Jameis Winston: Just Can't Get Right And May Never Do So

Florida State quarterback and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston is well known and all over the news lately. Unfortunately it's not for all the right reasons.

Any publicity is not always good publicity, especially when you have acted out in the manner that Jameis has in his brief collegiate career. In just one calendar year, he has had a rape charge, walked out of Publix without paying for crab legs, and now he's just missed his first college football game for making lewd and sexist remarks in FSU's student union.

The Seminoles squeaked by the Clemson Tigers on Saturday night in overtime with Winston on the sidelines. But there would have been lots of what ifs and skepticism had Clemson escaped Doak Campbell Stadium with a win and essentially ended FSU's chance of defending their title.

Now here's the bottom line for the young FSU signal caller who shares two things in common with Bo Jackson: the Heisman and the same hometown (Bessemer, AL). He has to turn this thing around and get it together. Can he do so? Absolutely. But it starts from the top. He has to be disciplined more properly and harshly by his head coach Jimbo Fisher.
He should not have been allowed on the sideline with his teammates, let along inside the stadium. This young man has let this fame go to his head and he must be humbled. Also some notable alums such as Chris Weinke and Deion Sanders need to travel to Tallahassee and personally meet with him and have a heart to heart.

Discipline and corporal punishment are once again a hot topic thanks to the Adrian Peterson debacle. The consensus is Jameis must properly pay for his countless string of mistakes and a message needs to be sent to him. He at least should be on a zero tolerance policy with the university and the NCAA. He is representing both, for better and for worse.

His draft stock is already dropped according to NFL experts and especially with all the drama the league is currently undergoing, many owners will not want to take a chance on a project, despite his talents and physical tools. He could only be a detriment to himself and the team that drafts him.

Everyone should be given another chance to rehabilitate and the play on the field is what should matter the most. However, when you're in the public eye and know better, you need to act accordingly. The clock is ticking on Mr. Winston. Should he declare for the 2015 draft, he has but a few months to turn this thing around and get people around him thinking and talking positive again.

Do you think Jameis Winston can turn this around? What do you think would be the best punishment or motivation for him to do so?

The SEC Network: Another Feather In The Cap Of A Great Conference

I have written about the SEC a couple of times, especially them being arguably the best conference in all of college football. They now have a network of their own, which premiered on August 14, 2014.

Currently, the SEC network is showing classic games, highlights, and SEC Storied episodes. The special "The Stars Aligned" was really good. It gave people a birdeye's view about the day in the life of an SEC sports fan.

During the sporting season, certain games that will not air on ESPN or CBS will air on this network.

Now I am still a diehard Notre Dame fan in football and University of North Carolina fan in basketball. Nevertheless, I enjoy good sports, especially football. The SEC has that and then some.

And you gotta love that Rudy commercial advertising the NCAA's new four team playoff system.

They have featured many of the recent great Alabama and Auburn teams, including some specials on Bo Jackson. Former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is now an analyst for the network. South Carolina has been shown some as well, given the splash they have made in the SEC in football and baseball the past few years.

The SEC network is available virtually everywhere, including DirecTV (channel 611), DISH, Charter and Time Warner Cable. It is definitely a big deal.

Enthusiasm is high right now for the southern football fan, and for sports fans in general. The SEC network is capturing this and proving why they have been competitive for so long.

Do you root for an SEC team? What do you think of this new network?

College Football Positioning in the BCS's final year

The college football season just got more exciting this past weekend.

Two time defending national champion Alabama appeared headed back to Atlanta and the SEC title game when Auburn spoiled that in the Iron Bowl with a stellar running game and returning a missed field goal 108 yards for a touchdown with one second left. Now Florida State and Ohio State appear headed to Pasadena for the national championship, should they win their conference championships.

FSU's biggest obstacle is not a resurgent Duke squad. It's the off field antics of QB Jameis Winston. Should he be convicted of rape, that could make a difference in the national championship.  Florida State has enough athletes to beat Duke, so you can almost lock them into Pasadena.

Ohio State is a another story, however. They have played in a weak Big Ten, and haven't exactly dominated.  They also face a tough Michigan State team. If they lose and Auburn wins, Auburn will be the #2 team. If both lose, Alabama could be back in the mix based on computer rankings. Remember in 2007 when LSU made it to #2 with two losses but had a tough schedule?

Now if Ohio State wins and Auburn wins, Auburn could still pass OSU based on the aforementioned stronger schedule and the SEC's reputation.

Basically if you're a Crimson Tide fan, you are rooting for both Ohio State and Auburn to lose, especially to help deal with that heartbreaking Iron Bowl loss.

Now far as the other BCS bowls, it appears Stanford and Michigan State will be headed to the Rose Bowl, while Oklahoma State, Northern Illinois, and Auburn/Alabama/Clemson will be representing their conferences.  Baylor could grab at least an at-large bid with a win against Texas. Outside of conference champions and #1 v #2, it's a bit of a crapshoot.

But FSU and OSU control their destiny by simply winning.  Auburn needs to win also, but worse than the two teams ahead of them.

It doesn't matter whether you're a fan of the BCS or not. This final weekend of college football before the bowls should be intriguing.  Hope you have your popcorn and drink ready.

A Football Life: The Love Of The Game

Sports are a major part of our culture and daily lives. Some women even watch as much Sportscenter as some men. ESPN and ESPN2 are required channels on any cable or satellite packages.

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Basketball, baseball, boxing, tennis, golf, hockey, NASCAR, and currently the Olympics have their broad fanbases. However, none beat the nation's #1 sport: football.



It's hard to beat the smell of the freshly cut grass, the taste of the hot dogs and pizza, the roar of the crowds, and the hard hits and big plays. It's pure Heaven to many of us

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Football is like a religion in some areas, and understandably so. It comes on only a few times/week, lasts only a few months, and is simply exciting to watch, but not too exhausting or drawn out as other sports.



My love for football began in my teen years when I played for Blacksburg High School. I still root for the Wildcats. I also attend many high school games around the Carolinas, including Gaffney. No one has to explain to me why football is so big in the city of Gaffney. I attend at least a couple of Gaffney games per year, and have even traveled when they went to the state championship. I love seeing good football and athletes, at all levels of play.



College football is also special. From the tailgating to GameDay on ESPN, it’s an absolute rush. I'm not in favor of the BCS, but I definitely love to watch the drama and excitement of college football. Those players play so hard, in hopes of one day receiving a nice NFL contract. It will be nice when my Notre Dame Fighting Irish can win more often. Beyond that, Saturdays in the fall are made for college football, fight songs, rivalries, and school pride.



The NFL has almost always been great.  It's a great way to cap off the weekend.   My team for the past couple of decades has been the Green Bay Packers. That isn't easy, although they are winning. Most of my family likes America's Team, the Dallas Cowboys. You can only imagine how Thanksgiving is for me since the Boys play every Turkey Day. I still enjoy watching at least five games on Sundays, one on Mondays, and the occasional Thursday night game. The season culminates with the Super Bowl, the highest rated program on television during the entire year.



The NFL became even more exciting for me when I started playing fantasy football about four years ago. I was then forced to pay attention to every player on all 32 NFL rosters. The people I play with do not play for money, simply for bragging rights. My desire, research, and luck paid off last season as I won the championship in one of my leagues. I hope to repeat my championship this season.



Football is a team sport that has united communities of all backgrounds for decades. One can see in many families that the fathers and uncles played, and the mothers and aunts cheered. This tradition continues to be passed down. You even have famous football families such as the Mannings, with Archie, Eli, and Peyton.



There are not enough words to express how happy I am football is back. It is a constant reminder of the good in this world, and the various rewards that can result from a consistent team effort.