Yesterday we had a discussion on The Blather regarding WR Tyler Boyd being dropped off the Biletnikoff Award watch list because of his arrest and it’s circumstances. The fact that he hasn’t been convicted or anything yet was raised as a counter to that decision. However, the Award committee has separate criteria/standards/rules that they are applying here, just like a university or any other formal institution. As such they don’t have to wait or even care about a conviction.
Being legally convicted of some transgression are a civil and/or criminal judiciary matter, not a non-legal institutional one. The difference is that universities and their football programs apply discipline and sanctions as they see fit. Hence we have suspensions and even dismissals which are based on internal and NCAA rules and not the local criminal laws.
There is a solid basis in the award committee making this decision, as the criteria is pretty straight forward:
5. The candidate must display leadership and self discipline; and he must have a significant, positive impact on his team’s success.
