Student Role Models
The NC State and Clemson football game, 1932
If sports provided a “significant forum for discussing moral conduct” and were “naturally the focus of the college community” as some insisted, then football players easily assumed the position of campus role models. In the eyes of many NC State community members, “a football player is more or less of a leader,” and “the boys look up to him” as such. Thus it was problematic when alumni such as Ralph Brimmley testified that “the moral conditions of our athletes are such that any self respecting institution would not desire to claim them.”
Similar to their criticism of Coach Anderson, the Athletic Council and others scrutinized the behavior of the football team because of their prominence on campus and stature as student leaders. From an analysis of their behavior at meals to a consideration of the merits of separate athletic housing, controversy participants understood how visible and influential football players were on campus.
Mr. Ivey managed the student supply store and thus was friends with many students. He asserts that football players are highly visible campus leaders.