From the Rose Law Group Growlery (a place of refuge or retreat when one is out of sorts or in ill-humor)
By Phil Riske, managing editor
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump last week growled if he were a Democrat, he would get Secret Service protection. There are two reasons The Donald is not getting government body guards: That protection is only provided for candidates and their spouses within 120 days of the General Election; and, he is not a football coach.
You’ve seen those troopers and other law enforcement officers escorting college football coaches onto and off the field of play as though their opposing schools had terrorism in mind for the leader of the enemy team.
This is only one example of how collegiate football (and the sports world in general) has gotten too big for its britches, and how a community’s status often is graded by its football team.
Status is the key work when it comes to escort services for college football coaches.
Sure, there’s a need for having security personnel on the field to protect coaches, players and referees from, at the very least, flying hot dogs or beer cans.
Famed Alabama coach Bear Bryant was reportedly the first football coach to be provide security escorts, and that sparked the trend we see today.
There have been arguments as to who should provide the escort services — the state, the city or campus police.
Like I said, it’s a status thing.
State police or troopers, which you often see in the South, are higher on the prestige food chain that municipal or university officers.
“If the escort was provided by campus police, it would be solely for protection. If it’s state police, it’s a kind of honor guard,” wrote Tim Dees, a retired Reno cop and criminal justice professor.
So, Donald, you could buy the New York Giants or Jets, name yourself the head coach and have that armed entourage you desire.
UPDATE: On Oct. 18, The Hill reported Trump and Ben Carson might receive Secret Service protection because of threats against presidential candidates from ISIS.
