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Just The Sports: Inegalitarianism In College Football

Just The Sports

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Inegalitarianism In College Football

Anyone should continues to spread the lie that everyone in the country is created equal should stop now or suffer having their words rationed like candy on Halloween. Beyond the obvious economic and racial differences between people, there are also genetic differences that give advantages to some while inhibiting others. Some of us are given speed and agility while others are blessed with a lack of coordination that may inhibit them from taking part in many physical activities. Also, as if those things are not enough, people are treated differently based on physical attributes, be it attractive or athletic skill, and never is that more apparent than what college coaches hand down suspensions to players of unequal importance to the team.

Differing suspensions based on ability and notoriety are commonplace (just ask Laveranues Coles) so how Tennessee coach Philip Fulmer handled suspending Tennessee players Arian Foster, David Holbert, and Antonio Wardlow is nothing new, but it does provide another example of inequality.

Both Arian Foster and David Holbert were charged with disorderly conduct and underage consumption of alcohol so they received the same suspensions from Fulmer, right? Wrong. Holbert was suspended for the entire game against Arkansas while Foster was only suspended for the first half.

Wardlow was charged with those same two counts and public intoxication and has been suspended for the next two Tennessee contests.

The problem is that the two harshest suspensions don't really matter at all because those two players rarely play anyway. Holbert is the back-up fullback to Cory Anderson and so his presence will be missed not at all and his suspension is really just a paper suspension. The same goes for redshirt freshman safety Antonio Wardlow, who, unless I have missed something entirely, also is not #1 on any Tennessee football depth chart and who will also be missed not at all by anyone on the team.

Only one suspension is really important, Arian Foster's, and that suspension is only for one half and the Tennessee running game should still be fine without him since LaMarcus Coker is a superior running back anyway.

Therefore, Fulmer really didn't lay down the law on anyone. He made sure that the best player of the three was suspended for the least amount of time and that he came down the hardest on the two players who mean the least to Tennessee's success.

The lesson here is if you are going to get in trouble while playing for a college athletic program where winning is the most important thing make sure you are one of the better, most important players on the team.

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