I'd think KD would do the smart thing and put these kids on interim suspension by the end of this week.

Then again smart and Dorrell ... well you get the picture.

But, I am loyal to the Constitution.

At the risk of being flamed --

Everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

That does not mean that these athletes are immunce from administrative action. But, it should mean that there ought to be strong facts to support any action against anyone charged with a crime -- particularly if that action is taken BEFORE any of the  court hearings that will allow them to challenge the charges.

Unless you all know more than was in the press, none of us actually know what happened. What we do know is that the incident happened in one player's family  home -- and there are reports that the players tried to move it outside.

One is allowed to use force to defend one's home or to defend others from attack.

Does anyone know what actually happened?

Even the assistant  DA, who made the public statement, did not justify the charging decision with a specific statement of facts. The players were not charged, initially. That means that the investigating officers at the scene did not find sufficient facts to recommend charges. It appears that a subsequent interview with the alleged victim is the entire basis for the charges; those of us with experience in the criminal justice system look at those types of charges with a dose of skepticism.

I am very uncomfortable demanding action against these players without knowing what they did. The fact that they were charged by an assistant district attorney means little to me. People are frequently arrested and charged only to have the charges ultimately dismissed. Charges mean nothing. Proof and convictions mean more.

There will be cases when coaches know enough, at the time of the arrest, to take early action. And, they should.

Medlock's case is one of them. He admitted driving drunk. He admitted being in an accident. The only open issue was whether he left the scene to escape or he left it to get help. Initially, the report was that he was fleeing. Later, it was corrected to note that he was seeking help. Dorell sanctioned him for the drunk driving and accident; those facts were not contested.

Dorrell did the right thing in Medlock's case.

And, until I know more, I am willing to wait to see if he has done the right thing in these cases; he has talked with the players. he knows what happened; we do not.

He had the evidence necessary to make an instant decision on Medlock. And, he had a reason to; we were days away from a game.

In this case, I doubt he has enough facts to act; and, there is no reason that he cannot wait until we know more.

At the expense of being even more politically incorrect on this site, I want to raise  my concern about what happened at Duke. The rush to justice may well prove an embarassment to all of those quick to charge, suspend and cry for blood. From what I've seen, there is a very good chance that the charges are not true. If the student athletes are proved guilty they should be punished to the full extent of the law. But, if they are, in fact, innocent, how will we ever give them back what they have lost?

It is easy to use both sets of allegations as a hammer against people and schools we don't like -- Dorell and Duke.

There is more than ammunition to use against Dorell and Duke. We need not brush aside the Constitutional protections that protect these young men -- until the justice system convicts or clears them -- just to attack a coach and/or school we don't like.

I do not come to these opinions lightly. For 30 years I was a member of a law school faculty. During that time, I both taught and practiced criminal law, Constitutional law, and several other related courses.

The Constitution has taken enough beatings.

Go after Dorell for his coaching, recruiting, time management skills, and his lack of leadership. But, until you know more, don't use these two players against him.

Until you know the facts -- doing so is not fair to them.

sjh