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.
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 (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.
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
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-
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.
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.
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.