... of getting players suspended. Chris Rix is ineligible for the Sugar Bowl matchup against Georgia after oversleeping and missing a final exam, earning an automatic suspension. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tm.../ap_on_sp_co_ne/fbc_florida_st_rix_ineligible
On the flip side, at least Bowden suspends people. Im no FSU fan, but dont you think it would be worse if they didnt suspend their QB for missing an exam. This looks bad for Rix, not the school.
FWIW, this is a University suspension, not a Bowden suspension. You see, in the early 90's Deion Sanders didn't go to class for his ENTIRE SENIOR SEASON. (Bobby didn't seem to have a problem with this...) And although FSU only masquerades as an institution of higher learning, even the trained monkees that ran the school figured out that the football players should probably go to class at least once in a while. So, they instituted the "Deion Rule". Any FSU "student"-athlete that doesn't take his/her final is suspended from competition. Yes, that's right. FSU actually instituted a University policy that says their athletes have to take their finals.
I can't tell you how many times, I was frightened when I went to bed that I would sleep through my alarm clock and that this would happen to me.
Bowden had nothing to do with it. The Florida university system instituted the "Deion Sanders Rule" after 1989 when the FSU cornerback didn't take any of his exams and still played in the Sugar Bowl. The irony here is that Rix is a very good student. Bowden ought to be pistol-whipping himself for not having the common sense to get his assistant coaches on phone duty to make sure his players are awake on exam day.
I agree completely. Though "Bobby Bowden" and "common sense" rarely appear in the same sentence. I'm not sure about other D1 schools, at North Carolina, the strength coach would check up on the players and if they missed even one class, there was hell to pay the next morning at 5 am. I'd hate to see what they'd have to do if they missed an exam - no need for a Deion Sanders Rule there. With the level of scrutiny on the Seminoles and their off-field conduct, you'd think they'd make every effort to avoid any mishap.
Seems like much ado about nothing. What was Rix's crime? He missed a test. Many people have missed tests in their academic careers for a myriad of reasons (including simply forgetting the date). These things occur during the course of normal life. Now Rix and, to lesser extent his teamates, are going to pay a heavy cost at the bowl game. Just a tough break in enforcing a necessary rule. That's it. Doesn't mean FSU is crooked (or more crooked than any other D1 program), or make Bowden an imbecile.
Yeah, why should we expect student-athletes to actually be students? That wasn't so hard, was it? How many of them were starting quarterbacks for their college team who knew they couldn't play in the Sugar Bowl if they missed a test? Second answer: Those kind of people are pretty stupid Playing by the rules is a bitch Not by itself, no. Just kinda ironic that he got caught by a rule named after one of Bowden's old players, huh? FSU stood for Free Shoes University once upon a time, remember?
Yes, but Rix is not like any other student. Whether he or the football program sees him as such, he does represent Florida State's student body. He is one of, if not the most recognizable face in the most nationally recognized organization in the university, one that has had a pattern of off-field problems over the years. Yet, during the most important week of the semester, someone in the football program couldn't make sure that he got to the exam on time knowing that failure to do so would result in an automatic suspension. It's not a big deal, just comical. And ironic that being charged with felony grand theft and an honest mistake by an otherwise good student basically carry the same penalty. No, we're not crooked at all. Coach Bowden has complete control over the program. Our character is impeccable. Sincerely, Peter Warrick, Lavernus, Coles, Adrian McPherson et al.
Agreed, what Rix did is no big deal. Some here seem to have a hard on about attacking FSU athletes. To each there own, but the topic of Rix's ONE missed test is no big deal. And you are wrong. Rix is like any other student. The fact that he is a star quarterback doesn't make him immune from youthful mistakes. What if he studied late into the night and didn't hear his alarm clock? Is that possible? How the hell are we to judge this as some sort of disrespect for the rules. Lets get real. Yawn. Wow, you can name some players that didn't attend class or got into trouble. I can name dozens from the past of every program playing in the major bowls. Again, how is this incident indicative of lack of institutional control? What does missing a test have to do with Rix not being a student? Every indication is Rix is a good student. Know what you are talking about.
Look, I concede that Rix is a good student. And I never said that this incident is a reflection Rix's character or the program's lack of institutional control. Rix is human, I understand. Students have always slept through exams and they'll continue to do so (and every time they do, people laugh at them, as is happening here). And you're right, other programs have their bad seeds. But this incident is newsworthy because he's in a program that has had more than it share of high profile off-field transgressions and he's paying for the sins of a player who used to wear the same colors as he. I never meant for this to be a serious thread. A few laughs at his and FSU's expense, that's all. It's not like we're stoning him and damning him to hell.
Agreed (to your last post Skipshady). The thing is, most of the serious trangressions are from guys who don't want to be in school. The NCAA / NFL defacto farm system -- in which everyone makes money but the players -- has promising players attending school just so they can improve their draft status. If we want true student athletes, lets stop the hypocrisy and demand that the NFL set up a system like MLB. Notice that you don't hear of as many transgressions in college baseball -- because most of the truly gifted out of high school opt to get paid right away in the minor leagues. Half of these football guys would bypass the NCAA (and having to fake enjoying classes) if they had a realistic choice; they're looking for the avenue to the pro game, not for the degree. Given that fact, Deion did what most people in his position would do. Once he knew he was a first round pick he stopped going to classes. Why waste time as something you don't enjoy and doesn't add value to your goal? Its human nature. Having purchased the winning lottery ticket, how many of us would continue to put the long hours at our jobs? Bill Gates dropped out of Harvard to form MicroSoft....think he went to a lot of his classes? Deion may not be educated, but he certainly is not dumb. Every program competing at the highest level deals with these sort of issues. Some get more publicized than others.
Oh, I don't know about that. I mean, they are the only NCAA football program that has their own section on Cracksmoker.com. I agree entirely, and I really have no problem with what Deion did. I have a problem with FSU allowing him to play after he stopped going to classes.
Tell that to his teammates When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Except that under the state university rules, he can't play in the Sugar Bowl. Who said it did? Again, thanks for putting words in my mouth. I just find it amazing that nobody in the FSU football program, given that the rule exists because of one of their past players, didn't think it was worth their while to have a little wakeup call service Did their coaches go on TV during the press conference and laugh about how funny it was that his players stole stuff from the sporting goods store? Bowden did. To me, that is pretty damn indicative of a lack of institutional control Hey Einstein, go back and see who made the first reference to Rix being an excellent student. I'll give you a hint, the screen name rhymes with SoFla Metro. I do. Sorry your team sucks this year.
Who told you that I'm an FSU grad or fan? Actually my school doesn't suck this year. We're going for two national championships in a row...that's right, class of '89. Again, know of what you speak.
Some guy once said that the universities should offer football degrees. Interesting idea. If you play, consider a future in coaching or management, a degree in football could help in two distinct cases. First, the player who is not going to be around for long could pass time doing football things. That would also get him out of the way of real students in real programs. It will also help him focus on his future job...ie: professional football player. They could offer "Finance for the footballer 101" classes, "How to spot a gold digger 200" classes and the soon to be favorite, "Media Communications 400". Second, future coaches of the world could learn from the staff, not just pick things up from time to time.
Rix screwed up majorly as did the coaches for not making sure everyone was awake to go take exams. He deserves what he got for what he did. The rule applies to everyone so everyone needs to stop whining about this. Bowden is a great person so let's stop bashing him as well.
http://espn.go.com/ncf/bowls02/s/sugar_mcphersongambling.html It's getting better. I just hope someone from UF is behind this.