June, 2006 - Commissioner's Casebook
(O.C. Art I, Sec 3, 3.1.3, 3.1.7, 4.1)
During an ACAC league basketball game officials called a blocking foul on player A for attempting to draw a charge. The athlete was knocked to the ground. An athlete from college B was standing above him when the athlete on the floor reached up and pulled down the shorts of the player standing over him. This player was ejected from the remainder of the game. All 10 athletes on the court began converging on the scene and started “trash talking” one another. One athlete from college B was ejected from the game for his part in the altercation. Upon completion of the game the coach of college B made derogatory remarks about the athlete who pulled down the shorts to the media and was quoted in the local newspaper the next day. This action reflected poorly upon the conference and violated Article 1, Section 3; Rule 2.4 of the Code of Ethics (previous version).
RULING:
The ACAC Executive Committee held a meeting to review the circumstances of the incidence that occurred during and after the basketball game in question. It was determined that the conduct of the players involved in the incident was unacceptable. Furthermore, the incident was viewed as a culmination of a series of events in a game characterized by technical fouls and intentional fouls committed by both teams which neither coach took action to correct. The coach of college A received a 1 game suspension for failing to take necessary precautions with his athletes and assume responsibility for their control and behavior. The athlete who pulled down the player’s shorts received a 4 game suspension for making a travesty of the basketball game. A player from college B received a 2 game suspension for directing threats towards an opposing player and “trash talking”. The coach of college B received a 2 game suspension for failing to take the necessary precautions with his athletes to avoid a potentially explosive situation and for his questionable comments to media after the game. All ACAC representatives, particularly coaches and convenors, were warned that they must conduct themselves in a professional manner and maintain composure in conversations with media at all times. Since all of these suspensions were imposed by the ACAC Executive Committee, there was no avenue of appeal.
(Date unknown) |