UCLA five-star RB signee Soso Jamabo
arrested on prom night
Watching television shows and movies you are shown how
prom night is celebrated and sometimes these shows give you a glance of the
good, the bad, and the ugly. The good part of prom are the pictures and rented
cars that parents and working kids go out of their way to drive their dates’ in;
the bad are the late night parties that happen afterwards that go unattended by
parents and this would be the ugly part. Soso was arrested for evading arrest with a vehicle, minor consumption of
alcohol, minor in possession of alcohol, speeding, driving without possessing a
driver's license, and disregarding a stop sign. Now these were bad within
itself and I don’t know if he had a criminal record before this but for most
schools he has thrown away a full scholarship to a good school and as I
searched further into this story it was said that Soso was said to be crying
that his life is over. I think the police got this one right but I know he will
probably lose his scholarship and have to choose a different route but I wanted
to ask what should happen next. Ethically, I can see UCLA revealing him of his
scholarship but should they keep him and put him in a program where they could
help him with alcohol abuse. I know this is farfetched but would it be unethical
for them to do that or is it easier to just get rid of him and have him fend
for himself.
Patterson,
C. (2015, April 19). UCLA five-star RB signee Soso Jamabo arrested on prom
night. Retrieved April 20, 2015, from
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/eye-on-college-football/25154964/report-ucla-five-star-rb-signee-soso-jamabo-arrested-on-prom-night
For a student athlete to walk in to a collegiate athletic program with a criminal record is a recipe for disaster. In my opinion, UCLA should not invest in a player who is not committed to the football program. Not only does this affect the football program, but also Soso’s academics may be affected as a result of his inability to remain disciplined. If Soso was willing to jeopardize his chance to play collegiate football, as well as earn a solid education at a reputable university, than that is his own mistake. At the same time, that is exactly what Soso did…make a mistake. If he participated in different groups targeting alcohol consumption and safe driving practices, I could see how UCLA would agree to allow him to still play on the team. There is a fine line between giving someone a chance to redeem themselves and getting taken advantage of by a young kid who thinks he’s invincible to rules and guidelines. Seeing as he is a 5-star recruit, UCLA will find a way to get him on the team despite his legal issues.
ReplyDeleteKali Morgenstern
I agree with Kali in that taking on a player with a criminal record would not be very smart for any college football program. The challenges that come along with the academic side of college on top of the commitment to a sport are difficult for any student athlete. The college atmosphere also poses new temptations that could lead to bad decisions by these young athletes. Everyone makes mistakes, especially 18 year old kids, however, the second they become a student athlete at a university, their mistakes affect themselves, their coaches and teammates. It is important to discourage the type of behavior that Soso engaged in so UCLA giving him that opportunity may lead to more mistakes in the future. I think if he was serious about earning his scholarship back, it is his responsibility to show UCLA, or any other football program, that he is remorseful for his actions and is committed to improving himself as a young adult and athlete.
ReplyDeleteAllie McDavitt
This story is very dis heartening, because I know someone who had a similar situation. Prom is a very fun and exciting time. I love prom so much that I attended 6 proms total. I was a prom chaperone in 2014, and we try to keep our students safe on prom. To deter incidents like Soso’s, the school I chaperoned implemented a mandatory bus policy. Students were mandated to take a chartered bus to and from prom/post prom. Maybe this policy would of helped Soso in his situation.
ReplyDeleteThis kid, emphasis on kid, made a mistake. Each one of the offenses that Soso committed, I have also committed in my youth. The only difference between 18-year-old Soso and me is our football ability and the fact that I never got caught committing these violations. UCLA has a hard decision to make. Do they release him of his scholarship, or do they take a chance with Soso?
I think a deontology theory should be applied in this situation. Education is priceless. This kid should not be deprived of an education due to the mistakes he made. UCLA is an excellent institution academically. I think a win-win situation would be to require Soso to take a alcohol education class in order to keep his scholarship. Some people might think UCLA would just be looking out for themselves; some may think they actually care about the well being of this kid. Either way it would be right thing to do.
-David Sims
I think this is a very interesting topic and one that as a college football coach I have never thought of. To start, it is obvious that Soso made a huge mistake. He should not have partaken in these activities and in return, he will have to pay the consequences. Fortunately, we live in a world where he will be forgiven and will end up being a scholarship football player at some level. UCLA has the unique ability in this situation to keep this kid on board and find some kind of rehabilitation program that he could use to better himself. Usually, colleges and universities provide athletes with these services after the student is already enrolled and on their campus. This could be a time changing opportunity for UCLA to help this young man out by providing him these services now. By doing so, UCLA will be morally and ethically making a decision that could provide to be positive to them and the student-athlete.
ReplyDeleteDerek Shay