Winston Whiffs Again
Tyler J. ScottTHE SANTA CLARASeptember 25, 2014
"Famous” Jameis Winston. Last year’s Heisman Trophy winner and National Champion. The quarterback who brought Florida State University football back to national prominence and the national championship. No one denies that he’s a great signal caller.
But I’m going to talk about the man.The man who has had way too many off-the-field incidents since arriving at Florida State’s campus.
He has been confronted by the police on two different occasions when he was shooting BB and pellet guns with his friends in public and causing fear and, in one instance, $4,000 worth of damage to his apartment.
He was accused of walking into a Burger King and taking several cups of soda without paying.
No charges were filed in these events, but he was soon caught taking $32.72 worth of crab legs from a supermarket. He said he forgot to pay, apologized, completed community service and was consequently suspended from the baseball team until he finished that service.
The biggest concern, however, was when it came out that Winston allegedly raped a woman in 2012. Then, last Tuesday, he jumped on a table on campus and shouted a popular, but misogynistic phrase while the alleged rape accusation investigation is still ongoing. Really?
He was suspended for the game last Saturday against conference rival Clemson University initially for just the first half but eventually for the entire game in what was almost disastrous for the Seminoles’ title hopes.
He reminds me of that person we all know who will take any dare you give them -— and up the ante. I think he loves to entertain the masses; He loves doing whatever he wants and no one will confront him due to his prowess behind a center.
I really don’t think he understood the unfortunate entendre he created when he shouted that offensive phrase while still being investigated. I believe he just wanted to be a part of the latest craze by shouting that saying.
But he needs to understand. Being 20 years old isn’t an excuse anymore.
As ESPN’s Samantha Ponder said last Saturday, “I know people want to say, ‘Oh, he’s naive and there’s some immaturity there.’ I just think we’re not giving him enough credit. He knows right from wrong. He understands that the things he’s done are wrong but he continues to make those same mistakes.”
Some mock draft experts for the National Football League have begun to speculate that if he decides to go pro this year, his draft stock will fall due to his antics. The NFL has enough on its plate right now.
His head coach, Jimbo Fisher, said on Monday that the suspension “hit home” with Winston.
I sure hope so, coach. Not for your team’s sake, but for his own.
Tyler Scott is a junior marketing major and editor of the Sports section.