Nancy Cantor: 'Had That Tape Surfaced In 2003...Fine Would Have Been Fired'

Nancy Cantor wrote an open letter that appeared in USA Today on Thursday to provide a little clarity on what Syracuse University knew, when they knew it and what they would have known if they knew it sooner.

The crux of the letter is what Cantor says about the audio tape and what SU would have done had they received it in 2003.

Had that tape surfaced in 2003, Fine would have been fired. Had we been given the tape in 2005, we would have gone straight to the authorities. Had we been given the tape on Nov. 17, there would have been no "administrative leave." Fine would have been fired on the spot. When the tape emerged for the first time on Nov. 27, we fired Fine. Those who held onto the tape for nearly 10 years owe everyone an explanation.

Fair enough. Of course, Nancy Cantor wasn't the Chancellor in 2003 so I don't know if she can honestly say for sure that Fine would have been fired, but it's the thought that counts.

Cantor also called out the media (ESPN & The Post-Standard) for not bringing the tape to their attention, or at the very least the police's.

According to Syracuse.com, Cantor was scheduled to meet with The Post-Standard editorial board at 2 p.m. today, but canceled that meeting this morning.

Expect that relationship to be a little frosty for a while...