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Character development not just for works of fiction

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Months prior to the NFL draft, former Arkansas running back Darren McFadden was considered the likely No. 1 pick by most analysts. However, as draft day approached, numerous questions surfaced concerning the young man's character.

This stimulated debates among the analysts, scouts and former players -- would McFadden's character influence when he was drafted? Should it?

We know the answer to the first question -- yes. McFadden will still be a wealthy man after the Oakland Raiders took him with the fourth overall pick but not as wealthy as he would have been had the Dolphins taken him No. 1 overall. Clearly, McFadden slipped a bit because of the character issues, and he went to a team that, in reputation at least, has at times seemed a collection of outlaws.

McFadden's questionable character was related to two factors: One personal and the other family related. Over the past 18 months, the speedy, powerful, elusive Razorback was involved in two serious bar fights allegedly initiated by two of his brothers. Two paternity lawsuits facing McFadden are also tainting his character.

On the family side, Darren was raised by a crack-addicted mother for a long time. Two of his older brothers were members of violent street gangs. Another brother was killed in what is believed to be a gang related drive-by shooting.

During an ESPN interview a few days prior to the draft, I listened to McFadden's responses to questions concerning these negative aspects from the past and present. I thought the young man was sincere about trying to put those things behind him as he entered the NFL. I wish him the best.

From my point of view, he deserves credit for accomplishing a great deal despite the negative aspects of his life. He graduated high school with a GPA that qualified him for an athletic scholarship. He remained eligible at Arkansas, and his dedication to football made him the best running back in college football last season.

With those thoughts in mind, I had to ask myself a serious question: How did his high school coaches affect his life?

I have to believe they helped him overcome many negative situations as he passed through high school. Being helped in high school gave him an opportunity to become a college football star and now future multi-millionaire as the fourth pick of the Raiders.

Years ago, Alabama's legendary coach Bear Bryant, after being praised by the media for the excellent character of the Tide's players, said, "I didn't develop character, they got it from their parents, family, ministers and teachers."

From my perspective, a good portion of character development no longer comes from those people. It now comes in a large part from the trash kids see on television, the Internet, on violence- and sex-laden video games.

I believe young athletes are influenced by the shady characters in the NFL, NBA and MLB that make millions, regardless of how many DUIs or domestic battery charges they run up or how many times they scuffle in a strip club.

The decline in athletes' character tugs at my heart because I have always believed that sports are a form of "basic training" that can be a beneficial life experience for kids in high school and college. The nation needs a Character Bowl.

The character problem has become so severe in schools that a new industry has emerged to combat the situation -- sports ethics. The industry has produced Web sites, books and videos to aid coaches in developing character in athletes who were unfortunately absent the day character was handed out.

However unfortunate the situation might be, in today's cultural climate, high school coaches can be one of the few positive influences in the lives of young athletes. I've witnessed this first-hand with Hilton Head Island High School's Tim Singleton and Beaufort High School's Mark Clifford, and I am certain other area coaches provide the same steadying hand for their players.

Their players' character flaws might come seeping through once in a while, as certainly has been the case with McFadden. But even if they're not always successful, we owe these coaches our gratitude for mixing in some life lessons along with the Xs and Os.

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