I don't agree with the notion that yelling at a kid or athlete will make him tough, or playing football will make men out of them. Hogwash! That's that neanderthal, machismo crap.
There is more than one way to get a message across to athletes.
My high school baseball coach was a Chicago cop. You would think this cat would be the meanest S.O.B. on the planet, that he would be a drill sergeant. He wasn't. Sure, he got on us like most coaches do, but he wasn't anything like Sean Woods.
And we were one of the more successful schools in the city.
It was ironic that the first two black head coaches to reach the Super Bowl (Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith) had exactly the same demeanor. Reserved and laid back. Not the typical image we all have for pro football coaches, right? Amazing that it could even be possible!
And I don't think kids being coddled is anything new. Athletes, at least the really good ones, have always been coddled and received special treatment due to their unique athletic ability, and what that athletic ability could do for their parents, schools and communities at-large.
The way we salivate during recruiting season, or when national signing day is right around the corner, would make any young athlete head grow nine sizes. So, were all responsible for what we don't like. I, on the other hand, am meh about it because these collegiate coaches have way more power than the athletes do anyway thanks to the NCAA.