Another player. Another Connvict.

Only few things take the taste of a loss out of your mouth. An epic win to rebound from the loss is one. Another is pointing out the criminal actions of another rival institution. Of course there is no more abundant source for Syracuse fans than the University of Connecticut. Yet another entry in the grand catalog of UConnvicts has made himself known.

Several sources, including the Hartford Courant is reporting than freshman running back Lyle McCombs has been suspended indefinitely from the UConn Football Team after being charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Campus Police arrested him on Sunday, January 16th in Ellsworth Hall. His bail was set at $1,000 and his court date is set for January 25th. Of course, the report added, he had recently smoked the marijuana.

McCombs is a freshmen who was redshirted for the 2010-2011 school year. He has been suspended by new UConn coach Paul Pasqualoni indefinitely, as he should be. This is totally something that you can easily see 18 year old college kids do often, but you're on scholarship on the football team. You're supposed to be an athlete and treat your body with the utmost respect. You didn't and so you paid the price. McCombs said he has made a mistake and will do everything he can to be reinstated. I'm sure he will be. It was smoking a little marijuana, not a DUI or threatening another student as UConn athletes have been charged with in the past. And seeing as Jordan Todman declared for the NFL Draft, the Huskies will be needing some depth at the running back position. We all know, regardless of if his reinstatement is just or not, he'll be back if he is needed by the UConn staff. That's how they do in Storrs. Stay tuned to Orange::44 for any further transgressions from your favorite rival teams, and of course more entries from the University of Connecticut.

This blog is a multi-functional service. Yes of course we chronicle the daily disaster that is Syracuse University Athletics (although that's been better the last couple of seasons). But we also provide written record on the internet of the instances when fellow Big East athletes run afoul of the law. This is no more evident than with the University of Connecticut, who has a long history in both football and basketball of law breaking. Traditionally however it's been laptops, smoking marijuana, stealing a credit card, and the like. But this time we've reached a new low.

The Hartord Courant is reporting on Courant.com that redshirt freshman OT Greg McKee has been arrested for allegedly possessing 20 videos and 20 pictures of child pornography. He has been charged with importing child pornography, obscenity, and promoting a minor in an obscene performance. He was arrested today and arraigned in Rockville Superior Court where his bail was set at $75,000. Police received a tip that there was someone possessing the pornography, traced the internet, and received a search warrant for his apartment in Rosebrooks Hall on campus.

McKee was a redshirt and didn't play at all this season so this shouldn't affect the team in terms of players playing. But considering UConn is now the Big East's representative for the BCS and going to the Fiesta Bowl this timing couldn't have been worse except if it was the week of the game. And this may be the ugliest crime any athlete at Connecticut has been involved in. And honestly, save for actual pedophilia no crime has a bigger yuck factor than this. Of course he is innocent until proven guilty, but it seems the Connecticut State Police have the evidence. Again, this probably will not affect the Connecticut football team too much, but this is just another example of a player under the not so watchful eye of Randy Edsall breaking the law. This time in a pretty egregious manner. But I doubt that UConn will do anything to address that seeing as they are BCSing. McKee for the record has been indefinitely suspended from the football team. Good call.

This won't be the last we hear of the criminal issues at UConn. Hopefully from here on out they stick to petty theft and punching each other instead of this kind of criminal endeavors. At the very least you could possibly understand stealing something or punching a guy. But no one thinks this is cool or right or good. Kudos UConn. Another great pick.

All too often we chronicle the legal contacts our fellow Big East school's athletes come in contact with the police. That is, when they are from the University of Connecticut. No school in the league has a finer and richer tradition of alleged and proven criminals than that beacon of truth, justice, and farming like the University of Connecticut in Storrs.

Neill Ostrout of the Connecticut Post is reporting that UConn defensive end Marcus Campbell was arrested on fifth-degree larceny charges for allegedly stealing a backpack containing a laptop computer. Yes you read that correctly... a laptop computer. Campbell has been out of action all year with an injury, and last week he was suspended from the team for "violations of team policies". This was before this incident. Good thing that was already taken care of. He is scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court on November 17th to answer to the charges.

Those UConn kids just can't leave those lappys alone huh? I mean, he wasn't even in school when that stuff all wen't down, but yet here he is doing exactly what several UConn athletes have done before. Campbell is most likely just facing a fine and probation, and possibly a dismissal if he stays out of trouble. Either way, it seems unlikely that he will return to the team ever again. This is yet another dismissal from the UConn football program this season at the hands of Coach Randy Edsall over the same banner of "violations of team policies". At this rate they may have as many kids on scholarship as Syracuse.

When will these kids learn? You can't take someone else's laptop. Either way, UConn is in shambles in terms of off field incidents. The good thing is that they are playing fairly well, and this dismissal occurs at the start of a week coming off of their bye. Seeing as Campbell was injured this should not affect the play on the field either. Regardless, this is just another example of an alleged lawbreaker on an athletic team in Storrs. Same as it ever was.

Another entry in the compendium of Connvicts. As you know, a secondary mission of this notebook is to chronicle the legal dealings of fellow Big East schools. And no school has proved a bigger embarrassment of riches than the University Of Connecticut Huskies. We have long chronicled the list of legal entanglements of the UConnvicts, and this is their latest entry.

According to ESPN.com, junior kicker Dave Teggart and sophomore linebacker Jerome Williams were involved in a physical altercation in the Hilltop Apartments on the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs, CT. They were both cited for Breach Of Peace, a class B misdemeanor in Connecticut. A person is guilty of breach of peace when "with intent to cause inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, or recklessly creating a rick thereof, such person engages in fighting or in violent, tumultuous or threatening behavior in a public place". They are both scheduled to appear in Rockville Superior Court on October 12.

It's pretty bad when teammates start fighting each other, especially when it is a linebacker and a kicker. Not only is that a huge mismatch, but why would these two really talk to each other and get so upset as to get in a physical fight anyway? This could be nothing and two kids just getting fired up over something, or this could be a sign of a huge problem of chemistry for Connecticut. I have a feeling it is indication of nothing truly. However, there is a big problem I think in how Randy Edsall is treating this incident. "I hope they take that aggression on the field to the other people rather than themselves," Edsall said. "Nowadays, as well all know, when there's a little spat, they don't just tell you to go home or anything like that. Now you get arrested, written up for breach of peace." The players are not receiving a suspension for their actions. Keep in mind Syracuse suspended Delone Carter from school completely after receiving a misdemeanor last spring. Connecticut appears to be letting Edsall handle this internally and he isn't doing anything about it. A typical UConn response to an encounter with the law for UConn players.

Connecticut takes on Vanderbilt this weekend and these players should be in the lineup. However, they probably should be suspended for at least a game. Then again, Connecticut probably needs all the help as they had a lot of preseason hype, and are now sitting on a 2-2 record with their wins over Buffalo and Texas Southern, but losses to Michigan and Temple. Stay tuned to Orange::44 for any further developments.

Coach Calhoun is cited directly in the violations.

We strongly dislike UConn here at Orange::44. Personally for me, I lived in worked in CT for over a year myself and while I absolutely loved my job there, I hated almost everything about Connecticut, even unrelated to the university. And as my friends would testify to in court, I have been saying for several years, back to my time on the fine hill of Syracuse, that Coach Calhoun and the UConn program recruited dirty and that sometime in the future they would be hit with violations. That day has arrived. Connecticut and Jim Calhoun himself were cited for eight NCAA Violations today according to ESPN.com.

While a hearing is scheduled for October in which Connecticut could be found responsible for this allegations, it is not good that these violations are being leveled. And they are mostly recruiting related. While I have no idea if the NCAA will go easy or hard on Connecticut should they be found responsible, the fallout at UConn is already underway. Two assistant coaches have resigned over the weekend and Jim Calhoun is of course already having awkward press conferences (what pressers of his aren't?). The moral of the story is UConn had a shit ton of illegal phone calls and text messages to a certain recruit that never ended up taking the court anyway because he was a solid citizen to begin with. Then on top of it, UConn lied to the NCAA about the violations. Calhoun himself is cited for "failing to promote an atmosphere of compliance". Well done.

Chances are no games will be voided, Jim Calhoun will still be the coach, and no postseason restrictions will occur. But they will most likely have scholarship restrictions and recruiting restrictions such as a limit on contact and coaches on the road. However, because scholarships are involved, and because Calhoun is cited directly, his reputation and the program may never recover. We don't know what the NCAA will do, but UConn fans should be worried out there.

We'll of course continue to watch the situation as it develops. Especially if it results in the demise of the Connecticut Basketball Program. Meanwhile, we wish luck to the Syracuse women's lacrosse team as they take on top seed Maryland in the Lacrosse Final Four this evening. And congratulations to Joel White for being named the best Midfielder in the nation, as well as John Galloway being named best goalie in the country.

Ahh justice. This is my wheelhouse.

The primary mission of this notebook has been stated many times, and rests at the bottom of any e-mail I issue from my blog address at the right. It is and will always be, as stated in the original construction of this blog by Matt “The Glaude” Glaude, “to chronicle the daily disaster that is Syracuse University Athletics”. There certainly is an awful lot to chronicle, just not over the summer months. That is usually when one of the many secondary missions, more of my own construction, take over. That would be to chronicle the legal issues facing current, future, and former opponents of Syracuse, as well as any rocking the sports world or have a substantial nexus to the Big East and Syracuse. In other words, we’ll dish some legal dirt on other schools and people that have been naughty in the eyes of the law, all for the delicious delight of Syracuse’s high moral fans, players, and students alike. And occasionally we look on ourselves if someone in orange does something stupid as well. But this has been quite a period of legal prevalence as of late.

You may have read, directly below this article, of former UConn star Diana Taurasi, now of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, and her brush with the police after having a bit too much to drink on July 2nd of this year (and the subsequent debate over standards of decency at women’s basketball events). Subsequently, Phoenix Police have charged Taurasi with three charges including “Extreme DUI”. New York State refers to this crime as “Aggravated DUI” which is a DUI that is some statutory limit above and beyond the standard legal limit of a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .08. In Taurasi’s case, she was found to have had a BAC of .17, over twice the legal limit. She was original pulled over for speeding and was pulled over after drifting across the center line on the road. She has since been suspended by the Phoenix Mercury two games without pay. All $125 of it (Editor’s Note: Actual sum may vary). The official reason for the suspension is “conduct detrimental to the team." She will return after this Wednesday’s game. She should have a suspension and I suppose this punishment is about right as her next scheduled court date is Wednesday and she is innocent until proven guilty. If she is found guilty either by admission or finding I would hope she would catch a couple more games, but I doubt that will happen. If you really want some strong feelings on the matter, check out ESPN’s Mechelle Voepel commentary here. Also, our friends at TheUConnBlog.com had an article about the DUI that easily has the worst video of any female athletes ever in the history of the medium. Check that out here.

As a secondary UConn story I’ll cut them a break and point out the legal troubles of a student, rather than another athlete. In a fitting bit of irony, a UConn Law student is in trouble with the law. This is right up my alley. John Belanger of Hartford, a third year law student, was arrested as part of a $1 billion marijuana ring, originating in, of course, Canada. According to the DEA press release, Belanger, along with the others, is being charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, conspiracy to import more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. “In addition to acting as a courier himself, Belanger was responsible for recruiting, employing, and coordinating couriers, who typically used rental vehicles and traveled in tandem with ‘blocking’ vehicles which scouted ahead for law enforcement, communicated potential problems to couriers, and intentionally violated traffic laws to protect couriers. The organization transported the marijuana in heat-sealed bags inside large duffle bags labeled with a number and customer identification or destination.” Most law school students are too busy reading and studying, or at least drinking, to get into this kind of trouble. Then again, law school is expensive. Either way a big tip o’ the cap to UConn Law’s admissions staff. Good work. Makes me feel reassured that I never wanted to apply there. The full blog article on him, including some inside tips on him that are entertaining if you are into that sort of thing, can ge found here.

Finally, we round out our legal coverage with news on an incoming Cincinnati Football player, Lance Stephenson. This upstanding citizen, along with a friend, were accused in October 2008 of groping a 17-year-old girl near their high school according to ESPN.com and was charged with sexual assault. According to reports to the New York Daily News, the 12th ranked recruit in the ESPN Top 100 will plead guilty to disorderly conduct and seek a sentence of counseling and disorderly conduct. A sweet deal to go from sexual assault and possible sex offender registry to a good old DisCon. Cincinnati gets a good freshman and a concern for public safety and the ladies of the campus. H/T to Orange::44 correspondent John Brennan for the news.

Now you don’t have to watch an hour of TruTV. You are sufficiently caught up on all the legal areas that touch you as a Syracuse/Big East fan. Also, if you dislike UConn, which I know you do. Sorry for all the flowery language, but if you couldn’t tell I miss writing. Back at the blog full time starting soon. Finally, some good news. Congratulations to Erin and Alex on their engagement this past weekend. They are fine Syracuse alumni, loyal blog readers, and most importantly good friends. Congratulations and best wishes to you both!

I was sitting in a bar in upstate New York with some college friends when, out of the corner of my eye, I notice on ESPN the bottom line that said “Diana Taurasi…” and I was intrigued. Generally I’m not intrigued by WNBA news of any kind, much like everyone else that is not a woman over the age of 65, but Diana and I have a history. It started my freshmen year. Even then I knew that I hated Connecticut.

Then #1 Connecticut traveled to Manley Field House to take on the then Syracuse Orangewomen basketball team. Well of course Syracuse was drubbed. Back then the team was atrocious save for Julie McBride. Meanwhile Connecticut had Sue Bird, who was as talented as she was lovely, and then Diana Taurasi. Seeing as Sue Bird was the senior leader on the team and the focus of most defensive efforts, she was also the focus of much heckling from my Sour Sitrus Society colleagues. If you are a loyal reader of the blog, you know what I mean by heckling. Now you have to understand, back then the team was horrible, we were playing #1 UConn, and we were getting trounced. We ended up losing this game by 30 points. There was not much to do at the women’s basketball games of this era other than heckle. With everyone else messing with Sue Bird, I focused my attention to the far lesser known Taurasi. I’m jawing at her the entire game, possibly calling her fat in some way, or maybe saying she looks like a dude. This was seven years ago after all. I definitely remember yelling at her, when it was quite as she shot a free throw, saying that I’d love to make up for the heckling by buying her Pita Pit. So we all have a grand old time, and we lose by 30. The buzzer goes and UConn is running back to the locker rooms, and just as I’m about to start playing the fight song, Diana looks right at me and gives me the middle finger across the court. I just stood there with my jaw dropped. And thus my real hatred of Connecticut women’s basketball was born. UConn went on to win the National Championship that year, by the by.

Thus the real news from this past weekend. So as I see Diana Taurasi on the bottom line I see it followed by “cited for D.U.I.”, and I immediately get excited. ESPN.com has the full low down. Basically she was speeding on July 3rd, got pulled over, the police smelled alcohol, transported her to a mobile D.U.I. center, then she gave blood and was issued a citation. Now, as a future lawyer, and at this point almost certain defense attorney, I don’t relish in people getting jacked up by police after having a few cocktails. But D.U.I. is a serious crime and if she had a blood alcohol level of .08 or higher, she will surely face a fine but probably not jail. Either way, as probably the biggest WNBA star right now, as well as the leading vote getter for the WNBA All Star Game, she should have known better. Looks like the curse of UConn and the Connvicts caught up to her finally. I, of course, will keep you posted to any further legal developments in this case.

Finally, I wonder where SU Athletics got this idea?

This guy just looks like he loves a good fight. And booze.

As I am obligated to remind you readers every time the opportunity presents itself, a secondary mission of this notebook is to chronicle the legal troubles of fellow Big East squads, and most specifically the frequent flyer that is the University of Connecticut. A never ending well of legal issues, the Connecticut UConn Huskies cannot seem to help themselves. This time football gets back in the act.

Redshirt junior linebacker Scott Lutrus was arrested by UConn Police after a fight broke up at an off-campus apartment complex this past Thursday night, according to The Hartford Courant and ESPN.com. He was charged with interfering with a police officer and second degree breach of peace. Apparently he, his 23 year old brother, and UConn kicker Desi Cullin were talking near the apartment complex when one of them bumped someone as they walked. The person then later tried to attack the three with a box cutter. That is when a fight erupted, specifically with Lutrus. Then Cullin attempted to break up the extra curriculars with Lutrus’ brother as the police arrived. Sources reported that when asked to explain why his brother was involved, he was told not to talk. Now the article did not actually say who told him not to talk, which seems to me to be pretty important, but again they did not.

Lutrus was recently elected a captain on the UConn team. Now, I get it. I have been to a UConn Spring Weekend. It is just one big drinking weekend. You may remember the article a few years ago about how the police pulled 29 kegs out of a dorm room. A DORM! You have to tip your hat to that. And honestly if it is true that some guy attacked Lutrus and the others with a box cutter, he had every right to engage in a fight to protect himself from imminent injury. But if that was the case why did he just not tell the cop that he got attacked by some douche with a box cutter? And honestly, who told him not to tell the police what happened? I’ll admit I am a little biased in this regard with my relationship to the criminal justice system, but the police have a job out there, and they need to know what happens. When the police asked you what went down, you are supposed to tell them and tell then the truth. Sadly the Captain chose to be coy with police for whatever reason. Thus, he caught a couple of charges. Let this be a lesson to you kids, when you’re out there boozing watch your step. You never know who has a box cutter. Of course there was no word on this kid from Randy Edsall on the fate of this young man, but knowing him and UConn it might not be much of a punishment. He ranked third the Big East last season with 106 tackles, and let UConn in the category. He was a two year starter for the Huskies. H/T to Sean at Nunes/Magician.

As a side note, Friday in Syracuse was The Day. God bless The Day. If you went to SU, or you read this notebook regularly, you know exactly what I mean by The Day. Glorious.

Additionally I will be heading just a short drive up I-91 to Amherst, Massachusetts to watch #2 Syracuse (10-2) take on #15 Massachusetts (7-4). Massachusetts is not in the same class as Syracuse this season, however UMass is not the easiest place to play for the Orange in the past few years, having lost there in 2007, assuring that they would not make the playoffs for the first time since 1982, and losing in 2005 as well. It should be an interesting test for Syracuse however, as this is the fourth and last game for Syracuse away from the friendly confines of the Carrier Dome. It should be a good one, so I will actually have a recap of the game and some photos up by the end of the weekend.

Peter knows how to do it.

My time is thinner this time of the year due to my school workload. I have a motion due this week and a trial the next. Therefore my time to blog is thin, but over the past few days there have been some really juicy things to talk about. Thus, it is time for a seldom used here, but often impact filled “grinding gears” segment made famous by one of this country’s most eloquent poets Peter Griffin. Additionally, I just provide my commentary on several issues on the hot stove. Less gear grinding, more commentary and analysis that you’ve come to expect from Orange::44. Maybe there’ll be a Lloyd Carr rumor. You never know!

Connecticut Violations
If you know me, or have read this blog for any length of time, you know that I hate UConn for several reasons. However, additionally if you know me you know that for the past several years I have been saying that UConn recruits dirty and they Calhoun will sometime be involved in recruiting violations at some point in his career. Sure enough it finally happened. The NCAA has launched an investigation, but it seems like the proof is already at hand. Asked to comment earlier last week and Jim Calhoun basically denied a lot of the stuff, seemed uninterested, and didn’t seem to care about what the investigation was about or anything like that. However, later was a much different tune as a more contrite Calhoun admitted that a mistake could have been made. Yeah, apparently so. The original Yahoo! Sports report seemed to have plenty of facts including phone records and records of text messages to prove, based on the preponderance of the evidence, that violations have occurred. It will be interesting to see what the NCAA does. Do I think any games will be taken away from Connecticut? Probably not as Miles, the player at the center of this controversy, never played a game for Connecticut (because he was tossed off the team for violating a restraining order before the season even started. Great pick UConn!). But will UConn get hit with fines, lose scholarships, and be banned from postseason play? It is quite possible, as the main violation is not that these things happened, but rather that they happened, UConn knew about them, and did nothing about it.

UConn Linebacker Kijuan Dabney
One of the secondary missions of this notebook is to chronicle the off the field legal issues that fellow Big East and oppositional players get into. We take extra pleasure here at Orange::44 when it happens to be from UConn, for good reasons. Junior Linebacker Kijuan Dabney was arrested early Sunday morning at the UConn Student Union for a fight with another UConn student according to the Hartford Courant. He was charged with second degree breach of peace and had to be removed from the university sponsored event at the Union. Dabney started all 12 football games for Connecticut as a freshman, mostly on special teams as a strong safety, and six games last season as a reserve linebacker. He is expected to return to the team as the reserve linebacker this fall. Dabney is currently out on $500 bail. Leave it to UConn football to not even suspend a guy a game or something for getting into a fight. Then again this is nothing new for Coach Randy Edsall, who has a nice track record of letting his players run buck wild. I can get the proof, but unless you are a UConn fan trolling my site, you can take my word for it. Frankly UConn fans and Syracuse fans alike should remember the UConn player’s incident at the Wingz Over Storrs when a manager got punched because a player wanted to use a stolen credit card.

“The ‘Ville”
Honestly, congratulations to Louisville for making it to the Elite 8. But really, does anyone think a basketball pep band should wear hockey jerseys? Yeah I’m a band geek and I analyze this kind of stuff but I’ll take the hit on this one. I take pride in my past, as again if you are a long time reader you know I was in the Sour Sitrus Society, the basketball pep band at Syracuse. I’ve been in the band when we received standing ovations at the Big East Tournament, and had other bands decline to play because we were better than them. Now, Louisville’s band sounded alright, but to be foolish enough to think that you look alright at a basketball game in a hockey jersey is a complete dork and has a serious slipping grip on reality. Wearing a rugby, t-shirt, polo shirt, hell even a shirt and tie would be alright, but a hockey jersey makes no sense at all. On top of that it just says “The ‘Ville”. Come on. Put Louisville, or even just “L’ville” because that is how you say it. But to have “The ‘Ville”? Please. Way to look ridiculous on national television over and over again.

The Old Ball Coach
Doug Marrone has gotten right down to business. I have it on good authority that the only thing he has on his desk in his office are his computer monitor and a big, white binder that says “The Plan” on it. Seriously. Already he has had players tackling in drills, and some players are complaining about the work they have had to put in for Marrone. To that I say damn right. Your ass should be dragging after a good practice. You’re a football player. You should be tough enough to hack it during practice, and if not you should quit. Football isn’t for pansies. Oh and what a novel concept, having players actually tackling in practice. Does anyone miss Greg? Not Greg the elloquent wordsmith, but Greg the football coach mind you.

Starting QB
Marrone, based on a week of practice has decided that Redshirt Freshman Ryan Nassib will be the starting quarterback for your Syracuse University football team. Frankly if Marrone is that impressed with him then that is good enough for me right now, considering the season is 156 days away. Second string is now Cantley, who endeared himself to Orange Football fans everywhere by leading the comeback victory over Notre Dame in South Bend last season. Andrew “I guess I’m not very good at being quarterback after all” Robinson has either chosen, or the coaching staff has recommended, to make the switch to tight end. This is much like the epic switch Matt Saracen made from QB to wide receiver on the popular television drama Friday Night Lights (thankfully renewed for two more seasons). Robinson probably knows the routes already, so he could prove to be an ample target, and could be utilized in possible trick plays in the future. However, judging by his completion percentage as a starter that is probably a terrible idea.

Happy Birthday To Us
What a strange trip it has been. Orange::44 turned four this March. It seems like only yesterday I joined writing for this notebook at the behest of my good friend and mentor Matt Glaude. As I like to say, even if we aren’t the best, we were definitely the first. In the past I have posted some of my favorite stories that are the best representation of what this notebook produces, but I will forgo that again this season and wait until our fifth anniversary. Yes, I promise you there will be a fifth. However, I do have to thank some people because in this internet age, four years (starting March 12th of 2005) is a long time. Thanks to Matt Glaude for starting the site and giving me a chance to write for it, even when at the beginning some of my articles were not very good at all. Also thanks to him for continuing to blog after handing over the reigns to Orange::44, as he is brilliant and hilarious. Thanks to all the SU bloggers out there for reading and being so supportive and talented themselves. Special thanks to Brent Axe (The Axeman), Sean at Nunes/Magician, Danny at The Sport Hump, and all of The Three Idiots for being so awesome and continuing to do great work. Thanks to all the other talented Big East bloggers out there for stopping by, trading knowledge, and realizing that we can all have some good fun at each other’s expense once in a while. Thanks to my network of friends and informants that continue to tip me off to the inner workings of the Athletic Department, especially those that would surely get in trouble if they knew they were friends with a blogger. Keep up the good work guys, and your secrets are safe with me. That is those that I can’t post here. I also have to thank the Athletic Department, because without some amazing incompetence or overstated minor victories, as well as extreme ineptitude or success on the field of play, half the fodder for this notebook would not exist. The mission of chronicling the daily disaster that is Syracuse University Athletics is not taken lightly around here. Finally, thanks to you, the average reader for continuing to stop by and enjoy some Syracuse stories, analysis, commentary, reporting, or just plain goofiness. On occasion we strike a chord that resonates across the internet, but more often than not we just plug along, giving you information that you can just find in a box score, but somehow you find what I write entertaining or enjoyable enough to waste your time here. For that I’m grateful and continue to be inspired to write new and occasionally funny articles. I have to take breaks here and there because of real life, but you are the reason that I keep coming back, occasionally against better judgment. Maybe some day I’ll actually let someone else write for this… but I doubt it. As for me, I’ll be here so as always GO ORANGE!

PS - Maybe someday I'll stop saying "we" and just say "I" because it's just me around here.

Does this look like a man who would drink and then operate a motor vehicle?

The UConnvicts are back at it. This time it is the football team getting in on the action. According to The Connecticut Post, backup running back Andre Dixon was arrested for a DUI in Storrs, and was subsequently suspended from the team.

Andre Dixon, the junior tailback, was arrested by UConn Police on N. Eagleville Road after Dixon failed a series of field sobriety tests. He was stopped because he was following too closely to an officer’s vehicle. He was then placed under arrest and is now out on a $500 cash bail and is scheduled to be back in Rockville Superior Court on December 15th. Meanwhile, UConn Football Coach Randy Edsall has suspended him for the rest of the season.

This is not Dixon’s brush with rules. Dixon was suspended for the first two games of the 2007 football season for unspecified violations of team rules. Either way, this guy is talking like he blew his second chance opportunity. This very well may be the end of Dixon’s career at UConn as a football player. What a shame. DWI is one of the most avoidable crimes there are. It’s simple, you can either drink or drive your car, but not both. You can walk, get a cab, or get a buddy to take you. This was just a stupid mistake by a young man who should have known better. UConnvicts strike again!

Yes ladies, I assume he's single and available.

When the football team does not give you much to work with, sometimes good fortune smiles as the UConn Basketball Team is back in action. By action, I mean breaking the law. And no one likes chronicling the legal issues of UConn and the Connvicts than Orange::44.

The Hartford Courant is reporting that Nate Miles, freshman on the basketball team, was charged with violating a restraining order and will appear Tuesday in Rockville Superior Court. Miles, who was served with a restraining order last Monday night at 8:00pm, proceeded to violate it a measly 16 minutes later by placing a call to the individual that filed the order. The protected party, a female student at the University of Connecticut, had been an “acquaintance” of Miles. Miles of course violated the standard “Respondent shall refrain from having any contact in any manner with the protected person” clause. Newsflash: Judges do not like it when you violate their orders. Miles apparently has quite the interesting background, having attended five different high schools before having his transcript certified by the NCAA. He was then academically cleared last June and enrolled in the summer session at UConn. Nothing like Calhoun going for the gold in terms of good students for his basketball squad.

Miles was released on a $2,500 personal surety and will continue the legal process on Tuesday as previously mentioned. UConn of course has no comment, consistent with their policy. Coach Jim Calhoun also did not comment. Miles was expected to start at small forward for the Huskies this season. Honestly, while I am the first to say “HAHA” in the general direction of UConn, I do feel sorry for this young man. He really has never had a good home situation, so I suppose let loose on his own at college he was not really set up for success. Either way, it is unsure his future on the basketball squad as he has not gone to court yet. Judging from the past though, it takes you stealing a laptop to get suspended for a year, but if you are good you only get a 6 month suspension. Thus, for this, he maybe will sit out a game or two. Once again UConn will uphold a tradition of giving preferential treatment to athletes, especially on the basketball team.

Amidst the hoopla that surrounds the Syracuse Football Team, it is nice to see UConn get back to their old tricks. Stay tuned to Orange::44 for all your UConn legal news. Hat tip to our good friend Sean at Nunes/Magician for the linkables as always.

Brian Harrison - Certified Husky Hater

It has been a little while since I last joined you, so I figured I would start the school year off right with a completely antagonistic piece. A little while back I wrote an article asking the all important question every Syracuse fan should ask; do I hate Georgetown or UConn more? At that time, especially with the resurgence of Georgetown basketball under GTIII, and the fact we played them at home and away versus just home for UConn, I stated that it was more appropriate to hate Georgetown over UConn. The entire discussion spurred some excellent comments on the blog, as well as some e-mails from some fans providing their own personal form of Hoya hating. But as spring turns to fall that means football is in the air. Coincidentally, Georgetown does not field a D1-A football squad, therefore our attention and hatred once again focuses on hated football rivals. While West Virginia is still tops on my list, attention is still given to the most hated rivals of the conference, and by default that means Connecticut.

Connecticut was in a similar position as Georgetown several years ago. UConn was a D1-AA school, a fledgling program with an ugly on campus stadium that barely would impress Coventry High School. The students were scarcely into football and basically used them to get real shitty real fast. In 2000 the team jumped to D1-A, and then finally joined the Big East Conference as a full football member in 2004 after the entire Big East/ACC fiasco. Since then Syracuse and Connecticut have traded wins on each other’s home stadiums.

As you may have noted, I did mention that I do have some love for Connecticut’s football squad. Now before you jump down my throat like a good Syracuse fan should for me having put the words “love” and “Connecticut” in the same sentence, I do not really mean that I love UConn. On the contrary, I loathe them with as much passion as any Syracuse fan would, if not more. The truth is I have a long and tawdry history with that school in Storrs.

While the sordid details are not worth diving into anymore, it will suffice to say I used to venture on weekends from the virtuous and just hamlet of Syracuse, New York, and drive the four hours to that god forsaken land that claims to be “The Constitution State”, specifically near Storrs, Connecticut all too often in my undergraduate days. At the time I actually managed to enjoy the people I talked to at UConn. Despite popular belief, not everyone at UConn is a complete and utter douche bag. Some of them are actually decent and fun people. I managed to even get to a few Connecticut games not involving my beloved Orange. While I enjoy college football enough to just go to a game no matter who is playing, I realized that I was getting googly eyes for Rentschler Field (“The Rent”), and UConn and it was not good. Therefore I had to recommit myself to not getting fooled by UConn’s bullshit.

I mean, how fair is it that UConn, a state school, gets $90 million to upgrade their facilities. This means that a majority of State Representatives and Senators in the state of Connecticut (most of which actually graduated from UConn [conflict of interest much?] ), and then the Governor, agreed to give $90 million (yes, that’s $90,000,000) of taxpayer money, I’m guessing most of which could give two shits about college football, to the University of Connecticut to build a new football complex. You’re supposed to get money for that stuff through alumni donations (using their own money, not taxes), and you know, winning a few games (although I will say that the inside of the Press Box at the stadium is quite enjoyable).

Adding insult to injury, which is often overlooked, Randy Edsall, the head coach of Connecticut, is a Syracuse man. He played, graduated from, and then coached at Syracuse. While UConn was certainly not a football rival to Syracuse in those days, there has to be something about this that just does not sit right with him otherwise the man has no soul. I know I could not take a job at UConn and sleep at night. I did almost apply to the UConn law school, but I felt if I got in I would look myself in the mirror everyday and think “God do I suck”. Thus, I took the high road and ended up in Springfield where I am much happier. Either way, anyone that goes to Syracuse undergrad and ends up at UConn has some serious issues (talking to you Abby on this one).

I hate the fact that UConn was good last year. WTF was that about? They are picked to finish 7th in the league and they play WVU for the conference title? Of course they rightly got vanquished by the boys from Morgantown, but the simple fact they were there is asinine. I mean, they even made it to a bowl game (which they promptly lost). Actually, that last part isn’t so bad. Either way, it was complete bullshit. They had no business being good.

Then there was this nonsense…

I have written about this before, so there is no use getting into the entire thing again, but those referees blew that call. That UConn ass hole should have known better. This was basically condoned cheating.

You know what else really grinds my gears, the cupcake schedule they always play. Hofstra, at Temple, Virginia, Baylor, at North Carolina are the extent of their non-conference schedule in this upcoming season. They played Maine, Duke, Temple, Akron, and Virginia last year. Seriously? Say what you want about Syracuse, but they have traditionally not played cupcakes. While that has been possibly to the detriment to Syracuse’s win/loss record, at least we get interesting games (i.e. a game that is at least 50% pleasurable to watch).

Briefly, this notebook has also chronicled the various encounters the football players at UConn have had with the local law enforcement in Connecticut. Too numerous to mention again, it will suffice to say that it is not a good idea to bring a stolen credit card to Wingz Over Storrs and then when you get caught punch the manager.

That “Sometimes Love” nonsense has turned to full on hate again. More like I love to hate UConn. There are many valid reasons to yell “UConn… U SUCK!” or “UConn’s Husky” not just at someone from UConn, but just towards the direction of the state of Connecticut in general. These are just a few of mine. Connecticut is certainly not the pinnacle of Big East Football, but they are worthy of some ire from the good and rightly folks in orange. A rival is a rival, and thus a little personal, biased, good natured hate is just what the doctor ordered. So this season, if you are looking for someone to hate, and are just tired of looking at JoePa, try UConn again. It’s like a refreshing beverage; always satisfying.

Football season is just about here, which again means that I will premier my 2008 Football Prospectus, a team by team analysis of the members of the Big East Conference, starting soon. Also, this week I will start my four part series on fellow Elmira, New York native Ernie Davis leading up to the premier of The Express on September 12th. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you decide to shake off the summer cobwebs, get back into Syracuse sports, and stop by regularly here again at Orange::44.

Here in my car, I get drunk when I want.

We have learned that the Jerome Dyson and Doug Wiggins were indefinitely suspended for having alcohol. ESPN.com and the Hartford Courant report that UConn Police (who I can say first hand are no joke) stopped the two gentlemen in a car with a bottle of cognac and a bottle of vodka. Of course, the two gentlemen are underage.

Wiggins was issued a summons for operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license and possession of alcohol by a minor, while Dyson was issued an infraction for possession.

As you may recall I commented on this story on Saturday, also linking you to the rap sheet of the UConn Athletic Department. The story originally stated that this suspension was not due to legal trouble. Um… well actually it is. Possessing alcohol as a minor and operating a motor vehicle while unlicensed are both crimes. A summons is a legal document. Once again, the UConn spin machine is trying to make it sound better than it is.

While the crime of underage alcohol possession is nothing major, alcohol is certainly not something to underage possess in a vehicle, let alone in a vehicle you are not suppose to be operating. Also, as a member of the basketball team, you are again supposed to hold yourself up to a higher standard than the average student. Is that fair? Absolutely. Athletes are the ones getting “paid” for their play with free educations, money for meals, the nicest apartments on campus, etc. For that fame, notoriety, and the privilege to play, you have to keep your nose clean. It is just that simple. For these players to do this, in such a stupid way, is ridiculous. They will most likely remain suspended until the legal side of the issue is resolved and then the university will most likely decide further judicial action. We will, as always, keep you posted with any further developments.

Breaking news from the world of Calhoun’s Convicts. ESPN.com and The Hartford Courant is reporting that Jim Calhoun has indefinitely suspended starting guard Jerome Dyson and bench player Doug Wiggins under the ever popular umbrella of “violating team rules”. Whatever happened, the university assures that it is not due to legal trouble or academic issues. Interesting.

As you may or may not know, UConn has a long and illustrious record of having players and coaches be on the wrong side of the criminal justice system. Matt Glaude famously chronicled that history here, quite possibly with the best mug shot in history. You also might remember the name Doug Wiggins. You know, when he was actually a St. John’s recruit that Calhoun stole.

From what it sounds like, with the university saying it was not a legal issue or academic issue, these kids just did something to really piss of Calhoun. To their credit that is a bold and daring move, to tick off the head coach of the Connecticut Huskies. I mean, the guy already can probably take a crap in a newspaper and leave it on your desk face down and he probably would not have anything happen to him in Storrs.

Dyson was averaging 14.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. He was playing an average of 29.6 minutes in the 18 games he played in for UConn. Wiggins was averaging 6.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, averaging 19.7 minutes in 18 games. This is good news for any team playing UConn in the near future (minus Indiana). Dyson was a starter averaging 14 points which is not shabby for a starter. Wiggins' six or so points off the bench is also not bad for a player coming in. All in all, while this will be interesting to see if it really impacts the Huskies down the stretch, the big question is… what the hell did they say to Calhoun?