March 28, 2024

Column: Say yes to integrity, no to Mayfield for Heisman

Integrity is important to me personally and professionally. My parents provided my siblings, my friends, their friends, anyone who came into contact with them and me great examples of integrity.

I love the game of football, especially the college game. I always wonder who will win the Heisman Trophy each season. Since they have televised the annual presentation of the trophy, if at all possible, I watch.

I’m concerned this season as are some of my fellow sports journalists. Almost the entire 2017 college football season it has been announced Oklahoma senior quarterback Baker Mayfield is the frontrunner. Just last week, it was deemed Mayfield will be awarded the 2017 Heisman Award by those talking heads on television.

But those of us, who are concerned with that assumption, have come up with the same thought — what about the criteria of one of the most prestigious awards given to a college athlete. No doubt none of us voicing this concern are Heisman voters, at least I am not.

“The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity. The winners of the trophy epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. The Heisman Trophy Trust’s mission is to ensure the continuation and integrity of this award.”

Integrity is used twice in the official criteria of the Heisman Trophy. In my opinion, Mayfield has exhibited a lack of integrity through his actions on the sideline and off the field. Sure, the young man has tremendous football skills. I’m sure he works hard at the sport. He may even be strong in his academic work as well.

I’m with several other sports writers who have penned columns the past couple of weeks — Heisman voters have forgotten the integrity criterion of the Heisman Trophy. That is clear after seeing Johnny Manziel and Jameis Winston receive the coveted award in recent years.

Mayfield started in the offseason with an arrest in Arkansas. When the Sooners upended Ohio State in Columbus at Ohio Stadium, he “planted” the Oklahoma flag at midfield.

Mayfield threw a football and hit a TCU player during pregame warmups. On national television, he was shown on the sideline grabbing his crotch and yelling an obscenity toward the Kansas bench a couple of weeks ago in Lawrence.

I don’t condone what the Kansas football captains did in refusing to shake hands with him at the coin toss of that game. As my parents told me time and time again, two wrongs don’t make a right.

Mayfield lost his privilege of being a OU team captain and starting for the Sooners on Senior Day last Saturday. He sat out a series then played the rest of the game as OU beat West Virginia.

Mayfield became emotional when it was announced he was not going to start. I wasn’t sold on his sincerity. He keeps saying he is sorry, but his rude and crude actions speak louder.

Just like with Manziel, it’s a character issue for me with Mayfield. I’d like to see the Heisman Trophy voters to make an example of Mayfield — saying bad form young man, bad form.

Mayfield will probably be the 2017 Heisman Trophy winner. I’ve spoken my mind, but I don’t have a say in the voting.

Integrity speaks the loudest for me. I support all those who do their best on and off the competitive fields without demeaning someone else.

Contact Jocelyn Sheets
at jsheets@newtondailynews.com