- April 17, 2024
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Adrian Killins
Simply put, I don’t like the fact that some college coaches make enough money to last their great-great grandchildren a lifetime, and great players – no matter how popular they may be – ever reap a dime for their work.
Yes, I know student-athletes get fed, an education and some of the best attention from medical trainers and coaches, but everyone at the school does – including the students who don’t generate tens of millions for their institutions.
It’s because of this that I took a two-year hiatus from college sports a few years ago and didn’t care to ever watch another collegiate sporting event.
While I still hold to my convictions, I’ve changed my mind about not watching college football for one reason: I know some of the players!
For the longest, the only sports figures I had ever personally known were Lawrence Dawsey (my cousin) – an FSU assistant coach – and Keith Stokes – a former receiver for East Carolina and preseason NFL player.
While both were cool, I didn’t know them well. I’ve only seen Lawrence once in my life, and Keith was more of my cousin’s friend than a personal friend to me.
But, in the last few months, I’ve begun to realize that the students I once covered are now competing in multiple sports around the nation. If you read one of my previous columns “More than journalism,” you’ll understand what I think about these particular athletes.
No matter who we are, if we see someone we know on TV, we celebrate as if we’ve seen ourselves.
When I caught Mainland’s Adrian Killins running down the sideline for that touchdown against Michigan, I acted as if I were his dad; I was so proud of him.
This past weekend, I didn’t get to see him perform, but I heard about Matanzas’ alum Andre Bodison’s monster game with New Mexico Military Institute. He caught seven passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns. So much for telling me that I didn’t help him achieve that! And although the game didn’t go well for him or me, I enjoyed watching former Buc A.J. Westbrook play for the Seminoles. And there are so many more.
Five years from now, all the kids I’ve created great relationships by telling their stories or simply giving advice will be playing on Saturdays and Sundays – and other days for other sports. What a joy that will bring to me.
