Father assaults coach. Little league fields should be a safe place for kids to play, an escape from all of the challenges that accompany childhood and adolescence. Last week, in my old stomping grounds of Queens, a coach benched an 11-year-old player for his constant use of profanities during batting practice. After the reprimand, the child called his father, who drove to the field with his brother, and proceeded to beat the coach into the hospital. The Bellmore Lightning coach suffered a concussion, neck and back injuries in the assault. Despite being pummeled by the two men, the coach refused to lift his own hands, choosing instead to set an example for his players. On this particular afternoon, the safe haven of the baseball field was compromised and became a threatening environment for a bunch of 11-year-old kids. There is no excuse for that. If this is the type of behavior a father condones, are we really surprised when his kid curses like a sailor? Unfortunately, the child is the one to lose out, as he will not return to his baseball team this fall.

Academics first. On Friday, Georgia Director of Athletics Damon Evans spoke with us about a class attendance policy for student-athletes and discussed the decision to suspend three men’s basketball players a total of 30 games for failed compliance. Last week, Stanford followed Evans’ example and suspended sophomore Brook Lopez indefinitely. Lopez, who was already academically ineligible, decided it was acceptable to miss a few classes last week and the Cardinal decided his priorities were in the wrong places. Instead of being able to practice with the team, Lopez has been freed of his athletics responsibilities so that he can get his academic ducks in a row. Schools are taking a firm stance about the importance of education for their student-athletes and that can only mean positive things for intercollegiate athletics.

Weekend football updates. USC had a bumpy plane ride to South Bend on Friday, but the Trojans came out strong on Saturday, shutting out Notre Dame, 38-0. Backup quarterback Mark Sanchez threw four touchdowns in place of the injured John David Booty … Homecoming was spoiled in College Park, as a late Virginia score stopped Maryland, 18-17 … Grand Valley State won its 35th straight game to set a Division II record for most consecutive victories. The Lakers beat Northwood on Saturday, 51-20, as quarterback Brad Iciek threw for 403 yards … Fifth-ranked Capital lost for only the second time in 33 games, as Otterbein beat its cross-town rival, 17-10 … Mary Hardin-Baylor had four touchdown runs of 75 yards or longer in a 69-30 win over Mississippi College. Jarvis Thrasher ran for 324 yards and four touchdowns.