ICYMI: The Jameis Winston Rape Investigation Basically Didn’t Happen

Ok, so let’s set the stage here.  According to the New York Times – possibly the most credible and infallible news source out there – the investigation of the rape charges involving Jameis Winston in December of 2012 basically didn’t happen, contrary to what the campus authorities led us to believe.

Now in case you didn’t catch the sarcasm in that hyphened-out phrase, the New York Times is not always the most reliable source for fact-based news. However, the article that I read – and that you can go read if you have about 20 minutes and want to catch up on the subject – goes into some pretty stunning detail about how the campus really didn’t do much to help the girl out after she accused the up-and-coming star quarterback of raping her after a night out drinking at a local bar in Tallahassee.

If this is true, and the article does sure make it seem like it is, then it’s just another highlighted example of the enormous amount of power that these athletic programs have on larger campuses around the nation, particularly if the football team is successful.  Back in the day, football programs used to be able to get away with just about anything when it came to illegal doping and recruiting, and they have since cracked down on that – for example, giving SMU football the death penalty – but it still continues to happen at some level.  The Jameis Winston case may not be an example of doping or illegal recruiting, but something far more sinister.

The fact that the football program or the administration or both of them in concert would have the audacity, much less the ability, to completely wipe a case like this away and sweep it under the rug is astounding.  This girl was raped, and she wants answers.  She believes that Winston was the one that did it, so he should be held accountable for his actions.  He should have to go and stand trial and sit before a jury of his peers and plead his innocence.  If he truly is innocent, then the evidence will show that and he will be able to go free.  But for people in power at Florida State University to try and cover this up just to save face and keep their national championship hopes alive makes me sick.  Shit, this is starting to look like Congress.

Tags : College Football, college sports, controversy, Florida State, Jameis Winston, scandals, sports, Sports Takes