View From Bennett Ave

I find it funny that there are so many opinions swirling around out there about Tyrann Mathieu's motives for checking into the rehab center John Lucas helps run in Houston.  Mathieu does have a problem even if some of us knock the significance of marijuana usage.  But the young man needed to stay clean for his team and for his future and could not do so.  Therefore he has a problem.  LSU was right in tossing him as they could not trust him and as I said before they should have been harder with failed tests one and two.  Clearly this is a problem that college football and all sports is dealing with and there is a need for the right blend of toughness and support and an increase in knowledge for us all.  The key right now is in his staying clean and not in our conjecture on where he will land.

Rise and Fall of Tyrann Mathieu

What is a fan of college football to do?  With August kicking off camp for college football programs the focus on the sport returned to football after another conscientious off-season.  The Penn State story was not going to go away for good mind you--and those lessons need to be retained--but at least thousands of players were back on fields across the nation and we could begin counting the days toward August 30th and the first official games.
Then Tyrann Mathieu does something he shouldn't have done and now one of the most dynamic and recognizable players in the game is removed from the 2012 season equation.  Since we do not know officially what the Honey Badger did I will not comment on the severity of the punishment, although I will say that his one-game suspension last season was apparently insufficient.  I also blame the media (what will Erin Andrews do now without him...learn about other players?) for continuing to give this guy attention beyond what he actually did on the field.  Sure he was good but clearly the scrutiny-free love he received while continuing to screw up off the field certainly did him no good.
So we will now all bemoan the fact that this gifted player will be sidelined.  Of course the SEC haters will be happy that yet another top program from that conference suffered a tough blow before games were played, adding Tyrann to the club formed by Bobby Petrino this off-season.  And those rooting for a team favored to be in the national title race will be happy that LSU took an early August bullet--well, missile--because we college fans are human and know full well that national title runs are fueled by both what happens to your team and what happens to the other 20-30 top teams.
After a day of reflection I, a true blue college football fan, can find solace in the fact that there are so many great college football players out there that one guy cannot make or break a season.  Hell, who knew how good Tyrann could be 365 days ago?

View From Bennett Avenue

Synthetic marijuana? I am too old to have encountered that in my day. But I hope the three Lousiana State football players--Tyrann Mathieu, Therold Simon and Spencer Ware--enjoyed themselves with it. Supposedly those players failed a drug test. I don't know. I do know that they have been suspended and that is huge with the Tigers Bowl against Auburn taking place this Saturday.
But I write this post to chastise members of the media for idiotic reporting. No, I am not angry that LSU has not confirmed the failed tests. Stories like these come out one way or another and if the regular press ignored them waiting for full evidence, they would have nothing to report. This is especially true with college programs that are usually tight-lipped. Do you think Auburn would ever admit to a knowledge of payment to Cam Newton's father, if indeed some member of their family paid him? No. Head coach Les Miles does not have to tell us why he is suspending these players. My problem is with the presentation. Mathieu, who has been over-hyped all season--is justifiably the lead here. But ESPN and CBS and others continue to write that "stars" Mathieu and Ware and another guy have been suspended. And that is where I--and Therold Simon's mom--beg too differ.
For one thing, LSU is winning because they hit you with a wave of tall guys, some of whom are quite big, who are all fast. With AA CB Patrick Peterson departed to the NFL, they entered the season devoid of stars. The only player to make Phil Steele's preseason all conference first team was CB Morris Claiborne, who had heretofore been known as the other guy opposite Peterson. But as LSU climbed the polls, ESPN had to create a superstar--how dare a team win a team sport as a collective! And so Mathieu became a Heisman candidate for his brilliant play early on and his nickname, the Honey Badger, became almost a mantra for Erin Andrews and others. But Mathieu, like the entire LSU D, is a bit too much hype. Good, yes, but not great. LSU has played four SEC games and has been fortunate to face backup QBs versus Florida and Tennessee and struggling (against everyone) QBs for Kentucky and Mississippi State. Yes they made some plays against Oregon, but the Ducks offense is not as good away from Eugene and had to deal with fumbles and injuries. The only other good offense they faced--that of West Virginia--torched them for 533y. I am sorry, but no great defense allows 533y, even if it was on the road and with a big 4th Q lead.
But Mathieu has become a star. Fine. And Ware is a solid player who leads a bevy of talented backs. He is no star, however. Meanwhile, ESPN had better put on the tapes of Simon before they continue to disrespect him. He is 4th on the team with 29 tackles and is first in passes broken up and defended. The team's sole pick of Oregon QB Darron Thomas? By Simon of course who had a big game that day. Meanwhile, Bleacherreport mentioned that he may or may not be an NFL prospect, despite being 6'3 and a playmaker as a sophomore. What his future NFL plans have to do with the story I cannot tell you.
So, report stories. But please get to know the players you supposedly cover.