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personal, family decision. Her coach should be the one to remove her from competition.
Though, the reality may be, that getting caught is a rare occurrence. The NCAA randomly tests during post-season play. It is generally up to schools to police on their own. That leaves a lot of variance.
In the aftermath of Len Bias' death, the University of Maryland completely overhauled it's drug testing program and student-athlete support framework. That was a reaction to the loss of a native son. Too late to save Bais' life, but hopefully in time to prevent other tragedies.
We cheer the players that wear the red and black each Saturday in the fall and beyond that in other sports. If you're like me you even stick your nose up when leagues like MLB create a bed of substance use that they must lie in.
It's in times like these that wins on the competitive field take a backseat to the safety of the student-athletes that perform for our pleasure. It is in times like these that I am proud to have great leaders in the halls and offices of our athletic department. Andy Landers, Suzanne Yoculan, Mark Richt, Manny Diaz....the list goes on. It even included Dennis Felton.
I watched on National Signing Day as Coach Richt talked about the type of young man they look for when they recruit players. This is a man who has taken a lot of undue criticism for the decisions some of his players have made. He talked about character, discipline, and leadership. When pressed about times in the 40, he and Willie Martinez all but scoffed.
Forty times are unscientific, they are as susceptible to a faulty stop watch usage as they are to being run downhill.
But I bet you these coaches can tell well before the ink is dry if the kid has character and/or potential for leadership roles on their respective team. Certainly they know before they leave the kid's high school or living room whether or not they can help mold the young athlete into a good young man or woman.
The word leadership has been batted around casually and formally related to the football team as of late. Many fans have chimed in. Others have openly wondered why is leadership important? Why not just sign the kids who can play the best, run the fastest, and then worry about molding them into leaders later?
It ain't that easy. There are many styles to leadership, each born within the person and developed through time and experiences. Pollack lead through his actions on the practice field and his non-stop motor 'tween the hedges. Greene had the command and attention in the huddle to bring out the best in the other ten Georgia jerseys on the field.
Those are just a couple of examples. Do a 180 and you'll find a couple more. Like Quincy Carter or Mike Mercer. Great players that may not have had the structure or self-discipline to maximize their potential while in Athens.
So while we are quick to embrace the leadership we see on the field, we should be just as quick to lock onto the leadership that happens off of it.
I once listened in as a very wise man spoke to a gathering of teenagers closing in on graduation. He told the story of three teens who lost their lives from sniffing a foreign substance..."huffing" I believe it is called. He mused that the conversation likely went something like this:
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