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The later portion of last season was disappointing as an Orange fan with the injury to CM and then his announcing he was leaving for the NBA. Then came the bad news from the NCAA and the subsequent departure of several other players, one of which I could have imagined contributing quite a bit to the program in the future. I had hoped that regardless of the outcome of the NCAA investigation the decision would constitute a benchmark or turning point upon which we could purge ourselves of all the worry and indecision associated with being under the microscope of the NCAA. As it turns out it wasn't over yet and although there is some semblance of hope that the number of scholarship losses will be reduced we still find ourselves in some kind of NCAA imposed limbo without any certainty at all as for what the future holds for the program in terms of recruiting new kids.
The real bright spot was the mostly unexpected change of Tyus Battle from Michigan to Syracuse. But the excitement of that was short lived when we started to hear the dribble of rumors surrounding Diagne. I for one am usually optimistic, even in the face of adversity and I'm not one to buy into conspiracy theories but one can't help but feel the degree to which the program finds itself in the crosshairs of the NCAA sniper rifle is quite stunning. Having been an Orange fan all of my adult life I am no doubt biased and partial toward the University and it's programs. In spite of that I can't help but feel all of this has some kind of "personal" component in it involving JB.
I can handle the fact that there were some improprieties within the program and even buy into the notion of lack of control and oversight. I can also accept that there would be some punishment doled out with the loss of scholarships and the coach being suspended for future games. Although I don't like it, I can even deal with the fact that the program, on account of the penalties levied upon it, will be far less competitive than we would usually expect and that our chances of post season play are greatly diminished.
Having conceded all that, here's what I can't stomach.
Young kids who through no fault of their own are impacted in life altering fashion with the complete absence of the concept of putting the kids and their well being first. What has happened to Diagne and the way in which it has happened is beyond the pale. From what I've been able to gather he had a deadline for enrollment of August 20th upon which his Visa was contingent. As of today... the NCAA has still not rendered a decision as to his eligibility and as a result Diagne was left with the choice of enrolling in a 2 year JUCO school and not attending Syracuse or he would have been forced to leave the country and return to Senegal. If true, the NCAA cannot under any circumstances claim to be looking out for the well being of the student athlete.
Another thing I cannot stomach is the way the final season of Rakeem Christmas was impacted such that he was denied the chance to compete and display his talents in post season play as a result of the school being punished for something which occurred long before Christmas's arrival on the Syracuse campus.
So now it's the end of August... Diagne still hasn't been provided with any certainty as to his status and his eligibility and the Syracuse basketball program is still uncertain as to how many scholarships it will have to work with in the coming years.
As a fan my life is not really impacted in any significant fashion by all of this. But there are people who are profoundly impacted by the manner in which the NCAA metes out it's "justice". First and foremost it's the kids who are currently in the Syracuse Basketball program and also those kids who have committed to playing for and representing the University in the near future while the impact of the NCAA penalties are in full effect. To those kids... I salute you and pledge my unwavering support no matter what transpires in the next several seasons. They are pawns who are adversely affected by a broken, unfair, and uncaring money driven juggernaut known as the NCAA. Every day that those kids take the court and play, representing the University and the Syracuse Basketball Fandom... we WIN. And we WIN BIG! Oftentimes life's greatest achievements are born on the heels of adversity and the day will come when a 2nd National Championship Banner will be hanging in the Dome. I'll be cheering really loud every game until that happens and as long as my lungs allow it beyond that!
The real bright spot was the mostly unexpected change of Tyus Battle from Michigan to Syracuse. But the excitement of that was short lived when we started to hear the dribble of rumors surrounding Diagne. I for one am usually optimistic, even in the face of adversity and I'm not one to buy into conspiracy theories but one can't help but feel the degree to which the program finds itself in the crosshairs of the NCAA sniper rifle is quite stunning. Having been an Orange fan all of my adult life I am no doubt biased and partial toward the University and it's programs. In spite of that I can't help but feel all of this has some kind of "personal" component in it involving JB.
I can handle the fact that there were some improprieties within the program and even buy into the notion of lack of control and oversight. I can also accept that there would be some punishment doled out with the loss of scholarships and the coach being suspended for future games. Although I don't like it, I can even deal with the fact that the program, on account of the penalties levied upon it, will be far less competitive than we would usually expect and that our chances of post season play are greatly diminished.
Having conceded all that, here's what I can't stomach.
Young kids who through no fault of their own are impacted in life altering fashion with the complete absence of the concept of putting the kids and their well being first. What has happened to Diagne and the way in which it has happened is beyond the pale. From what I've been able to gather he had a deadline for enrollment of August 20th upon which his Visa was contingent. As of today... the NCAA has still not rendered a decision as to his eligibility and as a result Diagne was left with the choice of enrolling in a 2 year JUCO school and not attending Syracuse or he would have been forced to leave the country and return to Senegal. If true, the NCAA cannot under any circumstances claim to be looking out for the well being of the student athlete.
Another thing I cannot stomach is the way the final season of Rakeem Christmas was impacted such that he was denied the chance to compete and display his talents in post season play as a result of the school being punished for something which occurred long before Christmas's arrival on the Syracuse campus.
So now it's the end of August... Diagne still hasn't been provided with any certainty as to his status and his eligibility and the Syracuse basketball program is still uncertain as to how many scholarships it will have to work with in the coming years.
As a fan my life is not really impacted in any significant fashion by all of this. But there are people who are profoundly impacted by the manner in which the NCAA metes out it's "justice". First and foremost it's the kids who are currently in the Syracuse Basketball program and also those kids who have committed to playing for and representing the University in the near future while the impact of the NCAA penalties are in full effect. To those kids... I salute you and pledge my unwavering support no matter what transpires in the next several seasons. They are pawns who are adversely affected by a broken, unfair, and uncaring money driven juggernaut known as the NCAA. Every day that those kids take the court and play, representing the University and the Syracuse Basketball Fandom... we WIN. And we WIN BIG! Oftentimes life's greatest achievements are born on the heels of adversity and the day will come when a 2nd National Championship Banner will be hanging in the Dome. I'll be cheering really loud every game until that happens and as long as my lungs allow it beyond that!
