LSU TIGERS
The likely end to Will Wade's LSU career is his own fault
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Will Wade won’t be coaching LSU in the SEC Tournament.
And rightfully so.
Presumably he won’t be coaching the No. 9-ranked Tigers in the NCAA Tournament either.
And rightfully so.
Whether he ever coaches LSU again is uncertain but unlikely.
In fact Wade is acting like not only a person who’s guilty of serious NCAA violations, but also someone who has set fire to the bridge that could lead him back to the Tigers’ bench.
Perhaps the suspended coach hasn’t done anything wrong. Perhaps there is an innocent explanation for why the FBI has him on tape talking to a “recruiting broker” and apparently bemoaning the fact that Javonte Smart, who later signed with LSU, had turned down a “strong-ass offer” from Wade, as the coach put it.
But if there’s an innocent explanation for that, I can’t for the life of me think of what it could be.
Wade needs to clear this up, but he won’t do it. Not even to his bosses, in private.
But eventually he’ll have to speak.
In fact, he’s expected to testify under subpoena in a trial involving the broker in question, Christian Dawkins, which begins next month.
When the story of Wade’s conversation, which the FBI captured during a wire-tap as part of its investigation into Dawkins, broke a week ago, LSU offered Wade an opportunity to explain the seemingly damning conversation to university officials.
Wade declined the opportunity and has since said he did so on the advice of his attorney because the NCAA was scheduled to participate in the meeting.
When Wade refused his bosses’ request to explain his suspect behavior, the university had no viable choice but to suspend him, which it did lickety-split.
Wade’s reluctance to discuss his plight within earshot of the NCAA, which could put an end to his college coaching career if it deems his actions deserving of such, is understandable.
But, according to The Advocate newspaper, Wade’s contract with the university includes a clause that requires him to cooperate “fully in any investigation of possible NCAA or SEC violations conducted or authorized by LSU, the SEC, or the NCAA at any time.”
LSU is investigating Smart’s role, if any, in the controversy. Smart was suspended for the Tigers’ regular-season finale against Vanderbilt last Saturday, in which LSU, under the guidance of interim coach Tony Benford, clinched the SEC regular-season championship.
The university announced hours before tipoff Friday that Smart would play against Florida in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals.
LSU, understandably, has been considering the potential NCAA implications of each step it takes in handling the mess Wade allegedly has created.
Allowing Wade to continue to coach after the contents of the taped conversation were made public and/or allowing Smart to continue playing without investigating whether he received an improper “offer” to attend the university could easily constitute a lack of institutional control by the university over its men’s basketball program. LSU said Friday that “to date” it cleared Smart of any wrongdoing but the inquiry is ongoing.
Of course there’s concern because that could increase potential NCAA sanctions, but it also would represent the university administration’s abdication of its responsibility regardless of NCAA considerations.
Wade twice has issued statements. In neither instance has he ever proclaimed his innocence.
He took the arrogant step Thursday of publicly requesting that the university reinstate him – without him explaining himself – so that he could coach the Tigers in the SEC Tournament.
LSU did not consider that a strong-ass offer.
Wade noted in the statement the difficulty for LSU to “stand firm in the face of rumors, leaks and innuendo,” failing to note that the “rumors, leaks and innuendo” came in the form of him bemoaning a recruit’s reluctance to accept Wade’s offer that presumably violated NCAA rules.
The coach said he “exercised my right not to submit” to the meeting with school officials, ignoring the fact that he signed a contract requiring him to do exactly that.
Wade is responsible for one of the more impressive turnarounds in college basketball. He’s also responsible for legitimate questioning of whether that turnaround was done legitimately.
He is neither a martyr, nor a victim.
LSU put an end to Will Wade’s season.
But it looks like Wade will be the one to put an end to his LSU career.
LMAO @ “LSU did not consider that a strong-ass offer”. Well played, sir.
^
Who’s this guy think he is?
John Calipari?
Les – stick to writing. You’re no lawyer. Any reasonable defense lawyer would agree 100% with Wades actions since the first story leaked.
The one thing everyone should know from this debacle is that the media is ultimately to blame for ruining people’s careers before all the facts come out. Circumstantial evidence is enough to crucify people these days. Can’t you vultures wait until he’s dead before picking at his body.
I’m not saying Wade isn’t guilty – but none of us have heard the tapes. You’re just going off of something that was printed by another ‘journalist’ that tends to sensationalize his articles.
Yes, he’s doing what any competent defense lawyer would advise. But that doesn’t make him innocent. He’s breaching his contract, and there’s good reason to suspect that he has done worse. A person isn’t a criminal until they’re convicted, but suspects and the accused aren’t free of consequences before a conviction.
I’m not contending that you sing his praise. I understand the school needs to suspend him and distance themselves.
I’m merely suggesting we wait a little while before we drag his name through the mud.
“This is his own fault! He should never coach again! I hear he kicks little dogs and babies!” … it’s ridiculous. Let’s let this play out and then all the writers can have their time in the sun if he’s guilty.
Well I do think he is responsible for what he says, so it is his own fault. I’m not sorry that millionaire representatives of big state universities are held to a high standard and rigorous scrutiny – they should be. I’m not a big fan of dragging names through mud, but it does seem to be a ritual that society finds necessary. He knew the risks, he gambled, and he lost. He isn’t high on my sympathy list.
I’m honestly curious/willing to hear explanations, so don’t take this the wrong way or as a rhetorical question:
How can you interpret what he said in that wiretap as anything but a discussion about trying to pay a player? What other explanation or story could have explained that dialogue. You can say that there isn’t proof, but if there is no other plausible explanation, then where is the reasonable doubt? I don’t mean from a criminal perspective, but from a “yep, he committed NCAA violations and is done at LSU, probably” perspective.
I don’t agree that they are dragging him through the mud. This isn’t a case of he said/she said where there is zero evidence. The report of the wire tape has not been disavowed by the FBI so that seems like evidence. Not just repeating hearsay. Wade not talking to his bosses seems to bolster the opinion of his guilt. All in all though, Wade put himself firmly in this situation and has done nothing to help it.
Darth – that is the definition of heresay. You think the FBI is going to come out and talk about an on going case? Have we heard the wire taps?
The answer to both is ‘no.’ The _transcripts_ of the calls were leaked by the _defendant’s_ attorney, who claimed he was going to destroy all of the NCAA if his client went to jail. Someone posts “transcripts” on Yahoo that no one has corroborated – yet everyone here wants to talk about “Evidence.” It’s laughable.
In the same vein, WW’s atty told him not to talk because he’s part of a FEDERAL investigation – and everyone’s saying he’s hiding and guilty because he’s not talking about it. It’s crazy town.
It isn’t publicly confirmed, but it isn’t hearsay. If you read Darth’s reasoning, it is gives a good argument for believing the validity of the report. Assuming the FBI won’t comment on evidence in an ongoing case, the only reason for the FBI not to comment on the transcripts is if they are actually authentic. If they were fake, then they would not be evidence and the FBI could therefore comment on them in order to prevent undue harm.
We don’t have enough hard evidence for a court-approved guilty verdict, but all of the indicators currently best align with Wade being guilty, and it’s plenty enough to consider him a suspect. And a suspect is not viewed or treated the same as an innocent, non-suspect. Save this indignation for the unlikely scenario in which he is entirely cleared.
Two things are true: given everything that happened, he was right to not speak to LSU officials. He is not being charged right now, but that could change, and any miscues in those discussions could add to the likelihood of it happening. The man has plenty of money in the bank, and the risk/reward of talking to LSU and maybe keeping his job is strongly negative for him, when the possibility of being charged with federal crimes (even if slight) exists.
That said, you can’t take that tact and ALSO act like you should still be allowed to coach. Refusing to shed light into a literal criminal federal investigation into things relating to your work conduct and then throwing a temper tantrum when you are not still allowed to do your job? That’s insane. He just needs to accept that this the end for him at LSU and try to handle it with as much grace as possible.
Yup! This is much more of a sane response to this whole ordeal. Very well said.
Honestly, I think the last move by WW is because he knows the administration has to let him go at this point (they’ve already made him do the perp walk) – so if he comes out clean he’s setting up for damages.
Will Wade’s lawyers are seeming to be better at their jobs than LSU’s general council – esp if there’s some crazy situation in which WW is innocent here. It’s going to be entertaining if this isn’t a bluff.
Wade should put up a billboard to see if it will cause LSU to reinstate him… They worked so well for White…
There are billboards up already. LSU fans love them some billboards.
True..
and dem Bammer fans love eatin’ dat pigs feet chased with a tall glass of pickle juice.
Well you got me there. Bazinga! Well, speaking of facts instead of whatever that was. LSU fans bought billboard space to free White. They do have billboards in Baton Rogue to free Wade. Oh well, back your regularly scheduled rant.
Yes I am aware of LSU fans buying billboards….to me it’s a waste of time & money….as you are a waste of my time. Goodnight Harvey Updyke.
How in the world can the school possibly clear this player when they have the player’s head coach talking about payment to this players family/representative?….Are they saying the player didn’t know what was going on ala Cam Newton, but It would seem like it wouldn’t matter whether the player knew or didn’t know because his coach incriminated him just the same…
The whole thing reeks of inconsistency – because our AD acts quickly and irrationally to everything.
Or maybe Smart talked to LSU when they asked him to and Wade didn’t. LSU asking Smart and him adamantly denying may be enough to cover their behinds as much as they can with the NCAA.