Linebacker Davin Bellamy no longer is facing three charges against him, including an underage drinking and DUI charge. NBC Sports reported that the charges were dismissed due to the arresting officer being fired from the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. Read more here.
Although apologetic for his actions, Bellamy only endured the University of Georgia’s two game suspension mandate. NBC Sports put it best, “He may be escaping legal trouble, which is good, but it should still serve as a life lesson.”
So we pose the question: Are the current consequences enough to be considered a lesson?
Time after time personalities are made examples of by the court system simply because of their actions and notoriety. And yes, every individual should be held accountable for his or her actions, but do we ever stop and wonder did anyone see this coming? The answer is always yes, but why did it still happen? It’s simple; stakeholders rather be reactive than proactive.
There are several preventive tools and solutions available that can assist with keeping hopefuls from becoming hopeless. Coaches, parents and invested institutions should put more effort in ensuring the growth and development of student athletes both in or out of a jersey. And it starts at the first sign of trouble.
So we ask these questions: Should athletes, like Bellamy, endure harsher consequences for their actions? At what point should all stakeholders collaborate and intervene to address possible stumbling blocks for these rising stars? Or should student athletes who have known prior history of poor critical thinking skills be required to attend counseling and treatment to prevent further occurrences?
Weigh in and let us know your thoughts.