Georgia Draft Pride

This past week's NFL draft really created buzz not only around the country, as many eager fans watched to see which star college football players would be drafted to their favorite NFL teams, but also across UGA's campus. There are a number of things that students can do to bring recognition to their beloved university such as receive a national scholastic award, win a national championship, develop cures for diseases, or sail the world but none of which brings as much attention and pride to the school as being drafted into the NFL. This past week, UGA had a total of eight players taken in the three day 2013 NFL draft. 

Leading up to the event, people all across campus engaged in conversations on social media voicing their predictions of who would go where and when. Both linebackers Jarvis Jones and Alec Ogletree headlined the Georgia draft class as they were taken with the 17th and 30th picks of the first round by the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, respectively. Other draftees from UGA included nose guard John Jenkins (New Orleans), safety Shawn Williams (Cincinnati), Sander Cummings (Kansas City), Tavarres King (Denver), Cornelius Washington (Chicago), and Bacarri Rambo (Washington). Georgia's eight players drafted in this year's draft ties a school-record set back in 2002 and such an accomplishment has been of high talk all across town.

As a student at UGA, we are proud of these boys and the recognition they brought to our prestigious university. Way to bring back some Georgia Pride! Continue to represent the red and black with pride! GO DAWGS!

Down for the Count

The world of Twitter has been blown up with news of Kobe Bryant's injury. Friday night during the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the Golden State Warriors, super star Kobe Bryant tore his achilles tendon. He will be completely shut down for 6-8 months which makes getting to the playoffs seem a lot harder for the Lakers. 

Many tweeters expressed their sympathy for the notorious basketball player but one of the biggest topics of discussion was the Laker's Amnesty clause available that must be used by July 1-9 window.  Kobe signed with the Lakers through next season, but  amnesty clause provides the power to mitigate that contract. The Lakers could save $60 million in luxury tax fees if they do exercise the amnesty clause. If they do not amnesty Bryant, they Lakers would still have the highest payroll in the NBA and take on $85 million in luxury tax fees next season. 

But is it always about the money? If it were, it would be a no brainer for the Lakers. Only time will tell just how much one player is worth to the New York Yankees of the NBA. 

Auburn Athletics

One athletic program that has really been making headline is Auburn University. But these recent news stories aren't exactly revealing Auburn in a good light but instead revealing what appears to be a lack of integrity from both coaches and athletes.

This first article exposes many alleged violations including the coaches directly and indirectly paying players. Everyone knows you can't do that! Former players spoke of many NCAA violations which also included grade changes for one of their star players, Mike Dyer. According to the article, Dyer should have been deemed ineligible because of his grades (therefore, would not have been the MVP of the BCS National Championship game because he wouldn't have been eligible to play) but Auburn somehow found a way to "make him eligible".

Who is to say if without their super star playing that Auburn would have still won that National Championship. Sounds like to me, that the NCAA has a long investigation ahead of them and who knows, Auburn might even be stripped of their National Championship title.

With all the lies, deceit, and rule breaking that coaches are partaking in and encouraging just to have a leg up, it isn't surprising that similar characteristics are arising in their players. Leadership from coaches is very important and can deeply impact players. I believe that coaches help guide and mold athletes during some of the their most influential years.

This next article from Sports Illustrated tells of an ex-Auburn player who has plead guilty to first degree robbery. Mike McNeil was a member of Auburns 2010 Championship winning team but was released in 2011 after is arrest and faces 21 years in prison. Three other Auburn players were also arrested at the same time, Dakota Mosley, Shaun Kitchens and Antonio Goodwin. 

There have been numerous acts of bad behavior and crime on Auburn's football team as well as many other football teams across the country but I strongly believe that coaches should be held to the highest standards in terms of their morals and behavior and the example they set for their players. Some players will fall off the boat no matter what measures are taken or how much good influence is provided but poor leadership from coaches lacking in morals and standards, almost guarantees a higher number of players who will get in trouble. Although winning is important, I think its safe to say, that winning never trumps 21 years in prison and great coaches can lead their players down paths of long-term success after their playing days are over.  

Anthony Adams

As I watched Fox news on Friday morning, the discussion switched to Anthony Adams retirement announcement. The former 49ers defensive tackle didn't just make the announcement the normal plain jane way but instead made his important announcement at a White Castle. That's right, at a fast food restaurant. 

Adams was a second-round pick and signed with the Bears as a free agent in 2007. During his nine years in the NFL, Adams had 214 tackles in addition to 10.5 sacks. 

While some may think the way in which he chose to announce his retirement makes no sense, I, on the other hand, think it was brilliant! With the exception of some major NFL super stars, how many retirement announcements can you recall from other NFL players? The four and a half minute long youtube video has generated more buzz and publicity for Adams than he probably received his entire 9 year career! Since its release on March 23, the video has receive 1,150,238 hits and I'm sure it will continue to grow over the next week as well. 

Most defensive tackles take little or no recognition for the brutal hits they take and receive no glory compared to some other more poplar football positions and the youtube video capitalizes on that point. The comedic video shows Adams attempt to convince several social media outlets to cover his announcement and after many failed attempts he ends up at an empty White Castle on his big day. The video really made me laugh and I think this will serve as the starting point of his next career in the spotlight...SHOW BIZ. 

Good for Anthony Adams for finally receiving some of the attention he deserves for all his hard work and deication in the NFL and best wishes to him in whatever he pursues next!

Student-Athletes

Earlier last week I read an article in the Red and Black that was a response to a column written by a student at the University of Illinois newspaper. As I read the article, Student Athletes: The Kings and Queens of campus I couldn't help but notice my blood begin to boil.

"I front a small fee for an iBook. Her student athlete school supplies are free. Not only do they get blue and orange gear free of charge, which includes those trademark Nike tracksuits and backpacks, but student athletes are also privy to tutoring services that the rest of us standard, non-athletic-scholarship students have to go out of our way for or otherwise not have"

I am not a student-athlete at the University of Illinois, but I can speak on behalf of the student athletes at the University of Georgia; and I would never venture to say that those "free" supplies came at no cost. The 16 years of pouring myself into my sport for 30-40 hours of training 6 days a week is just one of the prices I paid for "free gear and books." Many would consider it to be as demanding as a full-time job, but a job that I had to pay to work. My parents pre-paid for schooling with medical bills, gym tuition, traveling expenses, coaches’ fees and 16 years of uniforms and supplies. While I was making a relentless commitment to a goal while sacrificing my body, my social life, and a normal education, you "never finished the mile" and "always dropped out around a third of the way to puke or pass out — whichever came first."

"...had I hit my fitness stride just a few years earlier, maybe I could be getting more out of this University." Maybe you're right, who knows, but what separates you and me is that I didn't quit, nor was I scared of a little hard work at a young age. I was willing to push myself beyond average, and I strived to attain a level that most couldn't cut it at.

One would think that while student athletes are focusing and dedicating a majority of their time to sports (both before and during college), that the "plain, non-athlete students" would have more time to pour themselves into school and their studies. If non-student athletes were putting in the same amount of time studying as student-athletes were practicing and playing on a weekly basis, It would probably be safe to assume that they wouldn't even need tutors. I think that non-student athletes have a "leg up" on athletes because they have the opportunity to be in class every day (not missing one to three days a week traveling and competing), they have the freedom to choose when and where they study, they can make it to teacher office hours (because they aren't in the middle of practice), and they can easily meet with their groups just about whenever (instead of doing so after finishing mandatory practice and tutor sessions at 9:00 p.m).

Now I will be honest and admit that there are student-athletes who take advantage of the system or "milk" it, just as there are people who take advantage of and milk any system put in place. But the majority of student-athletes really are applying themselves in all aspects of their lives, on and off the field/court/floor, and most aren't planning on going professional in their sport. I am a double major in marketing and finance while competing on a top-five-ranked team. For those who do abuse the system, we all suffer the consequences to some degree. There are as many teachers who don't like athletes as there are teachers who do like athletes. We all have to overcome the stigma that we are "dumb jocks and, as a result, have to work twice as hard to prove that we aren't. We have class checkers who sit outside our class and report to our coach if we are even one minute late. Those "mandatory hours" of studying apply to all of us because some slack off, and we all pay the price when it’s the last thing we want to do, usually because the entire day had already been spent doing "mandatory" practice and other meetings of that nature.

To whom much is given, much more is expected. Student athletes are blessed to have so many tools and opportunities at their disposal, but sometimes it’s nearly impossible to find time to actually take advantage of these gifts which can turn into a burden. A student athlete could have all the tutors in the world (which they are absolutely required to attend once they have requested them), but they will only get out of it what they put in. A tutor can't do your work, they can't make you smarter, they can't make you pay attention, and they can't take your test for you. They are simply a tool that a student-athlete has earned the right to utilize.

While many regular students miss class because they partied the night before, we hate having to miss class to travel. While students go home and spend time with their families over the holiday break, we put in extra hours on campus gearing up for season. While most students get crazy on spring break, student athletes are competing and bringing $92,739,215 of revenue into the university that benefits all students of the university.

For the record, during my four years at UGA, not once did any "professors, instructors or TAs take the initiative to seek me out for extra help."

Being a student-athlete is a privilege that was earned, and has to continuously be earned on a regular basis, because it is a privilege that can quickly be stripped from you. If it were easy, everyone would do it, and it wouldn't be so special.

So please, continue to "strive for excellence" because I am not stopping you from going the extra mile.  If anything, the odds are much more stacked against me to succeed in the classroom than they are you. But one thing I have learned through sports is that a "what’s the point?" envious attitude will get you nothing better than average. I hope the next time you purchase a planner, you are reminded of the price some have had the privilege to pay for that same planner. 

Burnt Hair

One thing discussed in class has been the transition social media has played in the way news  travels. Originally, things that were deemed news worthy by professionals who worked for news stations or newspapers was published to the public for reading and enjoyment. Now, with social media, the roles have changed. The public decides what is news worthy and reporters then pick up on the stories and publish them. A perfect example is this Youtube video called, "burnt hair". This video is a tutorial by a 13-year old girl of how to curl your hair except is goes horribly wrong. It received 12 million views in 5 days! I learned about it from my teammates who were watching and laughing about it in the locker room. Watch it, you will probably fall out of your chair laughing...

It is now up to almost 20 million views and even attracted the attention of Ellen. Something like this would have never been "news worthy" 10 years ago, but the times have change and social media has played a vital role in this change. 

Harlem Shakes its way from UGA to Good Morning America

If you haven't seen the Harlem Shake videos that have been shaking buzz on UGA's campus and all over social media, then you are really missing out. The UGA swim team was the first at UGA to create and epic Harlem Shake video that made national news. The swim team made their video underwater with all kinds of crazy outfits and random things. It's up to 16.6 million views and even was shown on Good Morning America and The Today Show.

UGA's Swim team video has inspired a wave of harlem shake videos over the last week. Everyone from the UGA football team to the Orlando Magic Basketball Team! Just one more way UGA athletics grabs the attention people across the world through social media.