Pitarresi: Devendorf suspension a big negative

Oh, man, now Eric Devendorf is really in big trouble.

 

Syracuse University’s judicial board has recommended that the junior guard be suspended until the end of the academic year – May, 2009 – after he was accused of punching a woman student in November.

 

A lot of people have taken Devendorf’s side in this and say the woman is lying. Maybe, but why? And if he did hit a woman, man, you just can’t do that.

 

Devendorf is appealing, which means he’ll keep playing for a while.

 

I don’t know the truth of the situation. I just wish athletes would not put themselves in position to be accused. The Duke lacrosse players are a prime example. They eventually were cleared of rape charges after being dragged through the mud, but they wouldn’t have had to worry about it if they hadn’t dipped their toes in the goop in the first place. Boys will be boys? Yeah, but you must have a sense of responsibility.

 

There is no telling what impact a Devendorf suspension would have on the team, but I’ll guarantee you SU will miss him in big way. He is the team’s second best player, sometimes its best player. He can shoot it, he can take it to the hole, he hits the open man. He’s a pretty complete player and he plays his butt off.

I expect the Orange to be 16-0 or 15-1 by the time they visit Georgetown Jan. 14. If Devendorf isn’t there, that game and the rest of the season will be much more challenging.