an important piece to the playing rotation

You never hear a coach keeping his job for a sub-par season because his ethical values were off the chart. They NEED the best players out there and although I don't agree with these practices I understand from a coach's perspective what his thought process would be to pressure staff to clear a kid.

There should be a line somewhere....players with behavior or discipline issues versus injured players. Lots of coaches have shaky value systems when it comes to discipline and I don't think I've ever heard about Chiz ignoring drug issues but Gus has been pretty loose on that kind of thing.

The TAMU issue involved playing an injured player....could have been Manziel ....but I expect during any given football season there are decisions to make about playing injured players.....for example, this season I never felt good about seeing SW limping around and thinking how vulnerable it made him to other serious injury. Just saying that i watch a lot of football and I can't recall seeing a QB playing in his condition.

Really, what football do you watch? Cuz it happens everywhere

[AU64 10,122]

I think most schools have some of this going on to some extent. Comparable to Chiz not keeping kids out for repeatedly failing drug tests because they were an important piece to the playing rotation

You never hear a coach keeping his job for a sub-par season because his ethical values were off the chart. They NEED the best players out there and although I don't agree with these practices I understand from a coach's perspective what his thought process would be to pressure staff to clear a kid.

There should be a line somewhere....players with behavior or discipline issues versus injured players. Lots of coaches have shaky value systems when it comes to discipline and I don't think I've ever heard about Chiz ignoring drug issues but Gus has been pretty loose on that kind of thing.

The TAMU issue involved playing an injured player....could have been Manziel ....but I expect during any given football season there are decisions to make about playing injured players.....for example, this season I never felt good about seeing SW limping around and thinking how vulnerable it made him to other serious injury. Just saying that i watch a lot of football and I can't recall seeing a QB playing in his condition.

Really, what football do you watch? Cuz it happens everywhere

I watch about every game that is televised. I know guys play when hurt.....but ...and this is JMO...the SW situation was different in that the guy could barely run and AU had a healthy back-up and yet the coaches sent him out to play for several games. And with time to do so, they did not come up with a serviceable back-up for the back-up from a group of former HS quarterbacks.

It was not important that he wanted to play...just saying that IN MY OPINION..a promising freshman QB had his football career needlessly put at risk for no reason....and this was done for several games...and was not a spur of the moment thing to get through a few plays or something. And I guess I don't care too much what is done elsewhere.....but I do have an opinion about how AU treats players.

[PowerOfDixieland 3,238]

HBO Real Sports? We're really giving those clowns credence in this discussion?

[selias 2,398]

...for example, this season I never felt good about seeing SW limping around and thinking how vulnerable it made him to other serious injury. Just saying that i watch a lot of football and I can't recall seeing a QB playing in his condition.

You probably would have hated to see Cam's MRIs after 2010.

I figured Cam was hurt in the BCSNCG but he was playing hurt all year with MRIs that show that?

[lionheartkc 6,150]

^^Why is it always "kids these days?" You don't think previous generations have done stupid things as well?

It has a lot to do with entitlement, trophies for participation, political correctness, associating a swift swat on the butt with child abuse, etc. The current generation, has, for the most part, been coddled, and they don't know how to take care of themselves. Believe me, I have first hand knowledge through my fiance who is deeply involved with Student Life at a college, and her Aunt and Uncle who have similar connections to a University. The huge majority of the kids they encounter have no moral compass and very little knowledge of how to deal with life. If you ever interact with some online, you may run across #Adulting. That's their little code for complaining about how hard it is to be a grown-up.

Here's a story for you. My fiance went out of her way to make inroads for a family friend's daughter to go to her college. The girl got in. By all accounts, through her interaction with the girl and everythig she was told by the girls mother, she was driven and lived on the straight and narrow. By the end of the first semester, she was kicked out of the dorms for a combination of smoking weed and threatening other students. She begged and pleaded and got a second chance. Two weeks into second semester, she's kicked out of school for alcohol (it's a non-smoking, dry campus, by the way). She was also known for having 2-3 guys in her private room, 3-4 times a week.

Now, here's the fun part. Her mother still swears that she doesn't drink or do drugs and that she's never had sex. Not kidding. And the girl... she will get in your face and tell you that, even though she's 18, she can drink if she wants to and she can also smoke weed if she wants to, even though it's still illegal in the state. She's an "adult", and no one should be able to tell her what she can and can't do, as far as she's concerned.

The really bad part is, she's not an anomaly. My fiance has to deal with this kind of thing with more than 25% of her students every year. And more than 75% have some sort of issues revolving not being able to handle life. What's worse is her college is EASY... they coddle their students compared to a place like Auburn, where you're basically on your own.

[lionheartkc 6,150]

...for example, this season I never felt good about seeing SW limping around and thinking how vulnerable it made him to other serious injury. Just saying that i watch a lot of football and I can't recall seeing a QB playing in his condition.

You probably would have hated to see Cam's MRIs after 2010.

I figured Cam was hurt in the BCSNCG but he was playing hurt all year with MRIs that show that?

Not ALL year, as I recall, but he had several nagging injuries that happened throughout the year. The worst being the back injury that slowed him down in the championship game.

[auburnphan 6,050]

I think most schools have some of this going on to some extent. Comparable to Chiz not keeping kids out for repeatedly failing drug tests because they were an important piece to the playing rotation

You never hear a coach keeping his job for a sub-par season because his ethical values were off the chart. They NEED the best players out there and although I don't agree with these practices I understand from a coach's perspective what his thought process would be to pressure staff to clear a kid.

There should be a line somewhere....players with behavior or discipline issues versus injured players. Lots of coaches have shaky value systems when it comes to discipline and I don't think I've ever heard about Chiz ignoring drug issues but Gus has been pretty loose on that kind of thing.

The TAMU issue involved playing an injured player....could have been Manziel ....but I expect during any given football season there are decisions to make about playing injured players.....for example, this season I never felt good about seeing SW limping around and thinking how vulnerable it made him to other serious injury. Just saying that i watch a lot of football and I can't recall seeing a QB playing in his condition.

Really, what football do you watch? Cuz it happens everywhere

I watch about every game that is televised. I know guys play when hurt.....but ...and this is JMO...the SW situation was different in that the guy could barely run and AU had a healthy back-up and yet the coaches sent him out to play for several games. And with time to do so, they did not come up with a serviceable back-up for the back-up from a group of former HS quarterbacks.

It was not important that he wanted to play...just saying that IN MY OPINION..a promising freshman QB had his football career needlessly put at risk for no reason....and this was done for several games...and was not a spur of the moment thing to get through a few plays or something. And I guess I don't care too much what is done elsewhere.....but I do have an opinion about how AU treats players.

Alright, I understand where you are coming from. Thanks

[AU64 10,122]

I think most schools have some of this going on to some extent. Comparable to Chiz not keeping kids out for repeatedly failing drug tests because they were an important piece to the playing rotation

You never hear a coach keeping his job for a sub-par season because his ethical values were off the chart. They NEED the best players out there and although I don't agree with these practices I understand from a coach's perspective what his thought process would be to pressure staff to clear a kid.

There should be a line somewhere....players with behavior or discipline issues versus injured players. Lots of coaches have shaky value systems when it comes to discipline and I don't think I've ever heard about Chiz ignoring drug issues but Gus has been pretty loose on that kind of thing.

The TAMU issue involved playing an injured player....could have been Manziel ....but I expect during any given football season there are decisions to make about playing injured players.....for example, this season I never felt good about seeing SW limping around and thinking how vulnerable it made him to other serious injury. Just saying that i watch a lot of football and I can't recall seeing a QB playing in his condition.

Really, what football do you watch? Cuz it happens everywhere

I watch about every game that is televised. I know guys play when hurt.....but ...and this is JMO...the SW situation was different in that the guy could barely run and AU had a healthy back-up and yet the coaches sent him out to play for several games. And with time to do so, they did not come up with a serviceable back-up for the back-up from a group of former HS quarterbacks.

It was not important that he wanted to play...just saying that IN MY OPINION..a promising freshman QB had his football career needlessly put at risk for no reason....and this was done for several games...and was not a spur of the moment thing to get through a few plays or something. And I guess I don't care too much what is done elsewhere.....but I do have an opinion about how AU treats players.

Alright, I understand where you are coming from. Thanks

sorry to come on so strong phan...but this has been eating at me since November.....nothing bad happened so guess I should let it go....

[FoundationEagle 637]

^^Why is it always "kids these days?" You don't think previous generations have done stupid things as well?

I did stupid things. Got my butt in a lot of trouble for it too. Kids these days aren't the problem, they are a symptom. PARENTS these days are the problem.

[Randman5000 4,461]

I think most schools have some of this going on to some extent. Comparable to Chiz not keeping kids out for repeatedly failing drug tests because they were an important piece to the playing rotation

You never hear a coach keeping his job for a sub-par season because his ethical values were off the chart. They NEED the best players out there and although I don't agree with these practices I understand from a coach's perspective what his thought process would be to pressure staff to clear a kid.

There should be a line somewhere....players with behavior or discipline issues versus injured players. Lots of coaches have shaky value systems when it comes to discipline and I don't think I've ever heard about Chiz ignoring drug issues but Gus has been pretty loose on that kind of thing.

The TAMU issue involved playing an injured player....could have been Manziel ....but I expect during any given football season there are decisions to make about playing injured players.....for example, this season I never felt good about seeing SW limping around and thinking how vulnerable it made him to other serious injury. Just saying that i watch a lot of football and I can't recall seeing a QB playing in his condition.

I'll try to find the article where it was mentioned. This one dives deep into the overall issue of Chizik's reign but is not the exact article I remember where someone insinuated that they would be suspended because "they aren't Michael Dyer". Interesting read imo and glad Chizik's gone lol

http://espn.go.com/e...s-espn-magazine

Not a happy piece to read but I do recall that Dyer was Gus's guy.....even was willing to take him to Arky State after all the issues came to light. Those were bad days and I'm glad they are behind us...but think this issues were deeper than just Chiz and I worry about Gus now...the Duke "adventure" for example.... but those things are not unusual these days at lots of schools.

The pressures to win are huge and even the most well intentioned coaches tolerate things they hope will not come back to bite them.

Yup I'm in the same boat as you in terms of being concerned with Gus and character assessment. The MD thing is inexcusable IMO and Duke basically had a red flag sticking out of his forehead that we knew about before he even committed to AU.

Nick and Cam worked out? A few others didn't. Plenty of opportunity to do so though.

He's booted guys as well when he's needed to.