I guess I don't understand your point. We are "the public" and I don't see why it matters if the young man plays a sport or not: it doesn't affect me in the slightest. He committed a crime, he paid for it, he has all his rights returned to him. You seem to think playing a college sport is some sort of holy enterprise? As far as the victims, they should be satisfied he paid his due and have no right to continue to expect the person be punished. I'd almost say you want to exact some sort of vengeance beyond the penalty of law. If that's the case, say so. 
Hey, what if he'd graduated, played no sports, and went into real estate. Why, he could be the subject of an R-G article expounding his business prowess--- would that somehow be different?