If I was Chukwu I would not have given them the time of day as cheating is a systematic problem throughput their athletic programs. It was not just the hoops program that was caught. Syracuse has violated NCAA regulations on so many different levels, from academic misconduct, violation of its own drug policy, extra benefits for players and boosters funneling thousands of dollars to players for "volunteer" jobs. These guys even stole from the Syracuse YMCA to accomplish their dishonest tasks. This was not a one time problem where the program had a hiccup... in 1992 Syracuse's hoops program was placed on two years of probation yesterday by the NCAA for widespread violations involving recruits and student athletes.
While Jim Boeheim is a great basketball coach he has been a huge part of the institutional problems that have existed at Syracuse and I would not want my kid to learn a thing from him. The issues at Syracuse go back further than the last 10 years as well. The Iona fans know very well that Boeheim looked the other way and had Louis Orr running around trying to keep Deshaun Williams out of trouble. They never fixed the problem or penalized Williams, they just used him and covered everything up. Williams has admitted that he never went to class, was partying almost every night and was in multiple altercations. Williams assaulted a bouncer and Boeheim spoke to the victim and miraculously no charges are filed. He let Williams and Schumpert get away with refusing to pass the ball to each other over personal issues. The program somehow kept him from getting arrested even though Williams was famous for urinating inside local bars... but not in the bathroom. He was involved in multiple brawls in bars but was not arrested. Boeheim eventually had to suspended Williams three games for violation of Student Code of Conduct after Williams was charged with driving while intoxicated. The school finally had to toss Williams after he assaulted Nicole Wilcox, the team's mascot, during a bar fight. Boeheim did nothing to curb this kids behavior and used the kid for his own gains.
On top of that you had:
* Players being accused of sexual assault.
* Players nabbed in multiple drug related incidents.
* NCAA hits for low Academic Progress Rates
* Scoop Jardine was caught stealing another Syracuse student’s lunch card and Boeheim's tough disciplinary action was suspending him for two games.
* The news reported that Donte Green's uncle was given a a line of credit for $50,000 from a sports agency.
* Derrick Coleman was charged with a misdemeanor count of criminal mischief and harassment, a violation, in 1988 following a fight and break-ins at two students' apartments.
* Andre Hawkins and Ron Payton were charged with rape following a game at the Big East Tournament.
* Derrick Coleman plead guilty to charges of harassment and disorderly conduct after Coleman was upset he had to pay a $2.50 admission charge at a campus dance and then assaulted someone and kicked in two doors.
* Dave Johnson was the focus of a police investigation of sexual misconduct involving a 14-year-old girl.
* Billy Owens and a few of his friends beat a young man for tossing a snowball at their car. Owens was not arrested and the victim mysteriously declines to press charges.
* In 1993, six Syracuse basketball players were involved in a late-night confrontation at a Syracuse bar where Anthony Harris fell down and busted his teeth. After the initial confrontation involving two of the players, six players returned with a hammer to assault a bouncer. Michael Edwards tried to brake the bars plexiglass windows with a hammer, calling the bouncers outside and then preceded to break the windows of multiple cars in front of the establishment. Boeheim's statement was "They didn't go to fight. They went because they were concerned about him (Harris),"... yes, they must have planned to do some carpentry at 3:00am and they cared so much for their buddy that they did not take him to the hospital.
* Conrad McRae was charged by police in April 1992 with obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest and criminal mischief after he bear-hugged a police officer who was trying to arrest a friend.
* Police asked a judge to issue a criminal summons in 1991 charging Adrian Autry with harassment for allegedly punching an ex-girlfriend. Mysteriously, charges are dropped by the ex.
* Michael Edwards was suspended following his arrest for breaking into a car,... charges are mysteriously dropped.
* Todd Burgan was suspended for 7 games following his breach of the Schools Student Conduct Code. This sounds like he may have plagiarized a paper or was caught drinking on campus.... nope he was charged with using physical harm and threat of physical harm against a female student.
* Dean David Potter was allegedly fired because he refused to cover up a sexual assault charge lodged against players Jonny Flynn, Scoop Jardine and Rick Jackson. Instead of the hearings being conducted by the schools Judicial Affairs Panel, which was a standard procedure, the case was decided by the school and the players attorneys. Dean Potter fought to have the case heard by the Judicial Affairs Panel and when a hearing occurred the players were found guilty of conduct that “threatened the mental health” of the female student. The basketball players were put on disciplinary probation -- meaning that another judicial violation could result in immediate expulsion from the school. Shortly after the decision the Dean was terminated and they offered him six months salary if he committed to not bad mouthing the school. He turned it down.
It seems that alcohol and drug abuse, disrespecting women, burglary, sexually assaulting fellow students, assaulting members of the community, multiple violations of the schools Schools Student Conduct Code and very low academic standards are what Boeheim deems as acceptable.
Good luck to him and I hope it works out. I am not disappointed that he did not choose Iona, I just hate Boeheim and what he has gotten away with over the years. I will root like hell for Paschal to do great, as he is part of the extended Iona family, but I can not bring myself to root for Syracuse.