In the wake of assault allegations against two football players, Florida State University (FSU) is mandating a course on social responsibility for the entire team.
Speaking with the Tallahassee Democrat's editorial board, FSU President John Thrasher outlined various ways he plans to provide personal conduct support and resources. For example, he also said the athletic department will bring in experts and former players to talk to student-athletes about social responsibility.
"I am convinced, having raised kids myself - a son and two daughters, two of whom graduated from FSU - they know right from wrong, that they know where they ought to be and where they ought not to be," Thrasher said at the meeting with the newspaper's editorial board. "And when they make a serious mistake like striking a woman, that has to be dealt with in a pretty significant fashion."
FSU head football coach Jimbo Fisher dismissed quarterback De'Andre Johnson and suspended indefinitely running back Dalvin Cook, both for incidents in which they were accused of hitting a woman. Thrasher has stood by Fisher all along, supporting his decisions and means of handling his players.
"His motor is running 100 percent, all the time," Thrasher said of Fisher. "It's always on go. And it's always focused on being successful, and he wants his athletes to be successful... When we visit and talk about how he feels about how he runs the program, I respect that. I respect that. But I am not short on making sure he understands where I'm coming from."
Thrasher, 71, also told the Democrat about a meeting he had with the football team in which he demanded they do a better job of living up to the standards set out for them.
"The final thing I did was I stood up in front of them and I said, 'Are there any leaders in here? Are there any leaders in here?' " Thrasher said. "I said, 'Are there any leaders in here?' I shouted it.
"And every one of them stood up. And I said, 'Are you with me? Do you understand the consequences, the concerns? Are you going to help us get through this?' And every one of them said, 'Yes sir.'"
