2008 Woodie Awards
The Daily OrangeOff-field incidents taint SU's image
By Zach Schonbrun
Posted: 8/26/08, 12:35 AM EST Section: Sports
Don't be so surprised, as the fall kicks into 'Express' mode, if the athletics department ups the ante of self-promotion at Syracuse.
I should say, welcome back to Syr-accuse. Here, the fresh buffing on the lacrosse national championship may reflect a new aspect of SU athletics in need of polishing.
Consider how much damage a few well-placed allegations can do to kill the summer vibe. Wasn't it SU's athletic director himself, Daryl Gross, prancing about the turf at Gillette Stadium in May, championship monkey off his back, declaring a new epoch of on-field validation?
Kleenex, anyone? After a few weeks of celebration, it wasn't hard to sully an image trying desperately to stay pristine. The rest of the summer was filled with allegations, which may make it tough to turn attentions back onto the field.
Eventually off-field news had to overtake Syracuse's on-field disappointments. Unlike Georgia, there's no No. 1 football ranking to ease some injustices. Unlike North Carolina, news of a star point guard's legal trouble isn't drowned out by a Final Four appearance.
Nope, Syracuse has to confront the facts of its own image without prominence protection.
Start with Mike Williams, the playmaking wide receiver, accused of cheating - twice - and suspended for the 2008 season. Williams denied the accusation, told a TV station in Buffalo, N.Y., he'd be back, and hasn't been heard from since.
Then, Jonny Flynn, the effervescent star point guard with the thousand-watt grin, was accused (along with two other SU basketball players, Scoop Jardine and Rick Jackson) of sexual assault dating back to last November. His denial of the accusation was validated - an Onondaga Country grand jury rejected the criminal charges in August; a university Judicial Affairs panel cleared the university charges as well.
Innocent or not, a sexual assault allegation leaves a tough stain to wipe clean, especially for a basketball program that's already had its share of recent misdemeanors. For Jardine, it's his second offense in six months. Toss in former point guard Josh Wright (accused and arrested for stealing a credit card in June), and distractions have noticeably piled up.
I should say, welcome back to Syr-accuse. Here, the fresh buffing on the lacrosse national championship may reflect a new aspect of SU athletics in need of polishing.
Consider how much damage a few well-placed allegations can do to kill the summer vibe. Wasn't it SU's athletic director himself, Daryl Gross, prancing about the turf at Gillette Stadium in May, championship monkey off his back, declaring a new epoch of on-field validation?
Kleenex, anyone? After a few weeks of celebration, it wasn't hard to sully an image trying desperately to stay pristine. The rest of the summer was filled with allegations, which may make it tough to turn attentions back onto the field.
Eventually off-field news had to overtake Syracuse's on-field disappointments. Unlike Georgia, there's no No. 1 football ranking to ease some injustices. Unlike North Carolina, news of a star point guard's legal trouble isn't drowned out by a Final Four appearance.
Nope, Syracuse has to confront the facts of its own image without prominence protection.
Start with Mike Williams, the playmaking wide receiver, accused of cheating - twice - and suspended for the 2008 season. Williams denied the accusation, told a TV station in Buffalo, N.Y., he'd be back, and hasn't been heard from since.
Then, Jonny Flynn, the effervescent star point guard with the thousand-watt grin, was accused (along with two other SU basketball players, Scoop Jardine and Rick Jackson) of sexual assault dating back to last November. His denial of the accusation was validated - an Onondaga Country grand jury rejected the criminal charges in August; a university Judicial Affairs panel cleared the university charges as well.
Innocent or not, a sexual assault allegation leaves a tough stain to wipe clean, especially for a basketball program that's already had its share of recent misdemeanors. For Jardine, it's his second offense in six months. Toss in former point guard Josh Wright (accused and arrested for stealing a credit card in June), and distractions have noticeably piled up.
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Cooter Bob
posted 8/26/08 @ 11:44 AM EST
I don't think there was anything that could have rained on the lacrosse team's parade this past summer. I really don't see how you can say these other things had any impact on the lacrosse team, or how they felt over the summer. (Continued…)
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