Say what you want about the Duke lacrosse team in light of the 2006 allegations, but this much is true – current coach John Danowski exudes class, and you can’t help but admire what Danowski and his club accomplished with Monday’s national title.
In hindsight, it’s easy to see how former coach Mike Pressler was treated unfairly when Duke forced him out in that aborted season.
Duke responded with an amazing hire when it brought in Danowski from Hofstra. Danowski not only knows the game, he knows how to recruit and he knew how to handle a scandal of hard to fathom proportions. To keep the Duke program afloat is a remarkable achievement – to win a national title, and to do it after such wrenching Final Four losses, is amazing.
In light of the false allegations that surrounded the program in 2006, it’s amazingly just to see the Devils finally claim a national title in a sport dominated by a tight circle of programs.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
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I didn't need hindsight to see how Duke treated Mike Pressler unfairly. The team and the coach were convicted and tried by many in the media and the far left from the beginning, and the University followed the political correctness trend in such circumstances by forcing Pressler out. As a result, ultimately, Duke had to reach a financial settlement with Pressler, who rightfully sued.
ReplyDeletePressler writes in his book about the Duke lacrosse scandal that when he asked Duke Athletic Director Joe Alleva why the school "wasn't willing to wait for the truth" to come out, Alleva responded, "It's not about the truth anymore." Political correctness rises its ugly head again.
That all being said, Pressler was not able to control his players unseemly behavior (few could) and Danowski apparently is every bit as good a coach.
Congratulations to him and the Duke team.
By the way, Pressler, who coaches at Bryant (R.I.) University, is the coach for the 2010 U.S. national lacrosse team.