College Job Opportunity

It is apparent that college athletes need more supervision, I propose to the NCAA a new job that college teams should be required to fill.  It would be called the Supervisor of Bozo's or S.O.B. for short.   These S.O.B.'s would be in the hip pocket of the screw ups to make sure they stay within the team and NCAA guidelines.  I could be an S.O.B. with a bit of pushing and welcome the chance to be paid to be an S.O.B.   They would answer to a board from the NCAA.  This board would be known as the Assertive Scholastic Supervisory  Enforcement Section or A.S.S.E.S.   Just to be clear, the S.O.B.'s would answer to the A.S.S.E.S.

Cases in point:

Johnny Manziel

A case of too much too soon.   Add to that a kid of privilege that has probably been entitled all his life.  In an article with ESPN, his Dad talks about Johnny's temper and his drinking to cope.  OK, Dad put the hammer down, I know if my parents had told me to buck up at age 20, I would have listened.  Or is it too late to start parenting at this point.  Reports indicate A & M will likely be starting a new QB this season.  "Johnny Football" needs a real S.O.B. to keep him on campus - one that will take away his Sharpie, turn off his cell phone, and set his alarm clock.  Remember this kid initially committed to Oregon - glad he changed his mind.   Really makes you appreciate Mariota now, doesn't it?

Jeremy Hill 

LSU recently reinstated Hill after this twice guilty idiot avoided incarceration for the second time.   He had been in trouble once for a reprehensible act while a high school senior, but this time he sucker punched a guy, sending him to the hospital.   He needs an S.O.B. to jack his jaw and then put him on a leash.  I have to say coach Les Miles really needs to grow a pair.   I understand second chances and have promoted them on this blog, but this is his third chance - how many does he get?  Would a 2nd stringer been given this many opportunities?

Michael Dyer

List of matriculation:
Auburn (2 years) - kicked off team for failing drug tests
 transferred to
Arkansas State - never played a game after he was pulled over for speeding and police confiscated a gun in his trunk
enrolled at
Arkansas Baptist - awarded an Associate of Arts degree
headed for
Louisville - where coach Charlie Strong has stated "there will be zero tolerance" of violating the team's five core values, which include no drugs and no guns.  Geez, thanks for spelling that out for me, I thought it would be OK for the kids to dope it up and shoot off a few rounds.  The S.O.B. for Dyer should have his bags packed, no telling where he will head next.

If instituted, my hope is that the  A.S.S.E.S. will be able to oversee the S.O.B.'s efforts to not let any NCAA athlete fall into a crack.

Second Chances

     We have all said or done something that was totally stupid, whether we put our foot in our mouth or acted irresponsibly.   Riley Cooper, in just one word, fixed a label on himself as a racist.  The kid (yep, all of 25) made an egregious error by using a racial slur.   Probably fueled by a few beers, his Jiminy Cricket was on snooze.  He has publicly apologized and from watching his demeanor and body language, I believe he is truly embarrassed and sorry for the incident.

But will he be given a second chance?   I would certainly hope so, especially on a team that includes Michael Vick, whose mistakes left a trail of dead and mangled dogs and landed him in jail.   All that seems to be forgotten now.   If he envisions himself the leader of the Eagles, Vick should be the first one to extend a hand to Cooper and help him understand what his actions have done.   Not with condemnation, but in a human being helping a human being manner.   Team mates need to talk with Riley and let them know how they feel, and offer a way to move on. They also need to look at themselves and realize that they are not all that perfect either.  I hope for the sake of this kid, his team mates step up.  They can make this a chance to improve him or ruin the rest of his life.  Coach Kelly may be a first year NFL coach, but if any one is capable of handling difficult player situations he is the guy.   LaGarrette Blount and Kiko Alonso are a couple of examples.   I have faith in the Chip, but now is the chance to see what the Eagles players are really made of.   I hope for the best.

Quoting from the Human League's song Human

'I'm only human
Of flesh and blood I'm made
Human
Born to make mistakes"