Auburn football is great for the most part.
Yes, last season was dismal, but we have been riding a tidal wave of optimism ever since Coach Gus Malzahn made his triumphant return to The Plains.
Perhaps that is what makes the Auburn Family so special: we're serial optimists.
It will always be better next year; the new coach will always lead us to victory; and the new recruits will always score a million touchdowns.
When we lose, we briefly mourn, but then it's on to the next game, the next season.
But could we benefit from some pessimism? Malzahn appears to have made some tremendous strides with the team. We're almost certain he's going to do better than last season.
He has to.
Yet, the Aug. 16 arrest of Demetruce McNeal on a charge of second degree possession of marijuana has us thinking it's time to be pessimistic or, at the least, critical.
Auburn players and crime have become comfortable bedfellows during the past few years. The list of transgressors includes legends such as Michael Dyer and Dakota Mosley and a handful of other star recruits.
Unfortunately, the list keeps growing.
We aren't going to be like Selena Roberts and make a bunch of spurious claims that have little to no evidence behind them.
We aren't even going to suggest there may be a conspiracy to keep troublemaker players under wraps until it's too late.
There aren't enough tinfoil hats in The Plainsman office for us to make such a lofty allegation.
What concerns us is the sheer number of players breaking the law.
Granted, some laws are antiquated and unnecessary, but this isn't about that.
Auburn players shouldn't be above reproach; they are more than just football players.
We aren't wagging our fingers at them because that is childish. They're adults and
can make their own choices. But we are saying enough is enough.
Football players are, for all intents and purposes, demigods at Auburn.
To say they get preferential treatment is an understatement.
So we don't think it's too much to ask for them to not get arrested. Our words, however, are falling on ears that have been covered for a long time.
What makes these guys act so foolishly?
You should ask the same question and ask it often.
Take our lead and voice your concerns to the athletic department.
Athletics Director Jay Jacobs has told The Plainsman before that his job is to address the concerns we have about the football program, or any sport for that matter. But this question seems to be taboo.
If it's just a matter of poor recruiting, then why not admit to it?
To us, it seems like a larger problem that may get worse before we see the end of it.
Football players are humans too, and they have the same reactions to stress we do.
Unfortunately for them, the system is creating an environment for them to act out in ways that make all of the Auburn Family look bad.
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