In preparing for the Terp men’s lacrosse team’s game at Duke on Saturday, I hoped to avoid the scandal that cost the Blue Devils’ the second half of their 2006 season as much as possible.
In my opinion, it has run its course. The scandal has been in the headlines for nearly two years, and it’s been nearly a year since all charges were dropped in the criminal cases against three fromer team members. I figured it’s about time to let it go. (Even if 38 non-charged players thrust it back into the public attention last week by filing suit against Duke University, the city of Durham, and others involved in the case.)
Last year it was a big deal when the Blue Devils came to College Park in their first road game since the scandal. At the time, the question was how Duke would respond to a hostile crowd, which could use the scandal to potentially distract the team. However, the Blue Devils responded by handing the Terps their most lopsided loss of the season, 14-7.
Now that team is a year older thanks to an NCAA ruling granting players an extra season of eligibility for the lost ‘06 season, one of the only reasons the scandal still matters, and playing in front of the hometown fans. But you have to remember, the Terps have 18 true freshmen on the roster, so most teams would have an experience edge on them, at least this early in the season.
Still, when I first brought up the topic of the game against Duke to coach Dave Cottle after his team’s win at Mount St. Mary’s on Tuesday, one of the first things he addressed was the scandal. After saying the Blue Devils were the best team he’s seen on tape all season, he brought up the extra season of eligibility and the pain the team had to endure to get it.
“The way I figure it is if I had to go through that and our players had to go through that to get an extra year, I’m not for it,” Cottle said.
So maybe I’m wrong. Maybe, even two years removed from the charges, it is still a big deal. Either way, my game preview is going to focus on the action on the field. The Terp defense still has to figure out how to stop a prolific offense led by the reigning Tewaaraton Trophy winner.