When it was reported earlier in the week that Syracuse starting running back LeQuint Allen was fighting a season-long suspension by suing the university, people scrambled to find out as much information as they could, and then get their opinion out to the world on the situation. For the most part, whether it be fans, current or former players, and even columnists came to the conclusion that the punishment was extremely severe for the crime.
Allen admitted wrongdoing and remorse for his actions from December 2022: “If I had it all to do over, knowing what I know now, I would find a better way to handle things,” Allen said via syracuse.com.
This continued throughout the process as Allen dealt with administrators in the university as the situation was much greater than an internal investigation within the football program, or the athletic department. It was over the head of Dino Babers, over the head of John Wildhack, and in the hands of the unknown.
“I am not denying responsibility for my actions. I made a foolish and juvenile mistake. I should have called [SU’s Department of Public Safety] when my friend told me he was attacked. I should have removed myself from the situation,” Allen wrote in a March 29 email to the administrators via syracuse.com.
A lot of this happened without anyone outside of the university knowing, considering the incident occurred in December and only in late June has the news broke of the entire situation, that in part is due to Allen’s lawsuit against the university. The sophomore running back was hopeful that his actions throughout the spring would lead to a positive end result, but that did not happen.
“Everyone told me to trust the process and I did,” Allen said via syracuse.com. “But I still don’t think I was heard or that anyone in the process understands what really happened or what I did. I want you to know that I owned up to what I did right away. I was honest and I cooperated all the time with the process.”
In recent days, former Syracuse players have taken to social media to support Allen, with actions such as Tweets and Instagram posts to back him up in this process and protest the university’s decision. Additionally, players have appeared on local Syracuse radio programs, such as former star safety Andre Cisco, currently of the Jacksonville Jaguars, calling into ESPN Syracuse to give his thoughts on the situation.
Law enforcement officials, such as Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick, pointed out flaws in the case too. Almost everyone in public is on the side of Allen, but it remains unclear if he’ll play for Syracuse this season, or ever again.
