Athletes’ Reaction to Allegations Surrounding the Duke Lacrosse Team can also become a Serious Issue.

 

As a former coach and AD I understand how important it is for leaders to respond with an ethical compass. It is typical for both sides to claim the truth in telling the story.  What continues to bother me the most is the claim of complete innocence by athletes involved initially never seems to be as accurate as the facts after the investigation unfolds. The DNA will provide some truth to the incident and we can then compare previous claims from the witnesses.  This is a nightmare for everyone including the University, the community, and the Athletic Department. How they react is just as serious as the initial allegations.