I think we all can somewhat understand the scrutiny around Winston following his Heisman Trophy campaign and the allegations that followed.
However, the latest incidents and national news portraying our football program as somewhat out of control has me wondering, "why and how has it gotten to this?" Why are we a national punching bag, while other top caliber and national championship programs, such as LSU, Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee that have had as many or more player arrests spared?
And this didn't just recently happen. Even under Bobby, the media, sometimes at the urging of Spurrier (even though he had as many or more players arrested), portrayed FSU in a much more negative light then than uf. Now, with more than 30 arrests under Urbie and due to Hernandez, that has changed a little, but they have still largely escaped the scrutiny that FSU has been under and we never had a person of the caliber of Hernandez on our team.
Again, I just scratch my head and wonder how or why FSU has continually been a poster boy and punching bag? Dot? Ira? Anyone?
Sadly, and while not having a journalism school is a small part of the problem, one of my conclusions is the power of the SEC and the networks desire to protect that brand, combined with a weak ACC front office to get out in front and do anything to help defend member institutions.
It still irks me as I am sure that it does all of my fellow Seminoles as we are constantly having to defend our University, and by extension, our degrees. Yet, when you share some statistics with some who ask, they are genuinely surprised that there are universities with as many or more player infractions. Because of the media bashing and failing to tell a balanced story, we are often left in that position.
And, I am by no means excusing the conduct of any player who has committed a crime, and for which there is an admission or proof. Such players need to suffer the consequences.
I again ask how and why it's always seemingly been this way regarding negative portrayal of FSU's program by the media when it is statistically no worse, and in many instances, better than our other programs.
However, the latest incidents and national news portraying our football program as somewhat out of control has me wondering, "why and how has it gotten to this?" Why are we a national punching bag, while other top caliber and national championship programs, such as LSU, Florida, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee that have had as many or more player arrests spared?
And this didn't just recently happen. Even under Bobby, the media, sometimes at the urging of Spurrier (even though he had as many or more players arrested), portrayed FSU in a much more negative light then than uf. Now, with more than 30 arrests under Urbie and due to Hernandez, that has changed a little, but they have still largely escaped the scrutiny that FSU has been under and we never had a person of the caliber of Hernandez on our team.
Again, I just scratch my head and wonder how or why FSU has continually been a poster boy and punching bag? Dot? Ira? Anyone?
Sadly, and while not having a journalism school is a small part of the problem, one of my conclusions is the power of the SEC and the networks desire to protect that brand, combined with a weak ACC front office to get out in front and do anything to help defend member institutions.
It still irks me as I am sure that it does all of my fellow Seminoles as we are constantly having to defend our University, and by extension, our degrees. Yet, when you share some statistics with some who ask, they are genuinely surprised that there are universities with as many or more player infractions. Because of the media bashing and failing to tell a balanced story, we are often left in that position.
And, I am by no means excusing the conduct of any player who has committed a crime, and for which there is an admission or proof. Such players need to suffer the consequences.
I again ask how and why it's always seemingly been this way regarding negative portrayal of FSU's program by the media when it is statistically no worse, and in many instances, better than our other programs.
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