Stop trying to be nice

Legend [16227]

TigerPulse: 100%

Posts: 12771

Joined: 11/14/09

Provided Sammy plays it straight as an arrow from here,

May 6, 2012, 10:32 PM

and the facts of the offense aren't beyond what we already know, I could definitely see a 1st half benching in our opener as a substantial enough penalty for this transgression.

1. From a "public reprimand" standpoint, the weeks-long national media hype that will go into the nationally televised Auburn game as part of the NCAA kick-off weekend will carry far more weight than normal. Compared to what UNC was guilty of, and having their league-imposed extra punishment for system-wide academic fraud unleashed to the "public" on a ho-hum Friday afternoon when press coverage is at its minimum is laughable. Any length of suspension for the Chick-Fil-A game will carry significant coverage in the national sports press, especially considering its timing. Public reprimand and personal shame accomplished.

2. Considering that the offense occurred during the epitome of downtime, not only athletically but also academically, when team and collegiate responsibility was at its nadir, cannot be discounted as a factor. No games. No practice. No more classes. No more exams. Bad judgment, yes, without question. But it's the first bad judgment that anyone around him is aware of (other than owning a gas guzzler of a car).

We should beat Auburn in the opener with or without Sammy - our fortunes in that game shouldn't be a factor in any way, and knowing Coach Swinney I don't think it will be. That's not the issue. If Sammy is benched for even simply the opening series of the game, it's going to make national news at the time because of who he is and what he's already accomplished in the game. Considering the circumstances as we know them to be, that could well be enough.

Let cool heads prevail in this. Rushing to judgment is seldom the proper procedure. Either way, as Sammy as stated for himself, we should all accept whatever is decided from the staff.