Will Wade admits he made a mistake not meeting with LSU, does not deny report he made offer to recruit
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For the first time since being reinstated after being suspended by LSU heading into the 2019 SEC Basketball Tournament and the 2019 NCAA Tournament, Will Wade met with the media to discuss all the allegations that have been made against his program, missing the end of the season and why LSU both suspended him and reinstated him following allegations that he has been recorded on a wiretap suggesting he planned to make an offer to a local recruit.
Phone records show that Wade spoke with representatives representing LSU player Javonte Smart immediately leading up to Smart’s commitment to LSU.
The press conference took place during the 2019 SEC spring meetings from Destin, Florida with LSU’s coach being grilled by the media contingent from the event.
“As the leader of the LSU basketball program, I’m here today to start the process of rebuilding trust,” Wade said to open his presser. “I think certainly, as I’ve had time to reflect since I was out for 40 days or so, there were mistakes that I made. But ever since that, when I met with LSU, I met with the NCAA, I was fully cooperative. I disclosed everything and answered any all questions from LSU and the NCAA. That ultimately led to my reinstatement as the head coach at LSU. What was said in those meetings is private and confidential, that’s how the meeting was set up. I can’t get into a lot of the details or any details but the meeting was very thorough.”
Wade’s response when asked what mistakes he made:
“As I look back, that Friday, where we were going to meet with the administration. I think I made a poor decision. If I could go back, I would have taken the meeting and been a little more forceful in getting that meeting. Because what happened after that, any time you get lawyers involved, things get drawn out. At that point, it was more face to face interaction on things. Any time the lawyers got involved, it took about 40 days. Looking back at things, I wish we could have gotten in a room together quicker than we did. That was my mistake and certainly, I respect LSU’s decision based on that. But I think that was a mistake I made in haste.”
Wade when asked directly if he or any member of his staff have paid players to come to LSU:
“I understand you have to ask that. I can’t get into — I’ve addressed the latest situation. The — all that other stuff — I can’t get into the meeting because of the confidentially of the meeting and everything that was in there in confidence but can assure you, everything that you can think of was addressed in that meeting with LSU and the NCAA and it ultimately led to my reinstatement.”
Wade when asked about his alleged “strong-ass offer” comment:
“It’s a good question. I can’t get into the specifics of everything. I can assure you — in my meetings with the NCAA and LSU, I’ve addressed everything in the media that’s been reported but I can’t get into the specifics.”
Wade on if his “strong-ass offer” comment is accurate:
“I’ve not heard the recording, so I do not know.”
Wade on if he ever said that:
“Look, I sat down with LSU and I have answered any and all questions in regards to what’s been out there.”
Wade on watching his team play in the NCAA Tournament without him:
“I put myself in that situation… I was disappointed that the… because of my situation, it took away from the team.”
You can view Wade’s full presser courtesy of Amie Just of NOLA News:
Watch: #LSU coach Will Wade addresses the media for the first time since March: https://t.co/Rsw4GGHeHy
— Amie Just (@Amie_Just) May 28, 2019
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
