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

[bcubs9497]

If what Mr. Clark is saying about Western Michigan is true, then that should be a punch in the nose to our process. Hate to have it come down to losing such a key player to make that statement, but sometimes it takes something big to galvanize change.

And sorry for the tone of the note above--came across as telling you what to say.

Totally true. Steven will be there Friday morning, and we'll get there sometime Friday afternoon.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I would think this is coming from some legal team that SU is relying on. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't see how an AD can overrule the 'final say' doctor that SU is utilizing.

Didn't Dr Raphael Irving leave around June 2014 and Dr Tucker named head team physician well before Wildhacks's hiring in 2016? Dr Tucker was hired before Coyle even. Ken Syveruud, a legal expert, was named chancellor in 2014. As I said I think many of these decisions are coming from the very top and being made for legal reasons not medical.

Yep you can still find the article from then. They said it was for better care for the athletes, but obviously that was truly BS.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Veteran team doc sidelined by Syracuse University change in medical game plan

 

[Alsacs]

This chancellor has done nothing to earn the love he got when it was announced.
Nancy Cantor who did stuff I disagreed with and hurt the academic ranking of the university was a ardent supporter of athletics.

I don't feel that is the case with this chancellor who comes off like more of an academic. This crap IMO is coming from the top of the pyramid.

 

[Madsoph44]

I'm not a doctor but I have worked in the medical field for 18 years. I don't understand how having factor V Leiden would DQ you from contact sports. Football does not cause blood clots. Knee braces that are undersized cause blood clots. The clots were already there due to the knee brace so I don't understand how DQ'ing him now would protect the University from litigation. The whole situation is confusing and frustrating.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[DomeStranger]

I've tried to stay away from this one but just can't. SU administration caring about the same thing its always cared about. The big $ in the middle of the field.

Just another thing tearing athletes and fans away from the program, complete BS. Last one to leave, turn the lights off.

My heart goes out to you Steve and Steven. I truly wish you both the best.

Sorry you had to be treated so poorly by SU Admins.

 

[CuseTroop]

Ughhh I totally forgot that he might have to sit out a year to transfer...

 

[DomeStranger]

Ughhh I totally forgot that he might have to sit out a year to transfer...

The article above doesn't make it sound like a huge issue. Steven understands the value of an education.

 

[bcubs9497]

The article above doesn't make it sound like a huge issue. Steven understands the value of an education.

It's actually an advantage, as far as I'm concerned. Red shirting means one less year of grad school to pay for.

 

[CaliBob'63]

My email to the Chancellor:

Sir,
I am a proud and loyal alumnus with a BS(1963) and MS(1966) from SU. I "bleed Orange" for our athletic teams and our standing and reputation in academia.

I believe you need to intervene in the matter of Steven Clark's medical disqualification. It appears the situation has been bungled, from the initial injury which is "rumored" to have been caused by the team staff to the decision by the university doctor to ignore multiple expert opinions that he was ok to play. I understand that I may not be fully informed, but I appear to have lots of company. It's not about winning, but is about fairness and justice for a very deserving student-athlete.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Respectfully,
Robert B. Fletcher '63,'66

 

[djorange1989]

My email to Wildhack...I hope I don't sound too jerky but I am pissed.

Dear Mr Wildhack

I am writing as a Syracuse alum and 30 plus year fan of SU Athletics, in regards to the Steven Clark situation. Steven is the latest in a long string of highly questionable medical disqualifications by Dr Tucker. The last thing I would ever want is for a young man to be put in danger. However, when multiple specialists clear a player only to have a general practitioner overrule the experts, that doesn't make a bit of sense to me.

We are very lucky to have terrific student athletes like Steven and a great coaching staff led by Dino Babers. If this nonsense keeps up with Dr Tucker, then not only will we lose kids like Steven(which will happen shortly to Western Michigan, who cleared him medically) we will lose Coach Babers as well.

There is no doubt that SU disqualifies many more players than any other major program. Bad luck? I think it's more CYA medicine being practiced and it does not sit well with this alum at all.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Sincerely,
David Jacobs
VPA Class of 1989

 

[nccusefan]

Im not a big board poster but an everyday lurker. After reading this thread and many others from bcubs9497 I am not only a fan of Steven on the field but appreciate the insight I get. I have spent 8 years working with the doctors with their stubbornness and arrogance. It's one thing that doctors don't listen to me. Its totally different when they don't listen to specialists. I also wrote an email to ADJW.

Thank you bcubs for everything and best of luck to you and your family

 

[Alsacs]

Dear Dr. Tucker

 

[Shenexon]

Bcubs, thanks to you and Steven for coming to Syracuse. I was so excited for him to commit and enjoyed him being in Orange. It's sad and frustrating that a place I honor for its excellence is handling something so poorly. Best wishes to the Clark clan in finding a way through being mistreated by such an important process. I wish there were good words to say but there are none today...

 

[anomander]

Does anybody else not think it's a coincidence that WMU is one of the first teams to come knocking and already have him cleared? Obviously Lester was here for a good number of questionable dq's that are now playing elsewhere (AJ Long). I am sure he knows that Tucker and SU are more concerned with liability and cover their own butts. I am sure this is just another reason for Dino to bolt once he has his break through season. He almost lost his star QB over a liability issue. No way he puts up with his little league stuff if he has options.

 

[FasterCuse]

Hey guys,

Long time lurker, first time poster. This story has been riveting, and you could probably write a book someday bcubs. I truly wish the best for you and Steven, and thought I would share my e-mail to JW.

Dear Mr. Wildhack,

I am writing to you in regards to the Steven Clark situation. While I am not a Syracuse Alum, I have grown up in central New York my entire life and have always supported Syracuse athletics. Just to tell you a little about myself, I am a CPA who has spent 7 years in public accounting and 3 years in private practice. As with any licensed profession (medicine, law, accounting, etc.) we always face difficult situations in which an expert in a very specific field is needed, as it's practically impossible to know everything about everything. We consult with those experts, and many times get second and third opinions. After hearing from the experts we make an informed decision on which direction we should proceed. In the case of Dr. Tucker and Steven's situation it sounds like numerous experts have been consulted with; however, those expert opinions (all clearing Steven to play) have been vastly ignored.

With Dr. Tucker blatantly ignoring expert opinions and making a decision in a field he is not qualified in, I believe you need to intervene in the matter of Steven Clark's medical disqualification. Like many others that I'm sure have written you, I understand that I may not be fully informed, but from an external perspective it appears that the Syracuse Athletic's administration (specifically the oversight of the medical team) is incompetent. I do truly believe that the health and future of the student-athlete should come first and foremost. However, in this case it is apparent that the only interest of concern to Dr. Tucker is his medical malpractice insurance.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and I truly hope you reconsider the medical disqualification protocols at Syracuse University.

Sincerely,
FasterCuse

 

[dan7800]

This is sad. Steven is a heck of a player, and seemingly (and more importantly) a solid young man.

 

[JSOrange97]

Bcubs, thanks to you and Steven for coming to Syracuse. I was so excited for him to commit and enjoyed him being in Orange. It's sad and frustrating that a place I honor for its excellence is handling something so poorly. Best wishes to the Clark clan in finding a way through being mistreated by such an important process. I wish there were good words to say but there are none today...

This is spot on. I am very disappointed in SU today. I even upped my donation this year to show support for Dino Babers, but it seems this administration can't seem to get it right. I hope we can see positive movement on the Dr. Tucker issue as well as others (helloooo, dome renovation) soon. This is becoming too much and as each day goes by I am more disappointed in my alma mater.

 

[RF2044]

What I find impossible to reconcile is how Dr. Tucker is disregarding the assessments of three specialists with more professional expertise in the medical domains that are relevant to this case.

I don't have first hand knowledge of what's going on behind closed doors here, not pretending to, but if their findings don't cast doubt on his original diagnosis, then his final disposition just appears stubborn.

And if his decision is based solely on covering the University / administration while disregarding pertinent medical information, then that is a pretty sorry outcome at the expense of Steven Clark.

I have a high level of skepticism over the third alternative--that a GP is right and three specialists practicing in that field are wrong.

 

[bcubs9497]

What I find impossible to reconcile is how Dr. Tucker is disregarding the assessments of three specialists with more specialized expertise in the medical domain that is relevant to this case.

I certainly don't have first hand knowledge of what's going on behind closed doors here, but if he doesn't find that to cast doubt on his diagnosis, then it appears he's just being stubborn.

And if his decision is based solely on covering the University / administration while disregarding pertinent medical information, then that is a pretty sorry outcome at the expense of Steven Clark.

The third alternative--that a GP is right and three specialized doctors are wrong--is difficult to believe.

Well, if you count the WMU team doc, it's 4. And if you go back a few pages, you'll see that it quite likely is 5. DiFino was said to have changed his mind.

 

[Marroniac]

My email to the Chancellor:

Hey Chancellor. Tell Tucker to go kick rocks.

Sincerely,
Marroniac

 

[bcubs9497]

My email to the Chancellor:

Hey Chancellor. Tell Tucker to go kick rocks.

Sincerely,
Marroniac

God, I hope that was for real :rolling:

 

[BKCuse]

There can be multiple forms of venting. Feel free to send your own to him with your thoughts. The more, the merrier.

jwildhac syr.edu (put an at symbol between his name and syr.edu)

I 100% think emails voicing displeasure can effect change.
I will definitely send one and I encourage everyone else to also. Be polite, be mad, just be respectful to Wildhack - I'm sure he feels the same way we do about this.

 

[JLine]

It's getting more, and more difficult to support the Athletic Department. Dino will be on the first train out of here if something doesn't change, and fast.

Best of luck to Steven, and family.