“Conduct reveals character, and we best understand integrity when we see it lived out in a person’s life.” Charles H. Dyer, Character Counts
On the competitive fields, pitches, courts and arenas of college sports, what role and responsibilities do university presidents, athletic directors and coaches hold to teach or emphasize integrity in behavior and conduct to college age young men or women student-athletes.
On many competitive playing fields, courts or pitches around America college sports, there appears to be the prevailing mindset from college coaches and athletes alike to win at any costs.
Winning overrides apparently playing with integrity–being honest and having strong moral principles– on the playing field.
How many occasions have you observed a college football wide receiver trap the ball against the ground or the ball obviously hits the ground, and the receiver jumps to his feet proclaiming adamantly that they caught the ball.
Or, how many occasions have you observed a college football coach setting a bad example by going apoplectic on a game referee because a perceived missed call or a call going against their respective team.
Or, how many occasions have you witnessed a college soccer player execute a dramatic flop to the ground writhing in apparent agony when brushed by an opposing team’s player to obtain a temporary competitive advantage or yellow card penalty’s.
“When it comes to our own behavior, we sometimes display an integrity gap between what we believe and how we behave.” Bob Stone, The Ethics Challenge
In the recent past, there has been no or little consequences have befallen these college student-athletes or head coaches when they apparently attempt to mislead, omit and obfuscate during collegiate athletic competitions.
Integrity in athletics appears to have taken a backseat and is often not in the vehicle when it comes to college sports. The pressure to win at all costs appears to have become the norm.
College presidents and athletic directors must lead from the front. They must address strongly the growing questionable and less than acceptable conduct originating from their head coaches and students-athletes.
In the words of President Franklin Roosevelt, “Knowing what’s right doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”
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