HeelsBlog.Com: Read. Recap. React. :: The Trouble with Mike Mason

Mike Mason has been dismissed from the Tar Heel football team.

I am inclined to believe his dismissal has to do with the zero-tolerance substance abuse policy recently implemented by the UNC athletic department.

I am extremely disappointed in Mike Mason. Disappointed he won't be able to contribute on the football field, and disappointed he likely won't complete his college education at UNC.

What are you thinking, putting an artificial high in front of a college football career? Putting your education in jeopardy in the middle of your junior year? Taking an opportunity so few people would get (and the rest of us would do anything for), and letting it go up in smoke?

I am not so naive as to think this is just a Mike Mason issue. It's not just a Carolina issue. It's a college athletics issue. These kids, 18-22, have an incredible opportunity to play a game and get a free college education for it. Kids know their jersey numbers. Hundreds line up two hours and 15 minutes prior to a game simply to see them walk by. People give up their Saturdays to see these young men represent their universities. And it seems to mean so little to so many of them.

I know it's a lot of responsibility to carry the heart and soul of a fanbase onto the field, but you've got to respect yourself enough not to throw these things away.

Posted to:

Main Page

Football

Comments

Post a comment

Re: The Trouble with Mike Mason

by bah0916 on Fri 09 Dec 2005 06:29 PM EST | Profile | Permanent Link

Cmon Mike?! What are you thinking?

Re: The Trouble with Mike Mason

by heelsbloggirl on Sat 10 Dec 2005 09:42 AM EST | Profile | Permanent Link

i know you and i've talked a lot about it in the past few days. but you said it well in your post. it's just so sad. sad as in pitiful though. it was his choice. he knew the rules and he broke them.
in a way, it kind of makes me feel silly for hurrying to the old well walk, so that i can call out their names, make them feel appreciated and loved. i mean, for goodness sakes!! im one of the ones out there hugging them and high fiving them. now i feel foolish for thinking that it meant more to him than it did. that is prob. an overreaction. but it does make you rethink what their priorities are. here i am thinking they are out there, loving it, putting their hearts into it (like i am in the stands), and it doesn't mean anything. i know i keep saying 'them'. i know not all of them are in this boat, and maybe the majority aren't, but one or two bad ones make everyone look bad.

Re: The Trouble with Mike Mason

by heelsbloggirl on Sat 10 Dec 2005 09:45 AM EST | Profile | Permanent Link

By the way, i just noticed on the group football pic at the top of the heelsblog page, mike mason isn't in the huddle. he's walking away from the group. i just thought that was interesting; maybe a little ironic, maybe a little telling. I am sure that it's a coincidence but still...interesting.

Re: The Trouble with Mike Mason

by es300unc on Sat 10 Dec 2005 09:50 PM EST | Profile | Permanent Link

FANTASTIC news for Tar Heel Footballl fans everywhere. Mason is/was a punk....nothing more, nothing less. Could make the occasional spectacular play, but not the day to day plays that help you win. He was just such an arrogant, trash talking, "all about me" player....absolutely my LEAST FAVORITE Tar Heel of alltime, any sport. Good riddance.

This news, coupled w/ the granting of a 6th year for Chacos, is a jump start into spring ball and winter conditioning. The team's good attitude quotient just jumped about 2 full levels.

Trackbacks

TrackBack URL:
http://www.heelsblog.com/blog/_trackback/1442315

No trackbacks found.