01.26.08
Two Up. Two Down.
Thumbs Down: Bradley Basketball Coach Jim Les for blowing off the seriousness of underage drinking by athletes, letting Theron Wilson play most of the game against ISU even while he claims to hold his athletes to a higher standard: “It’s unfortunate, but we hold our guys to a high standard. They’re not normal college students. They’re held to a higher standard, and they’re very remorseful.” Later he added “It’s over, in terms of the direct punishment from me.”
Thumbs Up: Journal Star sports writer Kirk Wessler for keeping the pressure on Bradley to do more punishment wise, at the risk of losing future interviews and contact with the sports department.
Thumbs Down: Bradley Braves athletics director Ken Kavanagh for not stepping up and insisting more be done. On the night of the BU/ISU game, Kavanagh said “There is a team disciplinary procedure I let the coaches work through. If I don’t feel the coaches have met a minimum threshold then we step in as an athletic department.”
Thumbs Up: Bradley President Joanne Glasser for sending out an email to the entire Bradley Community and the Journal Star stating in no uncertain terms “more will be done,” and indeed it was, most certainly to the ire of Les & Kavanagh who, “upon further review” were forced into “altering our stance on this important issue.”
If you haven’t been following this, two Bradley Basketball players, 20 year old driver Theron Wilson and 20 year old passenger Tyrone Cole-Scott, were pulled over on Main Street early last Sunday Morning for speeding 10-20 over the speed limit (that means they flying down Main Street at 40 - 50 mph) and subsequently were arrested for underaged drinking under zero-tolerance laws. News of this event came to light on Wednesday, the day of BU’s big game against ISU, and the same day four young men went sent to prison for the underage alcohol related death of BU soccer player Danny Dahlquist.
As punishment, Jim Les found it appropriate to make the two do some extra drills and removed Theron Wilson from the starting lineup vs ISU… but inserted him into the game after a mere 2 1/2 minutes and let him continue to play 31 out of 40 minutes, culminating in him making the game winning shot.
Of course underage drinking occurs on campus. Always has, always will. But to claim to hold atheletes to a higher standard and then give no punishment in the interest of winning a game is not acceptable and only goes to show that atheletes are not held to a higher standard. They are held to a lower standard - one in which actions do not appear to have consequences - especially when the game is on the line.
Mahkno said,
January 26, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Athletic $$$$s FTW.
Still a slap on the wrist. Punishment for being caught.
Emtronics said,
January 27, 2008 at 7:52 am
This type of thing has always happened. It happens even at the high school level. The player or athlete is caught doing something or making failing grades and it gets covered up. This has been going on for years and shouldn’t surprise anyone. It doesn’t surprise me at all. In fact, I would expect just what happened. The accused got to play the big game anyway. This will never change as long as athletics come over learning in schools. Big money is involved and this is what happens. What else is new?
Mahkno said,
January 27, 2008 at 11:50 am
I would love to see Glasser change that attitude. Too bad she would probably be jettisoned by the trustees if she were to seriously curb athletics. I have no doubt that many people would think Jim Les’s position is more important than Joanne Glasser’s. Wonder who makes more money?
Blogging: Local blog round up said,
January 27, 2008 at 4:14 pm
[…] Peoria Illinoisan catches Bradley University basketball program behaving badly, and getting called out by the new president. I wonder if the alumni will start turning on her, like they do any most Serious Basketball Colleges when the administration doesn’t look the other way. […]
REDBIRD said,
January 28, 2008 at 12:24 am
Alright! I have a feeling that, behind Her charming persona and smile, Joanne Glasser is for real and won’t tolerate ANY bullsh_t from Bradley coaches or fans. Which is, long, overdue. Ms. Glasser’s, greatest, challenge may be fending off Bradley’s, oft-aggressive, Basketball supporters!
Hot in the City said,
January 31, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Finally had to comment on this entry. Thanks to PI and posters for “getting it.”
You would not believe some of the things that are being said in other places about this incident by the kool-aid drinkers for BU basketball. They want to throw KW and Pres Glasser under the bus, over a cliff, etc. It’s crazy.
Kudos to Pres Glasser for calling out the coaches (and ADs, possibly) on their throw down to her. I LOVE it and I loved Wessler’s column.
Peoria Illinoisan » BU Basketball Implodes said,
February 23, 2008 at 1:20 pm
[…] Joanne Glasser’s reaction to the Athletic Department’s slap on the wrist after the arrest of underage drinking and driving, I believe Bradley Basketball’s season is […]