Jim Boeheim: NCAA sanctions ‘too harsh’ (Video)

Sanctions were brought down on Syracuse men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim by the NCAA over academic misconduct and drug testing, among other violations.

While March descends into madness with the NCAA tournament, one of the month’s perennial contenders will be sitting out.

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The Syracuse Orange imposed a postseason ban upon themselves in an effort to stem the tide of NCAA sanctions, which for the basketball team include the loss of 12 scholarships over the next four years, a nine-game suspension for head coach Jim Boeheim, and the stripping of 108 wins for the coach.

The sanctions stem from an announcement of rules violations dating back to 2001 that involve both the basketball and football programs.

From Syracuse University via College Basketball Talk:

"The self-reported violations, dating back to 2001, include academic misconduct, extra benefits, the failure to follow its drug testing policy and impermissible booster activity. The other violations found included impermissible academic assistance and services, the head basketball coach’s failure to promote an atmosphere of compliance and monitor his staff, and the school’s lack of control over its athletics program."

In the wake of this, the 70-year old Boeheim announced that he will be retiring as head coach at Syracuse in three years, paving the way for assistant Mike Hopkins to take over just as the sanctions are finishing.

Boeheim finally addressed the media today with regards to the violations and his retirement.

Jim Boeheim fortunately does take responsibility for his actions (or lack thereof), but there shouldn’t be any sympathy towards Boeheim for the degree of the punishment. If the wins were tainted by rules violations, then it makes sense to punish the legacy of the program.

This is certainly better than the alternative of strictly punishing the current squad. Sympathy should be thrown in that direction; the team’s postseason ban robs players like Rakeem Christmas of an opportunity to play in the tournament. The Orange experienced an off year, and were somewhat of a long shot to make the tournament anyway. But current Syracuse players weren’t involved in the sanctions.

The sanctions may spell doom for the North Carolina Tar Heels in the wake of an investigation involving academic fraud. If the NCAA wants to keep up the illusion of the “student-athlete” while raking in considerable profits, it may need to come down hard on one of its most profitable brands.

For Syracuse, the hammer has already fallen, and the Orange are sitting at home.

[H/T: College Basketball Talk, link II]

Sanctions were brought down on Syracuse men’s basketball coach Jim Boeheim by the NCAA over academic misconduct and drug testing, among other violations.

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