IU players threaten to quit

[UFWildcat]

http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/10659277

The crazy saga continues...

[Will Lavender]

Wow. This one's gonna get interesting for sure.

I still say they don't fire him today.

[matt colvin]

:eek:

[Craig the Blueheart]

I seriously doubt they would quit, but it will be interesting to watch over the next couple of days.

[BigBlue75]

and assuming that's indeed what went down in the meeting, if I were in the IU administration, when they said "we don't care..we ain't playing", I would say, "Fine, we're not playing either. Coach Sampson will be fired and if you gentlemen choose not to play, we'll either play the rest of the season with walk-ons or we will forfeit the rest of our games and prepare for next season, beginning with a search for a new head coach."

I'm by no means an Indiana Hoosier fan, but the integrity of a university, especially one like IU that has an established reputation of doing things properly and above board, is FAR more important that a basketball season. The IU admins CANNOT allow themselves to be seen as caving in to the demands of a small group of players.

Of course, they could have avoided this scenario altogether if they had hired another coach besided Sampson, but that's been established already.

[leroybyrd]

Gotta respect the kids showing some loyalty and character.

[Got_Billie_G?]

This is a tough one. If the IU admininistration is CERTAIN he's guilty, then they need to clean up the situation ASAP and a suspension/termination is the only way to do so. However, he still deserves his day in court to defend the actions he's accused of. So firing him would probably get real ugly for everyone. I think they should suspend him until the hearing. If the players walk so be it. This isn't about wins and losses, this is about itegrity and NCAA compliance. I would say IU has enough to warrant a suspension.

[Got_Billie_G?]

Yes Leroy, the same loyalty their coach showed IU by cheating AGAIN. And the same integrity their coach showed the NCAA, IU, the players, and the fans by putting everyone in jepordy of serious sanctions. Just further proves that players are for the coach, not the program.

[surveyor]

The same thing happened after Knight was fired. The players threatened to quit unless Mike Davis was the head coach.

In the situation with Davis, I respected the kids for standing up for the guy that recruited them and helped coach `em.

In this situation with Sampson I'm mixed, because they're making such threats over retaining a coach who likely committed serious violations. It seems they're putting basketball ahead of the interests of the university and the program in general. It sort of makes them appear as spoiled brats in this situation versus the kids with Mike Davis.

[UFWildcat]

I think they all are just blowing smoke. Stepping up for their guy but they will be playing soon enough.

DJ White isn't going to sit down for his last year. Besides, they have a legitimate shot at winning it all.

This should all blow over.

[leroybyrd]

Yes Leroy, the same loyalty their coach showed IU by cheating AGAIN. And the same integrity their coach showed the NCAA, IU, the players, and the fans by putting everyone in jepordy of serious sanctions. Just further proves that players are for the coach, not the program.

I didn't say the coach had character, but right now, in the middle of a season, in the heat of battle, to them it is all about TEAM and they couldn't care less about phone calls or anything else besides winning and TEAM. That kind of loyalty and heart is that every coach wants to instill in his players. I think many of them will walk if he is ousted.

[Will Lavender]

I think they all are just blowing smoke. Stepping up for their guy but they will be playing soon enough.

I sort of feel the same way. It would be crazy for guys like White and Gordon to protest in defense of his coach. That doesn't send a great message to NBA scouts, where head coaches are hired nad fired with regularity.

[UKBOO]

The air created by Sampson at IU is nothing short of foul. And if the players quit, then I think they will have that odor attached to them as well.

I think IU should suspend Sampson without pay for the remainder of the year regardless. This has done nothing but put a big black eye on their program. I can understand players standing up for their coach. I can understand them being being upset. But he has acknowledged (all be it not totally it seems) guilt and they should understand that he must be held accountable for this mess. He would hold each and every one of them accountable, or so I would hope. Maybe he wouldn't, and maybe there in lies the problem...

If these players quit, I think the general feel would be that they are of the same ilk as Sampson, and someone needs to explain that to them..

[catdmd]

Go ahead and quit. It's not like there were no warnings. Just go ahead. What kind of message does that send?

[TrueblueCATfan]

a very ugly situation that will get uglier....I always said let Sampson finish the season it is not fair to the players

[DBCAT]

Gotta respect the kids showing some loyalty and character.

Yeah, standing up for the guy who cheated to get some of them there, mainly their best player, Eric Gordan. Without Gordon, this team wouldn't be nearly as good as they are. I would be more impressed with these kids if they stood up and said that they didn't want to play for a cheater. That is something that would take some guts and character.

[UFWildcat]

a very ugly situation that will get uglier....I always said let Sampson finish the season it is not fair to the players

But I think the university is looking out for it's best interest. They can't continue to let the cloud of darkness follow them around. The damage has already been done and it's in their best interest to try and clear it up as fast as possible.

There has to be a wierd feeling with every game that Sampson coaches. I don't know how he has done it for the last 2 games.

It's a sad situation but it's reality.

[leroybyrd]

Yeah, standing up for the guy who cheated to get some of them there, mainly their best player, Eric Gordan. Without Gordon, this team wouldn't be nearly as good as they are. I would be more impressed with these kids if they stood up and said that they didn't want to play for a cheater. That is something that would take some guts and character.

But from their perspective, they don't see it that way. He is THEIR GUY. Ever been on an organized sports team? It is always "us against the world." They are singularly focused on achieveing goals and are bought in emotionally. What else would you expect them to do? He called them on the telephone, I'm sure they don't see that as cheating.

[ChrisB60]

If they let sampson finish the season, they ought to ban them from the post-season, just as a spite for him rejecting that request, that will really hamstring them. Then fire him after the season

[DBCAT]

But from their perspective, they don't see it that way. He is THEIR GUY. Ever been on an organized sports team? It is always "us against the world." They are singularly focused on achieveing goals and are bought in emotionally. What else would you expect them to do? He called them on the telephone, I'm sure they don't see that as cheating.

I can see your point. The kids who were brought in by cheating have character flaws just as coach Sampson does. I guess it would make sense for them to stand up for him in that sense. I'm sure they knew that the phone calls were against the rules, but it didn't bother them then, so why should it now that it is out in the open. To me, if any of the kids on this team were persuaded to come to IU because of the phone calls then they are just as guilty as Sampson is.

[Will Lavender]

The kids who were brought in by cheating have character flaws just as coach Sampson does.

I don't agree with this. A lot of players were brought in during Kentucky's dirty years who were...um...paid for, and they've gone on to successful lives. Mistakes happen, especially when you're 17/18 years old.

I'm not going to cast the players as victims, but it's crystal clear who the villain is here.

[Catligula]

I would be more impressed with these kids if they stood up and said that they didn't want to play for a cheater. That is something that would take some guts and character.

Very well said. But you have to consider that Sampson has probably convinced them that he is the victim here. Which would be all the more reason to fire him if true.

If they refused to play, would they have to pay back their scholarship money?

[ChrisB60]

Very well said. But you have to consider that Sampson has probably convinced them that he is the victim here. Which would be all the more reason to fire him if true.

If they refused to play, would they have to pay back their scholarship money?

If they refuse to play, then I say heck with them and play whoever wants to be there. THen again, I wouldnt mind seeing IU as a defunct program being a doormat

[DBCAT]

I don't agree with this. A lot of players were brought in during Kentucky's dirty years who were...um...paid for, and they've gone on to successful lives. Mistakes happen, especially when you're 17/18 years old.

I'm not going to cast the players as victims, but it's crystal clear who the villain is here.

We all have the right to our own opinions, but if you don't think that 17 -18 year old kids are old enough to know right from wrong then that's another topic altogether. There is no doubt that Sampson is the main culprit in this, but I was just saying that if these kids allowed themselves to be sucked in by this guy who was going against the rules, then they should be held accountable for what they did too. What about the parents of these kids? Did they know that their kids were being illegally recruited? What does that say for them? I never said that those guys couldn't go on to successful lives, but they should be punished somehow for what they did. I don't think their punishment should be as severe as Sampsons, but they should face some kind of disciplinary action.

[TransientAlum]

Indiana being strong benefits UK.

It was an awesomearticle to deliver around here at work though.

[UKBOO]

"In the NCAA's list of "presumptive penalties" for major violations, there are three criteria for a postseason ban, any one of which would make the punishment more likely. The first is that "the involved people remain active in the program."
The others:
That a "significant competitive advantage" resulted from the violations.
That the violations show a "lack of institutional control."
The first step for IU, beyond a decision on Sampson, will be answering the NCAA's charges by May 8. A final decision is expected 4-8 weeks after the June 14 hearing. An appeals process is available for IU as well. "

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080222/SPORTS04/802220490/1002/SPORTS

IF IU decides he lied, I think two of these three are in question. The A1 alone means Sampson is totally gone.

I think back to the players that left UK during our shame. I remember the love bestowed on the ones that continued. One of those returns tomorrow.

The IU kids need to watch the pre game for UK tomorrow....

[RP_McMurphy]

Their LOI's are very definite that they sign with the University not any one coach or set of coaches. They need to man up and realize their coach broke the rules not once but many times and then lied about it. If I were a IU fan I would be more than willing to blow up Sampson and this season to save the program long term.

[Rootn4UK]

Gotta respect the kids showing some loyalty and character.
Loyalty and character to a guy that has been cheating??? And NOT to the university that has been providing them a free education, which costs tens of thousands of dollars? Wow.

[UKGrad84]

Did he cheat, or did he break the rules? There is a difference. :shrug1:

[UFWildcat]

Did he cheat, or did he break the rules? There is a difference. :shrug1:

Is there? :icon_confused:

[Will Lavender]

Did he cheat, or did he break the rules? There is a difference. :shrug1:

How do you figure?

[leroybyrd]

Loyalty and character to a guy that has been cheating??? And NOT to the university that has been providing them a free education, which costs tens of thousands of dollars? Wow.

Like I said....he called them on the TELEPHONE. I am sure the kids don't see this as cheating. Sampson is a great coach (strictly speaking of his ability to coach a basketball team) who is a master at getting kids to run through walls for him. Right now, they are running through a wall for him.

[Will Lavender]

Like I said....he called them on the TELEPHONE. I am sure the kids don't see this as cheating. Sampson is a great coach (strictly speaking of his ability to coach a basketball team) who is a master at getting kids to run through walls for him. Right now, they are running through a wall for him.

Well, they SAY they're going to run through a wall for him. That's a lot different than actually running through it.

[ChrisB60]

Like I said....he called them on the TELEPHONE. I am sure the kids don't see this as cheating. Sampson is a great coach (strictly speaking of his ability to coach a basketball team) who is a master at getting kids to run through walls for him. Right now, they are running through a wall for him.

Not only did he violate the rules 577 times and get reported and put on probation, but he also violated the rules about 100 more times after the fact and now must pay the piper with his job. Sorry, he did cheat after breaking the rules. He should be ashamed of himself breakign the rule knowingly many times. Thank god a studetn recognized the calls and alerted someone in a higher authority. The fact he did it twice is just daring the NCAA to do something and after doing 577 the first time, Oklahoma should ahve fired him!

[leroybyrd]

Well, they SAY they're going to run through a wall for him. That's a lot different than actually running through it.

True, whether or not they actually follow through with it remains to be seen. But don't you think they have already gotten together on this as a team. If one guy stood up representing the whole team it had to have been a team leader like White, which also suggests they had already discussed and agreed to go the distance for Sampson. If that is the case, I could see them being pretty serious about it.

[ChrisB60]

Life will go on without sampson, just as it did without Knight... New day, new coach! They might lose to NW tomorrow!

[leroybyrd]

Not only did he violate the rules 577 times and get reported and put on probation, but he also violated the rules about 100 more times after the fact and now must pay the piper with his job. Sorry, he did cheat after breaking the rules. He should be ashamed of himself breakign the rule knowingly many times. Thank god a studetn recognized the calls and alerted someone in a higher authority. The fact he did it twice is just daring the NCAA to do something and after doing 577 the first time, Oklahoma should ahve fired him!

You quoted me, but you're not really responding to my post.

I don't necessarily disagree with what you are saying here, but I am just saying, from the players perspective, they probably see it as "he called me on the phone, what's the big deal." I am sure they probably feel like, "hey, we are fighting for a Big 10 Cahmpionship here, after all we have been through with this guy, practices, meetings, gatherings at his house, film sessions, games, tutilage, bonding, etc, we are not letting this thing go down without a fight." They probably feel like they know him for who he is, THEIR GUY.

I really don't understand why people don't see why the kids would react this way. Seems like a natural reaction to me.

[Catligula]

True, whether or not they actually follow through with it remains to be seen. But don't you think they have already gotten together on this as a team. If one guy stood up representing the whole team it had to have been a team leader like White, which also suggests they had already discussed and agreed to go the distance for Sampson. If that is the case, I could see them being pretty serious about it.



From the AD: "All those reports about it being made (the decision about Sampson) yesterday and of the players being told and of the team threatening not to play were not true. It's pure science fiction."

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3258506

[Craig the Blueheart]

Like I said....he called them on the TELEPHONE. I am sure the kids don't see this as cheating. Sampson is a great coach (strictly speaking of his ability to coach a basketball team) who is a master at getting kids to run through walls for him. Right now, they are running through a wall for him.

I don't consider the infraction serious, BUT, he was told by the NCAA to not do this again. Adults should know better... heck, kids should know better.

[cumberlandredskin]

and assuming that's indeed what went down in the meeting, if I were in the IU administration, when they said "we don't care..we ain't playing", I would say, "Fine, we're not playing either. Coach Sampson will be fired and if you gentlemen choose not to play, we'll either play the rest of the season with walk-ons or we will forfeit the rest of our games and prepare for next season, beginning with a search for a new head coach."

I'm by no means an Indiana Hoosier fan, but the integrity of a university, especially one like IU that has an established reputation of doing things properly and above board, is FAR more important that a basketball season. The IU admins CANNOT allow themselves to be seen as caving in to the demands of a small group of players.

Of course, they could have avoided this scenario altogether if they had hired another coach besided Sampson, but that's been established already.

I totally agree with you! A university has to have integrity first and foremost. IF IU keeps Sampson they will have lost all of that.

[UFWildcat]

From the AD: "All those reports about it being made (the decision about Sampson) yesterday and of the players being told and of the team threatening not to play were not true. It's pure science fiction."

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3258506

Adding to the madness.....................

[ChrisB60]

You quoted me, but you're not really responding to my post.

I don't necessarily disagree with what you are saying here, but I am just saying, from the players perspective, they probably see it as "he called me on the phone, what's the big deal." I am sure they probably feel like, "hey, we are fighting for a Big 10 Cahmpionship here, after all we have been through with this guy, practices, meetings, gatherings at his house, film sessions, games, tutilage, bonding, etc, we are not letting this thing go down without a fight." They probably feel like they know him for who he is, THEIR GUY.

I really don't understand why people don't see why the kids would react this way. Seems like a natural reaction to me.

I can see your point, but the rules and im sure you agree have been spelled out from the get go. Sampson knew what he was doing was wrong and he continued to break the rules. That is what makes him a cheater and also gives him an edge on other competition because he is not playing by the rules and just like in nascar when your not playing by the rules you are considered cheating as well. I wouldnt quit, but life will go on after sampson, hes not on the floor playing....

[UKBOO]

I don't consider the infraction serious, BUT, he was told by the NCAA to not do this again. Adults should know better... heck, kids should know better.

It isn't about the calls now. Its about lying. Lying to the NCAA is the worst thing you can do.

[Catligula]

Adding to the madness.....................

Yeah, the AD's words don't convince me that its definitely NOT true. But at the same time, how would the media know what the players said? They didn't talk to the media and no journalists were in that meeting obviously.

[Craig the Blueheart]

It isn't about the calls now. Its about lying. Lying to the NCAA is the worst thing you can do.

I agree. When you swear off this activity, and you turn around and do it again, you should get punished.

Integrity is the fundamental concept behind all of these minor rules. Coaches can be smacked on the hand for these things the first time, but when you knowingly break the rules, it is big trouble.

[leroybyrd]

From the AD: "All those reports about it being made (the decision about Sampson) yesterday and of the players being told and of the team threatening not to play were not true. It's pure science fiction."

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3258506

Not just fiction, but SCIENCE fiction. That is a weird and funny statement.

[UKBOO]

I agree. When you swear off this activity, and you turn around and do it again, you should get punished.

Integrity is the fundamental concept behind all of these minor rules. Coaches can be smacked on the hand for these things the first time, but when you knowingly break the rules, it is big trouble.

And I think that is exactly what happened. This first time for IU was NOT the first time for Sampson. Even still, IU smacked itself on the wrist. And I thought their self punishment was as fair as any. I thought they did a great job.

I don't think the delay has anything to do with what IU will do IF it happened. I think the delay is to make sure it DID happen. I think IF it happened, and I am not saying it did, IU will make the right call a second time.

[ChrisB60]

I agree. When you swear off this activity, and you turn around and do it again, you should get punished.

Integrity is the fundamental concept behind all of these minor rules. Coaches can be smacked on the hand for these things the first time, but when you knowingly break the rules, it is big trouble.

Obviously Sampson is not humbled enough to realize what he has done. Maybe some time coaching mid-major to nothing team is right up his alley. San Francisco needs a new coach...

[UKBOO]

Obviously Sampson is not humbled enough to realize what he has done. Maybe some time coaching mid-major to nothing team is right up his alley. San Francisco needs a new coach...

I don't think he will be allowed to coach and NCAA team.

[Craig the Blueheart]

Obviously Sampson is not humbled enough to realize what he has done. Maybe some time coaching mid-major to nothing team is right up his alley. San Francisco needs a new coach...

What is sad, is that he is actually a solid coach. I don't think he has terribly exciting teams, but they always seem solid. If I were a mid-major, I would certainly take a look at him if I was comfortable that he was done with the violations.

[flacat22]

"Dusty Mills, paging Dusty Mills, playing opportunity may come available at Indiana..."

I know its not his beloved Florida Gators but the vertical stripes on the warmups will make him look at LEAST 5'6:icon_lol:

[Dwight Schrute]

Wow. This one's gonna get interesting for sure.

I still say they don't fire him today.

I tend to think the same thing. I'm not saying they won't, but it wouldn't surprise me if he's on the bench tomorrow.

[kynut]

You quoted me, but you're not really responding to my post.

I don't necessarily disagree with what you are saying here, but I am just saying, from the players perspective, they probably see it as "he called me on the phone, what's the big deal." I am sure they probably feel like, "hey, we are fighting for a Big 10 Cahmpionship here, after all we have been through with this guy, practices, meetings, gatherings at his house, film sessions, games, tutilage, bonding, etc, we are not letting this thing go down without a fight." They probably feel like they know him for who he is, THEIR GUY.

I really don't understand why people don't see why the kids would react this way. Seems like a natural reaction to me.

Cheaters......it takes one to know one. The kids are wrong if they said they would quit. If a coach makes a mistake following very complicated rules it's one thing and can be forgiven, but if he makes the mistake hundreds of times and then hundreds of more times after being told to stop and then lies about it......then that is not a mistake; IT IS CHEATING PURE AND SIMPLE. Sampson is a cheater and the kids need to recognize that no matter how much they love him and get on with playing the game for a new coach.

[spfury]

Maybe Gordon is thinking of quitting because is afraid the money may run out. My Father-in-Law has a good friend that is a major contributor to IU and he has implied that Gordon is doing quite well at IU and that is the real reason he didn’t go to Illinois. This guy loves Gordon and Sampson and both he and my father-in-Law love IU to the end, there is a lot of talk from several sources up there that Gordon was paid handsomely to go to IU. Of course rumors are like (-----Fill in the blank), but with Sampson’s reputation there may be some truth to it.

[BigBlue75]

Did he cheat, or did he break the rules? There is a difference. :shrug1:

Uh, excuse me, but I thought cheating WAS breaking the rules. :confused:

[Catligula]

Not just fiction, but SCIENCE fiction. That is a weird and funny statement.

I laughed when I read that too. Eric Gordon got into his Delorean and skipped forward to his future days playing in the NBA.

[leroybyrd]

I laughed when I read that too. Eric Gordon got into his Delorean and skipped forward to his future days playing in the NBA.

LOL. That is a funny mental image.

[billoliver40]

Bad situation all round.
Indiana U is caught between a rock and another rock. They already knew of wrongdoing last year, by KS losing a 500K contract increase. To look the other way now might bring up the dreaded "lack of institutional control" clause from the NCAA. The players, by and large, are guilty of nothing except being at Indiana.
Going to be really interesting for awhile.

[Terry L. Wildcat]

"If Sampson ain't coaching, we ain't playing"...do they teach English at IU?:eek:

[j_allen]

:icon_lol:"If Sampson ain't coaching, we ain't playing"...do they teach English at IU?:eek:

:icon_mrgreen:

[jtukfan]

"If Sampson ain't coaching, we ain't playing"...do they teach English at IU?:eek:

You always have great posts.

[poodoo]

"If Sampson ain't coaching, we ain't playing"...do they teach English at IU?:eek:

Good one, Terry, and I especially enjoyed it, naturally. :icon_lol::icon_mrgreen:.

I've just read the rather long thread and have several things to say. I agree with a lot of statements that have been. The one post that differentiates between cheating and breaking the rules still has me shaking my head. :shrug1:

As Chris said, Sampson CHEATED, period. I also agree with Chris that Sampson evidently needs to be "humbled" with a lower level coaching job, as he had surely not been humbled by having been caught CHEATING less than two years after having served as head of the coaches' association.

Too, Craig mentioned that knowingly breaking the rules now puts him in serious trouble (and his breaking the rules the second time, plus his LYING to the NCAA, is the big problem now). Actually, Sampson had knowingly made the illegal calls at Oklahoma. His staff had intentinally made over 500 illegal calls, and Sampson had personally made either over a hundred or two hundred of those himself (and I'm not positive which number it had been). The NCAA punished Sampson by not allowing him to visit recruits and call them his first year at Indiana. Sampson responded by successfully using text messaging and bringing in the SEVENTH-best class in the nation. :mad: THEN the NCAA responded by banning text messaging (which unfortunately hurts us, as Coach Gillispie was certainly one of the hardest-working in that area!).

Anyway, I had known the NCAA would come down hard on Sampson if he were to mess up again, as their penalty had ended up ineffective (as Sampson had still garnered in a top class). That he ignored one of their restrictions and cheated a second time (although to a much lesser degree), plus lied to them, did indeed mean serious trouble. The NCAA had already appeared foolish because of the ineffectiveness of the penalty they had handed down, and then Sampson basically laughed at their authority and broke their rules still again AND lied to them. Again, Chris was so right that Sampson had most obviously NOT been humbled by the earlier experience.

I agree with leroy, though, that the kids themselves did not see the phone calls as something serious. Goodness, how many athletes have taken all kinds of material gifts! The Indiana players, to our knowledge, had not done so. It is definitely Coach Sampson who shoulders the responsibility of having done something serious, for he fully understood the restrictions placed upon him.

The guys obviously stayed with the team. Too, six had skipped practice in protest, but still got to play and defeated Northwestern (winless in the conference) in a one-possession game. Hmmm. :) GO CATS! BEAT OLE MISS!

[UKhoov]

From what I have heard the main reason the players (I was told about 6-7 of them) said they werent going to play is not that Sampson was out, but because that Dakich was to be the interm coach. The players wanted another of the assistants to take over because this other assistant was the main guy in recuiting/bring the players to IU.

[KY Native in IN]

every player that protested that practice should've not even been dressed out to play in the game....bench EVERY ONE of those that didn't show up....i don't care how good they are.....they wanna get all philosophical about it, let em have a good think on the bench in their church clothes.....heck, leave 'em in bloomington....

Coach G. woulda kicked their hind quarters off the team (see dusty mills if you don't believe me)....and that's just as it should be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

spineless on dakich's part if you ask me....he just wanted to win his first game i'm sure and NOt get beaten by northwestern, at that point 0-13 in the big ten....SPINELESS!

i thought the "K.S." on their shoes was absolutely ridiculous....not like he has cancer or died or anything, he cheated and got busted....he's not a deceased teammate or loved one.....give me a break.....

all this has made a mockery of the IU program and i for one could not be happier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GO CATS!!!!

[UFWildcat]

every player that protested that practice should've not even been dressed out to play in the game....bench EVERY ONE of those that didn't show up....i don't care how good they are.....they wanna get all philosophical about it, let em have a good think on the bench in their church clothes.....heck, leave 'em in bloomington....

Coach G. woulda kicked their hind quarters off the team (see dusty mills if you don't believe me)....and that's just as it should be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

spineless on dakich's part if you ask me....he just wanted to win his first game i'm sure and NOt get beaten by northwestern, at that point 0-13 in the big ten....SPINELESS!

i thought the "K.S." on their shoes was absolutely ridiculous....not like he has cancer or died or anything, he cheated and got busted....he's not a deceased teammate or loved one.....give me a break.....

all this has made a mockery of the IU program and i for one could not be happier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GO CATS!!!!

This might be a bit much. The players were emotional after the decision. It's only to be expected from 19 and 20 year olds. Cooler heads prevailed and they played in the game.

I think they deserve some slack here.

[j_allen]

This might be a bit much. The players were emotional after the decision. It's only to be expected from 19 and 20 year olds. Cooler heads prevailed and they played in the game.

I think they deserve some slack here.

i honestly at least think they shouldnthave got to play for that game, a one game suspension for skipping practice!!

you get a one game suspension for busting curfew or suspended indefinately for violating team rules!!

rules are rules regardless, when you let some players get away with something like that, what kind of message are you sending about yourself as a head coach!!

discipline them and have them ready for the next game, you'll get much more respect that way, then letting them show you up your first day on job:thumbdn::thumbdn:

but its indiana, what do you expect, anything to get the wins these days, thats why they hired the cheater to begin with, anything to get that program turned around, and look now, i love it

[KYISSUPREME]

They should have been benched for at least one game. No ifs, ands or buts. Those kids do not run the university or the NCAA.

[KY Native in IN]

They should have been benched for at least one game. No ifs, ands or buts. Those kids do not run the university or the NCAA.


well, the message that dakich sent was the players DO in fact run the IU b-ball program.....i ithink they shoulda been in their church clothes on sat. night....


i've said it before and i'll say it again, thank the Lord that ALL OF THIS mess wasn't Kentucky!!!!

[BALou]

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/41140

If this blurb from the Chicago Sun Times is correct then it seems that Kelvin cannot go a week without breaking the rules or the terms of his separation agreement with IU concerning player contact.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/ncaa/02/25/sampson.ap/index.html

[Will Lavender]

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/41140

If this blurb from the Chicago Sun Times is correct then it seems that Kelvin cannot go a week without breaking the rules or the terms of his separation agreement with IU concerning player contact.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/ncaa/02/25/sampson.ap/index.html

Weird story. Is it against NCAA rules to text players?

Why? I'm not a big Sampson fan or anything, but that's ridiculous. The article asserts that Sampson "can't help himself." Can't help himself from what? Talking to the kids he coached?

The man screwed up, he paid for it, as long as the players have no problem with him getting in touch with them I don't see what the problem is here.

[BALou]

Weird story. Is it against NCAA rules to text players?

Why? I'm not a big Sampson fan or anything, but that's ridiculous. The article asserts that Sampson "can't help himself." Can't help himself from what? Talking to the kids he coached?

The man screwed up, he paid for it, as long as the players have no problem with him getting in touch with them I don't see what the problem is here.

They may be alluding to the fact that by texting the players he is breaking his separation agreement with IU. That would mean it isn't as clean a break with IU as originally hoped.

[UFWildcat]

No doubt Dakich handled the whole thing VERY well. All of a sudden a lot of people HATE Kelvin Sampson, a man they do not even know at all, but who clearly made some mistakes. It is so easy to pile on now.

Eric Gordon said it himself, "Sampson was like a father to us all." Dakich said this, "these are his kids, it's his team." So it is understandable the kids would react strongly in support of their guy. They should not have been punished over this VERY emotional situation, look, some people on this board are getting irrationally and extremely emotional over the whole thing, how do you think the IU players felt?

IMO, Dakich and the players both handled themselves very well in this situation and no doubt grew a lot closer through this. They will be a tough out from here on.

Pulled this from another thread but I believe it goes here.

I agree 100% :thumbup:

[BALou]

Pulled this from another thread but I believe it goes here.

I agree 100% :thumbup:

I don't hate him....I just don't understand him. He seems to have a hard time understanding that rules, regulations, and legal documents really do apply to him. My point in posting his texting activity was to point out that there was a legal separation agreement that he signed to not interfere with the players and the program. This may be a non-issue unless IU considers this interference. I guess it depends on the results of the contact. It's hard enough for the players to focus without continuing to be torn emotionally every time they have contact with him. I would think it would be more caring to have one team meeting letting them know that he loves and supports them, and then leave them alone to close out the season. JMO

I know the depth of the relationship between coaches and players, but I don't understand how everyone can credit him for caring about his players now, but ignore his utter disregard for them while actively breaking the NCAA rules. I know...I know. He obviously didn't think he'd be caught. :shrug1:

[poodoo]

I don't hate him....I just don't understand him. He seems to have a hard time understanding that rules, regulations, and legal documents really do apply to him. My point in posting his texting activity was to point out that there was a legal separation agreement that he signed to not interfere with the players and the program. This may be a non-issue unless IU considers this interference. I guess it depends on the results of the contact. It's hard enough for the players to focus without continuing to be torn emotionally every time they have contact with him. I would think it would be more caring to have one team meeting letting them know that he loves and supports them, and then leave them alone to close out the season. JMO

I know the depth of the relationship between coaches and players, but I don't understand how everyone can credit him for caring about his players now, but ignore his utter disregard for them while actively breaking the NCAA rules. I know...I know. He obviously didn't think he'd be caught. :shrug1:

FWIW, what you're saying here makes some sense to me, BALou. Text messaging is continuing to have contact with the players. As you say, of course, whether or not IU considers that contact as interference, or a violation of the agreement, is what matters.

By the way, as I have posted, folks, remember that the NCAA had thought they were severely punishing Sampson when they had banned him from making calls to recruits. He promptly used text messaging to garner in the #7 class in the country. He is a master of text messaging. :)

Anyway, I remember how the former UK football coach, Guy Morriss, continued to have contact with his former UK players, and it reportedly caused a lot of division among the players and kept some of the players from being supportive of their new coach, Coach Brooks, in the first year or so (and I actually have a related theory about that in regard to UK basketball, but I don't want to discuss that).

Just sharing. Again, how IU feels about it is indeed what matters. GO CATS! BEAT OLE MISS!