Nobody said being a Div. I student-athlete was easy. Many college students have trouble maintaining a full schedule of classes, let alone performing on an athletic team at the university.

Hornet guards Joseth Dawson and Joel Jones experienced this first handlast semester. Respectively, the Hornet tandum finished as the top-two scorers on the team last season, and gave Sacramento State’s basketball program one of its’ best backcourt threats in recent history.

However, some of Jones’ and dawson’s best moves will not be performed on the hardwood this season, but rather in the classroom. The two have been declared academically ineligible for the fall semester and will be taking the opportunity to focus strictly on academics.

“There comes a time when you have to get your priorities in order,” Jones said. “I wanted to graduate on time, but I have to take another route.”

One would think that an adverse situation like this would be a spirit breaker, but to Dawson and Jones it served as a point of motivation.

“I am looking at this in a positive light,” Jones said. “Not only will I be able to get back on track for graduation, but I will also be able to sit back and analyze the game and other teams and players in the league.

“Playing this summer in (the Puerto Rican Superior Basketball League) has given me a mental edge and a killer instinct that I didn’t have before.”

Dawson will also make use of his time away from the court.

“This will give me a chance to get it together,” Dawson said. “When the ball stops bouncing I want to have something to fall back on. I realize that education is important. That’s why I want to take a year off and redshirt so I can focus on school.”

Some athletes might be embarrassed by being deemed academically ineligible, feeling as if people were going to perceive them as “dumb jocks.” Dawson insists that there is no reason to be embarrassed.

“Why should I be embarrassed,” Dawson said. “Me and (Joel Jones) messed up, but we are human just like everyone else. The important thing is that we are working harder than ever to correct the situation. If I wasn’t working hard to improve my situation then that would be embarrassing.”

Even with the amount of support that the two have received from their teammates, family, and friends, they have still had their fair share of criticism.

“A lot of people who don’t know my situation have accused me of letting my teammates down,” Dawson said. “But for the record I would never quit on my team. I love my coaches and teammates and would never, and I mean never, give up on them.”

Jones, who earned all-Big Sky honorable mention honors last season, feels the public has a misperception of the student athlete.

“We put our hearts on the line,” Jones said. “People feel that just because we are athletes, we are arrogant and above reproach, but the reality of the situation is that we are very humble, down to earth people who are willing to admit that we messed up. It doesn’t give people the right to disrespect us and say things about us that aren’t true.”

Dawson feels that the fact he is willing to take a year off from basketball to hit the books, is enough proof of his commitment level to his team.