Today’s newsletter is a mailbag! You can send in mailbag submissions by replying to any newsletter in your inbox (that will send an email directly to me), or you can always use this contact button:
Editor’s note: Some questions have been edited for brevity.
Today’s mailbag topics include:
Thoughts on the differences in much of the reporting surrounding Arizona State, particularly the stories published this week. Plus, what are my thoughts on how ASU has institutionally handled its investigation?
What options does ASU have if its review determines that a coaching change is necessary?
Will the NCHC release any sort of statement regarding the ASU situation?
Will Northeastern receive road credit in the NPI for all of its road games this season?
Is there any protocol in place if a team carries three goaltenders and loses all three to injury during the season?
Q. Hi Mike, I appreciate you keeping us all up to date on the ASU/Matthew Mayich story from all of the different angles and reports that are out there. I have two questions on that topic, and you can break them into separate questions in the mailbag if that makes it easier. First, what do you think of the conflicting reports? The Athletic and CHN, for example, seem to have much different accounts of what happened. The Athletic makes it seem very punishing. CHN seems to be covering tracks for the coaches. You had some stories at the start of this story, but it seems you have only highlighted other people’s reporting in recent weeks. I am sure you are talking to people, so I am wondering, what do you think of the different information that is out there?
Thanks for the email.
I went into this a little bit the other day, but before I dive deeper, I want to repeat something I wrote earlier this week: At the center of all of this is a 21-year-old who remains hospitalized in a coma, with little chance of recovery. That can’t get lost amid arguments over competing narratives, policies or who bears responsibility.
This might get a little “inside baseball,” but I’m not surprised at all that different versions are being reported by different outlets, and I’ll explain why.
In my own conversations, I’ve had eyewitnesses describe the events completely differently. Some have said the workout was “more of a mental challenge than a physical challenge” and downplayed its severity. Others have said it was one of the most demanding workouts they’ve ever been through.
