Last week’s 42-14 win over the University of Rhode Island marked the final game the Northeastern football team would play this season. As is the case in most final home games, this occasion was Senior Day at Parsons Field.
After the game, all the seniors embraced their family and friends that had come to watch them, however the largest crowd was the one following senior linebacker Liam Ezekiel.
Ezekiel, the all-time leading tackler in Division I-AA history, walked off the field as a hero, shaking more hands than a presidential candidate in the weeks leading up to an election. This group of fans seemed to have forgotten the dark cloud of controversy that has followed Ezekiel since he sent teammate Miro Kesic to the ER on Nov. 11.
For the average fan, it shouldn’t be hard to forget his suspension, as it only lasted a game and one quarter. But for those who were involved, or at least know what happened, the fact that he was allowed to enjoy his final game is appalling.
In case you didn’t hear what happened, Ezekiel and Kesic fought on the field during practice before being broken up. Ezekiel’s attack, that put 13 staples in Kesic’s head, occurred after practice. This wasn’t just a spur of the moment explosion of rage. Zeke had time to think about his assault before he went through with it and in a court of law, that could be considered premeditated. But this isn’t a court of law, this is Division I-AA football, where apparently five quarters of suspension cancels out 13 staples.
Ezekiel is a fine athlete and some have called him the best football player in the history of Northeastern. He has a real shot of being drafted, something that is uncommon for a Div. I-AA player, especially one from Northeastern. Some would also say keeping him out of that final game would hurt his chances at a professional career.
In situations where an athlete turns to violence to answer an on-field barb, no consideration for what the athlete has done in his or her career should be given when making the decision on the length of the suspension. If a regular student assaulted another student in such a way, not only would he or she be suspended from all extra-curricular activities, he would also be suspended from school.
Do you think if he wasn’t Liam Ezekiel he would’ve been playing in that game? No way. But special athletes get special treatment.
This goes beyond head coach Rocky Hager and straight into the heart of everything wrong with college football. Hager did all he had to do by suspending Ezekiel for one game, and even added an extra quarter to really teach him and the rest of the team a lesson.
While it may be violent, football is still a game. When a game turns into a malicious attack, a strict punishment should be handed down; something a little harsher than a game and a quarter.
