{image1} Everything has its opportunity cost -- an economic term for what you sacrifice to gain something. Is the opportunity cost of having a place in big-time college football too high for the Wisconsin Badgers?
Another high-profile Badger was arrested last weekend, raising the total to more than you can count with your fingers. The latest was back-up tailback Booker Stanley, who was arrested for assault at the Mifflin Street block party.
The pictures of Stanley's arrest say a thousand words. Now I have no idea what happened leading up the eventual beat down, but doesn't a high-profile division tailback realize that even putting himself in this situation not only taints his reputation but that of the program and the university?
It's no secret that success brings troubles. There isn't a big time Division I football program that is squeaky clean.
Every program has assaults, underage drinking, academic problems and overzealous boosters - but there has to be line where a program can be considered out of control.
I will be the first one in line to erect a statue of Barry Alvarez in Madison. What he has done with the football program falls more under the category of miracle than reclamation project.
The program that was left by Don Morton was in worse shape than were the Brewers when Dean Taylor took over for Sal Bando -- and we all know it doesn't get much lower than that.
In his 14 years, Alvarez's teams have won three Rose Bowls, gone to nine bowl games, had 10 winning seasons and has a 68% percent graduation rate. Those numbers are nothing to scoff at.
On the other hand, the past few years has seen numerous players arrested in fights, Anthony Davis got stabbed and arrested for battery, Dwayne Smith arrested for assault, Lee Evans arrested for marijuana possession, Nick Davis arrested for theft, Antaj Hawthorne and Jonathon Clinkscale getting busted for marijuana at the combine and the infamous Shoe Box incident.
Can this just be chalked up as the price you pay for running a high-profile football program?
If that is the case, is it worth it?
I am not comparing the Badger football program to Miami of the '80s or Florida State of the '90s, but the Badgers are starting to become the bad boys of the Big Ten. I am pretty sure that that was not one of Alvarez's goals when he took over.
There isn't any question that Alvarez has to crack down on these types of episodes -- not only as a head coach but also as Athletic Director. On the other hand I have sympathy for him. It is impossible to keep track of 100 college kids. He can only do so much.
Like previously stated, the circumstances under the Stanley arrest have not been made public. You are supposed to be innocent before proven guilty, but when half of another guy's face is on your shirt, the court of public opinion looms damning.
The players have to realize that they are targets. Ordinary students want either to be near them or take a piece of them. The problem is the decisions that the players make all reflect of the entire football program.
Over the past five years, the program has spent more time on the crime log than it has in the top ten.
Does winning cure all evils? Most times yes. Some will come down on this latest incident as just another one of the thuggish Badgers getting away with breaking the law. With that said, I can't seem to get myself off of the fence. The public arrests have to come to an end, but at times I find myself with a little too much Al Davis in me.
