An interesting item crossed my computer screen and at first I didn’t pay it much mind, but then I rushed back to it because it really bothered me from an ethical perspective.
The story comes out of the Associated Press and was first reported by The San Antonio Express-News on February 23, 2014. It concerns a 14 year old quarterback, Zadock Dinkelmann who is reportedly the third adolescent from South Texas to commit to play football for a specific university. In this case, the school was LSU.
I understand the young man is related is related to Koy and Ty Detmer, both quality people and quality ex-NFL players and I am fairly certain that Zadock is a quality person as well. He is in the eighth grade and he is already 6’4.” He can apparently throw the football better than just about anyone his age.
And that’s where I am ethically stumped. You’re a big kid with a big skill, but you are only 14 and in the eighth grade.
So forgive me, Zadock, for the rest of this blog is not about you at all. This blog is about the collection of adults who surround you and where they want all of this to go.
Hyperbole
I have heard every bit of hyperbole in the world about Texas football, thank you. We have even been treated to television shows on the topic. We are told that Texas football is like no other football in the world; unless, of course, you are from Alabama or Georgia, California, Oklahoma or Pennsylvania.
That is what hyperbole is all about.
We convince ourselves that the stage we have created is so very unique and so very special that it is unlike any other stage in the world. We convince ourselves that a 14 year old does not need our guidance or our reason. We convince ourselves that the career path he has in mind is so special and so unique, that no other option is possible. After all, he plays Texas football.
I hate to shock the world with this statement, but there is life outside of football.
Though I write and talk about sports and ethics and though I enjoy a good football game, I also understand that this is a big world and for most of us the planet could carry on if football came to a crashing halt.
Here is another “shocker:” Texas has incredible medical schools, law schools, business schools, veterinary, art, engineering and high-tech schools.
While it should be up to us adults to support the dreams of children, it is also important to show them that there are many other dreams and many other options that are at least worth exploring.
Someone should allow this young man the freedom to experience the career options of the world. But more than that, it is up to the adults around him to show him more. This is ultimately, not about a 14 year old at all. It is about people in their 30s, 40s and above who might be trying to live their dreams through hyperbole.
Not quite now
The AP piece states:
“The teen’s nonbinding declaration continues a trend of adolescents committing to play in college. He is at least the third junior high student from Texas to commit this school year.”
To which I would ask: What trend – and how?
Who is allowing this “trend” to happen and how did it come about? Yes, I realize it is non-binding, but the dream or its pretense makes for interesting ethical fodder.
Would it destroy these schools to hold off on accepting these declarations until the kids turned 16 or 17? Would it harm the dreams of their parents and coaches to say, “Let’s let you and I explore a little bit of what life has to offer before we commit you to a college athletic program?”
Would a few more years of maturing really hurt anyone?
My answer: No, it wouldn’t. Except, perhaps to the adult who lives for hyperbole. The higher ups in college athletics could put a stop to this now. I am afraid they won’t and I even wondered why they might be fearful to put a stop to it.
Suppose the 14 year old decided to skip practice one day and found an injured puppy. Suppose right then and there he wanted to think about going to veterinary school. Suppose he saw someone playing a trumpet and decided he wanted to be a music major. Suppose he saw a jet roar overhead and thought of joining the Air force? You get the drift.
You might infer that I am against this young man from Texas playing football. Not at all! I should be more emphatic: NO, not at all!
What I am against is a 14 year old committing to a life before he has had the opportunity to live. All hyperbole aside, he deserves better. Give him time.