I often make fun of SEC football programs because they're more corrupt than the Iraqi government. But in reality, when it comes to corruption in college football, the state of Florida pretty much wins hands down. Most people when they think of college football corruption and the state of Florida they think of Miami - which makes perfect sense. But Florida State seems to be making a case that it should take over as the grand champion.Last month Florida State star wide receiver Preston Parker was charged him with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and with carrying a concealed weapon, a felony. He pleaded out, reducing his felony charge, and received one year of probation and has been ordered to perform 50 hours of community service for pleading guilty to the marijuana charge.
Naturally, in a move that once again proves that college coaches care only about wins and nothing about the integrity of their programs or their student-athletes' (I use that term loosely) well being, good 'ol boy coach Bobby Bowden decided to suspend Parker for two games against two crappy opponents - Western Carolina and Chattanooga. But of course Parker will be back just in time for the big game against Wake Forest on Sept. 20th.
I've got to say Bowden sends a great message to his team. Go ahead and commit felonies if you want. I won't kick you off the team and you'll only get suspended against terrible teams.
Although it's not like we haven't seen Bowden in the middle of huge scandals before. Last year the whole team was practically suspended for the Music City Bowl. 22 players were involved in a cheating scandal and a handful of others were suspended for violating team rules.
If you keep going back, you'll also see Bowden has a history of letting guys who commit felonies off. In 1999 star receivers Peter Warrick (who was the Heisman front runner) and Laveranues Coles, along with a shopping department employee, were charged with grand theft for buying over $400 worth of clothes for $20. It was even caught on camera. Coles was kicked off the team because he was already on probation. Warrick plead out to a misdemeanor and was only suspended for two games. True discipline at its finest.
And before that, back in 1993, after winning the national championship, the Florida State team wandered into a Tallahassee Foot Locker and walked off with a boatload of free merchandise. That prompted Steve Spurrier, then at Florida, to say FSU stood for Free Shoes University. What happened? Pretty much nothing. Five players, including star linebacker Derrick Brooks were suspended for one lousy season opening game. Bowden also gave this gem of a quote: "Some of our kids made mistakes, but is not like we killed anyone or robbed a store."
Yeah, but you broke some serious NCAA rules Bobby.
Basically, what you have here is a football program that's habitually been out of control. Bowden doesn't care about disciplining any of his athletes in any significant way, least of all his star players. It's continually amusing that if you go back and look at each and every one of these stories, Bowden is somehow shocked that the incidents could have happened.
What is he, an idiot?
Well yes, but he's also just like most college coaches. He could care less about being a strict disciplinarian or instilling his players with any kind of character. He's just out there to win games. Nothing more, nothing less.
And that's pretty damn sad.







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