Florida State requiring athletes to take stay out of trouble class
The Florida State Seminoles have endured quite a bit of off-the-field issues with their players and now the university is creating a class to deal with the issues.
The Florida State Seminoles have had so many recent issues with off-the-field transgressions by their student athletes that they are now utilizing the student part of the relationship to better educate their players when they are not in uniform.
According to a report from the Palm Beach Post, Florida State officials will institute a mandatory class for all student athletes that will address not only the responsibilities of the student but also deal with other issues that have plagued the program, including domestic violence and drug and alcohol abuse. The course will also provide education on managing finances and making the most out of the per diem that student athletes receive to cover cost of living expenses.
According to Athletic Director Stan Wilcox, the program will serve not only as an educational program, but also one that outlines the fine line between right and wrong and will highlight the penalties for breaking said rules.
"“We feel that when it’s a course the individual has to invest more into it as opposed to when it’s an expert coming in talking to the kids,” Florida State athletic director Stan Wilcox told the Palm Beach Post. “They’ll touch a good portion of them but there will be a time they won’t get to some kids and then that person is gone. If it’s a course that’s required the kids have to be vested in it and they have to get more out of it.” (h/t Palm Beach Post)"
It seems rather redundant to have to educate athletes who are being handed a free education in the finer points of common sense. Alas, Florida State officials have been pressed into doing so because of a rash of recent issues surrounding the various athletic programs under the school umbrella.
The Seminoles were forced to dismiss quarterback De’Andre Johnson earlier this summer when video surfaced of his striking a woman in the face at a nightclub. Additionally, the team may be without running back Dalvin Cook, who was suspended indefinitely after being arrested for assault and battery against a 21-year-old woman. That says nothing of the infamous crab legs incident involving former Heisman winner Jameis Winston.
It’ll be interesting to see what kind of affect the course has on changing the culture at Florida State. That said, the panel of guests will certainly be interesting, including Maurice Clarrett, Chris Herren, and Tim Brown among many others.
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