The University of Texas is Becoming a Laughingstock

After the big Cotton Bowl loss to Oklahoma University, the University of Texas football team came back to Austin with their tails tucked between their legs. The 28-21 loss was apparently too much for two of the football players to handle. Tyrell Gatewood and teammate Tarell Brown were arrested on the UT campus at the Jester Dorm Saturday night for possession of marijuana and a controlled substance. UT football coach Mack Brown has suspended the players indefinitely for their behavior, but what does that tell the world about the University of Texas? This is not the first time for Gatewood to be arrested, and he is not the first UT football player to be arrested for drug charges. The University of Texas' sports program allows too much leniency for their athletes, and for that reason, the University of Texas is becoming a laughingstock all over the country.

The UT football program receives millions of dollars from donors to produce a football team worthy of national excellence. When its players are already given cars, stipends, academic assistance, and pretty much anything they could ever need while at college and playing football, it seems it's all just not enough. Some push the boundaries and decide to experiment with recreational drugs, and usually end up getting caught. Others decide theft, trespassing, or driving while intoxicated is a thrilling way to spend their free time when they aren't training. Six University of Texas football players have been arrested since June of 2007, not even a six month time period. And as popular as he was at the time, Ricky Williams, a very talented, high profile player, just couldn't stay out of the media spotlight with his marijuana arrests.

As high profile football players (no pun intended) for one of the largest universities in the country, you would think someone in their entourage might have the least bit of common sense that drug use might be 1) be wrong, and 2) be one of the worst mistakes they could ever make. Because of their mistakes, what does that mean for the students, the faculty, the research, 95% of the rest of the University of Texas population? Do research donors want to give money to a school that allows criminals to thrive on their campus? Will parents send their children to such an institution? The players do not realize what kind of effect their actions play, when the media is no longer hush-hush about their legal mishaps.

I have heard athletes on the news use the excuse that they turn to drugs because of all the pressure. I think with all the perks they get, the can deal with a little pressure. It builds character. As Marvel's Spiderman put it, "With great power comes great responsibility." Maybe the players are getting hit in the head a little too much. Maybe the multi-million dollar donation money should be spent on adult babysitters to make sure the UT football players don't get into any more trouble.

The University of Texas is my alma mater. I'm glad action has been taken to reprimand these players, but really, why did it ever occur? I hope the University looks at the overall picture of a decent state education for their 50,000 student population, instead of once again looking the other way, just so their nationally ranked football team can score another touchdown.