We are shocked — shocked! — to learn that there are drugs and sex and alcohol (not particularly in that order) at college parties that members of the football team might attend. OK, so we’re not shocked. But 17-year-old high school football star Lynell Hamilton apparently was during his recruiting visit.
We are surprised to see what looks like awkward growing pains as the Athletic Department moves toward being a top-tier program. Hamilton, now signed at San Diego State, was paired up with former Duck Onterrio Smith as his host for the visit, according to The Record, a Stockton, Calif., newspaper. Apparently, Smith took this to mean show Hamilton a good time. A very good time.
Certainly, the Athletic Department can’t control everything that happens during a recruit’s “free time” off-campus. But if the point was to make the best impression possible on Hamilton, wouldn’t the smart move been to take Smith aside and say, “This kid is a devout Christian, and we would like him as a tailback. Have fun, but keep it clean”?
Of course, we also have to ask: What did Hamilton expect, that Smith was going to take him to see the new library? Many athletes seem to live at least part of the “rock star” lifestyle; shouldn’t Hamilton have expected a college party while he was visiting a, er, college? Perhaps he could have told his host what he was and was not interested in and saved everyone a lot of grief.