Devendorf a Deven-dope

Those of us who have covered Eric Devendorf can attest:  he's not the sharpest tool in the shed.

Take his recent suspension by Syracuse University as proof.  The Junior off guard from Bay City, MI has been disciplined for hitting a girl in the jaw with the heel of his hand.  

(Yahoo Sports reports Devendorf has been suspended for two games.  ESPN.com says it's an "indefinite suspension".  Syracuse.com reports he will likely be back on the court for the Orange by the time the Big East schedule kicks in.  Either way, a suspension is well deserved.)

Before we even discuss the length of the suspension, let's review the facts.  Devendorf hit a girl in the face.  Let that sink in for a second.

There is never a good reason to hit a girl in the face, unless that girl is attacking you with a weapon.  And if that's happening there are two things you could likely conclude:  either A, she's insane,  or B, you've probably put yourself in trouble and had it coming.

Devendorf also didn't publicly apologize for his actions.  "I'm disappointed that I put myself in this position,"  he said in a statement.  "I understand the decision and will be complying with all the requirements of it."  I haven't seen any statement he's made in which he said he was sorry for what he did.

Devendorf doesn't get it.  He's like many big time college athletes who enter school believing that just because they have tremendous athletic talent they can get away with anything they want.  And to some degree, Devendorf did get away with it, since Syracuse University reduced his suspension from the rest of the season to what is now apparently just a couple of games.  

Syracuse University should have left his suspension where it was at.  While they'd never admit it, I can bet you if I had done the same thing while I was at school there, my sentencing from judicial affairs wouldn't have been so lenient.  It says something about the importance of athletics at Syracuse, that he could punch a girl in the face and not miss much time.  It says even more about the university wanting this dope to represent them on the basketball court night in and night out.  

I'm a Syracuse basketball fan, and I want them to win every game.  But at the same time, I don't want my team to be comprised of thugs like Devendorf, despite the talent he possesses.

I'm also not a fool.  I know athletes cheat.  (Regular students cheat too.)  I know they don't always attend classes.  I know most of them wouldn't be at the schools they're at unless they were there to play a sport.  They wouldn't qualify academically.  They're getting free educations.  They are where they are for a purpose.  I get that.

But when they screw up, they shouldn't be above the law.  They shouldn't get preferential treatment just because they sell more tickets.  If these schools had any credibility, they'd treat them as students, since that's what they claim to be.

So send Deven-dope packing.  I don't care how many points he scores or assists he compiles.  He hit a girl in the face.