As the football team closes out another season, one has to look back on all the fond memories. There was the very exciting first win, where the Cards beat Eastern Michigan in front of 12,326 very eager and very loud fans. Most recently there was the "near defeat" of Michigan.
But what happened in between?
Oh yeah, two players got arrested for stealing laptops out of dorm rooms.
I believe there was a similar abuse of trust that surfaced last season involving football players and other athletes. A total of 64 students from various teams were using their athletic benefits to put some of their friends' books onto Ball State University's tab.
Now, do not get me wrong. I am not here to dig up issues long ago resolved. I do have a point.
What happened to athletes who violate laws and athletic codes? Many times, nothing.
I will give an example. In Kenton, Ohio last year, five football players from the local high school thought it would be funny to put a fake deer in the road - I'm guessing Kenton might be a little like Muncie at night. While they were waiting nearby, a car carrying two young men swerved off the road to avoid the deer. One was seriously injured and the other suffered brain damage.
The football players were sentenced to 60 days in juvenile detention to be served after football season ended.
Revenue sports like football and basketball are in some places many times more important than even what goes on inside of the classrooms. It is like this with several small-town high schools and is even present in the college atmosphere.
Ball State is not one of these schools, though.
What happened to our own athletic delinquents? Well, several of the athletes who abused their textbook benefits were suspended from their respective teams and made to do community service, and the two football players who stole from their fellow students were sent to jail and suspended indefinitely from the team.
In addition to holding players accountable for their less-than-perfect behavior, Ball State athletes also have to get something out of their education.
Athletes are required to maintain a 2.00 grade point average after their second year. If an athlete is not performing well academically, he or she is required to seek tutoring from the Learning Center. It is because this tireless dedication to academics that Ball State athletes have scored incredibly well on the yearly NCAA Academic Progress Report, often ranking first, second and third in their respective categories.
This is a huge advantage that Ball State athletes will have over other schools. Not only are they learning that talent in sports is not the most important aspect in life, they are also being prepared for careers and experiences outside of their respective sports.
Ball State might not have quite the caliber of athletes some of the nation's most competitive schools do, but it is still refreshing to see that Ball State demands more of its players.
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