Solid points per usual, but DGB doesn't exactly fit the MO that you describe in "making the smallest mistake."
His problems have shown a progression of severity, and these are the cases that we know about. Missouri has become the Chernobyl for serious transgressions by scholarship athletes. In that regard, Pinkel had no choice once the details in the police report became known.
One comfort: I don't think Nick Saban will get near Beckham, but if he did it would be because he saw some promise as a human being. He's not infallible, though. He's built a brand on doing things a certain way, and I don't think DGB is worth the risk of damaging what sets us a part from so many other schools.
His problems have shown a progression of severity, and these are the cases that we know about. Missouri has become the Chernobyl for serious transgressions by scholarship athletes. In that regard, Pinkel had no choice once the details in the police report became known.
One comfort: I don't think Nick Saban will get near Beckham, but if he did it would be because he saw some promise as a human being. He's not infallible, though. He's built a brand on doing things a certain way, and I don't think DGB is worth the risk of damaging what sets us a part from so many other schools.
I understand this train of thought. To a certain extent I even agree with it. But I also try to remember that the schools are not as important as the students. When we begin placing our love and pride for our schools ahead of the wellbeing of the students, we have strayed too far afield.
I know that I could never have lived up to some of the standards that many fans place on players. Social media and instant news make it impossible to get away with anything today. Make the smallest mistake and the world is reading about it before you get a chance to call your coach or parents. I believe that I am a solid representative of my school in spite of the stupidity of my youth. But I also hope that I would have learned from my mistakes after getting busted a time or two. T
here has to be a line somewhere, but it is hard enough to draw these kinds of lines when we really know the people. It is crazy to try to do so when it is someone who we only know through the media.