Let's Talk Football with Jameis Winston, The Man Winning on the Field But Losing Otherwise (Written by Elizabeth Muscari, 6th)

   

      Any football fan can spit off history-making names like Joe Namath, Joe Montana, Troy Aikman, and more recently, the 2013 Heisman Trophy winner, Jameis Winston. Jameis Winston has without a doubt proved his undying perseverance and determination to lead Florida State to both victory and fame throughout his time at the university. Mr. Winston has been labeled as America’s favorite quarterback; however, our nation's beloved hasn’t been the respectable football player Florida State University has hoped for him to be.
     
      Earlier in the week, FSU students witnessed Winston standing on a table outside on the campus, shouting sexual and disrespectful obscenities at his fellow classmates as young female students passed by.The phrase related to an Internet meme, promoted sexual assault, and targeted sexual abuse for women. Winston’s actions are impossible to ignore considering he has been in this type of situation before. In 2012, Jameis Winston was accused of sexual assault. Although he was found not guilty, Winston’s reputation never truly recovered. Winston has also been involved with theft. He has quite a record when it comes to team violations. It wasn’t an ignorant move for Florida State University students to watch what came out of Mr. Winston’s mouth, especially when he made himself clear standing out in the open. Another thing they knew to do was publicize it. Thousands of tweets relating to the incident forced FSU coach, Jimbo Fisher, to suspend Winston from the first half of the Florida State vs. Clemson game this Saturday, September 20

   
      It’s unlikely that Florida State University will suffer greatly from having their prized team member missing for the first half, but it does highlight a bigger issue. How well do we treat our beloved quarterbacks? Do we disregard the rules and let players “off the hook” when it comes to keeping our desire to win alive? And what measure will take in order to keep them on the field? Winston has been said to still retain power as quarterback. The FSU football team has attempted to ameliorate their QB’s predicament. Jameis Winston released public apology saying, "First of all I just want to apologize to the university, to my coaches and to my teammates," he said. "I'm not a me person, but in that situation, that was a selfish act and that's not how you do things around here, so I really just want to apologize to my teammates because I've now made a selfish act for them and that's all.” He showed sincerity. People begin to ask: did the University punish him as hard as they could have? 

    

     Suspensions aren't new in college football, especially for quarterbacks. If a quarterback is just as a part of the team as say, a linebacker or strong safety, shouldn't his consequences be just as enforced? FSU fans say Jameis Winston isn't all to blame, yet Auburn fans will probably plead for a stronger punishment, considering revenge still hangs in the air from last year's BCS National Championship. Auburn has more people to side with, too. Thousands of college football fans have been asking for Jameis Winston to be taken out of the game fully. It might be a good lesson, people think. 

      The FSU player will still continue to lead his team to a well-anticipated victory during his time in the ACC football conference. He's already being suspected to be in the runnings again for the Heisman. Win or lose, the questions still remain though, even more emphasized now thanks to Winston, are we really playing fair to the rules when it comes to punishing players?

Courtesy of ESPN and Sports Illustrated 

Written by Elizabeth Muscari 6th Period