VT's Jeff Allen suspended

[jimsumner]

ACC press release

"Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford announced today that a two-game suspension has been issued to Virginia Tech freshman Jeff Allen for inappropriate contact with an official during Saturday’s game at Georgia Tech.

Swofford issued Allen the suspension for deliberately making contact with game official Zelton Steed with 4:32 left to play in the Hokies 81-70 loss to the Yellow Jackets. Allen’s suspension will be in place for Virginia Tech’s home game against Duke Thursday and Saturday’s road game at Boston College."

[Wander]

I was expecting this. Not to be cocky or anything, but this game shouldn't be all that difficult for us now, at least as far as ACC road games go.

[riverside6]

Seems a bit ironic that Allen gets suspended 2 games after this "brush" against the official, while Ryan Reid got nothing for the supposed punch on Paulus.

Obviously Allen made contact with an official, but both got T'd up, and Reid's action was more malicious.

[cspan37421]

Did the league pass on suspending Reid, on the punch thrown at Paulus? Saw the video at some duke-hating site, and I could not see the punch connect - but from the camera above the play, it sure looked like Reid threw a punch.

Get used to it boys, badge of pride and all that - the scumbag would-be ballers of the world can't compete with your skill, they're going to try and put the hurt on you instead.

[riverside6]

Did the league pass on suspending Reid, on the punch thrown at Paulus?
Right, Reid didn't receive a suspension.

[MikeS]

Does anyone know where I could see what Allen did b/c I can't find it anywhere?

Thanks

[cspan37421]

Wake suspended Chris Paul for throwing a punch at Julius Hodge's twig & berries. It does not appear that the ACC suspended him, though they issued a statement concurring with Prosser's decision.

When is the conference going to grow some you-know-whats and quit leaving it to the schools to self-discipline? An incident like that which involved Kermit Washington seems likely to me if they don't start holding players to a higher standard for on-court conduct. Someone is going to get seriously hurt, and it should not be up to the teams' discretion to cut their own throats by suspending their own players.

[riverside6]

Does anyone know where I could see what Allen did b/c I can't find it anywhere?

Thanks
Go here (http://www.scacchoops.com/forms/tt_NewsBreaker_External.asp?NB=1040) and skip to about the 2:54 mark.

[IStillHateJimBain]

How about this postgame quote from the guy who puts the "T" in Virginia Tech, the great sportsman Seth Greenberg:
"He told me that he was pulling his shirt out of his jersey [and] he didn't see the guy right away. He told me he said, 'Excuse me,' when they bumped."
When they bumped? Allen clearly pops the ref in the side with an elbow, soft as it was.
Of course, Greenberg got a technical in the game. His comment about that was, "Obviously [official Tim Kelly] did not wake up on the right side of the bed."
Even Virginia Tech fans are getting tired of this garbage now.

[Uncle Drew]

ACC press release

"Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford announced today that a two-game suspension has been issued to Virginia Tech freshman Jeff Allen for inappropriate contact with an official during Saturday’s game at Georgia Tech.

Swofford issued Allen the suspension for deliberately making contact with game official Zelton Steed with 4:32 left to play in the Hokies 81-70 loss to the Yellow Jackets. Allen’s suspension will be in place for Virginia Tech’s home game against Duke Thursday and Saturday’s road game at Boston College."

Granted I didn't see the game, and the only thing I saw was the replay from the 2:54 mark linked bellow. But THAT nudge of the ref got a TWO game suspension??!! I mean it kind of looked intentional, maybe; but I also could see it being accidental too. And for that matter the ref just felt the bump, he didn't see the guy attempt or accidentally bump him either. Honestly I could care less and one less guy is all the better for Duke.

It just makes me wonder how they can review this incident and give a TWO game suspension. And the Paulus incident gets no suspension at all. Was the incident with FSU not reviewed? By God the Henderson incident last year was scrutinized by the entire bloody nation when a Duke guy does something extreme. But when someone tries to punk one of our players it seems to be all in the course of play.

On a side note, one thing many of us have noticed over the last few years was the lack of a "swagger" or "confidence" in Duke they used to have every time they stepped on the court. I must say in the Clemson game I saw elements of that returning, even on missed plays like Henderson's dunk. (God I wish he'd made that. And for the record he did not get fouled. It looked like it from the behind the rim view. But from the side view the Clemson players hand was a good 6" from his face.) I like seeing Duke play tough and not let teams punk them, regardless of whether the overly physical play of other team earns them suspensions or not.

[MikeS]

After watching that video I think a suspension of 2 games was a little harsh. Okay you shouldn't do that but he didn't elbow him in the face or anything like that. It is bush league but he wasn't trying to harm the ref.

[jimsumner]

Doesn't matter if he was trying to "hurt" the ref or not. You simply are not allowed to initiate hostile contact with an official or attempt to physically intimidate an official. No wiggle room, no warnings.

[Uncle Drew]

Doesn't matter if he was trying to "hurt" the ref or not. You simply are not allowed to initiate hostile contact with an official or attempt to physically intimidate an official. No wiggle room, no warnings.

If I happened to meet Lenny Wertz off the court and elbow him REALLY hard in the ribs for all the bad calls he made against Duke and for UNC that's okay right? It still doesn't answer the question Jim how something that slight can be taken with such harshness. And the Paulus incident can be overlooked or taken with a grain of salt.

[Bob Green]

It still doesn't answer the question Jim how something that slight can be taken with such harshness. And the Paulus incident can be overlooked or taken with a grain of salt.

The fact that the ACC did not sanction Reid is evidence that the incident was not as flagrant or malicious as some DBR posters believe.

[gw67]

The suspension of Allen is right on. Under no circumstances, does a player or coach lay their hands (or elbow) on the ref. In some youth leagues where I have coached, the coach or player can be suspended for several games for threatening gestures or words toward the ref/umpire much less making physical contact.

gw67

[CDu]

The fact that the ACC did not sanction Reid is evidence that the incident was not as flagrant or malicious as some DBR posters believe.

Completely agree.

Also, I don't see anyone clamoring for Paulus to get suspended. Though it was completely retalliatory (and understandable - I'd have done the same thing), if you are looking to suspend Reid for his open-handed swipe, then Paulus' kick would have to be looked at too.

I don't think either Reid or Paulus deserved suspensions. I DO think Allen got more of a suspension than he deserved. I'd be okay with a one-game suspension, though, as I can understand the need to make a statement about protecting officials.

[riverside6]

Completely agree.

Also, I don't see anyone clamoring for Paulus to get suspended. Though it was completely retalliatory (and understandable - I'd have done the same thing), if you are looking to suspend Reid for his open-handed swipe, then Paulus' kick would have to be looked at too.

I don't think either Reid or Paulus deserved suspensions. I DO think Allen got more of a suspension than he deserved. I'd be okay with a one-game suspension, though, as I can understand the need to make a statement about protecting officials.
Well, I'm not sure I saw Reid's "swipe" as open-handed, but I definitely do agree Allen's suspension would have been sufficient at one game.

[Carlos]

Which was lamer - Allen's elbow to the ref, his "uh, sorry" demeanor afterwards, or Seth's explanation?

[riverside6]

Which was lamer - Allen's elbow to the ref, his "uh, sorry" demeanor afterwards, or Seth's explanation?
In Greenberg's defense, when he said that he said he hadn't seen the play and was just repeating what Allen had told him.

I'll go with option B, his attempt at apologizing.

[CDu]

Well, I'm not sure I saw Reid's "swipe" as open-handed, but I definitely do agree Allen's suspension would have been sufficient at one game.

The mid-court angle (the one in which you can actually see Paulus and not Reid's back) shows it to be an open-handed swipe. It looks worse from the backside (where all you can see is the backswing), but the front angle gives a much different (and tamer) view. Moreover, there was an official right there with the exact same angle who saw the play and immediately called a technical on Reid (and didn't throw him out).

It was still unacceptable, as it was well after the whistle and overaggressive. But it was not a punch, and has definitely been overblown here.

[du_bb1]

a question yet to be answered---comparing the FSU game and Reid--how does this compare to G's suspension after the hansblo thing last year--seems to be a bit out of kilter

[riverside6]

Fair enough. I've seen that angle, but I hadn't noticed the open hand.

[rsvman]

Everyone seems to be forgetting that Reid basically tossed Paulus to the deck a couple of plays earlier, and that was after the whistle had blown the play dead as well. In a sense I thought the first play was at least as egregious as the last. It seemed to me that Reid had some kind of beef with Paulus that well antedated Paulus's swipe at the ball just before the so-called punch.

[bjornolf]

the amount of contact that is allowed or not allowed with officials in different sports. In the NBA and the NFL and even MLB, you see ref contact all the time. I've seen NFL players give refs playful little bumps, or pats on the butts, and the refs just do the same back, no biggie. I've seen NBA players give refs five.

But man, NCAA basketball refs are a different ball of wax. You sneeze on them, you get a T. Of course, they seem to let the players get away with a lot more shinnanigans than they used to. I remember a few years ago, a LOT of the antics you see today with the refs would have gotten T's as well. The jumping up and down with martyred expressions or holding the ball overlong or slamming the ball to the floor after a perceived bad call. I've even seen guys get T'd for continuing through the lane and dunking or shooting a shot WELL after the whistle. Some of the FSU players were doing some stuff that I've DEFINITELY seen guys get T'd up for a few years back.

[4decadedukie]

Seems a bit ironic that Allen gets suspended 2 games after this "brush" against the official, while Ryan Reid got nothing for the supposed punch on Paulus.

Obviously Allen made contact with an official, but both got T'd up, and Reid's action was more malicious.

Both players should have received two-game suspensions. Any physical action against an official is obviously unacceptable, and it should be immediately punished. I also believe, however, that clearly intentional and post-play assaults should be heavily sanctioned, because they can – and will – lead to a permissive environment and that may result is a player being seriously hurt (for example, Reid’s shot could have hit Paulus in the eye, had Greg simultaneously turned his head, or Reid’s aim had been slightly off, and so forth).

[CDu]

Both players should have received two-game suspensions. Any physical action against an official is obviously unacceptable, and it should be immediately punished. I also believe, however, that clearly intentional and post-play assaults should be heavily sanctioned, because they can – and will – lead to a permissive environment and that may result is a player being seriously hurt (for example, Reid’s shot could have hit Paulus in the eye, had Greg simultaneously turned his head, or Reid’s aim had been slightly off, and so forth).

So should Paulus be suspended two games as well? His kick was malicious in intent (though it resulted in being harmless).

[4decadedukie]

So should Paulus be suspended two games as well? His kick was malicious in intent (though it resulted in being harmless).

IF -- and I do not agree it was -- so, yes (as should Laettner's March '92 "stomp"). One of these days, some promising athlete will be seriously hurt -- perhaps even permanently disabled -- by this type of egregious and unnecessary conduct. When that happens, those who have tolerated it (coaches, fans, conferences, officials, the NCAA, etc.) will be complicit in the outcome.

[Karl Beem]

I've just reviewed (several times) the HD recording of the game. I find it hard to believe that anyone would think that Paulus did anything malicious. You can barely see anything at all. Were some of you people at the game?

[CDu]

I've just reviewed (several times) the HD recording of the game. I find it hard to believe that anyone would think that Paulus did anything malicious. You can barely see anything at all. Were some of you people at the game?

People at the game would have NO chance of having a good look.

I don't think either Reid's swipe or Paulus' kick were worthy of suspension.

That said, I'm tired of talking about it and tired of hearing about it. I think people have overstated the nature of Reid's actions. The bottom line is that neither player is getting suspended.

[gep]

So should Paulus be suspended two games as well? His kick was malicious in intent (though it resulted in being harmless).

I'm curious... does someone remember the time that Melchionni got kicked in the nose/face under the basket? Did that player get any kind of "penalty"? If I recall, Melchionni's nose got bloodied "again"... many times that season, in fact...:)

[Bob Green]

I'm curious... does someone remember the time that Melchionni got kicked in the nose/face under the basket? Did that player get any kind of "penalty"? If I recall, Melchionni's nose got bloodied "again"... many times that season, in fact...:)

The VT Athletic Director suspended Deron Washington (http://www.roanoke.com/sports/breaking/wb/wb/xp-50191) for one game.

[mgtr]

Didn't Chris Paul get suspended just a single game for a very obvious and egregious attack (not just a foul) after the play had ended? If so, doesn't that sort of set the standard for ejection and suspension? I haven't seen anything that bad this year by any player.
Paul was a very good player, but for the good of the game, I think his punishment should have been worse (suspension for the rest of the season, maybe). Since it wasn't, doesn't that open the door for such shenanigans as the Duke-FSU game?
I don't know the answer to these questions, but I would like to see the game cleaned up some.

[loran16]

From an unbiassed perspective, This seems way out of proportion.

Heck, if a suspension is needed just to set a precedent, then a 1 game suspension wouldve been enough.

From a duke fan perspective, im glad that the VT leading rebounder and #2/#3 scorer (its close with washington) is out for our game vs them.

[CDu]

From an unbiassed perspective, This seems way out of proportion.

Heck, if a suspension is needed just to set a precedent, then a 1 game suspension wouldve been enough.

From a duke fan perspective, im glad that the VT leading rebounder and #2/#3 scorer (its close with washington) is out for our game vs them.

Agreed on both counts.