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Mon Dec 15, 2008 11:44 am EST

Boeheim has Devendorf's back, suspension be damned

By Eamonn Brennan

Last week, I briefly touched on the weird circumstances surrounding Syracuse guard Eric Devendorf's suspension for the rest of the academic year following some sort of altercation with a girl on campus. According to the girl, Devendorf hit her with a closed fist. Police were called, and the district attorney -- for reasons that have yet to be explained to me -- turned the case over to Syracuse's judicial board without charging Devendorf. The judicial board found Devendorf guilty.

As you can imagine, Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim is not a fan of this outcome. Not so much. He would prefer Devendorf play this year. So he threw his weight around on behalf of his player on Friday -- claiming that the girl's claim about physical violence is questionable, that his players should be trusted on their account of the story, and that Devendorf deserves to be punished, but not this severely. (Video here.)

"To me," Boeheim said, "to be suspended from school for a verbal altercation with somebody at (3) in the morning, which nobody got hurt, does not merit being removed from school." "They're teammates.I understand that. But that doesn't mean they're going to lie," Boeheim said. "They gave (statements) under oath to the district attorney. . . . And then (the Judicial Review Board) said the statements looked orchestrated. They were all there, and they all saw the same thing. What are they supposed to do, make up a story? . . . They were there, and this is what they saw."

"She said that (Devendorf) came over to her. The three witnesses said that she came over to him. Completely opposite," Boeheim said. "She told in her testimony that it was a closed fist to police. To (SU) security, it was an open hand."

Oh boy. On one hand, it's hard to blame Boeheim for backing up his player. On the other, this feels a little ... dirty. To try and turn an accuser into a liar, to blame what appears to have been some sort of assault on a(n alleged) victim, that's a sordid business. Boeheim is probably pretty convinced he's right. Otherwise, he's on the wrong side of a violent crime against a woman by one of his players. He better be sure.

Related: Ill-behaved People, Big 12 Basketball

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56 Comments

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  1. don the dean
    1. Posted by don the dean Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:46 pm EDT

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    reportedly, the student "commitee" did not find devendorf "guilty" of striking her, only of
    reportedly, the student "judicial" board found devendorf not guilty of striking her but only of harassing her, establishing a new legal principle that name calling is not protected under the u.s. constitution as free speech but rather as a reason for suspension from my alma mater....under this principle, they could have suspended almost everyone in my freshman dorm never mind my fraternity house...it is also interesting that the complainant who had nothing to lose in this matter was represented by counsel while there is no report that devendorf, whose future was at stake, was provided counsel. clearly, university policies may be enforced by the university. but there must be fairness and the university should not be able to abridge the constitution.
    '
  2. noah
    2. Posted by noah Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:02 pm EDT

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    Maybe eric shouldnt get drunk and be assualting women at 3am if he has so much at stake?
    why cant we make these pampered athletes own up and be responsible for their actions just like you and me
    average joe smacks his girlfriend, police belive the girl over average joe, he gets arrested, cout, more than likely jail
    eric devendorf on the other hand hits girls and gets to play basketball cuz coach needs him to win
    pretty disgusting, syracuse has lost any respect i used to have for it
  3. Jerichon
    3. Posted by Jerichon Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    "On the other, this feels a little ... dirty. To try and turn an accuser into a liar, to blame what appears to have been some sort of assault on a(n alleged) victim, that's a sordid business."
    That is exactly what most of the country did during the Kobe rape ordeal, despite physical evidence. In the end, Kobe admits she did not consent, and still people stick up for him. Sadly, this is who Laker fans are, and much of the country as well. Fans of the Stern-sponsored 3-cheat defending rape..... not shocking. One Laker fan even told me "He's Kobe Bryant, he can't commit rape, because no one would refuse. Please."
  4. Joel J
    4. Posted by Joel J Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    jerichon..why are you talking about kobe? this has nothing to do with him... stay on topic if you're going to comment on the story
    as for the accusation I really have nothing to say... he admitted to hitting her openhanded...it doesnt make a difference he still hit her whether its open handed or closed fist its still a hit. he deserves suspension from school and the team but not for the entire year
  5. Matthew G
    5. Posted by Matthew G Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:09 pm EDT

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    Duke Lacrosse anyone
  6. CornerB
    6. Posted by CornerB Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:29 pm EDT

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    I wanted Kobe to go to jail.
    I want Devendorf to go to jail too.
    Boeheim looks like a complete buffoon in all of this. He should be ashamed of himself.
  7. Joe
    7. Posted by Joe Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

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    Definitely, he should go to jail. Big, strong men should not hit women, period. It's a disgusting, violent attack, and the guy should spend time in jail for it.
  8. Jeff H
    8. Posted by Jeff H Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:12 pm EDT

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    I thought this buffoon should get what's coming to him, but the more I hear, the more I side with the coach. I'd like to hear more about the BASIS of the argument, which might shed some light on who the aggressor may have been. [ex: if she was some jealous ex ragging on his womanizing, highly unlikely that he just went over there and started messing with her. on other hand, if she is someone he has been wanting to go out with she's been blowing him off, unlikely that she would start something with him. just examples, mind you, but you get the point. what was the story behind this?]
  9. Louis
    9. Posted by Louis Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:57 pm EDT

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    They didn't find him guilty of hitting her, only of yelling at her at 3 in the morning.
    please get your facts straight!!!!!!!!!
    wonder why your only on yahoo.com
  10. WALTER
    10. Posted by WALTER Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:16 pm EDT

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    Don't worry the way that they baby the player now he will get away with it and possible go to the NBA and make millions of dollars. If you look at it we have a lot of people in sports that are criminals but yet they continue to play if its was me or you we would be in jail.
  11. MattD
    11. Posted by MattD Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:33 pm EDT

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    Good Lord Brennan, can you ever get the facts right on this one. No one is saying he hit her with a closed fist!! Which is the simple answer to why the DA is not trying the case, because there is no case to be tried. Read your comments!
  12. Brian P
    12. Posted by Brian P Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    Syracuse University athletics is out of control. I wonder how many other items like this get buried due to the amazing support this program gets from the City. These kids are worshiped as heros and treated like kings both on and off-campus. Hopefully this incident forces the University to step in and require that their athletes behave responsibly. What a wonderful example for the hard working responsible students interested in attending a great University. Open or closed fist?! Are you kidding me? I'd like to give Boehiem an open hand to that huge shnoz of his.
  13. whiskywildcard
    13. Posted by whiskywildcard Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:44 pm EDT

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    lets take this a step further with the story that is missing in here.. eric alledged as well that she tried to hit him with her car minutes before he open handed hit her.... you can look at him any way you want.. people besides the players are backing up his story as well, and i could care less if you are a female or not .. you try to hit me with a car and decide to get out of said car.. i will probably hit your face also
  14. mkadoza
    14. Posted by mkadoza Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:23 pm EDT

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    Good lord. Number one, physically evidence that Kobe was guilty? He states to this day that it was consensual, the girl had 3 other guys semen over a 48 hour span, and, back on topic, this in not even close to the gravity of a rape charge in the case of Devendorf. Number two, this girl lied. Over and over, saying that Devendorf and a bunch of friends beat up her car, and he punched her. This story was completely false. The location, what happened, the people involved, everything. And now after this assault and battery charge has been dropped for over a month and a half, people are still calling for his head, and equating this to rape? Come on now, I know we're prisoner of the moment, but the exaggerations need to stop. I mean, how many people have hit a girl and been arrested? How many of you were even in NY when it happened? These judgments made by people who have no idea what they're talking about is ridiculous.
  15. Craig J
    15. Posted by Craig J Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:22 pm EDT

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    jerichon what this nonsense about kobe admitting he force her he said it consenual and as far this goes this person is still innocent until proven gulity . I have no bias in this if he hit he should be punish at the same time ahd she jit him what have been the punishment for her. probaly nothing since there is a bias on athletes now that they all must be wrong and be lying ofr each orhter. who was there not us but those who say and not this counsel they wern't there to call people liars.
  16. mkadoza
    16. Posted by mkadoza Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:23 pm EDT

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    Its absolutely hilarious that even after due process, a police and DPS investigation, that the only ones convicting him of this are the public idiots. Judicial 'punished' Devendorf to avoid this wave a negative PR, but its bs because he didnt commit a crime. I know several people who were there, watched the whole thing, and EVERY ONE said her story was wrong.
  17. Michael W
    17. Posted by Michael W Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:31 pm EDT

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    The girl in question must do not have any brothers. Because if someone hit either of my sisters with a closed fist.... He has more than a problem with the judge and the jury.... Being a ball player will not sae his a_ _ . I have been shot at, bomb and gas,,,,, Being a ball player on no college or pro team will excuse you from hitting either of my sisters... Good Luck
  18. Reed S
    18. Posted by Reed S Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:35 pm EDT

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    Obviously some type of physical altercation took place. Open hand or closed fist whats the difference? The kid is a complete loser for hitting a girl!!!. And definately should be suspended - I would- If I were in charge expel the creep. Any of you other (men???) that say you would hit a girl better go see someone for some help. Please.
  19. Scottinsd1
    19. Posted by Scottinsd1 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:08 pm EDT

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    I totally agree with you, #16. Some of these people have nothing better to do than run around like Chicken Little, screaming "the sky is falling". I wasn't there when this whole thing went down, and I'm not about to start stating "facts", when I don't know any of them. As far as Kobe goes, I stopped being a Lakers fan (and I had been a hardcore one for over 30 years) when Kobe pulled his little crybaby act that sent Shaq packing. Shaq leaves and gets another ring, and all Kobe can do is whine even more about it. I don't care if Kobe invented basketball, and breaks every single NBA record in the league.....he's still a whining punk who only cares about himself. Last time I checked, basketball was a team sport.
  20. me
    20. Posted by me Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:07 pm EDT

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    Jason P sounds like a real tough guy....lives in Mom's basement no doubt.
  21. not surprised
    21. Posted by not surprised Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:30 pm EDT

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    I was in High School a couple of years ahead of this kid. These most recent allegations do not surprise me one bit. From what I saw, all he has done his whole life was take advantage of his position and social status. Always was a good ball player though, better than most of what I've seen of him lately.
  22. Tatiana S
    22. Posted by Tatiana S Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:57 pm EDT

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    if this was a black athletic this would have been on the news 24hrs a day calling him a thug and other sorts. this story wasn't even posted on the main yahoo sports page (don't you think double standards). this is reason why foreigners think blacks are thugs because when black are accused of doing the same thing they are on the front of the news and when whites players do the same crime they are on the middle or back of the page. the news always dies down think about it (barry bonds news everyday and roger clemens is hardly on the news).
  23. Leonard U
    23. Posted by Leonard U Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:49 pm EDT

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    Look at the claims made at DUKE UNIV a few years back. Those accusations proved to be false and so could this. Give the kid his fair day in court and allow a judge or jury to decide when all the evidence is presented.
  24. John O
    24. Posted by John O Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:49 pm EDT

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    Until now I thought Jim was a class coach. Now I'm beginning to wonder. When you're in the Big East and play class schools like Villanova, Georgetown, Seaton Hall, St. John's, Providence, etc. It brings down the whole conference and Syracuse use to be such a class school compared to some of the others like Connecticut. Penn State and Joe Paterno are examples of how to handle a crisis such as this! Also Villanova by eliminating some of it's better football players last year for a altercation on the school grounds. We must take action to teach all our yourth responsibility and not just think of winning a all costs!!
  25. Brian P
    25. Posted by Brian P Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:13 pm EDT

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    Tatiana you are an idiot. There is nothing about this story or it's coverage that would indicate a double standard. You're reaching.

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