re: Perspective on the Situation

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Mike Linebacker

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Solid post.

That's where the rubber meets the road! Let's move on... and BEAT AUBURN!

Didn't read

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If they had been caught smoking pot by a coach or law enforcement, that would be a different matter because the law is the law. But pot smoking in your friend's apartment a day or so earlier?

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For the record I agree with your point that pot is not the great evil than many folks make it out to be. But the point you seem to be making is that it's wrong only if caught in the act. That makes no sense. Is the law not the law in a friend's apartment (away from coaches and law enforcement)?

There's a rule. It was broken.

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I actually went on twitter to see what all was being said. The fans need to understand that the players have a tight bond. Moreover, these are guys who have been star athletes with hangers on their whole life. They have lots of experience where the same people praising them one week and tearing them down the next for a mistake. Normally, it's a fumble or a dropped pass or throwing a costly pick. But in this case, the mistake was partying in the wrong way. Fans can think it is illogical all they want but it's the way things are when you know the love from the fans isn't necessarily for you the human being, it's for what you do on the field.

That being said, the team does need to realize that there are ramifications for their action. We all still love these three guys. But they have let many people down. They let down their own teammates. Sounds like their teammates have forgiven them. And the fans will too. But make no mistake, they let the fans down. They let the kids down. At dinner tonight, my wife brought it up (she didn't know all of the facts. "Why can't the honey badger play Dad?" I'm asked by my 5 year old. I can't say the real reason so I had to go Les Miles and said, "he apparently broke some team rules." "Which rules, Dad?" "I don't know." Can't wait til Danielson describes those rules they broke while my kids watch the game on Saturday.

And it's not just having to dance around things like that with kids who look up to these players. It's the guy who is spending his hard earned money on hotel rooms and bought tickets on stub hub for $300 a pop so he could be at the Auburn game. And it's not just dollars. It's the emotional investment. Fans are invested in this team and maybe it's irrational--just as irrational as the players thinking the fans are against them for critizing actions that SHOULD be criticized. None of this is perfectly logical. But it is all real. To the team and the fans.

Anyway, sorry for the ramble. The team needs to step back and realize the fans do love 'em but they treat them like young adults. These three guys didn't live up to the standards and let down themselves, the team and the fans. And the fans need to calm down and realize that, while criticism in warranted, it should be measured. No need to act like these guys murdered someone. And while disappointment is ok to express, acting like your hopes and dreams have been vanquished is a telltale sign that your emotional investment is over the edge.

So in closing, everyone chill the frick out. And beat Auburn.

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There is a God.

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Urine testing for pot? Unbelievable. It is ridiculous to suspend an athlete for smoking pot

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Agreed. It's a stupid rule. Unfortunately, there are stupid rules in all aspects of life, and there are consequences for violating them. If you violate them and only hurt yourself, that's bad. If you violate them and hurt other people (like your teammates and coaches), that's worse, no matter whether they forgive you or not.

Pretty long; did read.

Great post!