Title/Author:
“Johnson
and Johnson: A Short Story about Athletics and Academics in College Sports” by
Larry LaForge
Sport:
College
Football (American)
Genre:
Fiction,
sports, American football, college, ethics, academics
Published:
August
19, 2012
Length:
36
pages
Rating:
3
1/2 of 5 stars – good
Review:
Southeast
State University’s football team has risen to one of the powerhouses of college
football under the tenure of Coach Brack Johnson. This season looks to be one of the finest as
the school is highly ranked in the polls.
All the money that the university has invested in the program with
top-notch facilities seems to be paying off.
Professor
Carson Johnson is a rising star in his own right. On the fast track to tenure, he notices a
peculiar trend in the grades and scholastic work of the team’s All-American
quarterback. He does what he believes is
the right thing and notifies the dean of academics. Could this really be happening?
Larry LaForge has addressed this ethical dilemma that is faced by many schools in this era of college football. This is a short story that alternates the viewpoints of the coach and the professor. The center of the controversy is the team’s star quarterback, Stan Rogers. Rogers does suffer an injury during the season, but at the time, it is discovered that his academic record shows good grades for work done outside class, but poor grades for in-class work. This creates an ethical dilemma for both the coach and the professor as neither wants the school to appear to be “soft” on academics, but at the same time, needs the quarterback to play.
Larry LaForge has addressed this ethical dilemma that is faced by many schools in this era of college football. This is a short story that alternates the viewpoints of the coach and the professor. The center of the controversy is the team’s star quarterback, Stan Rogers. Rogers does suffer an injury during the season, but at the time, it is discovered that his academic record shows good grades for work done outside class, but poor grades for in-class work. This creates an ethical dilemma for both the coach and the professor as neither wants the school to appear to be “soft” on academics, but at the same time, needs the quarterback to play.
The
story does take an interesting turn on this issue as Rogers is held out due to
his injury, even when it has healed, so this can be addressed. Each time the story is told in one viewpoint,
the section ends with a hint of what is about to happen. However, this is never spelled out in that
next section. The reader doesn’t really
get to experience what the ultimate decision will be. Instead, the reader will have to draw his or
her own conclusion based on the progression of SSU’s season and the action of
the academic board.
No
Did
I feel connected to the characters?
Yes. I especially felt the pain of Coach Brack
Johnson, as coaching is a very tenuous occupation at best, and this new
revelation made the coach engage with a very hard conversation with his family
on what the proper choice should be.
Good
– switching between the coach and the professor was important with this theme
and both sides kept the story moving forward.
Both
sides of the issue were addressed in the same amount of detail, and the
arguments were presented fairly. This
book did not preach one way or the other about the issue – it simply painted a
picture of the troubles facing both coach and professor.
Negatives:
The
final outcome could be presented in a more clear and concise fashion. I did re-read the last two sections before
the epiloge to ensure I understood the entire picture. For a short story, I found that a bit
unsettling, as most short stories will be sharper. This
is not to say that the reader will be left without a conclusion – he or she
just has to draw that conclusion on his or her own.
Do
I recommend?
Yes,
for college football fans or readers who like ethical issues in the book.
Book
Format Read: ebook (Kindle)
Author Media Links:
http://www.facebook.com/LarryLaForgeStories
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