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Dispatch

Rob Oller commentary: Tough love drives home hard lesson at Northland

Tuesday, February 26, 2008 3:08 AM
By Rob Oller


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Northland coach Satch Sullinger



The front doors at Northland High School likely never felt so heavy to Jared Sullinger as they did yesterday morning. Like trying to move a mountain of guilt heavier than any snowcapped granite peak.
On Saturday, the 6-foot-7 sophomore forward sat on the bench in street clothes -- suspended one game for failing to keep up with his schoolwork -- while his Vikings teammates watched their season end when Westerville South upset them 67-59 in a Division I district semifinal in the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum.

"You can't be successful when your assignments are not turned in, when you say you're doing your homework and you're not," he said, referring to Jared.

"I've been talking academics with him all along and threatening to do this and do this," he said, confirming that Jared already was on academic probation. "I already took his Italy trip away from him. It's like when you tell your kid to be home by midnight and he comes in at 12:10 a.m.. Then it's 12:20 a.m. You either have to draw the line or get rid of the rule. It was finally time where enough was enough."