The University of Maryland’s football program is in the crosshairs and it should be. It is obvious that there were mistakes made that were so severe, Jordan McNair lost his life. This shouldn’t be a story that leaves your radar any time soon.
College coaches of all sports have been allowed to operate outside of the bounds of the university under the tired, immature excuse of “they’re getting a free education”. That asinine statement is used for every Johnny High School hero to say that the kids should be thankful no matter how poorly they’re treated. This isn’t just the fault of higher education, it’s the fault of society and this immature thought that Millennials are “soft”. There’s nothing worse than “back in my day” guy.
Things have changed in society and so should sports. So, no, it isn’t acceptable for you to talk to your female co-workers like they’re a piece of meat. No. We don’t use typewriters anymore we use computers. And, despite what a certain moron will tell you, coal isn’t the indicator of how our economy is doing. Socially and technologically we’ve matured but there is still a certain sect of our society who hasn’t.
College athletics, especially football and basketball, needs to change. They are an unpaid labor force that is constantly abused by a bunch of millionaires trying to protect billions in television and ad contracts. College athletes can’t unionize. It’s been determined, at least for now, that they aren’t employees. They are as powerless of a labor force as any out there. So why should anyone be shocked over abuse? And, even worse, how can people constantly defend the system?
This isn’t a Maryland problem. This isn’t a sports problem. It’s a societal problem. Every “back in my day” meathead is responsible for Jordan McNair’s death. We as a society have to recognize that times have changed and they’ve changed for the better. So instead of waxing poetic about “your day”, how about growing up?
