If Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston was not in a bright enough the spotlight already, the stage is now all his entering the 2014 college football season. The buzz and media attention following Johnny Manziel has shifted to NFL circles in Cleveland. Winston is now without question the most buzzworthy player in the sport of college football, for better or worse. Given all that Winston has been through, be it of his own actions or not, the hope is he has and will continue to grow through it.
Winston’s father, Antonor Winston, tells USA Today his son is supposed to have more security around him to make sure he is safe and able to stay out of trouble.
“He’s supposed to have somebody around him 24/7,” Antonor Winston told USA Today. “He a Heisman Trophy winner so (he’s) definitely not supposed to be by (himself).”
Winston is still a young college kid, most people understand that. But Winston is not a typical college kid and must have an understanding of his place as a member of the Florida State community. The university itself can only go so far to provide his protection. Despite his father’s remarks to USA Today, it is not Florida State’s responsibility to be monitoring and providing security for Winston 24 hours a day. That comment about 24/7 coverage may have been an exaggeration and may not have been supposed to be taken literally.
Is it fair that Winston gets placed under a different level of scrutiny and media coverage? In an ideal world, of course it is not, but this is not an ideal world now is it? Nobody is suggesting Winston should not go out, have some fun and enjoy his college years. If anything he probably needs to cut loose more than some others, but he cannot rely on the school to be on the lookout for him and provide cover when his own actions can be under his control.
USA Today frames the story centering on the interview with Winston’s father as though Winston was failed by his family and Florida State. There may be a small bit of truth somewhere in that angle, but even at the age of 20 years old, Winston is the first person who will be held accountable for his actions, both good and bad. What he does with the spotlight will go far in establishing his future NFL stock as well.