FSU football quarterback Deondre Francois will not be charged with any crimes – but the perception is what will continue to dog the program.
When many FSU football fans woke up and dealt with work and school on Wednesday, they were met with the news that one of the team’s most high profile players – quarterback Deondre Francois – was being investigated for an alleged domestic violence incident that happened inside a Tallahassee apartment.
As the day went on, the news came out more about the situation – with both Francois and the woman telling conflicting stories – and the news that because no one independently could confirm the stories of either person, charges would not be pressed against either the woman involved nor against the redshirt sophomore quarterback.
Despite that bit of news, the truth of the matter is that whether we like it or not as FSU football fans, this incident is another case in which the Seminoles are going to be placed in a negative light.
For decades dating back to the time of Bobby Bowden as head coach, players have been given second chances from a coaching staff who believes that people are entitled to be forgiven for their mistakes made at a young age. While many of us agree that you shouldn’t always be judged by one action, there are others who feel you should cut bait immediately.
The situation with former FSU football quarterback Jameis Winston was maybe the most high profile case in recent college football history of a player not being convicted of a crime but being convicted in public opinion. Winston was never charged for an alleged sexual assault in December 2012, but there are multiple people who will always view him as someone who got away with a crime.
Does it matter to some people whether someone is charged before they are convicted in public opinion? No, it doesn’t – for many, the second you are accused of something, you are guilty…especially when it comes to issues involving domestic cases with women.
Now, I will be the first person to say that any man, including those wearing garnet and gold, convicted of assaulting a woman should be thrown in jail – heck, I’ve written columns for previous sites calling for men convicted of sexual assault of woman to be castrated. However, if someone is not charged with an ACTUAL crime, there has to be a point where benefit of the doubt comes into play.
None of us were in either the apartment during the incident with Francois this week – and because of that, the FSU football quarterback should be able to move on without this hanging over his head. However, that is not going to happen. Opposing fans will taunt him and those who have never met him a day in his life will label him a criminal that got away with a crime.
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Some of it will be because of a notion that Winston got away with a crime and that local police look out for football players – and some of it will be because of a dislike for the Seminoles. All of that will continue to have the Noles on the defensive about their best offensive signal caller.