It’s no surprise to me that an alleged sexual assault case involving the nationally-revered quarterback of America’s No. 2 ranked college would resurface once his popularity escalated.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the detective actually said the life of the woman in the case could suffer if she pressed charges against said QB since Tallahassee, Fla. is a big football town — and we all know how important the nation’s major college football programs are.
I do not wish to argue specifics of the case but instead express why Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston will, one way or another, make it out of this. If he is proven guilty, then shame on him. If not, I don’t think anyone will bat an eye after the case is closed … again.
The woman, who is also a student at Florida State, filed a sexual assault complaint in December of 2012. Be it the pressure from the detective or the concern from her family, she, who claimed she was taken advantage of after being intoxicated at a bar, decided not to pursue charges against Winston via email, according to Tallahassee.com.
And as Wintson, the freshman QB whose 2,938 passing yards this season has help lift the Seminoles to an undefeated record so far (10-0), becomes a Heisman Trophy candidate — the case reopens.
Again, I’m not surprised.
Winston will likely still be able to have a very successful college football career, make it to the league and live happily ever after — and that’s unfortunately whether he’s guilty or not. Franchise college athletes, or any big-name baller, seem to accrue a lot of protection.
Too often we forget these athletes are just people, incredibly gifted people, sure. On the upside, we have someone to look up to and to root for and to admire. On the downside, they get treated better than most other human beings.
It’s always a bad look when these types of cases come to the light because of what perception they force on the people involved, but it’s not the end of the world for Winston.
His Heisman chances may be stifled tremendously, but we all know the Heisman Trophy doesn’t make or break your football career.
Jessika Morgan is the Sports Editor of The Free Press. She can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Jessika.Morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.