“That’s what I’m coached to do. A touchdown, I’m going to celebrate on the field, but when I get to the sideline that play is over with. An interception, I can put my head down or something, but when I get to the sideline, it’s over with because that’s the game of football. You’ve got to keep going, you never know what play is going to be the difference maker in a win or a loss.”
Florida State Quarterback Jameis Winston

This week brought turmoil to the Florida State Seminoles and the town of Tallahassee. Red shirt freshman quarterback Jameis Winston is under investigation for an alleged rape that occurred almost a year ago. Although Tallahassee officials haven’t charged Winston with any crime, the media surrounding the allegations are reaching frenzy status. There are definitely many facets to the case and the story.

In the following days of controversy, while waiting for police to either bring or drop charges, Winston must find the mental toughness to lead the Seminoles in the remaining games of their season. With an undefeated record on the line, Florida State needs their quarterback to withstand the negative chaos outside the football stadium and utilize his mental focus and football confidence as the leader of his team.

Until all the facts are investigated, the truth cannot be found or analyzed by the thirsty media. New revelations occur daily. Winston’s attorney Tim Jansen reported that new findings of DNA on the victim’s clothing changed nothing in his client’s account of the incident.

“I will tell you from Day 1, December of 2012, our defense (has) not changed whatsoever. These DNA results had no effect on it. It had no effect on the testimony on the eyewitnesses that were there,” Jansen reported. The allegations are very serious, but until the police determine their course of action, Winston still must persevere through the adversity and speculation.

The journey an elite athlete takes is always full of obstacles and negative situations, but the mentally tough athlete learns to adjust their mindset so that adverse situations don’t affect their thought processes and mental focus.

Winston must keep his thoughts in the area where he has control, the football field. His focus should remain on his job as the leader, and fully devote his thoughts to fulfilling his role as the quarterback of his team.

Mental toughness improves as an athlete eliminates anything negative or neutral to goal achievement from their mindset. When asked earlier in the season how he prepared for Nevada, Winston offered some insight into his ability to concentrate on the elements within his control. He said, “It’s just been another week; another week of preparation and focusing on Nevada and not really focusing on outside things that may bring clutter to the team.”

This journey will also require Winston to find positive individuals to keep in his close personal realm, and attempt to eliminate any focus wasted on the public or media attention given to this incident.

The mental game of football requires that an athlete’s confidence be strong, and the quarterback is the leader in the establishment of a team’s focus and mental toughness. Whatever charges are made or dropped in the next few weeks, Jameis Winston faces a tremendously stressful situation that greatly affects his life and future.

Life often mimics athletics, but true mental toughness allows a person the ability to face adversity and survive. Hopefully, the investigators determine the truth, although one year later, so that Jameis Winston and the FSU Seminoles can proceed accordingly.

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