LSU issues response to suspended coach's plea: 'Will Wade has yet to deny any wrongdoing to us'
Incredibly, it would appear we have a war of words on our hands down in Baton Rouge.
Not many places in the Southeastern Conference could you expect a public back and forth using the media as an intermediary but that is what we have going on at LSU with Will Wade currently suspended from coaching his basketball team. With all this drama, the real shame is LSU winning the regular-season title and entering the 2019 SEC Tournament as the No. 1 seed is far from the main focus in Baton Rouge at the moment.
If you missed the news from Thursday morning, Wade has asked LSU to allow him to return from suspension and coach during the postseason, pleading with the school to permit him due process. Wade’s full statement can be read here.
Following the release of that statement, Thomas Skinner, vice president for legal affairs and general counsel for LSU, has released this statement to Jacques Doucet of WAFB Sports in Baton Rouge:
“Coach Will Wade has yet to deny any wrongdoing to us or publicly. Absent that, the university is in a very difficult position with regard to compliance with NCAA requirements, and until Coach Wade talks to the university administration about this, he remains suspended. There is a standing offer for him and his attorneys to meet with LSU officials.”
Now we await Wade’s response. Insert eating popcorn gif.
LSU has no choice. Wade must remain suspended and it’s by his own doing.
And he has a legal right not to answer any questions from a legal investigation. He however has no right to decline to answer questions from his employer. I cant see any way he survives this to coach again.
I couldn’t disagree with you more, LSUSMC.
Wade can’t talk about the federal investigation which he’s set to testify – against someone else. No charges or accusations have been brought against Wade by the FBI or NCAA – only the media and LSU administration. If he talks, the entire Board of Directors could (and would) be subpoenaed as well.
LSU is trying to fire Wade with cause so they don’t have to pay out his contract (because JA is an idiot and cheap). The wiretap shows nothing but Wade discussing a deal that didn’t go through with an athlete.
Not to mention if you think cooperating with the NCAA is a good idea you’ve been living under a rock. Everyone who cooperates has the book thrown at them – ask our friends in Oxford what they think about it. The only schools that don’t have the hammer dropped on them deny all the way to the end (cough, cough, North Carolina).
So you think “discussing a deal with an athlete that didn’t go through ” is just fine and not worthy of a suspension at the absolute very least? Maybe he didn’t really intend to pay the player to play for LSU. He was just discussing a hypothetical. Think you may be the one who lives under a rock. Wade is gone. No way around it. Smart should be and itxwouldnt surprise most If payouts to1-2 others are discovered.
Wade could at least say he didn’t break any ncaa rules. He hasn’t said that either. He could have brought his lawyer with him to the LSU hearing, but they choose not to go. If Wade was innocent, he would have said more. His lawyer is surely concerned that Wade either broke the law and/or ncaa rules, and highly likely, both. LSU can’t really cooperate with the ncaa because they have no knowledge of anything to share, but sitting Wade does show that LSU takes cheating allegations seriously.
Exactly. Wade does not deserve the love he’s getting from so many fans. When all the dust settles and the season is vacated they will feel differently.
Wade said he was advised by his lawyer to not attend provided the NCAA was going to be listening in (which they were). He didn’t choose not to go – he said he would go and work with LSU provided the NCAA wasn’t present – which they had no reason to be at this point.
This is just Joe Alleva scared to death of the NCAA and making rash decisions, like usual.
So Wade won’t let the ncaa hear his comments and you think that is ok? Odd.
He is going to have to testify anyway when it comes to the FBI investigation so why not talk with the NCAA in the room? They’re going know what is said anyway and refusing to cooperate isn’t good for LSU… LSU has done the right thing so far IMO…
LSUABC!
Good to see you out and about.
Wade, is taking the JOHN CALIPARI approach to this.
Before it’s over, LSU will hire a coach, heck, maybe Pitino, will come in and save the program like he did Kentucky’s.
Why not?
Anyway, how’s the search going?
All you fans, those that think you sometimes tell the truth, want you to find those lies you’ve posted, so I’ll go away.
You and I know the only way I’m going away is for you ADMIT you lied.
But hey, I’m retired, really don’t have a lot to do, so, reminding you of you failure to be truthful is my civil duty.
Got any more racist comments to make soon?
Heck, heck, you’re a LEGEND to SDS!
Because he’s involved (testifying AGAINST) the defendant in a federal case.
And NO, I do not think it’s odd he doesn’t want to talk to the NCAA at this point in time. I don’t think anyone paying attention over the last few years would – Look at Ole Miss and Missouri! They both received harsher penalties for cooperating than they would have if they stonewalled.
BamaTime – LSU and WW have both taken the correct actions so far. If WW did meet with our AD and the Board, they would all be subpoenaed into the federal investigation as well. WW has actually protected them from that – by following the advice of his lawyer.
Virus.. That’s stupid. WW meeting with the LSU staff doesn’t get them a subpoena. Asking them what WW said is hear say and they already have WW…You’re reaching and it wasn’t even a good attempt…
BamaTime – Yes, it does. The FBI would be allowed to subpoena the entire board to find out what he said to them on the matter. Ask any of your buddies that are in law and they’ll tell you the same thing.
Also, the FBI isn’t after Wade here – they’re after Dawkins. The way these investigations work is by getting as many people as possible on the record and then they look for inconsistencies. They would subpoena the LSU board of directors in a heart beat if they had a good reason to.
Good to see ya back!
Why wou!d Wade have taken his attorney to simply discuss the alleged misdoing with the president of the university and AD if he didn’t think he was going to be fired? His contract would be discussed with the attorney present, his dismissal,buyout etc..
His failure to meet with those two, is almost a blantant admission of guilt. How else could you view it?c
Anyway, let’s get down to why I’m here.
LSUABC, have ya found that phantom post about be admitting to being a UL fan? With your buddies appealing on your behalf, you could cement your status as a LEGEND if you could. And them when you come up with the proof Fisher turned xown the LSU job because they woukdn’t offer him that 10 year contract, heck you would be the replaemant for Finebaum.
So hustle off and get searching and make your buddies proud!
(Or you could just admit to making things up.)
Are the same lowlife Louisville troll that brags about spending his entire working career as a Government Probation Officer
That kind of a miserable vocation is not something to brag about
In fact it is downright embarrassing
LSU may be in for a long ride with the NCAA…. John Paul Funes supposedly used some of the money in his fraud scandal to improperly pay the parent of an LSU athlete…
Ruh Roh…
Yup. And from what I’m hearing, that one isn’t limited to Basketball – it covers all athletics.
Wade taking a page out of Wasserman Schultz playbook. Sad on every level