FSU president wants players to take social responsibilities class
Florida State president John Thrasher has specific plans for athletes at the university.
The president told the Tallahassee Democrat Thursday that the university would like to have its athletes take a social responsibilities class. A new position in the athletic department would also be created as part of the initiative to help with “student-athlete development” and former players and other speakers would meet with the football team.
Two Florida State football players have been charged with battery recently. Running back Dalvin Cook has been indefinitely suspended after an alleged incident where he hit a woman outside a bar on June 23. A day later, former quarterback De’Andre Johnson was caught on surveillance footage punching a woman at a bar. He was dismissed from the team on July 6 after the video was released.
Cook’s attorney said the accusations against his client are false.
Thrasher spoke with the football team after the incidents. He told the Democrat details of the Monday meeting and asked if there were any leaders in the room.
“The final thing I did was I stood up in front of them and I said, ‘Are there any leaders in here? Are there any leaders in here?’ ” Thrasher said.
Maybe 10 players initially stood, including junior kicker Roberto Aguayo.
Thrasher took another step toward the team and raised his voice.
“I said, ‘Are there any leaders in here?’ I shouted it,” Thrasher said.
“And every one of them stood up. And I said, ‘Are you with me? Do you understand the consequences, the concerns? Are you going to help us get through this?’ And every one of them said, ‘Yes sir.’ ”
Both Thrasher and coach Jimbo Fisher released statements about the incidents before they met with the team. Fisher reportedly has banned his players from bars.
We’re guessing one of the speaker options Thrasher is considering is Myron Rolle. The former Florida State player and Rhodes Scholar is studying to be neurosurgeon now and has offered to speak with the football team. Perhaps the school could keep him on retainer as an advisor to the team.
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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!
