Samuels non-suspension disappointing

By: Curtis Kitchen, 810whb.com senior writer

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – There really isn’t a way to sugarcoat my thoughts on the announcement that Kansas State head coach Frank Martin will not officially suspend Jamar Samuels for kicking a player in the head.

No official suspension is wrong.

Look, I wouldn’t want to be Jamar Samuels this week.  I’m sure he’s become quite familiar with the tall, slightly off-center stair columns inside Bramlage Coliseum* or spent some well-earned extra quality time with strength-and-conditioning guru Scott Greenawalt.

*If you’ve been there, you know what I mean…those things, on the “corners” of the ‘gon specifically, are hard to walk, let alone jog/run.

And, ultimately, we’ll see if Samuels loses any, or all, of the 21 minutes he has averaged through the first five games of the season when the Wildcats play IUPUI in Kansas City this Saturday.

If he does sit the bench for the entirety, then I guess it becomes a moot point.

Sort of, except it doesn’t.

Despite Samuels’ best efforts to downplay the incident as an accident, it wasn’t.  I went back and watched the tape probably 10 times, looking to justify or disprove the handful of reasons that have been discussed in various circles as possible explanations for Samuels’ kick.

Did his foot happen to come up at a wrong time and accidentally make contact with Dayton player Kurt Huelsman’s head?  Well, I guess… if Samuels has a nervous condition that leaves him powerless to stop his right foot from being pulled toward a cranium.

Was Samuels pushed or somehow touched that made him lose balance?  Well, I guess… if you consider Samuels standing over two guys at his feet and then shifting weight to brace himself against the earthquake that struck San Juan and managed to miss everyone else.

Perhaps Samuels was provoked by an earlier battle with Huelsman?  Well, I guess… I mean, that’s at least plausible, but if that’s all it takes to get Samuels to retaliate with such a bush-league, sucker-punch move, oh man, I can’t wait to see what Big 12 teams, players and fans are able to come up with between now and January.

Was it a Sebastian Janikowski leg smash to the skull?   Absolutely not.  But, it was enough to get Huelsman’s attention – and the attention of the officiating crew that assessed a technical foul for the contact after reviewing it.  I’m shocked Samuels wasn’t ejected and howled at the television when he came back in the game.

Personally, I think Samuels probably was provoked in some way.  I know Jamar to some degree having had the past season and a half to talk to him before and after games.  He’s always gracious with his time, and his attitude is top-notch. I do believe him, on the whole, that he isn’t the type of guy to go looking for a cheap shot.

But, that doesn’t mean he didn’t see an opportunity to try and get away with something he wouldn’t normally do.  He did it.  Video caught him.  He should pay for it by sitting a game.

Martin should make that his official stance, and why he isn’t doing so makes little or no sense because all it does is come across publicly as a coach okaying the actions of his player when there is nothing okay about it.

It unnecessarily leaves the door wide open to future criticism, much harsher than mine, on how Martin deals with such incidents.

Had he suspended Samuels, the reaction would be nil.  Most people expected it because every person who watched the game or has the ability to access YouTube saw it.  The action deserves more than something that will be handled internally – no matter how tough the extra workout session(s).

Samuels is someone I enjoy watching play, and he will be a key piece to the Wildcats this season.  However, I will be severely disappointed if he sees one minute against IUPUI on Saturday.


Send your comments to curtiskitchen@810whb.com.  Also, follow him @curtiskitchen on Twitter for real-time reporting on game days and other sports news during the week!