Collegiate athletes and underage drinking

The recent arrest of a collegiate football player in our area got me to thinking about addressing the issue from my point of view.

First of all a athlete in training should not be putting trash into his body, his instrument that is providing for his college tuition and gaining him the applause and notoriety he seeks on Saturday afternoons in the fall.

Secondly, he is both a role model to younger kids and a representative of his university whether he likes it or not and he should always be cognizant of that in his daily life

Third, he is breaking the law and in this case he went a step farther by giving a false name because he knew he had screwed up and was trying to avoid the punishment and embarrassment he knew was heading his way on a fast track

You can say that kids will be kids and I will agree with you This kid however signed a grant in aid, otherwise known as a scholarship, that brings great reward and the university asks that he conduct himself like a man The player in this case has let down his school, his teammates, coaches, student body, his family and he may not realize it but he has let down himself

So now what? Tar and feathers? Running of he gauntlet ? Forced to were a pink jersey for the rest of his career? Go to the max and send this young man home without his scholarship and a black mark against him for the rest of his life? I say no to all the above

My resolution, if you were to ask, would be to let his head coach and athletic director get together a plan to help this young man realize he has made a mistake. A mistake, that even though he knew was the wrong thing to do, one that can be forgiven with the acceptance of rehabilitation and the knowledge that he has used up his mulligan

After all this young man is still a youngster, he has made a mistake but not committed a unrepairable criminal act against humanity. Let him know he is on his last chance and then let him become acquainted with every step in the stadium where he gets his applause only now it will be before sunrise and alone. One step at a time, several days in a row.

If this same arrest had been made against any other student at any other university we would have never heard a word of it. Athletes however live in a fishbowl and with the glory comes the responsibility.

Give the kid another chance but let him know his next misstep will be just like the little yodler on the Price is Right.......over the edge


Talkin to the Mike