Any organization can encounter a crisis that threatens its purpose and reputation. With strong leadership, however, a crisis becomes an opportunity to generate positive change in the organization and strengthen its reputation. The Syracuse University basketball crisis, and it is certainly that, appears not to be on such a constructive trajectory.

One reason for this state of affairs is the ongoing accumulation of problems with the basketball program, with little public evidence of decisive, forceful action to manage them and prevent future ones. I believe another closely related issue is that virtually the only face of the university amid the very serious controversies is a coach, and that coach continually displays a very negative, sour and defensive demeanor. To me, he apparently has little understanding he represents the university and that in speaking to the outside world, his main job is not to vent his personal frustrations and ennui. Dignity, grace and courageous dedication to doing what is right should define the persona of the university.

These and other difficulties, I feel, add up to an impression that the basketball program transcends the university in the minds of its management and Board of Trustees. If so, we are perhaps seeing a regrettable parallel with what may have happened at Penn State. And may we also be witnessing another coach who, his many undeniable achievements and talent notwithstanding, has stretched his tenure too far?

Moreover, now may be the best possible time to rethink totally the role of big-time athletics at SU. This is necessary both because the school should not continue ‘business as usual’ in basketball and because higher education is likely facing a future of profound questions and changes that will go far beyond sports while also enveloping them. I know well the arguments in favor of big-time athletics, but they are tired and hollow rationalizations for deferring courageous actions that would ultimately strengthen Syracuse’s educational mission and the institution’s reputation.

For what it may be worth, I will note that my views on basketball and other athletic programs come from someone who for many years has been enthusiastically supportive of the university, rooted for its teams and felt an emotional bond with Syracuse since Ernie Davis left my high school to go there.

Walter Montgomery

Syracuse University, Class of 1967

Irvington, N.Y. 

Published on March 28, 2012 at 12:00 pm