The Complicated Legacy of Terrence Shannon Jr.
One of the best seasons in Illinois basketball history concludes while a legal case hangs in the balance.
Terrence Shannon Jr. had one of the greatest seasons in Illinois basketball history.
Terrence Shannon Jr. also missed six games due to a rape charge in Lawrence, KS, and was only welcomed back to the team thanks to a federal court decision.
Yeah. It’s complicated.
There are certain times in life where you remember exactly where you were. Some good, some not so good.
A few days after Christmas, still buzzing from a Braggin’ Rights blowout and an Illinois team hitting its full stride, my wife and I were heading back from the in-laws in Michigan. I absentmindedly thumbed through my phone, stopping as I noticed a crooked number of text notifications.
“WTF? Did you see this?”
“Dude, is this a joke?”
“Oh no.”
The good vibes were gone in a flash. Not only was an All-American caliber player out indefinitely, but it was due to one of the most heinous charges one could face.
What followed was an interesting case study in fandom.
How do we react when someone we root for is accused (or in this case charged) with a serious crime? Where does our loyalty to our favorite team end, and our own moral code begin?
The sports world would be watching, just as we watched (and judged) other fan bases in tumultuous times. I seethed when Penn State football emerged from the Jerry Sandusky scandal relatively unscathed, wondering how anyone could don Nittany Lion apparel afterwards. I saw my wife, a Michigan State alum, attempt to reconcile her own fandom and pride in her university after the Larry Nasser story broke.
How would Illini fans react?
I went to the Rutgers game to see for myself. A palpable nervous energy spread throughout the State Farm Center during warmups. The low roar at tip-off only increased in intensity when Terrence headed to the scorers’ table to check in. He was greeted with an ovation - some standing, some not - and welcomed back by the fans.
I recorded it on my phone, choosing to not applaud him merely checking in. But what I was unsure of is how I’d react at his first big play.
Then, he fed an alley-oop to Coleman. Less than a minute later, a steal and another feed for an easy basket. The arena exploded. So did I.
Does it make me a hypocrite? Perhaps.
In that moment, the same pit in my stomach from three weeks earlier had vanished. For the rest of the game, and the rest of the season, I tuned into the games to watch Terrence Shannon Jr. the basketball player, without thinking all that much about the serious charges hanging over his head.
At the risk of sounding defensive . . . what else is a fan supposed to do?
From a legal perspective, a federal judge took the decision to play Terrence out of Brad Underwood’s hands. The charges against him - serious as they are - aren’t yet convictions. He will get his day in court, at which point a jury of his peers will decide if he’s guilty or not.
Furthermore, the police reports and affidavits only served to muddy the waters in the court of public opinion. A degree of credence should be afforded to the plaintiff and their testimony, especially given the long history of rape and sexual assault cases being underreported. However, the lack of physical evidence left enough reasonable doubt as to whether this was rape, a consensual encounter, or somewhere in between.
If we are to truly abide by “innocent until proven guilty”, it was fair to allow Terrence Shannon Jr. to play basketball.
Then, there is the fan’s perspective. I’ve rooted for countless athletes - collegiate and professional - that may have done abhorrent things that never came to light. Similarly, I admire musicians who have done morally objectionable things. John Lennon physically abused his first wife Cynthia. Jimmy Page, guitarist of my all-time favorite band Led Zeppelin, dated 14-year old Lori Maddox at the peak of their fame.
Am I not supposed to listen to Led Zeppelin or The Beatles anymore? Likewise, should I turn off the TV whenever Terrence Shannon suits up for Illinois?
This can all change. If Terrence is put on trial and ultimately found guilty, the enjoyment derived from this team and their successes will tainted forever. It won’t be the fault of Brad Underwood or the other players, nor will it reflect too negatively on the university as a whole. But, it will change the way you feel about the 2024 Illinois basketball team.
The cathartic joy we felt when Terrence sealed the Iowa State win with a steal and slam? Tainted.
The amazement we felt while watching Terrence lead Illinois to the 2024 Big Ten Tournament title? Tainted.
Far worse than our tainted memories would be the crime itself. And, whether it’s out of denial or self-preservation as Illini fans, the potential crime hasn’t been at the forefront of our minds.
His on-court performance had something to do with this selective amnesia. Quite simply, Terrence had one of the best individual seasons in Illinois basketball history. Most importantly, he peaked in the month of March, averaging 25.4 points per game while leading the program to its first Elite Eight in 19 years. In my many years of watching the Illini, I’ve never seen a singular month quite like it.
It was the kind of month - and, for that matter, year - that leads to discussions of legacy. Should Terrence Shannon’s jersey hang alongside Ayo and Kofi? If the precedent is All-American (of which Shannon was first-team caliber in all but name) and conference championships (of which he has as many as Ayo), then it’s a worthy consideration. Unlike Ayo and Kofi, he led his team on a March run and on the cusp of a Final Four appearance.
However, it’s a discussion that simply will not, can not, should not occur until his legal case is resolved.
Past Illini players have had run-ins with the law. Kendrick Nunn and Jaylon Tate faced physical abuse charges. Leron Black brandished a knife at the Canopy Club. Darius Paul broke a bunch of car windows in France. Luther Head, Illini legend, burglarized an apartment in 2003 with Richard McBride and Aaron Spears. Jamar Smith . . . yeah, that was bad.
None of these, however, had the combined star power of the athlete and severity of legal charge as this case.
We don’t know if he’s guilty. For a multitude of reasons, I hope he’s not guilty. Everyone who cheered at every one of Terrence’s highlight reel plays holds out the same hope.
It’s hard not to emotionally connect with the athletes we root for, the musicians we listen to, or the actors we watch onscreen. Of course we don’t know them personally. But, we invest our time and energy into watching them do what they do best. Along the way, it’s human nature to feel like you somehow know the person on the court, stage, or TV.
Terrence, and the entire team, was no exception. They were exciting, likeable, and fun. Not only that, but in a long line of great Illinois basketball players, Terrence Shannon is one of the very best to ever don the orange and blue.
His on-court legacy is secure. His off-court legacy hangs in the balance of the justice system.
This was an excellent article yet again and I think a very important one!
Another thought I had on this is that we instinctively think that the actions of an individual will reflect badly on ourselves. Like if we like a certain musician, player, actor, or even politician and they screw up, it shows that we have a lacking in judging character.