Terrapins Lose McCray for Rest of Season

Being a big Terps fan, this is a little heartbreaking as a sports fan. But as a peson who belives in personal responsibility and the need for an education, this does make me a little proud of my alma mater.

Chris McCray is a good basketball player and has made significant contributions to the Terps basketball team. But if you are going to be a student/athlete, you can't forget the student part.

McCray's mother has been trying to make the case for her son--but she is not the best advocate since there is a little self-interest involved.

Regarding one course this fall, Shirleeta McCray said her son told her that he e-mailed his assignments to the instructor, who did not accept assignments that were e-mailed in. A source with firsthand knowledge of the situation, however, said class attendance was an issue for the senior.

As a former teaching assistant at U-Md, I can say that professors have a great deal of discretion about the form and format in which they will expect assignments to be handed in. Just because one professor allows email submissions doesn't mean others are required to do so.

Several co-workers made the comment that the basketball team and the athletic department should never have let McCray get into the situation he is in, an argument made by his mother as well.

Team sources first indicated there was an issue with McCray's academics nearly a month ago, but Shirleeta McCray said she first learned of the problem last Wednesday, when a Maryland assistant coach called her. She said she was "frustrated" with Maryland because "I could have gone up there three weeks ago when you found out and got this straight."

An athletic department source, however, said she was aware before last week.

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"They make sure he goes to practice; they should have made sure his grades and things were straight for him to be eligible," she [McCray's Mother] said. "I'm not only going to fault Chris; I'm going to fault everyone up there. I knew when [former assistant] Dave Dickerson was there, if anything like this would have happened, they would have called me and let me know."

But I don't buy that argument in the least. We are not talking about some freshman straight from high school who needs a little guidance and direction, but a 22 year old senior who has been in college for at least four and probably five years. He is an adult and if he does not fulfill his academic requirements the punishment is, and should be, dismissal from the team.

For far too long, athletic programs have offered their student athletes every break possible, even to the point of improper intervention on some occaisions. Could the basketball program intervened to help McCray? Sure, but they should not do so. Should McCray's mother been on his case to keep up his academics--absolutely. Did she? Well that is the question, but as I said, McCray is a grown up and sometimes the harshest penalties teach the most valuable lessons.

What is disappointing to me is that his teammates now must suffer the consequences of his stupidity. Will Maryland make the NCAA tournament--they still have a shot, a good performance in the ACC tournament will certainly guarantee them a spot. But hopefully McCray's situation will remind them that playing ball for a college on a scholarship is a privilege that comes with some responsibilities. Just because you can dribble with both hands, shoot 35% from the three point line or score touchdowns with ease does not excuse your responsibilities to remain academically eligible.