Give 'em a Break

During last Saturday's UH vs. Texas Tech match-up on ESPN2, I heard an interesting fact about a hand full of the UH football players... The broadcasters were discussing the fact that a few weeks ago when the Cougars traveled to Stillwater, Oklahoma to face the Cowboys it was many of the player's first time on an airplane. They joked about the players being frightened and apprehensive, not about their upcoming game, but merely their method of transportation. WOW- I couldn't believe it, this just amazed me.

With the constant media attention, hype, and pressure placed on college athletes, mostly football players, you forget that these boys range from 18-22 (unless it's BYU, then change that 22 to 25). They're still very young, maturing individuals who are treated like men, with the weight of the hopes and expectations of their team, school, alumni, and community resting on their shoulders. When they may not win every big game, it seems that the world crashes down solely on their heads.

One such player, who clearly felt the pressure, and fell victim to it, was Miami's QB, Jacory Harris. In fact, I almost devoted an entire post to profiling this prolific quarterback impressing the masses, but am sure glad I procrastinated! This sophomore has been so impressive, but I'm afraid the media coverage, exposure, and interviews depicting his winning attitude were a little premature, intimidating, and shook the nerves of young Harris in the Hurricanes beat down by the Virginia Tech Hokies.

I don't mean to sound like Oklahoma State football coach, Mike Gundy, but we should remember these football players are still very young, maturing boys, not men in the NFL. I remember the frightening, looming feelings when I knew a score was close, or understood the importance of a single race, and my sport of swimming didn't have a fraction of the publicity or pressure of football.

I wish the media and public would remember this before blasting hateful messages on websites and in newspapers, or putting the weight of the world on one individual player. Sure, the focus and scrutiny comes with the territory, but we all could use a little dose of understanding and cut them some slack when sometimes these boys, at a formative time in life, may not flawlessly meet all expectations.