(Photo Credit: Jim Commentucci / The Post-Standard)I had planned to blog something about financial aid this week, but that will wait: Colgate's star junior RB Jordan Scott has been suspended from the team after being charged with burglary:
The football future of star Colgate running back Jordan Scott is in flux after his arrest on a burglary charge. According to the Hamilton village police department, Scott and wide receiver David Morgan were charged Sunday with second-degree burglary, a felony, in connection with an incident on campus Saturday night. The players were arraigned Monday in Hamilton village court and released on $10,000 bond.
It's an embarrassment to Scott and the Colgate athletic department - however, a source tells me that there may be less to this than meets the eye, calling the incident "minor". No decisions have been made on this yet by Colgate head football coach Dick Biddle or the Colgate athletic department, except the fact that Scott and Morgan were suspended from the team, pending a review from the Student Conduct Board, the athletic department, and Biddle himself.
If the incident is indeed "minor" as was relayed to me, one would hope that Scott would be able to pass through the boards and be allowed to play again next year. Coach Biddle, of course, will have the final say on that.
You never wish something like this on any school and especially to Scott, whom I met last year at Patriot League Media Day. Everyone should hope that this is indeed a minor incident and that Scott will be playing next year for the Raiders.
UPDATE: The actual crime the pair are charged with is breaking into a dorm room on Saturday, which is considered "larceny" according to another source. The response from campus security seems to indicate that it was certainly treated with utmost seriousness. This is still a developing story, so look here for future developments.
UPDATE 2: More has been added as this became an AP story:
Scott and wide receiver David Morgan were charged Sunday with second-degree burglary and pleaded not guilty at their arraignment Monday. The 20-year-old juniors were released after posting bail and the case was adjourned until Jan. 7.
Two female residents on Saturday heard the intruders, who ran out when confronted, according to a police report. Hamilton Police Chief James Tilbe said the students identified Scott and Morgan through photos on a university Web site.
"At this point, we can't find anything they took," Tilbe said. "According to what they said, they were trying doors, found it open, and just started to go through the desk drawer when the girls approached them. I don't understand it."
This thing just gets stranger and stranger. I'm really not sure what to think. If they entered an open dorm room and took nothing, what's the crime? Is there more to this than meets the eye?
From this description, where's the "larceny"?
UPDATE 3: More News:
Colgate star running back Jordan Scott admitted to searching a school dorm with a teammate early Saturday morning with the intention of stealing money, according to a police report of his arrest.
According to village Police Chief James Tilbe, Scott said he and wide receiver David Morgan tried opening the doors of several rooms in the Russell House before finding one that was open. Scott said he and Morgan then entered that room with the intention of swiping cash before two female occupants woke up and scared them off.
This is bad news. This isn't a prank that went awry, this seems to be something else.
"I think it will be handled correctly. I think the university does a thorough job," Colgate football coach Dick Biddle said Wednesday. "It's in the correct hands. We'll see what happens."
Asked if he was concerned about losing the talents of Scott, who paced [FCS] rushers with 1,875 yards this season, Biddle said, "I'm confident we have a good football team here, and we'll win."
Again, it looks like coach Biddle and Colgate's administration are doing the correct things here. I just feel sorry for Scott and Morgan, who appear to have allowed a horrible lapse in judgment to endanger their football careers and possibly their college diplomas.
Comments
Ameer found himself in a bit of trouble one too many times and with an incident occurring just before training camp, even though he was in school and taking classes it was BIDDLE's DECISION to keep him off the the team for the year, effectively ending his career.
That's a wrench "enetering" your theory
Scott was caught up in an incident just last year where he was stalking and actually assaulted another female student who eventually left the school in fear because of the administration's and campus police' lack of action. The details of that story should break at any minute. Coach Biddle spoke in defense of him Scott then, which may be why he isn't taking any chances with his credibility now.
This kid was a timebomb that everyone protected because of his value to that team. I believe that the school is as responsible as he is for ignoring the warnings they had that he was a problem.
You clowns want to defend these idiots, be my guest. They're finally getting what they deserve. They were bold enough to tell the police that their intent was to burglarize the place, so
F'em, they should have never got down.
Burglary, assault, stalking? How are these just youthful mistakes? Keep making excuses for this punk, I'm sure he'll appreciate it during his stint in state prison.
I know Jordan too. He's been in my home, he hugs my mother, I go to school with him and I look forward to seeing him on campus as much as I do on the football field. I have always admired him and certainly NEVER feared him. I have spoken highly of him since the day I met him. When I heard about all of this I was shocked because the person who walked into that dorm room could not possibly be the same J.Scott I know and love. I can't pretend to understand his actions in this instance. DO NOT fabricate details from an incident you so clearly know NOTHING about and start throwing out labels like "stalker" "sexual harassment" "monster" "assault" and "criminal" --that's just not how or what he is. His friends, family, loved ones, teammates, and classmates will inevitably find a way to move past all of this- a HUGE lapse in judgment occured and a mistake was made.
Furthermore-- a lot happens on every college campus. I know personally of several instances in which items have been stolen, recovered, and those responsible have not had to face Hamilton police or national press. The reason this all escalated to begin with is because Hamilton police, instead of campus safety, was called first. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES am I condoning the actions of Scott and Morgan. HOWEVER all of this is unusual and has escalated even further than is consistant with similar (and more extreme) violations of other individuals.
Burglary is a FELONY, just like rape, assault and arson. how many "good" people do you know that have "lapses in judgment" that big? bad pranks are "lapses in judgment", felony offenses aren't.
...just a theory.