by Michelle Richardson

This is big time college athletics the program at Syracuse University will be impacted by the accusations of athletes accepting gifts and booster donations and head coach Jim Boheim is at the center of the conversation. The University is really disappointed in Boeheim and also the school had a huge colossal loss to NC State on Saturday in the middle of the storm of this high profile scandal.

Boeheim didn’t address the media after the game on Saturday and the assistant coach was left to meet with the media after the game when really Boeheim was the one who should have fielded questions right after the game. Boeheim was simply not there to answer questions and it’s good bet that was because he didn’t want to explain any particulars regarding the scandal.

I would be hoping that the university council told Boeheim that it was not in the school’s or Boeheim’s best interest to answer questions regarding the scandal to the media after the game as opposed to being childish and refusing to meet with the media after the game and I’m hoping it was at the advice of the council that he didn’t address the media after Saturday night’s game.

This is athletics and there are some things that I will hold Boeheim responsible for and there are things you can’t hold him responsible for. You can’t hold Boeheim responsible for boosters giving the players money because that’s what they do. Boosters give money whether anyone knows or doesn’t know about it. Whether or not it’s within the rule guidelines of the NCAA boosters to give money.

In the case of Syracuse they gave upwards to $8,000 reportedly, the boosters find ways to funnel the money to the students and they will do it no matter what. This is not something new with the Syracuse basketball program this is no surprise, this is no shock and awe. This has been going on for all of Boeheim’s 37 years at Syracuse and he’s most likely not going to be fired or replaced anytime soon.

Let’s call it what it is and Boheim needs to stand up and take responsibility for his actions you have 12 scholarships over the next four years. You can’t appear in the post season for the next five years, Boeheim is suspended for the first nine games of the ACC season for the upcoming fall season. The university will probably appeal that the treatment was too harsh but judging from the violations the NCAA will most likely stick with it’s ruling.

Michelle Richardson does commentary on NCAA basketball for http://www.sportsradioservice.com listen to Michelle’s podcast below