[Update: If you're just seeing this blog entry for the first time, there have been a couple of developments concerning this situation. The recruit in question, Dewitt Stuckey, will not be facing charges. And I have changed my position on this matter, too. Instead of a threshold of being arrested and charged with a felony as grounds for revoking a scholarship, I've raised, or lowered, that standard to being indicted on felony charges. And that change in position can be directly attributable to the discussion on this blog. Who says good things can't happen on blogs? - Jay, DSN]
Jay, here.
Yesterday, The Oregonian’s John Canzano addressed the legal issues surrounding Oregon recruit Dewitt Stuckey on his sports talk radio show, The Bald Faced Truth.
Here’s the link to the audio. It’s about half-way through the audio file. In addition to his commentary, Canzano also talks to a Stockton Record reporter familiar with the situation.
As an editorial note, I’m a hard-liner on stuff like this. Regardless of innocence or guilt, any recruit arrested for a felony should have their scholarship immediately revoked. There is no upside to a “second chance”. Maybe on the football field. Maybe. But is it worth it? Probably not.
However, there is an upside for establishing a precedent that the University of Oregon will not willingly welcome student-athletes who put themselves in the position to be arrested for a felony, or felonies. Once they get to campus, that’s a different story. They’re there, and Oregon is stuck with them. But knowingly awarding a scholarship to a student-athlete facing a felony is completely unacceptable.
Considering Oregon’s PR problem of the “appearance of impropriety” on several issues, this should be a no-brainer. Actually, I would advocate that Mr. Brand make this a stipulation across the NCAA board.
Is there a path for a “second chance”? Sure. And that begins with two steps. First, an institution has to establish itself as intolerant of this type of behavior. Second, the student-athlete in question would have to attend a community college for a probationary year.
Too draconian?
In the third hour of Canzano’s show, he talks to former Duck, Terrell Brandon.
Here’s the link to that interview. That’s a just a couple of minutes into the hour.
Only one editorial note: he has a son graduating from high school next year!
I’m old.
No, not really. That just makes me feel old.
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