Andre Smith...all that's wrong with college football

While most Alabama fans were dreaming sweet dreams without care in preparation for Alabama's first Sugar Bowl in 16 years, Andre Smith and members of his family were busily contacting NFL agents to greedily fill their coffers.  While fans were donning their favorite shirts, placing magnets and flags on their cars, and spending hard-earned money to attend a game out of pride and loyalty to a college football program dear to their hearts, one of its most important players was betraying them all.  Andre Smith's absence in the Sugar Bowl was the most important reason Alabama lost, and one of the most grotesque examples of the greed and avarice that has come to represent college football and all sports.  

I'm an idealist.  I like to think that there is something higher and better than the pursuit of money and a lifestyle of prostitutes, parties, and debauchery.  I like to think that there are more stories like that of Pat Trammell than Andre Smith (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Trammell).  Trammell, one of Bear's favorites, was an all-american QB, a role model for young players, and a fantastic representative of the state of Alabama.  He graduated from medical school.  He accepted deserved accolades with class and restraint.  He embodied all that is positive in the human existence.  There was no outward manifestation of personal glory or gain, and no obvious vices.  Unfortunately, as is the case with many good people, he was taken from us at an early age.  That WAS Alabama football. 

That was then, this is now.  Over the years, coinciding with other social changes, the motivations of players has changed.  The purpose of playing the game has changed.  The fallout is an environment of greed and selfishness that has permeated all sports.  The innocent goals of representing a community, high school, or college has given way to "what's in it for me."  It's become a means to an end, and the end is self-gratification.  What's worse, whole families have become involved as pseudo career managers, and involve young kids in sports for the expressed and sole purpose of becoming professional athletes for their own selfish goals.     

Fans have also succumbed, offering all kinds of excuses as to why these decisions are prudent with complete disregard for their impact.  In the blog hyperlinked as part of this entry (click the title to access), the author is most concerned with whether Smith will be a "future Lion" rather than considering any social or moral implications of his suspension.  Indeed, the NFL and the scum associated with its operation is a primary cause of this digression.  Agents, more money than the EU, and decadent lifestyles offered to young men that are not old enough to understand the nature of their decisions or make objective evaluations are at the core of this breakdown.  But no matter how infective these temptations are, it all boils own to the character of the individual as to what decisions they make and why.  

Pat Trammell would not have disappointed Bear, the school, and the fans on the verge of a major bowl game by doing anything worthy of a suspension.  He would have risen above in a moment of character and acted for the benefit of the common good instead of himself.  Fans that support this nonsense and are fans of professional sports will argue many reasons why things are "different" now:  professional sports are much bigger now; there is much more money at stake; the majority of players now come from depressed areas; it's just "good business."  Those things might be true, but character, responsibility, loyalty, and dedication have not changed.  They are, and have been for eternity, the bedrock of ethical human existence.  

Andre Smith's actions leading to his suspension are despicable under all circumstances, situations, and conditions.  NO financial gain is worth sacrificing one's character.  NO material benefit is worth compromising one's convictions.  The only consolation for me, he will be remembered not for his blocking in many of the memorable games of the improbable 2008 season, but that he was suspended for the Sugar Bowl and left for the NFL early.  We've all been betrayed before, when someone at Alabama pleaded that payers "hold the rope" and didn't follow through.  I guess Andre was at the other end.