Fresno State Athletics
Lopes Statements Regarding Terry Pettis
10/16/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 16, 2003
The following is a statement from Fresno State head men's basketball coach Ray Lopes regarding Terry Pettis, who remains suspended indefinitely from all basketball-related activities after an off-campus incident on Sept. 25. Lopes is out of town today and unavailable to the media.
"I'd like to apologize for the embarrassment this situation has caused our university, our athletics department and our community as a whole. This is a very difficult time for Terry. He is 19 years old, and he is a young man who is 2,000 miles away from home for the first time in his life facing a lot of adversity. Right now, the one thing he does need during this troubling time is some sort of family around him for guidance and support, and that family is our basketball team.
"But I am in no way condoning Terry's previous actions. At the moment, I am just concerned about helping him.
"As for Terry's statements in the newspaper, he and I had an intense conversation on Friday, and a reporter happened to catch him at a time when his emotions were running high. Terry does not support those comments and he sincerely apologizes to both the administration and me.
"As much as this is about discipline, this is also about helping a young man get his life back and not leaving him alone on an island. As we continue to look into this matter, Terry will remain on indefinite suspension. Terry will continue with both his court-ordered counseling and his personal counseling that he has been doing for the past three weeks."
Athletics Director Scott Johnson added:
"I am supporting Ray and am taking a hard look at these issues. For now, Terry will remain on indefinite suspension, pending his signing a contract with Coach Lopes and myself, and fulfilling the terms of that contract. Until Terry meets the terms of the contract, no decision on his basketball playing future will be discussed."
