Should Sports Ethics Matter to a D1 Athlete?

A sports ethics friend sent a text and asked if I had heard about the University of Nebraska Huskers safety who was arrested last week for a DUI?

At the time it was kind of absurd, because my residence is in South Carolina and my friend lives outside of Cleveland. How did he hear about a DUI involving a Nebraska player? It was apparently on ESPN and other national sites. In these times — and forever more — nothing is local.

He couldn’t remember the name of the player so he told me to search for him. My first hit on Google was a college kid who collected a DUI in Lincoln, NE after having a few drinks. The guy praised the law firm and his lawyer and didn’t act like it was a big deal. He wasn’t happy about getting his rear-end in trouble but other than the fine and the classes he walked out into the sunshine and that was it.

Then I typed in a few other words and the search engine popped up several articles about Myles Farmer, and none of them treated the DUI like a joke.

The once mighty Huskers

If you live in Nebraska, the Huskers are a big deal. Then again, in my part of the world, the Clemson Tigers are a big deal. D1 football programs mean more to schools and their communities than a game. D1 football in the big money and NIL era takes on a whole new meaning. Nebraska football is proud and the once mighty team has done a swan dive in recent years. In 2021, they posted a 3-9 record and in 2022, as of this date (November 10) they are potentially as bad at 3-6.

The program needs heroes not drunks. When Myles Farmer was pulled over by the Lincoln Police, he registered a blood alcohol of .123. My trusty BAC chart tells me that Farmer was a whole lot more than “impaired,” he was drunk as hell and had no business being behind the wheel.

News of the arrest got back to Interim head coach Mickey Joseph in minutes:

“I was informed on Sunday morning of an incident involving Myles Farmer this weekend. Myles is a good young man, but understands he used poor judgement and made a mistake on Saturday night. The result of poor judgement and mistakes is consequences and discipline. In addition to penalties he may face through the legal system, Myles is suspended for this week’s game at Michigan and will be subject to internal discipline.”

A good young man

In other quotes, Coach Joseph talked about the importance of his players “protecting the team.” A 3-6 D1 team needs all the protectors it can get.

A D1 athlete like Myles Farmer is unlike that kid I first came across in the YouTube video extolling the virtues of the law firm. Farmer has a lot more at stake.

Myles Farmer, before his suspension, was the team’s second leading tackler for the year. He started all nine games. He has a future in sports.

According to analyst Ian Cummings at Pro Football Network (June 8, 2022):

“Myles Farmer isn’t yet an established NFL Draft Prospect. But like many on this Nebraska team, he has the talent and the opportunity to earn greater notoriety during the 2022 campaign…the talent is visible. Farmer has to channel it more efficiently in 2022.”

He channeled it by getting loaded and driving his loaded body around Lincoln, Nebraska. The good young man went out of his way to pound the hell out of his reputation with that DUI. And, I am sure he is a good man, but the point is Coach Mickey Joseph (on the bubble as an interim head coach) has expectations of his players and Farmer needs to have expectations of himself. He failed himself. He failed his team.

As a sports ethics keynote speaker and sports ethics consultant, I wish I could have spoken to the team and explained where poor choices can lead.

I wish this young man well and I am positive he is contrite but this could have been avoided with Sports Ethics training. To my mind, it’s the biggest tragedy of all. Here’s our number: 828-244-1400. We are always here to listen.