Alleged Violations at IU
Nearly two years ago, Indiana University opted to replace men's basketball head coach Mike Davis. IU couldn't tolerate Davis' antics that resulted from being the unfortunate successor to Knight, and it seemed that another coach could restore the luster to the proud tradition within Assembly Hall.
The search for the next coach seemed to settle on Steve Alford, then coach of Iowa, due to his ties to IU and Oklahoma's Kelvin Sampson. Sampson had been placed on probation by OU following some 500+ illegal recruiting phone calls over a period of several years dating back to 2000. Nevertheless, Sampson was hired along with his probation. Some debate ensued over whether Sampson had the resume to merit a job at one of the historically best jobs in all of basketball. Others were astounded that a program so quick to terminate Knight could hire someone with known baggage.
More than improving the success of the team, Sampson's first season was marked by the recruiting of current freshman Eric Gordon. Gordon had verbally committed to Illinois, but upon the firing of Coach Davis and the hiring of Sampson, he began to voice his interest in playing in his home state. After a visit to campus, Gordon signed his Letter of Intent with IU, fueling speculation of shady recruiting tactics on Sampson's behalf. Not only had Gordon verbally committed to IU, but Sampson hired two former coaches of Gordon Sr., Jeff Meyer and Ray McCallum, as well as an assistant coach on Eric Gordon's AAU team, Travis Steele, as video coordinator. Somehow, all of these hires raised nary an eyebrow of the national media.
Regardless of the ethics of recruiting verbally committed players in college basketball, Sampson became the target of additional scrutiny. Then, last fall IU released their self-investigation which had uncovered violations Sampson had committed during his short time in Bloomington. The Orange Krush and others begin to wonder if Sampson could be trusted at all. Illinois fans felt a convicted cheat had used dirty tricks to lure away a prized recruit that would have gone a long way toward making many of this year's close losses victories. Thus, the constant harassing of Gordon and his family when IU visited the Illini.
One week later, an NCAA notice of allegations is released citing five major violations committed by Sampson and his staff. Following a day of media frenzy, Indiana loses at home to Wisconsin in a crucial Big Ten match-up.
Indiana clearly has a decision to make. Sampson has shown that he cannot be trusted to police himself, nor does his staff abide by probation policies. Without a doubt, Sampson has done more than enough to merit his termination, regardless of the NCAA's judgement in June. The IU in-house investigation substantiates that he has a wanton disregard for the rules. The NCAA's allegations merely compound that and suggest he lacks control of his program and the honesty demanded by his position.
Sampson should have coached his last game for Indiana, and should he be convicted by the NCAA later this year, his last collegiate game on Wednesday against Wisconsin. It is only fitting that a coach with blatant disrespect for the rules to which he is subject lose his final game. Sampson was given a chance to change course with his hire in Indiana; unfortunately, he demonstrated his inability to avoid temptations of landing recruits.
Sampson and his staff are not alone in the blame. IU AD Greenspan should also be shown the door for allowing a man of questionable moral character to take control of a program long respected for its upstanding, clean record. The hire was inexcusable, but Greenspan had to know that any violations would demand far reaching terminations.
Some reports have stated that no player currently on IU's roster is named on the NCAA allegation; however, it has been stated by reputable sources that one player is, in fact, a freshman for the Hoosiers. As much as it pains me to suggest, IU must self-impose a post-season ban provided a current player is named in the allegations. Should no current players be named, such a measure would be excessive and unfair to the student-athletes. That being said, Sampson cannot be allowed to coach or interact with this team for the remainder of the season. An assistant coach unnamed in the NCAA report should be named interim head coach while Sampson and anyone named in the report receive suspensions or are fired.
Hoosier basketball will overcome this setback. Heads must roll in order to preserve the tradition that is Indiana basketball and show that repeat violations will not be tolerated. Your time in the NCAA has passed, Kelvin Sampson.
The search for the next coach seemed to settle on Steve Alford, then coach of Iowa, due to his ties to IU and Oklahoma's Kelvin Sampson. Sampson had been placed on probation by OU following some 500+ illegal recruiting phone calls over a period of several years dating back to 2000. Nevertheless, Sampson was hired along with his probation. Some debate ensued over whether Sampson had the resume to merit a job at one of the historically best jobs in all of basketball. Others were astounded that a program so quick to terminate Knight could hire someone with known baggage.
More than improving the success of the team, Sampson's first season was marked by the recruiting of current freshman Eric Gordon. Gordon had verbally committed to Illinois, but upon the firing of Coach Davis and the hiring of Sampson, he began to voice his interest in playing in his home state. After a visit to campus, Gordon signed his Letter of Intent with IU, fueling speculation of shady recruiting tactics on Sampson's behalf. Not only had Gordon verbally committed to IU, but Sampson hired two former coaches of Gordon Sr., Jeff Meyer and Ray McCallum, as well as an assistant coach on Eric Gordon's AAU team, Travis Steele, as video coordinator. Somehow, all of these hires raised nary an eyebrow of the national media.
Regardless of the ethics of recruiting verbally committed players in college basketball, Sampson became the target of additional scrutiny. Then, last fall IU released their self-investigation which had uncovered violations Sampson had committed during his short time in Bloomington. The Orange Krush and others begin to wonder if Sampson could be trusted at all. Illinois fans felt a convicted cheat had used dirty tricks to lure away a prized recruit that would have gone a long way toward making many of this year's close losses victories. Thus, the constant harassing of Gordon and his family when IU visited the Illini.
One week later, an NCAA notice of allegations is released citing five major violations committed by Sampson and his staff. Following a day of media frenzy, Indiana loses at home to Wisconsin in a crucial Big Ten match-up.
Indiana clearly has a decision to make. Sampson has shown that he cannot be trusted to police himself, nor does his staff abide by probation policies. Without a doubt, Sampson has done more than enough to merit his termination, regardless of the NCAA's judgement in June. The IU in-house investigation substantiates that he has a wanton disregard for the rules. The NCAA's allegations merely compound that and suggest he lacks control of his program and the honesty demanded by his position.
Sampson should have coached his last game for Indiana, and should he be convicted by the NCAA later this year, his last collegiate game on Wednesday against Wisconsin. It is only fitting that a coach with blatant disrespect for the rules to which he is subject lose his final game. Sampson was given a chance to change course with his hire in Indiana; unfortunately, he demonstrated his inability to avoid temptations of landing recruits.
Sampson and his staff are not alone in the blame. IU AD Greenspan should also be shown the door for allowing a man of questionable moral character to take control of a program long respected for its upstanding, clean record. The hire was inexcusable, but Greenspan had to know that any violations would demand far reaching terminations.
Some reports have stated that no player currently on IU's roster is named on the NCAA allegation; however, it has been stated by reputable sources that one player is, in fact, a freshman for the Hoosiers. As much as it pains me to suggest, IU must self-impose a post-season ban provided a current player is named in the allegations. Should no current players be named, such a measure would be excessive and unfair to the student-athletes. That being said, Sampson cannot be allowed to coach or interact with this team for the remainder of the season. An assistant coach unnamed in the NCAA report should be named interim head coach while Sampson and anyone named in the report receive suspensions or are fired.
Hoosier basketball will overcome this setback. Heads must roll in order to preserve the tradition that is Indiana basketball and show that repeat violations will not be tolerated. Your time in the NCAA has passed, Kelvin Sampson.
posted by azulejost at 23:00
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