Heisman Trophy Winner Needs To Get Act Together

The stage was set. The twenty-second ranked Clemson Tigers were headed to Tallahassee for a highly anticipated matchup with top ranked Florida State University. FSU, however, would be playing without superstar quarterback Jameis Winston, who subsequently dropped a sexist slur in the school’s student union a few days prior. 

This instantly made the matchup more intriguing. Could this vaunted Seminole team withstand an attack from scrappy Clemson without their poised leader? 

Prior to the game, redshirt freshman quarterback Sean Maguire was given the keys to the FSU offense, seeing that Winston was barred from playing. That may not have been entirely apparent to viewers watching the game though, as it was Winston himself who trotted out in uniform and full pads as if he knew nothing of the suspension. Upon noticing Winston’s bewildering antics, head coach Jimbo Fisher dismissed Winston, who returned yet again is his uniform and a pair of sweatpants.

“Smug” is perhaps the only suitable adjective to describe Winston’s actions. Worse yet, this is just the latest in a series of escapades incited by him. He has always had a reputation of having a big mouth, but his actions speak louder than he ever could. Controversy surrounded Winston last year after reports surfaced that he allegedly raped a young woman who attended the school. 

In New York Times writer Walt Bogdanich’s piece “A Star Player Accused, And a Flawed Rape Investigation,” published this past April, Bogdanich claims the entire investigation was mishandled. His article criticizes the lack of thoroughness exerted by the Tallahassee Police Department during the investigation, claiming that the TPD never questioned Winston, never obtained a DNA sample, and showed hints of favoritism to the star quarterback.

The State Attorney on the case, William Meggs, cited the lack of evidence available to convict Winston. 

“After reviewing all the evidence in the case, we did not feel like we could meet that burden,” Meggs said to the Associated Press.  

Despite clamorings that the investigation was unfair, Winston was cleared of any wrongdoing and had a perfect opportunity to start over, to become a new man. Initially, it seemed he would do just that. He profusely apologized for being a “distraction” to his team and vowed henceforth to be a leader in the community.

It’s safe to say that Winston didn’t exactly live up to his words. 

In 2013, he was accused of stealing soda by a Burger King employee. The employee cited that Winston repeatedly filled up a cup meant exclusively for water with soda, despite her multiple demands for him to stop. 

A year later, Winston continued his thievery, shoplifting $32.72 worth of crab legs at a local Publix. 

One would think that being enshrouded with rape allegations and petty theft charges compel Winston to lay low and keep himself out of the news for a while.

Not even five months later, Winston was caught loudly yelling the words “F*** her right in the p****” in the student union. 

Winston must understand the old adage “with great power comes great responsibility.” He is a Heisman Trophy winning, immensely popular athlete that a large concentration of youth looks up to. They mirror his actions, whether he wants them to or not. 

Which brings up another valid point: The blame doesn’t lie solely on Winston. After all, such actions are relatively unsurprising when he’s treated like an invincible hero by his school. 

Upon finding out about the putrid language spit by Winston in the union, FSU decided to bench him for half a game. Not a whole game, not the season–thirty minutes of a game. Only later, after finding out he embellished certain parts of his story, did the school suspend him for the entire game. 

College is supposed to be a place where people grow up and learn from their mistakes. 

Winston will never learn from his mistakes if he’s given a mere slap on the wrist whenever he does something wrong. In order for a lesson to actually be learned, a more severe punishment must be levied. That’s the only way he’ll learn. 

One thing is completely clear right now though. Jameis Winston needs to grow up.

Griffin Guinta can be reached at griffin.guinta@spartans.ut.edu