Years ago when I first retired from working 28 years with dysfunctional adolescents I sent a letter to the U of O Athletic Department detailing my background and volunteering to help develop a support system for their athletes......they were, as they are still now, having real problems with young male athletes breaking laws, violating team rules, failing their classes and just generally (to use an accurate but inelegent term) "screwing up."  The response was "thanks for your interest, but we've got it covered."  That was twenty years ago and, guess what, it's not too well "covered."

Just briefly: These are athletically gifted young men who are still adolescents. Many have been pampered all their lives because of their athletic prowess and have not been held accountable and developed any self-discipline.  They've been treated as being "special" and they've come to believe it.  Now they're receiving free college education, free room and board and (cont)