DRUGS IN COLLEGE
Too many times anyone in America can turn on ESPN and see a college athlete busted for a drug charge or a team violation leading to a dismal from the team. In this new age of athletics where drugs such as marijuana are easily accessible to the athlete, what is stopping them from doing harder drugs? Should there be harsher punishment for failed drug test? Where is the line drawn in the sand saying enough is enough on drug policies.
The biggest headline thus far in the NCAA drug testing world is with former quarterback from the University of Missouri, Maty Mauk. Mauk is no stranger to being warned for his actions before finally getting the size 12 boot in the butt that kicked him off of campus. Mauk earlier in the 2015 football season missed week 5’s game against South Carolina which was declared as a violation of team rules that lead to his suspension for the rest of the season. Mauk’s last chances that lead to his third strike was a video of the quarterback snorting a white powder substance1. In the view of the viewer I would have to say it looked a lot like cocaine to me. For a player to have so many chances to ultimately break every team rule why was he still on the team after his first incident? I would be willing to bet the team violation from September was probably a drug related incident. I would not think that someone just wakes up one day saying that “I think I am going to go do cocaine today.” That just does not happen. Mauk could have ended his life like a former NCAA standout Len Bias 2. Len Bias if you do not know was drafted Second overall pick by the Boston Celtics to only die two days later of a cocaine overdose. Now even though Bias’ story is different from Mauk’s’ it could have been prevented. If coaches do not punish these student-athletes more severely for drug related problems they could see an athlete ruin his life or ultimately lose his life due to drugs.
I believe that if the coaches won’t step in and bring in a harsher punishment for failed drug test it will ultimately force the NCAA to step in and bring a bigger punishment. Steps have to be made to secure the safety of these student athletes or a situation of a Len Bias could ultimately be the final destination for a student athlete. The uses of harder drugs cannot go unseen anymore or be swept under the rug. Changes must occur to ensure student athlete lives are not ruined for the rest of their life like a Maty Mauk or Len Bias.
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Interesting topic. I enjoyed how you chose a topic that was relevant and needed to be addressed. Your blog could get the ball rolling.
ReplyDeleteGood topic! I definitely think the athletes should have more education on what drugs can do to them and what it could ultimately cost them in the long run
ReplyDeleteNo matter how big the punishments are for the athletes, drugs are going to still be used. It's a problem that obviously needs to be solved. We can't eliminate the issue, but we can decrease it by doing exactly what you said. Great blog!
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