Bad News for Duke

[Danny Hogan]

http://www.newsobserver.com/122/story/421494.html

[Sonny]

This doesn't sound very good at all.

DNA tests ordered for Duke athletes
Lacrosse team reports to lab in rape inquiry

Durham police had 46 members of the Duke University lacrosse team DNA-tested Thursday in the suspected gang-rape of a woman at an off-campus party last week.

Police think at least three of the men could be responsible for the sexual assault, beating, robbery and near-strangulation of one of two women who had an appointment to dance at the party March 13, according to a search warrant.

Such a broad DNA sampling early in an investigation is unusual, several local lawyers said.

The assault allegedly happened in a house shared by three members of the men's lacrosse team, Duke officials said.

[Brent Burns]

Any news like that does not sound good at all. However, we need to be extremely careful about commenting or speculating on this case as it is still being investigated. We all know that "everyone is innocent until proven guilty."

The good news is that Duke will play lacrosse as scheduled.

This is also being discussed at Laxpower.com under Lacrosse Forums.

[UofMLaxGoalie11]

I for one dont find this posting appropriate for this site unless you are just trying to spread rumors, give the Duke lacrosse team a bad name, and damage the sport of lacrosse! I sincerely hope Sonny will delete your posting!!!! my 2 cents worth.

I dont completely agree with you here. He is just reporting news.

[Sonny]

I for one dont find this posting appropriate for this site unless you are just trying to spread rumors, give the Duke lacrosse team a bad name, and damage the sport of lacrosse! I sincerely hope Sonny will delete your posting!!!! my 2 cents worth.

This news report is already being reported in the local newspapers, TV, and radio stations in the North Carolina area.

[Danny Hogan]

I for one dont find this posting appropriate for this site unless you are just trying to spread rumors, give the Duke lacrosse team a bad name, and damage the sport of lacrosse! I sincerely hope Sonny will delete your posting!!!! my 2 cents worth.

i didn't post an opinion or a rumor.

I linked to an article on a reputable news site that i saw on another lacrosse site.

Don't shoot the messenger.

[Brent Burns]

I want to add that there is a brief article from Inside Lacrosse.com which printed an official Duke University statement about the Duke lacrosse players. See http://dukenews.duke.edu/2006/03/lacrosse1.html

From Inside Lacrosse.com, http://www.insidelacrosse.com/page.cfm?pagerid=2&news=fdetail&storyid=117474

Enough said, this news is already public.

[PigPen]

I hope they don't pull a St. Pauls-I don't think they can do that at this level. but nothing seems to surprise me anymore.

[PigPen]

I spoke too soon-it looks like the Dukies will forfeit at least the next two.

[Brent Burns]

Duke announced that they would forfeit games against Georgetown (today) and Mount. St. Mary's (Tuesday). Laxpower.com reports the news at:

http://www.laxpower.com/laxnews/news.php?story=2604

There is a new thread under "Lacrosse Forums" at Laxpower.com that discusses Duke's two forfeited games. I believe there is a link in that thread that brings up a follow-up story by NewsObserver.com (the newspaper for the Triangle area in NC).

[mholtz]

I spoke too soon-it looks like the Dukies will forfeit at least the next two.

yep

http://www.newsobserver.com/122/story/421902.html

[Sonny]

Duke Announces Forfeiture of Men's Lacrosse Games

The men's lacrosse team will forfeit today's contest against Georgetown as well as Tuesday's scheduled game with Mount St. Mary's

Durham, N.C. -- Duke University Director of Athletics Joe Alleva announced on Saturday that the men's lacrosse team will forfeit today's contest against Georgetown as well as Tuesday's scheduled game with Mount St. Mary's.

"I am dismayed by the party on March 13 held by members of the men's lacrosse team at an off campus residence," Alleva said. "The Durham Police's investigation of the matter continues and we await its results.

"The players deny the criminal allegations. We understand that to date, no one has been charged with any crime. We continue to monitor the situation and will respond accordingly to further developments as the facts become known.

"Several players who were present acknowledge, however, that they did hire private party dancers and that underage drinking occurred. The judgment of the team members to host and participate in this event is inconsistent with the values of Duke Athletics and Duke University and is unacceptable. Accordingly I have notified Coach Pressler that I have decided that we will forfeit today's game and next Tuesday's

[BigheadTodd]

Does anyone know when the last time a DI game g=has been forfieted for any reason? I can't remember.

[LAXDawg14]

im from nc, and my mom called me yesterday and told me about that..... let me tell you one thing, that was an awkward phone conversation to have with your mom.

[Sonny]

LaxCast.com has an exclusive interview with John Burness (Senior Vice President of Communications, Duke University) and Samiha Khanna (Staff writer, The News & Observer, Raleigh, NC) regarding the situation at Duke:

http://www.laxcast.com/laxcasts.php