The 2018 College World Series

With the start of baseball season rapidly approaching I'd like to take the time and stroll down memory lane.

Being a student at the University of Arkansas the 2018 College World Series was one of the most heartbreaking events to watch. Specifically the second game. All I remember was watching Eric Cole, Jared Gates, and Carson Shaddy all rush towards a pop fly and then the rest was a blur.

Who should have had the easiest, most routine ball in the entire game of baseball doesn't matter. What I want to talk about is the public backlash and lack of respect the state and nation had for these three players. Excuse me, these STUDENT athletes.

Imagine after finishing a semester of college where you are juggling classes and a full time job (which happens to be your favorite sport) you have earned the opportunity to represent a university and state who has backed you and supported you from the beginning at the most important event of your season. Then imagine the people who you thought were your family, your #Razorback nation turning on you because of one play. Then, you're expected to go out the next day, give your all, and no matter the outcome you're supposed to return ~home~ and either attend classes or move on with your life in baseball.

These players gave everything they had to a state and nation that had shown support and provided encouraging words the entire season only to be turned on and received nasty, unfathomable hate because of one play of many that were made that game.

Should our student athletes be subjected to this kind of media animosity when they're expected to perform the job of an athlete and a student all season? My opinion is no but there is also some accountability when you're in a job. If anyone else performs below their expected ability and responsibilities there are consequences, so where do we draw the line between treating student athletes as a student and an athlete? I am in no way supporting hateful messages to these individuals, I love the hogs and supported the Omahogs throughout everything these are just my #nontraditional thoughts.