AJC > Sports > Blog > Archives > 2007 > August > 21
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Memo to players: “Know who you are.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My favorite saying from Bill Parcells is: “You are what you are.” His point? In football, it’s not smart to try to be something you’re not. If you are a slow running back, don’t pretend to be Darren McFadden. Take what talent you have and make the most of it.
Today we’re going to introduce a new slogan, just for college athletes: “Know WHO you are.”
If you are football player at a major Division I-A institution, you can’t for one minute think you’re just another Joe College, free to soak up whatever fun and human experience just happens to be in your path. You are not a regular student and if you pretend to be one you’re asking for trouble and it, my friend, will find you.
Some guys out there obviously don’t know who they are:
1. Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame: Clausen was the most high profile recruit in the nation last season. He made sure of that by calling a press conference at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, arriving in a stretch limo, and making the announcement. Turns out that Clausen, 19, received a citation on June 23 for “transporting alcohol as a minor.” All he did was sit in a car behind the steering wheel while someone of legal age went into a store to buy alcohol. It’s a stupid law and behind the scenes the Notre Dame people are livid.
But that’s not the point. The point is when you bring that much attention to yourself, everything you do-right or wrong—is magnified. It doesn’t matter if the law is stupid. It’s several days of bad headlines you don’t need. Know who you are.
2. Simeon Castille, Alabama: Simeon’s dad, Jeremiah, was a great football player and is even a better man. Simeon comes from a good family. He knows better. But Simeon was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct at 2 a.m. last Sunday. There is some dispute over whether the charges were warranted.
Doesn’t matter. If you’re a team leader, which Simeon Castille is, you’re asleep-or at least at home—at 2 a.m. during preseason practice. If you’re a team leader, you don’t put yourself in position for bad things to happen. When the focus should be on the rebuilding program at Alabama, here are bad headlines for a player who has a good chance to be All-SEC. Know who you are.
3. Josh Riddell, Mississippi State: Given the fact that Michael Henig, Mississippi State’s starting quarterback, suffered two broken collarbones last season, the backup quarterback should probably be ready to play. But two newspapers have reported that Riddell was suspended indefinitely for driving under the influence of alcohol. Sylvester Croom is a no-nonsense head coach. Mississippi State opens with LSU and chances are the Bulldogs were going to need Riddell. He won’t be ready, even if he’s there. Know who you are.
If the Michael Vick saga teaches young players anything, it should be this: It doesn’t matter how talented you are. A lifetime of work and every dream you’ve ever had can be taken away with one stupid decision.
And it doesn’t have to be a monumentally stupid decision like Vick’s. Once you get labeled as a guy who makes bad decisions, it really doesn’t matter what the facts are. The tag sticks.
Is that fair? Of course it’s not fair. Fair’s got nothing to do with this.
Know who you are.
