FSU Football should not allow Josh Ball back on team after suspension

FSU footbal has a chance to make a statement regarding domestic violence by not allowing a player who was suspended from the school back if readmitted.

By now, the secret is out that the FSU football team had one of the worst offensive lines in the whole sport this past season – part of which came with injuries throughout the season and the suspension of former four star recruit Josh Ball following some disturbing allegations of domestic violence on his former girlfriend.

Ball was suspended from the school and spent last season playing at the community college level in Kansas – and, according to The Athletic, wants back on the Seminoles’ roster if he can get readmitted into school starting in January.

Now, I don’t have a say on whether he gets back into the school or not but when it comes to the FSU football team, head coach Willie Taggart has a chance to do something bigger than the game: say no to bringing Ball back onto the roster.

Now, in the interest of presenting both sides, it should be known that Ball was never arrested or charged with the nearly dozen incidents that occurred between the two – including three alleged incidents in which Ball was allegedly physically abusive toward the woman.

There are also people who are going to point to past incidents involving superstar Seminoles like Jameis Winston and Dalvin Cook, among others, involving cases of violence involving women and both of them stayed in the garnet and gold and argue that Ball should be given the same chances.

I get all that and understand where that side of the argument is coming from, but there are two reasons why FSU football should not give Josh Ball another shot.

First off, the allegations against Ball were so disturbing – allegedly slapping her one time and pushing her violently for not texting him back fast enough in another – that he was suspended from the school and he actually agreed to a petition of protection that makes him stay away from the victim, her parents and school and church.

Second, the previous coaching staff made it quite clear that the most important thing for FSU football was what took place on the field and everything else be damned. This is a chance for Taggart to make a statement that while wins and losses are important, character is something that will return to the program.

All crimes are serious in nature, but domestic violence is something that is much more disturbing than possession of marijuana or stealing soda from a restaurant. I’m not blind to the fact that Ball would instantly make the Seminoles’ line better – but not at the expense of continued character attacks on FSU football.