Rebels face 21 charges, take bowl ban for 2017
He stays because he loves playing with his brother in college.
He leaves because he’s now done that for a year. He stays because he wants to get drafted.
He leaves because his athletic limitations will prevent that anyway.
He stays because he wants to improve his game.
He leaves because he can do that in the NBA’s minor league.
He stays because he wants to be an All-American.
He leaves because what more can he possibly do than he has done this year?
He stays because he could become one of the all-time best Tigers.
He leaves because he’s already played as many seasons at Memphis as Penny Hardaway and Lorenzen Wright.
He stays because his father is on the Memphis basketball staff.
OXFORD, Miss. - The NCAA enforcement staff’s years-long investigation into Ole Miss’ football program is finally over.
The ramifications, both potential and real, are about to be fully felt. The university, which received a notice of allegations from the NCAA Wednesday morning, announced it has self-imposed a one-year bowl ban for the 2017 season, coach Hugh Freeze has been charged with violating “head coach responsibility legislation” and that the university was charged with lack of institutional control.
“This charge replaces the more limited failure to monitor charge in the January 2016 Notice of Allegations,” Ross Bjork, Ole Miss’ athletic director, said of the lack of institutional control allegation. “This is charged as a Level I violation that we will contest.”
Bjork stated, in a 20-minute video, that the university disagrees with the charge on Freeze.
In the January 2016 notice of allegations, the Rebels’ football program was charged with 13 violations, four of which were tied to former coach Houston Nutt.
Now there are 21 football allegations, eight are new and one previous allegation has been expanded. None of the new allegations stem from the NFL draft night fiasco with former offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil, who last April admitted to taking money from Ole Miss coaches.
One of the eight new allegations states that a former staff member facilitated for two boosters to provide a prospective student athlete, who went on to enroll at another program, with $13,000 to $15,000. Also alleged was the same staff member knowingly provided false or misleading information to the institution and enforcement staff last year.
The same staff member, “Former Staff Member A” as referred to by Bjork, also impermissibly facilitated recruiting inducements in form of lodging and transportation.
Six of the new violations are of the Level I variety, which the NCAA views as the most serious. Ole Miss has 90 days to send its response to the notice of allegations.
He leaves because his father was demoted from assistant coach.
He stays because his father is making $120,000.
He leaves because that’s peanuts compared to the NBA.
He stays because he wants to play in the NCAA Tournament.
He leaves because he thinks the odds of that are not great.
He stays because he’s having the time of his life.
He leaves because it’s not that much fun if you don’t win big. That about covers it, right? Any other reasons why Dedric Lawson might stay at or leave the University of Memphis after this year?
The subject comes up today because former Commercial Appeal reporter Jason Smith — who now works as a radio host at 92.9FM ESPN — said Wednesday that he has been told Lawson is gone.
“What I am told is that right now, barring a miraculous turnaround by this team, or a big change of heart, Dedric Lawson is gone.” Smith said. “Right now, the word is that Dedric Lawson is out of here.”
Dedric’s father, Keelon Lawson, was then asked if he had a reaction to Smith’s report. Keelon said: “Not really. That’s sports talk.”
Which it is, of course, and will be until the decision is made for good. But Smith is not just another radio guy. He covered the team for the newspaper for six years. Beyond that, the idea that Lawson would return for a third season has always struck me as remote.
Lawson is not a player who can dramatically improve his draft stock with another year in college. He’s already putting up massive numbers (19.5 points and 10.1 rebounds) on the court. But NBA teams are skeptical because Lawson doesn’t have the crazy athleticism they value. He’s not a great leaper. He’s not explosive. Another year in college won’t change any of that.
So the argument for Lawson remaining at Memphis has always been based on other things.
Things like money: His father does make $120,000 a year as director of player development.
Things like sentiment: Wouldn’t it be wonderful to help his brother K.J. lift Memphis back into the NCAA Tournament?
Indeed, one can paint a nice picture of everything Lawson could accomplish with another year at Memphis. He could move up the list of all-time scorers and rebounders. If the team resumes winning at a high level, he really might receive All-American consideration.
But how much does any of that matter to Lawson, compared to getting started in the pros? He didn’t pick Memphis for sentimental reasons. He picked Memphis because his father was offered a job on the staff. Some big-time athletes (see Peyton Manning and DeAngelo Williams) want to prolong the college experience. Many more are ready to move on.
Beyond that, even if Lawson had once been tempted by the potential of next season, isn’t it possible that he has since concluded that next year might not be all that great? A loss to Cincinnati Thursday would give the program its first three-game losing streak since 20042005. The incoming recruiting class is only OK. Lawson did seem to be having a blast playing with his brother earlier in the season. But lately? Lately, has Tiger basketball really seemed like too much fun to leave?
All this could change in the next weeks or months, of course. It’s the nature of the enterprise. Memphis could go on a winning streak that causes Dedric to reconsider the possibilities. Smith could offer to double Keelon’s pay. But nobody should be surprised if next Thursday's home game is Lawson’s last in a Memphis uniform at FedExForum.
He stays if he’s that rare kid who just wants another year of college.
He leaves if he’s had enough.