It looks like we’re back to the original theory of the crime.
… Fields’ situation was something entirely different, as a former baseball player shouted racial slurs about him. It’s a situation Smith, an African-American, related to on a personal level.
“I went through some of those situations,” he said. “I understood exactly, personally, how he felt. I’ve been in numerous situations where I was the only African-American in a group and have had an individual attack me. I sympathized with him. I certainly was personally and professionally supportive of his request.”
The Patterson request took eight weeks before the NCAA made its final decision, mostly because of stringent objection by Ole Miss until, finally, the Rebels relinquished their flat-footed stance. The process for Fields was only five weeks, partly because Georgia originally objected before acquiescing and coming to a cordial resolution.
“The institution that the young person is leaving from, in my view, should not have a say in what that young person does,” Smith said. “That makes no sense. Georgia was awesome, by the way. They were phenomenal. But it could have been a situation where they were vindictive, but they weren’t. I just think we’re in a sad state, the way we’re managing it. I hope there’s a better outcome down the road.”
I’m beginning to think I need to add “Sasser’d” to the Lexicon.
Smith, by the way, now takes the position that every football and basketball player should be granted a one-time right to transfer without restriction. That strikes me as a sensible approach, which means it’s probably doomed.