This past week Tyrann Mathieu, the Honey Badger, has been kicked off the LSU football team and reportedly checked in to drug rehab in Houston. This is just one of a few examples this offseason and past few years of college athletes being dismissed from their teams for off the field issues. I do not quite understand this phenomenon that continues to happen year in and year out. Is it because these kids think they are invincible, they just were not raised to be able to tell right from wrong, or just do not have the cognitive ability to think before they act?
Tyrann Mathieu was dismissed from the Tiger football team after sources say he failed multiple drug tests this offseason. Mathieu, who was a key contributor to the Tigers' run to the national championship last year and Heisman trophy finalist, obviously had multiple chances to turn his life around before coach Les Miles made the decision to kick his star player off the team. Coaches cannot have complete control over everything a player does in his free time, so the player needs to be able to take responsibility for his actions. Obviously football was not the priority for Mathieu, seeing that he had plenty of chances to change his habits, going back to last season when he was suspended for failing his first drug test. Isiah Crowell, the starting running back for Georgia last season, was dismissed from the team after being arrested for three weapons charges. Crowell had a bright future at Georgia where he was expected to be a force in the SEC for the next couple of years. Georgia coach Mark Richt has always had a short leash and his players know that. The real question in this story is why Crowell would be carrying a handgun with him around the Georgia campus in his car. The last major dismissal this offseason was Florida State cornerback Greg Reid. Reid has been a star on the Florida State defense the last few years and was expected to do the same this year. He was arrested in July for possession of marijuana and later dismissed from the FSU team. Reid comes from a family of drug problems, where his dad spent jail time on drug trafficking charges. Players getting kicked off of teams for off the field issues is a growing problem that needs to be slowed down or even stopped, both for the individual and team's sake.
These players are icons in their respective cities and some times treated so well that I believe that they think they are invincible. People treat them like gods and give them what they want, even if it breaks NCAA rules. Many of these players come from places that may not have the best family backgrounds, so they may not have the upbringing that some children have. At some point though, the players need to realize that they are not invincible and that when they do not do right there are consequences that need to be faced. Many times these players face less consequences with their first offense because they do not think the team can survive without them. The fact is that in today's sports world there is always someone just as good behind you that is just waiting for their chance to show what they have. Every player these days is replaceable and the sooner these players realize that I think it will get better. The other problem with the NCAA today is that if these kids are kicked off a team for not following rules, they are allowed to go to another smaller division school without facing any consequences. I believe the NCAA needs to step in and do something about this. If a player is kicked off a team for legitimate reasons, they should not be able to go to a Division II school and be able to play that same year. The player should have to sit out for a year no matter what and show that they are able to have good discipline or seek help for their issue before returning to football. These athletes are so young that if they do not get the help they need then they may face this problem the rest of their lives. The NCAA spends so much time making sure no program gets too big advantage that they forget about the kids. The programs are so worried about these athletes making them money that the athletes' well-being goes out the window too many times. It is time for both the NCAA and programs to remember that they are dealing with young athletes that need help and need to be molded and let the money make itself in the long run.
No comments:
Post a Comment