In my sports writing class we were asked to write a column about an issue in sports that we felt was worth talking about. As a full time student working to make the grades with multiple jobs to pay the bills, I can't help but have some ill-feelings towards others who don't face the hardships many of us do and slack off because they feel they can.
Below is my column on Iowa Football players and their legal shenanigans. Feel free to disagree, I'm ready to debate!
Growing up in Eastern Iowa I was taught three essential things during my earliest years. First, I should ‘be proud to be an Iowan’ because we provide a huge amount of agricultural products for the nation (to which I rolled my eyes endlessly). Second, Iowa weather is unpredictable and it makes everyone’s life easier if we don’t bitch about it, and third: bleed black and gold.
Iowans, known for their unwavering worth ethic, have always needed an escape from the daily grind. For many years Iowa football has been that haven for most. Football is more than simply a game in these parts. With die-hard Iowa fans that are arguably more committed to supporting the boys at Kinnick than they are the US President at times, it’s reality that Hawkeye players are constantly in the spotlight.
While this recognition brings glory and “elite” status to many players, it can also make them crash and burn if they are playing poorly or, in the case of the last several years, get into problems with the law. These players (in many cases) seem to have the attitude that they can ‘get away with anything’ with the only punishment being a slap on the wrist. Sadly, a lot of the time this is true.
It’s time for these players who decide that they are above the law to stop taking advantage of their position as local heroes to escape punishment. Instead, they should be using their time in the spotlight to step up, find a cause to support, and do some good to support community that gives so much to them, and act as positive role models.
Thousands of kids idolize the Hawkeyes and support them full-heartedly. Even more adults turn to them as examples for their children that ‘hard work and dedication bring success.’ The Iowa football boys should be wearing their jerseys with pride and work to show everyone that they have more to offer than the ability to run fast, throw a football, take hits and out-drink anyone on campus after a win at home.
In the past two years more than a dozen football players have been arrested in Iowa City for crimes that range from drug possession (Arvell Thompson, James Cleveland), to alleged domestic assault (Dana Brown), credit card fraud (Anthony Bowman, Dominique Douglass) and drunk driving/public intoxication (Ben Evans, Tyler Gernstandt, Clint Hundtrods, Bradley Fletcher, Lance Tillison, Ryan Donahue, Brandon Meyers and current starting quarterback Ricky Stanzi).
Find time to take a breath? I didn’t think so. The worst part is that this isn’t even the complete list. The news of Hawkeye football players in trouble with the law has become so common that many people simply accept that we have a team with some ‘bad boys’ running the show.
While I applaud Kirk Ferentz for justly punishing some of his players for their actions (such as removing Bowman and Douglass from the team), as a whole I don’t believe there’s been enough action taken to stop players from finding themselves in the Monday morning police blotter.
It’s true that the players are young student athletes and that they cannot be expected to be perfect. I fully realize that virtually nobody is going to make it through their college career without a hiccup of some sort, but these boys are in a
privileged position that makes every move they make public information. I believe that it’s their duty to take this fact with grace and become men that have self control.
While some players may try to play the ‘victim card,’ the truth is nobody on the football team can claim they ‘didn’t know’ they would have so many eyes upon them when they signed their letters of commitment to Iowa. One YouTube search for “Iowa Football” yields over 3,000 results, most of which consist of tailgating hi-jinks and screaming fans. Kinnick stadium seats over 70,000 fans and the tiger hawk logo can be spotted on the clothing of people worldwide.
I don’t feel bad for the players who get in trouble and have the media/fans hounding them one bit. How many college students can attend a University without worrying about repaying a cent? How many former high school athletes get to continue playing the sport they love at a competitive level? Playing for Iowa is an experience unlike any other, and if they have their priorities straight, getting involved with illegal activities shouldn’t even be an option in these guys’ minds. Those who choose to become another name on the ever-growing list of Hawkeyes with upcoming court dates need to suck it up, be responsible and show more respect for not only their teammates, but the fans that keep the program alive.
