NYT Keith Thomas Article

If anyone is surprised by this you are living in an alternative universe. From a purely SJU perspective, we have gone from the pits to the penthouse with the coaching change.
 
No, but the truth is the truth. Wish SJU would do something for Thomas.
 
No, but the truth is the truth. Wish SJU would do something for Thomas.

Mixed reaction. Anything with Thomas is a double edged sword at the moment. I wouldn't mind seeing them offer him a college education but where is his accepting complicity in this?? Can you honestly tell me you think this kid/man was oblivious to anything his coaching staff was up to in regards to his records? I struggle to believe that he knew nothing. I, to this day, can tell you every screw up I made in my college career and its been 20 years. I can recall every D I got the first year (beer, women and studying didn't mesh too well), the shame of those grades, and every time I didn't get an A in the remaining years, when I worked to fix my mistakes to graduate with honors. Hard work and shame are two things not easily forgotten. I cannot fathom not knowing what I needed to get from WCC to SJU (or any D1 program) and knowing if I had achieved it or not.
Sorry to be a doubter. I know I am not in his shoes and don't know what exactly happened but I cannot understand how this whole thing was done with him totally in the dark.
 
SJU (and our former staff) better pray there isn't more to this story.

Why else would a staff member (whether it was a member of the basketball coaching staff or Compliance staff) go to pick up an academic transcript from a random parking lot if they didn't either know it was forged or there was more of a "transaction" that went down?

The WCC coach has heavy jail time associated with these charges, which likely means those charges can be reduced if he speaks up on anyone else that had knowledge of or a hand in this behavior. Wouldn't be surprised if the DA has eyes on other fish to fry in this case, with those fish possibly being those at the major universities who were complicit in taking student athletes with forged transcripts.
 
No, but the truth is the truth. Wish SJU would do something for Thomas.

Mixed reaction. Anything with Thomas is a double edged sword at the moment. I wouldn't mind seeing them offer him a college education but where is his accepting complicity in this?? Can you honestly tell me you think this kid/man was oblivious to anything his coaching staff was up to in regards to his records? I struggle to believe that he knew nothing. I, to this day, can tell you every screw up I made in my college career and its been 20 years. I can recall every D I got the first year (beer, women and studying didn't mesh too well), the shame of those grades, and every time I didn't get an A in the remaining years, when I worked to fix my mistakes to graduate with honors. Hard work and shame are two things not easily forgotten. I cannot fathom not knowing what I needed to get from WCC to SJU (or any D1 program) and knowing if I had achieved it or not.
Sorry to be a doubter. I know I am not in his shoes and don't know what exactly happened but I cannot understand how this whole thing was done with him totally in the dark.

What happens to Rob Thomas if the people at the Kent School don't address his dyslexia or if he does not have the guts to seek help. I wrote a grant for a hospital based program to help young high school dropouts reconnect to society via internships in the building trades, with the hospital building staff taking them on as helper/apprentices. One guy (from Jamaica H. S.) was a particular problem, described as "he just won't listen." The guy I had directing the program was very experienced with young men on the edge and on a hunch (or he was taken with one of the speech therapists) had the young man take a hearing test. The young man may not have been good at listening but he definitely had come through a New York City public high school with undiagnosed severe bilateral hearing loss. Never underestimate the degree of unaccountable educational abuse and neglect in public education serving poor minority communities. Count Keith Thomas as another victim.
 
SJU (and our former staff) better pray there isn't more to this story.

Why else would a staff member (whether it was a member of the basketball coaching staff or Compliance staff) go to pick up an academic transcript from a random parking lot if they didn't either know it was forged or there was more of a "transaction" that went down?

The WCC coach has heavy jail time associated with these charges, which likely means those charges can be reduced if he speaks up on anyone else that had knowledge of or a hand in this behavior. Wouldn't be surprised if the DA has eyes on other fish to fry in this case, with those fish possibly being those at the major universities who were complicit in taking student athletes with forged transcripts.

S 170.10 Forgery in the second degree.

A person is guilty of forgery in the second degree when, with intent to defraud, deceive or injure another, he falsely makes, completes or alters a written instrument which is or purports to be, or which is calculated to become or to represent if completed [...] 3. A written instrument officially issued or created by a public office, public servant or governmental instrumentality; or

S 170.25 Criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree.

A person is guilty of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree when, with knowledge that it is forged and with intent to defraud, deceive or injure another, he utters or possesses any forged instrument of a kind specified in section 170.10.

Both are class D felonies.
 
SJU (and our former staff) better pray there isn't more to this story.

Why else would a staff member (whether it was a member of the basketball coaching staff or Compliance staff) go to pick up an academic transcript from a random parking lot if they didn't either know it was forged or there was more of a "transaction" that went down?

The WCC coach has heavy jail time associated with these charges, which likely means those charges can be reduced if he speaks up on anyone else that had knowledge of or a hand in this behavior. Wouldn't be surprised if the DA has eyes on other fish to fry in this case, with those fish possibly being those at the major universities who were complicit in taking student athletes with forged transcripts.

SJU has nothing to worry about other than another black eye if something inappropriate happened. Thomas never played a game at SJU and as soon as the school found out there was a problem they cut ties with him.
As to the actions or knowledge of the former staff I refuse to get caught up in legal gossip, conjecture and hypothesis. It does none of us or the program any good and as a moderator and a lawyer would suggest we refrain from same certainly on this site.
 
SJU (and our former staff) better pray there isn't more to this story.

Why else would a staff member (whether it was a member of the basketball coaching staff or Compliance staff) go to pick up an academic transcript from a random parking lot if they didn't either know it was forged or there was more of a "transaction" that went down?

The WCC coach has heavy jail time associated with these charges, which likely means those charges can be reduced if he speaks up on anyone else that had knowledge of or a hand in this behavior. Wouldn't be surprised if the DA has eyes on other fish to fry in this case, with those fish possibly being those at the major universities who were complicit in taking student athletes with forged transcripts.

SJU has nothing to worry about other than another black eye if something inappropriate happened. Thomas never played a game at SJU and as soon as the school found out there was a problem they cut ties with him.
As to the actions or knowledge of the former staff I refuse to get caught up in legal gossip, conjecture and hypothesis. It does none of us or the program any good and as a moderator and a lawyer would suggest we refrain from same certainly on this site.

If posters refrained from gossip, conjecture and hypothesis there wouldn't be any posts.
 
unfortunately the way the NCAA operates, you have to distance yourself as far away from someone associated with "fraud" as possible. Helping him would only involve us in a cloud once again. Sad but the truth
 
Coaches have been fired by their new schools for transgressions at their old ones, so hopefully the parking lot guy isn't someone currently coaching. Especially since I happen to like those two guys.
 
unfortunately the way the NCAA operates, you have to distance yourself as far away from someone associated with "fraud" as possible. Helping him would only involve us in a cloud once again. Sad but the truth

27 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.

28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.

30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
 
What should have happened:

Coach: Hey compliance guy, we got a commitment from Keith Thomas!

Compliance guy: That's swell coach!

Coach: And look I have his transcript right here. Got it from his coach. In a parking lot. Of a mall. Far away from here.

Compliance guy: Uh, greeaaat coach. I'm just gonna reach out to the WCC registrar's office, 'kay?

-Fin-
 
What should have happened:

Coach: Hey compliance guy, we got a LOI from Player X!

Compliance guy: That's swell coach!

Coach: And look I have his transcript right here. Got it from his coach. In a parking lot. Of a mall. Far away from here.

Compliance guy: Uh, greeaaat coach. I'm just gonna reach out to the WCC registrar's office, 'kay?

-Fin-

What really happened

Assistant Coach: Hey coach sorry to bother you at Rao's but I heard about a kid up in Westchester whose a pretty good rebounder -

Coach [nods at Somelier who pours Chianti]: Rebounding is overrated. Would you pass the bread?

Assistant Coach: But Coach, he's got academic problems, that means no one else is recruiting him.

Coach [wiping GRAVY from his lips]: Okay, fine, offer him a scholarship. Now, who's for cannolis?
 
SJU (and our former staff) better pray there isn't more to this story.

Why else would a staff member (whether it was a member of the basketball coaching staff or Compliance staff) go to pick up an academic transcript from a random parking lot if they didn't either know it was forged or there was more of a "transaction" that went down?

The WCC coach has heavy jail time associated with these charges, which likely means those charges can be reduced if he speaks up on anyone else that had knowledge of or a hand in this behavior. Wouldn't be surprised if the DA has eyes on other fish to fry in this case, with those fish possibly being those at the major universities who were complicit in taking student athletes with forged transcripts.

SJU has nothing to worry about other than another black eye if something inappropriate happened. Thomas never played a game at SJU and as soon as the school found out there was a problem they cut ties with him.
As to the actions or knowledge of the former staff I refuse to get caught up in legal gossip, conjecture and hypothesis. It does none of us or the program any good and as a moderator and a lawyer would suggest we refrain from same certainly on this site.

If posters refrained from gossip, conjecture and hypothesis there wouldn't be any posts.

Except for my lobster roll posts :)
 
S 170.25 Criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree.

A person is guilty of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree when, with knowledge that it is forged and with intent to defraud, deceive or injure another, he utters or possesses any forged instrument of a kind specified in section 170.10. Criminal possession of a forged instrument in the second degree is a class D felony.

Lets hope that neither the "Tanned TV announcer" nor any member of his hard(ly) working staff knew the transcript they accepted in the shopping center parking lot was forged. If anyone of them knew that the transcript had been forged then that person should hope that Coach Mushatt does not "roll over on them" during the plea bargaining negotiations since NY Penal Law S 170.25 would likely attach.

Also, pretty much everyone on this site believed the Tanned TV announcer's spin that Mr. Thomas was a future star. The only person I know that ever saw Thomas play in person multiple times, (that person being a former BE coach) is of the opinion that Thomas was more suited for the MAAC than the Big East.

Thank God that President Bobby G. terminated the Tanned TV announcer as StJohns head men's basketball coach.

Hopefully less drama, and more wins with Coach Mullin and his hard working staff.
 
SJU (and our former staff) better pray there isn't more to this story.

Why else would a staff member (whether it was a member of the basketball coaching staff or Compliance staff) go to pick up an academic transcript from a random parking lot if they didn't either know it was forged or there was more of a "transaction" that went down?

The WCC coach has heavy jail time associated with these charges, which likely means those charges can be reduced if he speaks up on anyone else that had knowledge of or a hand in this behavior. Wouldn't be surprised if the DA has eyes on other fish to fry in this case, with those fish possibly being those at the major universities who were complicit in taking student athletes with forged transcripts.

But if you're the WCC coach who handed over the transcript to the SJU staff member in the parking lot, why would you even tell the SJU guy that the transcript was forged? What possible upside is there to exposing yourself like that? You'd only do that if the SJU guy had said to you " don't worry, the SJU compliance dept won't ask any questions."

That's a bit far-fetched. Plus, Thomas' lawsuit against WCC basically alleges that the WCC registrar's office was colluding with the WCC coach to pull off the transcript fraud. Which is the only way it could have happened, assuming SJU compliance did their job.
 
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