Bethune-Cookman athlete's arrest is a 'sad story,' says top cop

A Bethune-Cookman University football player faces charges ranging from attempted murder to drug possession in a case that has even Daytona Beach's hard-nosed police chief shaking his head.

"What a sad story," said Chief Mike Chitwood about the arrest Monday of 20-year-old Brandon Wright. Wright found himself in need of money but unable to take a job because he was a student athlete, Chitwood said. "He has been very honest and forthcoming," the chief said. "He said, 'What I did was wrong.'"

Wright had no prior criminal record. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy for a year before coming to Bethune-Cookman, Chitwood said. Wright's lack of past record and his willingness to cooperate with police could help, Chitwood said.

Wright's case illustrates the plight of lower-income students struggling to cope with the rising costs of everything from tuition to transportation. Chitwood said. "There's a bigger thing here than his arrest."

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For once, I can agree with Chief Chitwood. There is a greater problem here than just the drug dealing and other criminal activity. What makes a young person with all the educational opportunities before them, make the wrong choices, risk everything--education, unlimited future career opportunities and most importantly, FREEDOM, for $200.00?

It is long overdue for the NCAA to authorize the payment of a reasonable stipend beyond the normal costs for books, tuition, housing and meal plan to college athletes for their services on the gridiron, tracks and fields. I don't agree with the NCAA that it's alright for them (NCAA) and the institutions to collect millions of dollars annually off what amounts to 'slave labor' and the coaches and administrators at many major Division I institutions enjoy million dollar a year salaries, luxury perks, country club memberships, etc., while most of their players live far below the national poverty level, barely surviving from one semester to another.

The current NCAA legislation/regulations are long overdue for a modification so that institutions or the NCAA can pay these players a reason fee for their services.

No doubt, Brandon made some bad choices and he has no one to blame but himself. But, who is the NCAA blaming for their methods of greed?

HBCU college athletes are not lower-income students; the majority are NO INCOME students and that's the plight that we as a society must deal with to stem the tide of criminal activities that have engulfed our next generation of young students.

And this problem is not just limited to HBCUs. Surf the Internet, and there similar type stories posted by the Press that are coming from the University of Alabama, University of Massachusetts, University of Virginia, Jackson State University, Penn State and Wake Forest this month.

Some of these problems may be fixed with a reasonable stipend provided by the NCAA to student-athletes for mentoring/coaching public school elementary and head start level children, several hours each week. Let the athletes earn the stipend by giving back to the community through a positive educational effort. If we don't take initiative on this issue, there will be many more Brandon Wrights that we will read about and the next one may be your next door neighbor's kid, your child or grandchild.

Chief Chitwood is right-- "There's a bigger thing here than his arrest."

-beepbeep