Duke Transfers Unwelcome

From the Post-Standard

At least one Duke University lacrosse player has indicated an interest in transferring from the troubled program. But Syracuse University athletic director Daryl Gross said Tuesday he will not sanction the transfer of any former Blue Devil to Syracuse.

I think it would be inappropriate," Gross said.

SU coach John Desko said he's received written notification from Duke that sophomore attackman Zack Greer is seeking his release from the school. Athletes intent upon transferring from one program to another ask their athletic departments to issue releases to schools the athlete is interested in attending.

The Orange recruited Greer, a 6-foot-2 sophomore attackman who led the nation with 57 goals last season, out of All Saints

Catholic in Whitby, Ontario. On Tuesday, The (Baltimore) Sun reported that Greer expressed interest in Delaware and Penn State.

Desko said Greer had not contacted him by telephone. No Duke players, he said, have called to indicate their interest in SU.

The Duke program is embroiled in a growing scandal shaded with racial and class overtones.

Duke officials, according to The Herald-Sun of Durham, had warned Pressler that "his team was under the microscope and he had to do everything he could to get them in line" after the string of incidents had stretched to alarming lengths.

Duke has since released its recruits from their signed letters-of-intent. Officials there have said they would also release any lacrosse player who wished to transfer.

Desko said he would reserve comment about any transferring Blue Devils until the legal system sorts out what happened the night of March 13.

"My position would be that I couldn't comment about anything until speaking with the chancellor and the athletic director," Desko said Tuesday afternoon. "I'm assuming there would be no position until the situation is resolved." 

Tuesday evening, Gross described the events at Duke as "really a sensitive situation on so many different fronts." Gross said he recently talked with Desko about the possibility of accepting Duke transfers and has advised Desko that the university would be unwilling to consider the option.

"I wouldn't be interested in our coaches recruiting players from Duke, given the situation," Gross said. "I think it would be inappropriate. . . . So the policy for us would be 'No.

Gross said he based part of his decision on the idea that those players initially chose to play lacrosse somewhere other than Syracuse.

Gross said he had not discussed the possibility of accepting Duke recruits, but was inclined to deter those athletes from playing for SU, too.

"It still kind of falls back to if a kid committed to Duke," Gross said, "then he had an intention to go to Duke."

Gross said the Duke scandal and the national attention it has generated has provided universities with a "teaching moment" for their student-athletes.

"And that's to be accountable for an action. Let's represent the university the right way," he said. "I think these things bring awareness."