Syracuse football defensive tackle Steven Clark's career put in jeopardy by blood clots

[shandeezy7]

Okay, here's the deal. Steven has decided to change his field of study. No longer wants go be a PT, but rather be a PA. In order to make this happen, he needs a few extra classes (organic and bio chem) under his belt to ensure he has the prerequisites to get into a graduate PA program. If SU allows Steven to remain with the team in some capacity (as an assistant of some sort), he will be able to get that done during the remaining summer sessions. If he's not allowed to remain with the team, then summer school at SU is NOT an option. That means he'd have to come back home during the summer and pick up those classes here. Also, if summer school at SU isn't available, then the prospect of transferring becomes more probable.

The coaching staff has no problem with Steven remaining with the team as "something" (whatever that is). I suppose it's up to SU administration to say "yea" or "nay".

Shameless plug here, but if he wanted to remain in the area for his PA degree, there is a solid program right down the road at Le Moyne.

Physician Assistant Studies at Le Moyne College

I believe Upstate has a decent PA program as well. Hopefully he is allowed to remain with the team, and I can't see a logical reason why he wouldn't be, if the coaching staff welcomes it.

 

[Alsacs]

Why are you getting so riled about a hypothetical scenario?

Dozens of posts throughout this thread show a bizarre and disappointing level of contempt for a university that everyone on this board allegedly supports.

I am riled because this whole thing appears to me as a CYA job by the SU medical doctors.

 

[UnknownOrange]

If the administration doesn't allow your son to remain. They are beyond classless and deserve to have alumni hold them accountable.
Graduate and get out.

Welcome to college athletics where scholarships are year to year and nothing is guaranteed. Sad

 

[PhatOrange]

If the administration doesn't allow your son to remain. They are beyond classless and deserve to have alumni hold them accountable.
Graduate and get out.

to my knowledge Syracuse has always let medical DQ'd kids stay on scholarship to finish. It doesn't count against the 85 anymore so if they don't then they're being pretty cheap about it.

 

[IthacaMatt]

He has no case. Syracuse University doesn't have to clear a player to play football for them. They aren't taking his ship away. They are saying that in their opinion, he isn't healthy enough to play football for the school. It is their call. He is free to stay at the university. He is free to go elsewhere. But the Universities medical staff isn't going to clear him to play. Period. The fear is that a player will go dr shopping. Sad to say that goes on. The school needs a decision maker. And that is Dr Tucker.

Well it shows what a bush league program we have when the guy with the final word is a G-D family doctor; someone with no specialty or advanced training. How is he qualified at all to give the defining opinion on brain trauma or hematology? Answer: He's not. Crap like this, and the lack of progress on the Dome, is going to cost us Babers within a couple years, just watch.

 

[sufandu]

Okay, here's the deal. Steven has decided to change his field of study. No longer wants go be a PT, but rather be a PA. In order to make this happen, he needs a few extra classes (organic and bio chem) under his belt to ensure he has the prerequisites to get into a graduate PA program. If SU allows Steven to remain with the team in some capacity (as an assistant of some sort), he will be able to get that done during the remaining summer sessions. If he's not allowed to remain with the team, then summer school at SU is NOT an option. That means he'd have to come back home during the summer and pick up those classes here. Also, if summer school at SU isn't available, then the prospect of transferring becomes more probable.

The coaching staff has no problem with Steven remaining with the team as "something" (whatever that is). I suppose it's up to SU administration to say "yea" or "nay".

This sounds like he's decided to move on from football. Is that accurate or am I reading it wrong? Regardless, I wish him luck with whatever he does.

 

[IthacaMatt]

Knowing the University's typical decision making process when it comes to anything other than its bloated and redundant administrative structures I can pretty much guess why Tucker is serving in his capacity as judge, jury and executioner: he underbid whatever competition there was (if there was any at all).

He is a seriously old dude, too, and is probably even more risk-averse because he's damn close to retirement from the looks of him.

 

[SU68]

Well it shows what a bush league program we have when the guy with the final word is a G-D family doctor; someone with no specialty or advanced training. How is he qualified at all to give the defining opinion on brain trauma or hematology? Answer: He's not. Crap like this, and the lack of progress on the Dome, is going to cost us Babers within a couple years, just watch.

I suspect that most programs have board-certified family practitioners (FP) as the team physician, just has you have (or should have) a FP as your family doctor. When something happens beyond their scope of care, they refer the patient to specialists. The FP usually defers the judgement to the specialist which apparently happened here. That there is a difference of opinion among specialists, there are certainly a plethora of consultants at Upstate with which to consult.

 

[IthacaMatt]

It wasn't a give away. It is possible to attack in one sentence and make a snarky, tongue in cheek comment in the next. That's how I read your post as well.

I read it as critical of the university, not the poster. How hard is it to fire a guy? If the university wanted to do it, they certainly could.

 

[bcubs9497]

Welcome to college athletics where scholarships are year to year and nothing is guaranteed. Sad

He's pretty much covered till he graduates. Exception being, possibly, summer school.

 

[bcubs9497]

to my knowledge Syracuse has always let medical DQ'd kids stay on scholarship to finish. It doesn't count against the 85 anymore so if they don't then they're being pretty cheap about it.

Correct.

 

[CuseLegacy]

Welcome to college athletics where scholarships are year to year and nothing is guaranteed. Sad

Scholarships are now for four years.

 

[UnknownOrange]

Scholarships are now for four years.

Good to know. I wasn't sure if that is nationwide or what.

 

[AZOrange]

I am riled because this whole thing appears to me as a CYA job by the SU medical doctors.

You're a lawyer right?

 

[Alsacs]

You're a lawyer right?

Dude I am allowed to have the opinion I stated. There is a difference between being CYA and being cautious.

If the doctors honestly believed the kid was risking his future DQ the kid. If the school is overtly afraid of a lawsuit where the odds are minuscule of harm it's a joke. The father outlined the odds they are 8 in 100000 instead of 1 in 100000.

Those odds and the fact multiple doctors in Alabama disagree are disappointing the SU staff doctors are disappointijg.

He is likely going to continue playing at another school.

 

[bcubs9497]

You're a lawyer right?

Dude I am allowed to have the opinion I stated. There is a difference between being CYA and being cautious.

If the doctors honestly believed the kid was risking his future DQ the kid. If the school is overtly afraid of a lawsuit where the odds are minuscule of harm it's a joke. The father outlined the odds they are 8 in 100000 instead of 1 in 100000.

Those odds and the fact multiple doctors in Alabama disagree are disappointing the SU staff doctors are disappointijg.

He is likely going to continue playing at another school.

Two things to keep in mind. First, back in November, Steven's leg was placed into an XL knee brace and overly tightened by someone on staff. Clotting then occurred where the belts contacted Steven's leg. Second, in April, he was taken off Xarelto even though, according to the attending hematologist (SU's, not ours), clotting was still present. These two things have been brought to the attention of the AD.

 

[AZOrange]

Two things to keep in mind. First, back in November, Steven's leg was placed into an XL knee brace and overly tightened by someone on staff. Clotting then occurred where the belts contacted Steven's leg. Second, in April, he was taken off Xarelto even though, according to the attending hematologist (SU's, not ours), clotting was still present. These two things have been brought to the attention of the AD.

Exactly. If you gave me only those 2 facts alone, I'd say there was zero chance they'd allow him to play again. Watching from 10000 feet, this has nothing to do with Steven's actual medical condition and everything to do with limiting liability.

 

[bcubs9497]

Exactly. If you gave me only those 2 facts alone, I'd say there was zero chance they'd allow him to play again. Watching from 10000 feet, this has nothing to do with Steven's actual medical condition and everything to do with limiting liability.

Of course you would.

 

[bcubs9497]

Exactly. If you gave me only those 2 facts alone, I'd say there was zero chance they'd allow him to play again. Watching from 10000 feet, this has nothing to do with Steven's actual medical condition and everything to do with limiting liability.

I'll give you an example of how screwed up this process is. Google how many athletes died of complications of the gene disorder Steven has. Now google players who died of complications of sickle cell.. I was able to find 1 case linked to factor v and a lot of cases of deaths from sickle cell issues.

 

[bigmike]

Two things to keep in mind. First, back in November, Steven's leg was placed into an XL knee brace and overly tightened by someone on staff. Clotting then occurred where the belts contacted Steven's leg. Second, in April, he was taken off Xarelto even though, according to the attending hematologist (SU's, not ours), clotting was still present. These two things have been brought to the attention of the AD.

A fact pattern which may free up some money for summer classes..

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[Finwad32]

Good for Steven... I'm sure the decision has been weighed and measured diligently. If Steven feels confident in the prognosis and is not ready to give up his football career, he should go play elsewhere.

Best of luck in all that happens from here. I hope I get to see him play again.

 

[Trueblue25]

Some lucky school's going to get a hell of a player.

 

[OrangeXtreme]