Can it get any worse?
It started with Duke men's lacrosse canceling the season after rape allegations were brought against some team members. Then J.J. Redick was charged with a DUI. Then Joe Alleva, Duke's athletics director, was hurt in a boating accident and his son was charged with operating the boat under the influence of alcohol.
Now this.
Duke football coach Ted Roof announced earlier today that Zack Asack, the sophomore quarterback who showed promise last season, has been suspended from school for academic violations and won't play this season.
Asack then let reporters know exactly why he was suspended.
"I am on academic suspension for plagiarism," said Asack, who started six of the team's final seven games last season. "I made a mistake and am remorseful. I take full responsibility for my actions. I wish the team well and look forward to returning next summer. I love it here at Duke."
According to a release from the school, Asack will be eligible to return to Duke in the summer of 2007.
"Sometimes great young men make poor decisions and that is that is the case in this situation," Roof said. "While I certainly don’t condone his actions, I have been impressed with the manner in which Zack has handled this issue. I fully support Zack and am confident that he will grow in many areas as a result of this situation. When you are part of a family and make an uncharacteristic mistake, you are not kicked out of the family. Zack will remain part of the Duke football family and will be supported by everyone in our program."
Duke was facing an uphill battle to begin with. While Roof has had some good recruiting classes, and while the team has many young players who played well last season coming back, the schedule wasn't favorable. Duke could have possible won its opener against Richmond, and would have had a shot in week two at Wake Forest. Now, without Asack, it will be interesting to see if Duke can be ready for those two games.
The thought here is that it won't. So what could have been a two-win, perhaps three-win, season now will most likely be a one-win season, at best. My prediction, Duke goes winless. And fans start wishing for basketball season in late August, if they haven't already.
-Patrick Hite