By Joel Alderman
The mysterious disappearance from the Yale basketball team of its captain, Jack Montague, continues to provide little to go by, except for a comment, possibly a slip, that the 3-point shooting ace made that has just been published in the Yale Daily News.
What we don’t know
Three nagging questions have permeated Yale fandom concerning Montague:
1) Why wasn’t he with the team on its road trip last weekend to Dartmouth and Harvard?
2) Will he ever play for the Bulldogs again?
3) Is he even still a student at Yale?
Two of those questions may have inadvertently been answered in Montague’s only public statement since the story broke.
“I’m taking a personal leave and I’m trying to get back as soon as possible.”
Reading between the lines, “as soon as possible” could mean that the door is not shut, at least as far as he is concerned. It would also indicate that he has not withdrawn from Yale, else how could he be trying to get back to the team?
No clarification was provided by Jasmina Besirevic-Regan, the dean of Montague’s residential college (Trumbull), who would not confirm if he is still enrolled.
Time is not in his favor
If he is in fact still a student, he may be running out of time to get back on the court. There are only six games left, unless the Bulldogs get into the post season, especially the NCAA Tournament, which is their goal. And even if Jack’s problem is resolved and he rejoins the team, how useful would he be, and what kind of playing condition would he be in after missing at least a few weeks of practice?
Nobody’s talking
So far it has been impossible for the media to get anything substantive from University officials, Montague, or his peers. For instance:
Tom Beckett, the Director of Athletics: In an email to the YDN on Wednesday night, he said simply that the Yale captain “is not with the team at this time.” (Emphasis added)
Steve Conn, Director of Sports Publicity: Montague is taking care of “personal issues.”
James Jones, head coach: Prior to the Dartmouth game last Friday he said it was a “personal” matter. Five days later he added that he is “not at liberty” to discuss it.
Others questioned at Yale’s Office of Public Affairs and Communication revealed nothing.
Players and classmates are also mum
One would think that among Montague’s fellow players and classmates, at least some of them are aware of what the issue or issues are. If so, they must be extremely loyal and respectful of Jack’s confidentiality and right of privacy, since they’re not talking either. The college paper’s reporters, Daniela Brighenti and Maya Sweedler, asked five teammates for comment, and they either don’t know anything or won’t say.
All we really know at this point is that the Captain and a starter for the first 20 games this season is not participating in Yale’s challenging road weekend at Princeton and Penn. It’s something that nobody would have predicted earlier in the season.
Especially Jack Montague himself.
