Anarchy. That seems to be the only appropriate way of characterizing what appears to be transpiring within the Florida State football program.
Friday the New York Times reported that Seminoles corner backs P.J. Williams and Ronald Darby were involved in a hit-and-run accident that resulted in two traffic tickets. The news comes after several outlets reported that quarterback Jameis Winston’s student code of conduct hearing was postponed until Dec. 1.
The hearing is to determine whether Winston was in violation of the student code of conduct after an alleged sexual assault of a former Florida State student. Charges were not filed against Winston in an investigation by Tallahassee police that has come under heavy criticism. The timing of the hearing, which has been in the works for two years, allows the university to render a decision after the Jan. 12 national championship game.
Golly, that coincidence seems just so darn convenient for the football program.
The entire series of events does not just call into question coach Jimbo Fisher’s integrity (did he have any to begin with?), but the entire inner workings of the university. Drastic and inappropriate exceptions are seemingly made for football players. All for the sake of winning.
While the players should know right from wrong–heck, legal from illegal–it’s not surprising to see Seminoles football players testing limits. At other universities, the Winston code of conduct case would have already been heard. Williams and Darby would have been punished. But when players go unpunished after behaving in this manor, it’s sets a precedent.
Winston is the reigning Heisman trophy winner. Williams and Darby both are defensive starters. Does anything else matter to Florida State?
