Bad News for Duke

[Sonny]

Does anyone other than me look at the Pressler resignation as a prelude to the University eliminating the program?

I hope I'm wrong.

Rob

Not at all. Why would they eliminate a highly successful program over this incident? Other schools have had major incidents of all kinds and they didnt eliminate programs. Think of all the problems there have been at D1 schools involving football players as well as coaches for example.

Lacrosse would be an easy scapegoat. It doesn't generate the income that football or basketball does.

[Rob Graff]

Why eliminate?

1. It's a non-revenue sport. My guess is that it costs, rather than creates $.

2. Because it's a non-revenue sport, it has no "protection" from alumni or sponsors, as, say, the COLORADO FOOTBALL TEAM did. That type of protection allows a program to weather this bad publicity until either the athletes are proven guilty (and the university paints it as "just some bad apples"), found not guilty (and the university promises to "look at the culture of sports" and does nothing) or the public memory fades.

3. Duke is consistently taking a public beating over this, and will continue to - even if there is complete acquittal OR no charges brought.

4. University may believe that elimination shows the community they they are "serious" about being good neighbor/do not tolerate racism or violence against women. Duke then is percieved as "doing something" on this issue, and not "letting the jocks" run wild, "as other schools do". Under such a theory, the Duke lacrosse team is sacrificed on the alter of Duke's public relations.

Understand - I'm not advocating on either side of this question.

[semilaxed]

they'll probably:
fire everyone
cut most of the players or just those involved even in the least bit
then they'll probably start all over with a whole new program


but still I went to the duke camp from 8th grade to 11th. Plus I lived 5 mins from duke. I can't see how coach pressler had anything to do with this. He is known for treating everyone as adults. He is the last person i ever wanted to piss off. A kid was late for practice one time and pressler was so mad at him that I thought the kid lite his room on fire or something. He also used to bench guys (including his best players) for taking side arm shots.

Well some team out there is about to pick up a good coach.

[Lax_Stats]

Duke will NEVER eliminate the lacrosse program over this issue!!!! If they do, I will run through the town square naked and admit I was wrong!!!

[Rob Graff]

Again, Hope you are right. I"m not advocating that they should be gone, just presenting the argument they could use to justify it if they desire to do so.

[KnoxVegas]

Duke will NEVER eliminate the lacrosse program over this issue!!!! If they do, I will run through the town square naked and admit I was wrong!!!

I would be watching Old School on an endless loop for pointers and practicing taking my pants off, if I was you. Might want to call the folks at GoldenPalace.com while you are at it. They like to sponsor streakers.

[Lax_Stats]

Duke will NEVER eliminate the lacrosse program over this issue!!!! If they do, I will run through the town square naked and admit I was wrong!!!

I would be watching Old School on an endless loop for pointers and practicing taking my pants off, if I was you. Might want to call the folks at GoldenPalace.com while you are at it. They like to sponsor streakers.

LMAO I am betting Duke wont eliminate lacrosse just to avoid seeing me streaking thru the town square!

[Lax_Stats]

Have any of these articles been posted yet??

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12109030/from/RL.2/

This link has video with it

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12171051/

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12170800/from/RL.1/

http://www.dukenews.duke.edu/mmedia/fea ... _incident/

more video attached
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12096835/from/RL.5/

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/12135342/from/RL.4/

[Timbalaned]

Does anyone other than me look at the Pressler resignation as a prelude to the University eliminating the program?

I hope I'm wrong.

Rob

I could see it happening. They aren't a revenue sport, this is a huge allegation, they are going to have trouble recruiting for the next couple of years, in the eyes of the university, why not just get rid of it all together...


**My bad, didn't read what all the stuff that was said, but I completely agree with Rob

[DanGenck]

If Duke Lacrosse gets the death penalty, they might never recover. Look at SMU Football... it's been about 20 years since they received the death penalty for 2 years (correct me if I'm wrong) and they're not even close to what they once were.

This is a tough spot for Duke. Either way, it's never going to be the same.

[DanGenck]

Here is an ESPN article:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2398409

Duke lacrosse coach resigns, rest of season canceledAssociated Press

DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University's lacrosse coach resigned Wednesday and the school canceled the rest of the season amid a scandal involving allegations that three players raped a stripper at an off-campus party.

Mike Pressler spent 16 seasons at Duke and won three Atlantic Coast Conference championships. Last year, his team appeared in the national championship game.


"Coach Pressler offered me his resignation earlier this afternoon, and I accepted it," said Duke athletic director Joe Alleva. "I believe this is in the best interests of the program, the department of athletics and the university."

How the HECK is this "in the best interests of the program"????? First of all, Coach Pressler wasn't even involved in the alleged incident!! And secondly, he took Duke to the National Championship game last year!!!!

I agree, the buck stops with the head coach. In the same situation, I would resign.

[laxfan25]

While I think the Pressler resignation was the proper thing to do (especially with the concurrent release of the vile e-mail), I really don't think it will lead to the elimination of the lacrosse team. Depending on what turns up you can rest assured that some members of the team will be removed (if not jailed), but I don't think we'll see the team go bye-bye.
After all, Duke has very high academic standards, and we all know that the smartest guys in life play lacrosse!!
Seriously, it will be a major blow to Duke, both the team and more so, the university. This is about much more than lax.

[TexOle]

SMU received the Death Penalty for 1 year. Those familiar with the entire SMU program could tell you how out of control it was. The players were receiving monetary contributions and SMU never tried to fix the problem. I can tell you some stuff about the SMU program that would shock everyone. My old neighbor used to coach the basketball team, and he had to follow some strict rules in recruiting. As an example, you had to qualify for admission to SMU, before the coach could talk to you. It was a mess. I can't remember the football coach caught in this, but Dave Bliss definitely was investigated numerous times at SMU. They did not compete a year after their ban, because the school wanted a year off to regroup. The NCAA will not give Duke the death penalty. It takes a lot to receive an death penalty from the NCAA. The school might drop the sport or extend the suspension.

Duke's lacrosse team if it is reinstated will rebuild faster than SMU football. SMU is just now starting to let coaches talk to players who might not qualify for admission. They also now have some facilities that can bring recruits. SMU will not recruit locally. SMU is a mess, and maybe with Jim Copeland leaving things will get better. It looks like Coach Bennett might have tenure, because I am not sure he will ever get fired since that team was in such bad shape. It might never get fixed, but it is not as a result of the death penalty. Also it is important to note that SMU was one of top programs in the country at the time.

[Lax_Stats]

Here is an ESPN article:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2398409

Duke lacrosse coach resigns, rest of season canceledAssociated Press

DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University's lacrosse coach resigned Wednesday and the school canceled the rest of the season amid a scandal involving allegations that three players raped a stripper at an off-campus party.

Mike Pressler spent 16 seasons at Duke and won three Atlantic Coast Conference championships. Last year, his team appeared in the national championship game.


"Coach Pressler offered me his resignation earlier this afternoon, and I accepted it," said Duke athletic director Joe Alleva. "I believe this is in the best interests of the program, the department of athletics and the university."

How the HECK is this "in the best interests of the program"????? First of all, Coach Pressler wasn't even involved in the alleged incident!! And secondly, he took Duke to the National Championship game last year!!!!

I agree, the buck stops with the head coach. In the same situation, I would resign.

That's a complete load of garbage!!!! These players are adults, not little kids whose parents get held responsible for their actions every time they screw up!!! The head coach had nothing to do with this situation at all!!! He cant be held responsible for baby sitting more than 45 adult males 24 hours a day!!! His job is to coach them, NOT baby sit them!!! I imagine his resignation was for the following reasons:
1) He was totally embarrassed by the irresponsible behavior of his players in throwing a party with strippers.
2) He didn't want to further be associated with and embarrassed by these immature adults/children.
3) He didn't want his good name ruined by being further associated with the allegations in question as well as the accused players.

I for one don't blame coach Pressler for resigning at all!! Would any of you want to be associated with this situation and people who are so dumb that they throw a party with strippers, conduct themselves in a way that brings about such serious allegations, and casts a shadow over your own good name as well?!?! Well, would you???

[DanGenck]

Here is an ESPN article:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2398409

Duke lacrosse coach resigns, rest of season canceledAssociated Press

DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University's lacrosse coach resigned Wednesday and the school canceled the rest of the season amid a scandal involving allegations that three players raped a stripper at an off-campus party.

Mike Pressler spent 16 seasons at Duke and won three Atlantic Coast Conference championships. Last year, his team appeared in the national championship game.


"Coach Pressler offered me his resignation earlier this afternoon, and I accepted it," said Duke athletic director Joe Alleva. "I believe this is in the best interests of the program, the department of athletics and the university."

How the HECK is this "in the best interests of the program"????? First of all, Coach Pressler wasn't even involved in the alleged incident!! And secondly, he took Duke to the National Championship game last year!!!!

I agree, the buck stops with the head coach. In the same situation, I would resign.

That's a complete load of garbage!!!! These players are adults, not little kids whose parents get held responsible for their actions every time they screw up!!! The head coach had nothing to do with this situation at all!!! He cant be held responsible for baby sitting more than 45 adult males 24 hours a day!!! His job is to coach them, NOT baby sit them!!! I imagine his resignation was for the following reasons:
1) He was totally embarrassed by the irresponsible behavior of his players in throwing a party with strippers.
2) He didn't want to further be associated with and embarrassed by these immature adults/children.
3) He didn't want his good name ruined by being further associated with the allegations in question as well as the accused players.

I for one don't blame coach Pressler for resigning at all!! Would any of you want to be associated with this situation and people who are so dumb that they throw a party with strippers, conduct themselves in a way that brings about such serious allegations, and casts a shadow over your own good name as well?!?! Well, would you???

Maybe, maybe not. The Head Coach is the CEO... if the program is struggling, you need to bite the bullet. Pressler did the right thing.