Consider the following scenario:

You are in position to be the next prince of a modest, but sizeable kingdom. What you lack in numbers you make up for in fierce loyalty from your followers.

BAILEY KEIGER

Say you have been instructed by your higher-up — the king, the man who really controls the kingdom — to stay out of trouble and be true to the codes of the kingdom or you will suffer dire consequences. You decide to eschew the warnings of your superior, and break the rules. Your position as next ruler is lost, along with the respect of your followers, and you soon fade into oblivion.

Insert UGA football fans as the kingdom, Mark Richt for the king, and you have a fair representation of fallen prince Zack Mettenberger’s current situation.

As most know, Mettenberger was dismissed from the team after it was made known that he violated team rules and possibly on more than one occasion. Mettenberger was in line for the 2010 starting quarterback position.

What could have possibly possessed him to violate direct orders from his coach in favor of childish activities, I will never know. But this just shows the level of disrespect some student athletes — especially football players — have for their position at the University.

Most are under massive scholarships, and are able to attend UGA for very little. Their scholarship is dependent on following guidelines set by their team. Just as I work hard to keep a B average for the HOPE scholarship, I should expect the same dedication from athletes.

Practice takes up a lot of athlete’s time, so they are given extra perks like a state-of-the-art training facility separate from the “regular” student gym, and an exclusive studying center where they are given access to tutors and other academic resources.

I am certainly not anti-football. I am a huge sports fan, and the dominance of UGA athletics was a major factor in my college decision. I have attended almost every football game my four years here, and my closet has a disproportionate amount of red and black clothing.

I am also aware of the millions of dollars that the Athletics Association brings to the University, both directly and indirectly, and I respect the long-standing traditions of the football team.

So I understand why these athletes are given special treatment; they hold a vital position in our university, one that is not easy to fill. They represent years of tradition and are often the face of our school. The special treatment is often justified and necessary to allow these players to fulfill both their academic and athletic duties.

But I simply cannot understand why — after being given privilege after privilege after privilege — these athletes still continue to break rules and get themselves in trouble. Behavior like Mettenberger’s is unforgiveable after the support he receives from the University and football fans as a whole.

This behavior shows a terrible ungratefulness of the benefits that have been bestowed upon athletes, and makes me almost want to burn the red and black in my closet.

I hope that in time these athletes will adhere to the moral code expected of them, and stop bringing shame to the Bulldog nation.

—Bailey Keiger is a senior from Atlanta majoring in magazines