Drugs, and Other Things

The latest victim of the NCAA drug policy was Casey Pachall. I know he was arrested for driving while intoxicated in the Ft. Worth area, and I do not condone drunk driving whatsoever. However, this was Pachall's second strike on things that are not accepted in college football. In August Texas Christian University announced that Pachall had failed a drug test given in February and that was two weeks after the drug sting on the TCU campus occurred. Had this not happened, Pachall would likely be sitting out for a few games tops. Drugs and alcohol might mix if your not a collegiate athlete, but if you are those are for some reason things to stay away from.

A few names in the past few years that have missed games due to drug suspensions in college include Tyrann Mathieu, Dorial Green-Beckham, Sammy Watkins, Greg Reid, and Michael Dyer. If you don't think that all of those players I just named are big time losses for their team than you must be illiterate. Mathieu was the most electric defensive player in the country last year, Beckham is the top freshman wide-receiver this year for Missouri and the country, Sammy Watkins was one of the best wide-receivers last year, Greg Reid was Florida State's punt and kick returner, and Michael Dyer was part of the backfield that led Auburn to the national championship two years ago. All of these players dreams could be damaged or completely gone after getting in trouble for a bit of pot more than likely. Drug's is also something that I do not condone, however, I don't see how the NCAA see's it fit to penalize these 18-22 year olds for doing something probably every one else around them is. These are kids for the most part and your a fool if you don't think that they are going to make a mistake or two. And then the NCAA probably tells them well you need find some positive role model. Now, I'm going on a reach here but if your an african-american and have a role model it's not out of the question for that person to be Barack Obama. Now, I do not support Obama but I do like the fact that he was open about his drug use in college. He admitted to "inhaling" pot, and doing cocaine. So the country tells these kids you can do drugs in college and still get elected president, but you can't do these drugs and play college football for us to make billions on and not get paid? Doesn't add up to me. Tyrann Mathieu wasn't even suspended for doing drugs. He smoked some synthetic marijuana. He was even smart about it and bought the legal stuff and STILL got caught.

From what I can see the NCAA is trying to become one of the most powerful groups of individuals in the country. Their fine with the president of their country smoking a joint every once in awhile in college and doing a little bit of nose candy, but if one of these eighteen year olds takes a puff his NFL career is over before it even starts. I'm not saying just tell these kids that they can smoke pot or anything but hell, it's legal to have it in some states and their still getting penalized. Give them a warning, give them a situation to look at, scare them straight, but don't ruin their lives over something that could probably be changed with a example of an ex-NFL player who let the drugs get the best of him.

 I dare the NCAA to take a hard look at themselves and look at what they would be without these athletes. Yeah, probably broke and non-existant.