Letter to Scott Stricklin about Desmond Watson

[Mojave Gator]

I finally felt compelled to address the elephant in the room - or on the field, as it were. This is the text of an email to our beloved AD. I do not expect a response.

I am a Florida alumnus, former Gator Band member, and a founding member and past president of the Las Vegas Gator Club. My affiliation with UF goes back more than 50 years. I am also a retired Registered Nurse, and it is primarily my medical background that inspired me to write this letter.

I am very concerned about the health and well being of Desmond Watson, a member of the UF football team. According to his scouting profile, he weighed 315 pounds when recruited. His last reported weight was 465 - meaning that he has gained 150 pounds while at UF. He comes into each camp significantly heavier than the last. Despite this, it continues to be tolerated by the coaching staff and he continues to see playing time.

Watson's weight is dangerously high. It is well within the realm of possibility that he could die on the practice field or during a game. I strongly suggest that he be released from the football team for his physical well being. His weight would be dangerous enough in and of itself, but adding in extreme exertion in conditions that are often hot and humid only ups the ante.

[tapsgator]

Yeah it'll go unanswered, but it shouldn't. I believe he has fallen (off the depth chart) and I doubt he'll be able to get up, but I've been wrong about him in the eyes of the staff and hearts of the kool-aid contingent for 3 years now so who the Hell knows?

[Rock Gator]

It's a bad situation all around. It seems they're using him as a sideshow, to the detriment of his health. They know the TV announcers love to show him and carefully dance around the fact that he is morbidly obese. The stress of playing major college football may be contributing to his out of control weight gain. All the food in the world is available to him, and most players around him are encouraged to gain weight. This environment can't be what he needs in his life. I hate to see them doing this because I'm afraid it's not going to end well.