Tim Brown, Maurice Clarett among guest speakers to address Seminoles

ByJared Shanker ESPN logo
Friday, August 14, 2015

Florida State is following up on president John Thrasher's desire to implement a mandatory course in social responsibilities for the school's student-athletes in light of recent off-field issues.



Athletic director Stan Wilcox released a statement Friday outlining the programs the university is installing in light of the offseason arrests of running back Dalvin Cook and former quarterback De'Andre Johnson. Cook allegedly hit a woman several times during a June altercation, and the following night a camera inside a local bar caught Johnson allegedly punching a female.



Both were charged with misdemeanor battery, and Johnson was dismissed from the team. Cook, whose trial begins Aug. 24, is indefinitely suspended.



"As recently as Monday, President Thrasher and Provost [Sally] McRorie confirmed that we are moving forward with the creation of a course designed to provide more in-depth instruction concerning the various responsibilities of student-athletes as successful students, positive representatives of FSU and productive citizens in general," Wilcox said in a statement. "The course is being created through a collaborative effort of the FSU academic, administrative and athletic communities."



Since December 2012, there have been six known accusations of Florida State football players perpetrating violence against women. Only former receiver Greg Dent has been convicted after a jury found him guilty of misdemeanor battery but not guilty of sexual assault. Cook's and Johnson's cases are ongoing.



Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher said in July he has a zero-tolerance policy for violence against women.



Wilcox said Florida State already had a "robust system" to educate its student-athletes about off-field issues, but the university will build upon that. Fisher and FSU players said in July that the football team constantly underwent programs to address potential off-field pitfalls even before the school's recent actions.



During his six-year career as Florida State coach, Fisher has been active in bringing in guest speakers, and that continues this summer. Eleven guest speakers will address the Seminoles in August, with Florida State's mental conditioning coach Trevor Moawad ending the series on Aug. 21.



Bob Delaney, a former NBA official and undercover FBI agent, spoke to the team Aug. 8. He also spoke at Florida State the last few summers.



A team of Navy SEALs will speak to the Seminoles on Aug. 15. Recent Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Tim Brown, former Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett, and former NFL receiver Michael Clayton (who Fisher coached at LSU) will speak to the team on consecutive days from Aug. 18-20.



Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and Fisher have become friends through Moawad, and Wilcox said Florida State will join Wilson's Pass the Peace campaign, which supports victims of domestic violence.



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