Navarro Bowman: an Amazing Turn of Events

When Navarro Bowman got into a fight in State College, I among others, didn't think it was such a big deal. I, being on the nerdy side, still got into two fights in my four years of college. I reasoned that if it was a normal student it would not have been blown up as it was.

We fans like big hits and we look for aggression in our players. The aggression can't be turned off like a faucet and we should expect some straying from our idealized image of these athletes. Taking all that into account I agreed with the part of the public that argued the police are just looking for a chance to arrest football players. I also thought the punishment was too severe considering the circumstances but there is nothing we can do about it and the law is the law and we should respect it.

Summary of the situation: Mr. Bowman was on probation for a fight a year ago. He received 100 hours of community service and must not break parole. An example of breaking parole is taking drugs.

The facts were that he did not do a minute of community service and admitted to smoking marijuana.

Now, the Penn State football season officially ended after the Rose Bowl, even though there are winter workouts. If he did a full day of work on Friday and Saturday by the hearing he would have been finished with his community service.

As a player I think Navarro Bowman is great, but this feels like he is thumbing his nose at the legal system. We always say that they are picking on the football players and until today I was inclined to believe that, but here it seems the opposite. This to me, is far worse than the fight that caused the original sentence. I'm just as big a Penn State fan as I ever was, but I definitely have cooled concerning Mr. Bowman.

I know he lost his father and his "second father" (his high school coach), but it is hard to believe that nobody talked to him about the 100 hours of probation. He still has family and friends and teammates and a roommate and coaches and even his touted mentor LaVarArrington. (Incidentally, LaVar had the greatest play in all college football, ever.) Are you going to tell me that nobody mentioned the probation? I kind of doubt it. I would bet he got an e-mail, a face book, or even a regular letter from one of his die hard fans, warning him.

Dear Judge,
I know you were thinking of me when you gave Mr. Bowman an extension when you didn't have to do it. I publicly thank you. Now all we have to worry about is the OL, the secondary and WR's.