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Arrest, reinstatement put Selmon in tough spot

In the matter regarding basketball player Will McDonald, athletic director Lee Roy Selmon is treading in delicate territory.

Selmon lifted McDonald's suspension Jan. 27 after three days and one game, a small amount of time to make a big decision. McDonald is the first USF athlete with a pending felony charge (for false imprisonment of an ex-girlfriend) to play in games, according to sports information director John Gerdes.

The opposing sides of this issue are clearly delineated. The critics will say McDonald, arguably the best player on the team, is receiving preferential treatment. The supporters will say Selmon's integrity is heretofore unimpeachable, so why doubt him now? Why should he continue to suspend a player he believes does not deserve it?

McDonald was arrested early Jan. 24, two days before the Super Bowl in San Diego, which Selmon attended. Selmon returned to work Jan. 27 and declared McDonald eligible by the end of the day.

The critics will say he made the move with such swiftness, how could he possibly have ascertained all of the pertinent information? The supporters will say if the decision is so clear-cut, why wait just for the sake of waiting and further punish McDonald?

The critics will say Selmon disregarded school policy, which says an athlete facing a felony charge can't play in games "absent extraordinary circumstances." Selmon, constrained by confidentiality rules, explained his decision by saying, "Based on the additional information that's been brought to my attention, I'm led to believe a suspension at this time is unwarranted." Does that qualify as "extraordinary circumstances"?

The critics will say Selmon is disrespecting the judicial process. The supporters will say Selmon suspended his son, a football player, for several months under similar circumstances in 2001 until charges were dropped. The critics will counter that Lee Roy Selmon Jr. already had decided to redshirt that season, so he wasn't missing any playing time.

Back and forth it goes.

Selmon has a long-earned reputation of even-handedness and integrity. For USF, though, a resolution can't come soon enough.

The state attorney's office received the case a week ago, and it remains under review. The longer it drags on, the more it will seem Selmon made a hasty judgment, true or untrue.

Selmon has exercised his option to override school policy. University president Judy Genshaft said it's an athletic department matter and declined comment.

Selmon has a mountain of accrued credibility to stand behind. When everything is resolved, he hopes it won't have been compromised.

REVVING UP: With returning sluggers such as shortstop Myron Leslie and catcher Devin Ivany, the baseball team, ranked No. 41 by Baseball America, has high expectations. The key might be the No. 3 spot in the pitching rotation behind John Uhl and David Austen.

If touted junior college transfer Travis Rios or freshman Jon Kio step up, the Bulls could have one of the best teams in coach Eddie Cardieri's 18 seasons. USF opens Friday vs. Oklahoma State in DeLand.

-- Pete Young covers USF sports. He can be reached at (813) 226-3346 or via e-mail at young@sptimes. com.

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