It's time for Syracuse to sit Devendorf

Naturally, Eric Devendorf will appeal.

And that'll drag this out.

And that's OK.

But I can't see how Syracuse can continue to play the troubled guard in the meantime after he was essentially found guilty Wednesday of allegedly hitting a girl in the face and thus suspended from school for at least the remainder of the academic year. Jim Boeheim has stood by his guy, and I was fine with it. But we're no longer operating under the innocent-until-proven-guilty umbrella. Unless Devendorf's appeal overturns the judicial hearing board's decision (which seems unlikely), then he's gone for the rest of the season, and so there's no sense in Syracuse taking a further public relation's hit just to get the 14.1 points per game Devendorf has been providing when it's doubtful he'll be available in March anyway.

Or even January, tell the truth.

And that's why Syracuse should sit Devendorf starting Saturday against Long Beach State, because he's been found guilty of a fairly serious allegation, and the fact that one of Devendorf's teammates sent text messages to the alleged victim asking for forgiveness doesn't suggest this was all merely a big misunderstanding. Perhaps it was just a bad night for Devendorf, and maybe this will be the type of life-lesson that helps him grow as a person. I don't know. But what I do know is that the Orange won't benefit from squeezing a few more games out of Devendorf while his appeal is heard, and that given Wednesday's ruling the only right move now is for Boeheim to come out and say that though he loves Devendorf and will do anything to help him, he's finished for the season unless the judicial hearing board's decision is eventually overturned.

If and when the ruling is overturned, then reinstate Devendorf immediately.

I'll be for that.

But for now, it's time for Devendorf to sit.

And the sooner the announcement comes, the better.

It's time for Syracuse to sit Devendorf

I disagree. Depends on the coach. Look at LSU football for example. I know it was different situation, but it depends on each coach. I remember Billy Donavan kicked Teddy Dupay(?) off the team for a similar situation. Dupay was white, then again, i could be mistaken with why he was kicked off.

Gary, have you done any research on this????

morris614 Since: Dec 9, 2008	Posted on: December 11, 2008 1:23 am It's time for Syracuse to sit Devendorf I disagree. Depends on the coach. Look at LSU football for example. I know it was different situation, but it depends on each coach. I remember Billy Donavan kicked Teddy Dupay(?) off the team for a similar situation. Dupay was white, then again, i could be mistaken with why he was kicked off. [ Reply to Comment ]
SKIPBROX Since: Jul 12, 2008	Posted on: December 11, 2008 1:19 am It's time for Syracuse to sit Devendorf If Devendorf was black........he would have been hstory after the accusation....NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.... and i care about all students and athletes.... [ Reply to Comment ]
mm09orange Since: Sep 10, 2008	Posted on: December 11, 2008 12:48 am Gary, have you done any research on this???? If you had researched this entire situation, you would have seen that the Syracuse DA did not see enough evidence to arrest or press charges on Devo. Now these people(Syracuse DA and Syracuse Police Department) I would assume have some type of criminal justice, law type degree. Your saying he was essentially found guilty on Wenesday. Did you know that he was found guilty by a group of 5 Syracuse University students, none of which have any type of degree in law or criminal justice? The SU Judicial Board is an absolute joke and has a history of having a guilty until proven innocent type of court. Just look at the Billy Edelin case. The Syracuse DA found no incriminating evidence to charge him with rape and threw the case out, yet the SU Judicial Board suspended him for a year. I agree that Devendorf should not have put himself in this type of situation, but the female's story has changed each time a new report dcomes out. All witnesses back Devendorf's story that he did what he did out of self defense. If the Syracuse DA can't find enough evidence to even consider making this a case, how can 5 Syracuse students??? And I do not agree with sitting Devendorf, as the Judicial Board has requested this suspenson. The player has the right to an appeals and until that process is complete, he is innocent. The appeals court at SU is made up of 2 faculty members and 1 student, I believe. So one would assume a much more logical process would come out of the appeal. Either way the whole process of how a private university operates like this, basically making up there own rules that have no bearing on the U.S. Court system, sucks. State schools will allow our law system to take over and after that concludes, the university dishes out their punishment. [ Reply to Comment ]
kwilliams5 Since: Oct 15, 2007	Posted on: December 10, 2008 11:56 pm Totally disagree Gary If Eric Devondorf appeals and were to win his appeal then you basically want him to sit out for possibly up to 3 weeks while the appeals process goes on?? That would also be an unjust penalty to Devondorf. This case is ridiculous and has ZERO proof except for Kimberly Smith's accusations. Other than the accusationg there was no mark, no witnesses that saw him punch her as she claims, plenty of witnesses that claim he didn't...need I go on?? Everyone who is saying he is a thug and a punk thought he was guilty as soon as you read the headline. If the girl accused him of something far worse a majority of you would have believed it. Its amazing how quick people jump to her side because Devo has a few tattoes and is emotional on the court sometimes to the point of immaturity. The perception of being a punk doesn't mean he hits women. I need some more evidence if you can argue this penalty is just. [ Reply to Comment ]
morris614 Since: Dec 9, 2008	Posted on: December 10, 2008 11:53 pm It's time for Syracuse to sit Devendorf He should get benched for being a wigger. [ Reply to Comment ]
ThunderE6 Since: Aug 29, 2006	Posted on: December 10, 2008 11:23 pm A university board isn't a court of law. Have there been criminal charges filed? I've got a hard time taking privileges away from somebody without a genuine legal finding of guilt against a person. [ Reply to Comment ]
hoopsisbest Since: Jan 10, 2008	Posted on: December 10, 2008 11:17 pm It's time for Syracuse to sit Devendorf Thugs who hit girls need to have their privileges revoked. What's a greater privilege than to have a free education and play basketball for a major university? [ Reply to Comment ]
freebirdmaw Since: Apr 2, 2008	Posted on: December 10, 2008 9:51 pm It's time for Syracuse to sit Devendorf Absolutely agree. Devo should be excused from the team for "violating team policy". Boeheim should do the correct action, he is known for being on the up and up. If DinkleDORK gets cleared, you remove him from the "all punk team" and welcome him back with open arms (just guard your face). [ Reply to Comment ]
Devofan Since: Oct 22, 2006	Posted on: December 10, 2008 9:37 pm It's time for Syracuse to sit Devendorf I agree, as a player Devo is great. As a person, not so much... Boeheim will most likely sit him, this may be the last time Devo ever plays for Syracuse, he could end up being kicked off the team when all is said and done. [ Reply to Comment ]

If you had researched this entire situation, you would have seen that the Syracuse DA did not see enough evidence to arrest or press charges on Devo. Now these people(Syracuse DA and Syracuse Police Department) I would assume have some type of criminal justice, law type degree. Your saying he was essentially found guilty on Wenesday. Did you know that he was found guilty by a group of 5 Syracuse University students, none of which have any type of degree in law or criminal justice? The SU Judicial Board is an absolute joke and has a history of having a guilty until proven innocent type of court. Just look at the Billy Edelin case. The Syracuse DA found no incriminating evidence to charge him with rape and threw the case out, yet the SU Judicial Board suspended him for a year.

I agree that Devendorf should not have put himself in this type of situation, but the female's story has changed each time a new report dcomes out. All witnesses back Devendorf's story that he did what he did out of self defense. If the Syracuse DA can't find enough evidence to even consider making this a case, how can 5 Syracuse students???

And I do not agree with sitting Devendorf, as the Judicial Board has requested this suspenson. The player has the right to an appeals and until that process is complete, he is innocent. The appeals court at SU is made up of 2 faculty members and 1 student, I believe. So one would assume a much more logical process would come out of the appeal.

Either way the whole process of how a private university operates like this, basically making up there own rules that have no bearing on the U.S. Court system, sucks. State schools will allow our law system to take over and after that concludes, the university dishes out their punishment.

Totally disagree Gary

If Eric Devondorf appeals and were to win his appeal then you basically want him to sit out for possibly up to 3 weeks while the appeals process goes on?? That would also be an unjust penalty to Devondorf. This case is ridiculous and has ZERO proof except for Kimberly Smith's accusations. Other than the accusationg there was no mark, no witnesses that saw him punch her as she claims, plenty of witnesses that claim he didn't...need I go on??

Everyone who is saying he is a thug and a punk thought he was guilty as soon as you read the headline. If the girl accused him of something far worse a majority of you would have believed it. Its amazing how quick people jump to her side because Devo has a few tattoes and is emotional on the court sometimes to the point of immaturity. The perception of being a punk doesn't mean he hits women. I need some more evidence if you can argue this penalty is just.

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