A week after accusations of head football coach Joe Bernard drinking on the team bus, one member of the team, the Fairfield athletic department and community respond in defense of the first-year head coach.
Junior Chris Hook told The Mirror last week that Bernard is “always drinking on the bus on the way home from away games.” Hook was suspended from the team indefinitely prior to making this statement for violating team rules, according to Bernard.
“I deny the allegation made by Hook,” Bernard said.
Hook, a member of Fairfield’s offensive unit, has never rode on the same bus as Bernard, since Bernard rides with the defensive players on another bus. However, members of the defensive unit that are on the same bus as Bernard, who wish to remain anonymous, have confirmed that Hook’s accusations are true.
Director of Athletics Eugene Doris says that until one player comes to the athletic administration with this information, nothing can be done at this time.
“There’s nothing I can do at this time. Right now it’s just an accusation,” Doris said. “I’m not saying the investigation is over, but until a player or someone comes forward—the accusation is unsubstantiated and is just that—an accusation.”
Doris discredits Hook’s accusation and believes Bernard hasn’t committed any wrongdoing while representing Fairfield University.
“I went to him [Bernard] and he told me on the record that the accusation wasn’t true,” Doris said. “He’s been honest and upfront about his DUI arrest—I have no reason not to believe him.”
Senior members of the defensive unit (Joe Roberts, Scott Gelber, Mike Duggan, John Barone, Jeremiah Jefferson, Don Milligan and Mike Corello) have signed the below statement in support of their head coach and defensive coordinator.
“As members of the Fairfield University football team and the class of ’02, we have traveled to and from away competitions with head coach Joe Bernard since ’98 and have never seen nor heard of him drinking alcoholic beverages on our bus trips. As the defensive coordinator and head coach of the university’s football team, we have witnessed head coach Bernard conduct himself and the team in the most professional manner possible. As members of the Fairfield University defensive unit we have all signed in support of coach Joseph Bernard.”
Most Fairfield students believe some form of investigation needs to be taken to determine the validity of the accusation with appropriate action to follow.
“I think they should determine if the students’ remarks are true, and from there, along with the DUI charge, decide whether his past actions hindered his ability to do his job enough to fire him,” said Emily Mis ’05.
Frank Marx ’04 said, “Action should be taken of a disciplinary nature, but I do not believe the actions should cost him his position since it was his first known offense.”
Kim Santora ’03, agrees that Bernard should not be terminated as Fairfield’s coach. “I don’t think he should be fired,” Santora said. “I think the whole story is very disappointing. His actions didn’t just affect himself—they were a reflection of the entire team and the university as well.”
Tom Hansbury ’04, who is a member of Fairfield’s swim team, says that if an athlete was found drinking on a road trip that player would immediately face a punishment and the same should hold true for a coach.
“If we aren’t permitted to drink, then the coaches aren’t either,” Hansbury said. “If the accusation is true, I can’t see how a coach can enforce such a rule if they are drinking themselves.”
Joe Roberts, a member of the senior defensive unit in support of the coach, says that Bernard’s DUI was an unfortunate incident and its time to move forward.
“Coach has been honest with his players,” Roberts said. “The team has accepted that everyone makes mistakes—and coach’s DUI was a mistake. I don’t think this incident will have any affect on Coach Bernard’s ability to coach this team next year.”
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