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Media piling on Sampson in wake of sanctions
By Big A | October 15, 2007
(Editor’s Note: The Indianapolis Star has revealed secondary violations that have taken place in the last 15 months. You can read that report by clicking here.)
Updated, 10/16, 7:15 AM: Those of you hoping for a “this too shall pass” resolution to yesterday’s news regarding Kelvin Sampson’s latest sanctions for violating NCAA phone call rules are in for a rude awakening. It’s not happening, folks. Fan message boards are being overloaded, radio talk show lines are lighting up and talking heads from across the country are calling for, gasp, Sampson’s head.
A survey of prominent viewpoints from across the land revealed the following thoughts about Sampson:
Andy Katz, ESPN.com: Sampson has plenty of friends in the business. And when I say plenty, I would argue that the majority of coaches really do enjoy his company. But a number of them are perturbed by these latest violations. Some of his good friends even told me that they do think this will put a distinctive mark on the public perception of Sampson.
Will Leitch, Deadspin: The move is seen as a preemptive strike against any potential NCAA punishments. Indiana should be much better this year, thanks largely to recruit Eric Gordon (which Sampson swiped from Illinois, infuriating many of his fellow Big Ten coaches), but they’ve now officially wiped the regime of Bob Knight off the books. Say what you will about Knight, but this was never a problem with him. He was too busy strangling the players he already had.
Rick Bozich, Louisville Courier-Journal: Don’t fire up your search engine. Sampson committed similar violations at Oklahoma, then promised it would never happen in Bloomington. Sunday’s news suggests the man is either brash or careless. Doesn’t matter which side you pick. He’s still a repeat offender. IU uncovered the violations. IU reported them to the NCAA. IU is punishing the rule-breakers — Sampson and assistant Rob Senderoff. Sampson described the violations as “disappointing.” Losing to Purdue is disappointing. This is disturbing. Reckless also fits. So does ridiculous.
Mike DeCourcy, The Sporting News: The NCAA punished Sampson by confining him to his bedroom — but then opened the window and offered to help him shimmy down the tree. The sanctions dared Sampson to find a way around them and still involve himself in recruiting players for IU. That is not what discipline is supposed to be about. From the very start, Sampson was allowed to continue text-messaging recruits. One player I spoke with in July 2006 said he texted frequently with Sampson and got the chance to build a relationship with the coach. The player wound up signing elsewhere, but it was clear the sanctions were not having the necessary punitive impact.
Mike Lopresti, USA Today: Obviously, the basketball coach at Indiana University is a phone-aholic. Please, somebody stop Kelvin Sampson before he dials again. Sampson has not gotten the message, which is odd for a guy who apparently checks his cellphone every 45 seconds. The problem is how he keeps letting his fingers do the walking into trouble. The rash of recruiting call no-nos that landed him in the soup in Oklahoma should have been enough to get his full attention. Now, this new cloud emerges at Indiana.
And now, two of the more extreme takes:
Kent Benson, former IU player: Here we get rid of a legend (Bob Knight) who had a perfectly clean record in 30 years of coaching at Indiana University. We put a zero tolerance rule on him and he was gone. For the athletic director and trustees to allow this to happen, it’s an absolute travesty. It’s an embarrassment to the former players and the university. They need to do the right thing. If no tolerance means no tolerance, they should get rid of him. And (athletic director Rick Greenspan) should be right behind him.
Bob Kravitz, Indianapolis Star: At this point, Indiana University doesn’t just have the right to fire coach Kelvin Sampson for just cause. It has a moral imperative to close the book on his short and sordid stewardship of the school’s once-storied basketball program. And once Sampson is gone, send athletic director Rick Greenspan on his way, as well. Maybe they can carpool. Sampson was Greenspan’s signature hire after Mike Davis was sent packing, a signature hire who came here with an NCAA storm cloud hanging over his head and a dubious history with graduation rates. Now, IU and a local law firm have uncovered additional phone-related improprieties, some more major than others. And while the school’s grandstanding decision to self-report might assuage its institutional guilt, it will not alter the emerging view of IU as a sleazy operator.
Personally, I think calling for Sampson to be fired is a bit over the top, but that’s just me. Our current poll shows that some of you are ready to fire him and for those of you who voted that way, I’m interested in hearing your justification and rationale. I’m certainly not excusing his actions, but my detailed study of these violations doesn’t conclude that firing him is the solution. Instead, I’m going to give AD Rick Greenspan the benefit of the doubt and let this all play out. The punishment should fit the crime and I feel like it does. The unfortunate reality is that this news has already put a stain on a once promising season. Let’s hope that once the ball starts bouncing early next month, the focus shifts back onto the court.
Tags: Andy Katz, Bob Kravitz, Deadspin, Kelvin Sampson, Kent Benson, Mainstream Media, Mike DeCourcy, Mike Lopresti, Rick Bozich, Will Leitch Posted in Commentary |
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Couldn’t agree more about Kurt Benson and his comments. I do not understand where some dude who I couldn’t point out in a crowd of two people gets sought out for his comments. Yes, I understand that he was on an IU national title team (back in the 70’s or something, who knows?). But let’s add a little perspective to that for those Hoosier fans: 1987 was our last title. In the year 1987, it is safe to say that very few, if any, freshman currently enrolled at Indiana were even born (including some sophs) when the streets of Kirkwood last flooded with such glee.
To sum it up, Kurt Benson: Shut your mouth. Can someone please offer this guy a job so he stops meddling in the affairs of our basketball program?
Do you think Devin Ebanks gives a shit what some tall, lanky, white guy who played basketball in the 70’s thinks about Coach Sampson? No, he doesn’t, so lets stick to the story lines that are important here.
It isn’t like our program and its people are going unpunished here. Sampson’s assistant coach (senderoff) is basically losing his job over this. If you are an assistant who can’t recruit off campus, you don’t have much to offer. Sampson lost a scholarship and $500K. That is plenty enough. I just wish he were more intelligent about circumventing the rules,so we didn’t have to hear about it.
In order to compete today, a Coach has to be creative. Sampson was doing exactly that and I don’t think less of him as a person nor do I think less of his integrity. 10 calls over the limit is just dumb, and nothing more. Oops, should have been a little more careful about that. Ok, let’s move on and win basketball games.
I understand from the media-juggernaut known as the “Indy Star” that IU has had no major infractions with the NCAA since 1960. What do I say? When they start hanging banners for crap like that, let me know.
I am sure such a stat is what lured Eric Gordon here, and the reason that we had such a stud class at Hoosier Hysteria. That is laughable.
Until then, take stats like the one above, Kurt Benson, and all the others who can’t grasp the fact IU needs to move into the year ‘07 and put them in Assembly Hall when we implode it and build a new arena. That would be a fitting end to all the nonsensical garbage about our “tradition”.
Sorry for the extended rant!
October 15th, 2007 at 9:06 pmIf KS gets fired or IU loses a post season over this, the program is set back 5 years plus. What KS has done in a year is a BIG thing, this bad thing can’t erase that but I don’t discount the good he has done. I also appreciate the fact of him accepting responsibility….hey Kent did Bob EVER say he choked Neil Reid? I also appreciate the fact he was up front with Kevin Jones as I read elsewhere.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:12 pmThe opening games of the season can’t get here fast enough.
Unfortunately in this day and age, a story like this just picks up more and more momentum until something else knocks it off the front burner (which is why it would be nice if the season had already started). As it stands now we have a little while longer to go.
People should remember that a person like Kravitz is paid for his opinion, not factual reporting.
And of course nobody cared about Sampson’s actions after last season and then seeing the recruits he was bringing in this year and next. My gut feeling is it may take a little longer to get over this speed bump, but once everyone does nobody is really going to care that much about it.
October 15th, 2007 at 10:13 pmBig A-
Not sure how much further you have gotten into this but do you forsee any further punishment. I think an NCAA ban would be overboard but I won’t lie and say I am bracing myself….the other 35 calls is what I am concerned about….what do you think?
My other thoughts are either taking KS off the road or off the phone also…..
October 15th, 2007 at 10:20 pmI hope Greenspan doesnt let the media tear our season and next five years apart. This is absolutely ridiculous to be getting this up in arms and holier than thou over this. Yes it was bad, yes it was stupid and careless not to be keeping better records but my god can we use some common sense. Kravitz its just a plain idiot. What would happen if Sampson kept his job and spent the net 10 years with no sanctions and a banner or two. I think this would be forgotten. how many times has Kentucky been caught. We didn’t send a Fed Ex package, they weren’t given fake grades. Get off this “this has tarnished or is going to tarnish us forever”. My god in almost 50 yrs we hv lost 1 scholarship to sanctions. Please. Bad part is after the sensation of Knights last couple years this makes it easier to pile on IU again and make head lines on ESPN and Foxsports. 40 phone calls all together people….40 calls….cost us and the coaches $500,000, some recruiting, a scholarsip and another coaches raise and bonus. We have paid and let’s move on. If it happens again then this obviously wasn’t a mistake and he should probably be let go, but come on you non speeding living by god 24/7 people give us a break. Greenspan, ignore the fools, keep Sampson, get to March Madness and keep it clean from here on out and this is all gone. IU will win.If we can do that then this will be forgotten. PLEASE do not let them tear us apart now. We are better then that.
October 16th, 2007 at 12:40 amWow, I must psychic, I predicted last night Ted Kitchel would somehow find his way to chime in and WHAM….Indy star this morning Teddy K…did just that. Not to mention that Indiana great Joe Hilman……”If you guys are so embarassed, why are you in the newspaper talking about it”. Now that is what is embarassing. I never once saw you talk about how hard KS got these kids to play, how much they respected him, or how he handled AJ in an effort to make sure this kid graduates…didn’t mention that Kent, Teddy, or Joe…….WHAT A BUNCH OF MORON’S. I hope they enjoy there texas tech basketball….
October 16th, 2007 at 6:14 amKelin,
I’m not sure on further punishment. Anything I or anyone else said on that at this point would just be a guess. You never know with the NCAA. We’ll just have to wait and see.
October 16th, 2007 at 7:32 amOK OK I just read the editors note on the other NCAA secondary violations that have been reported and this is why the NCAA as an organization is so so screwed up……OK you can’t send out color news articles, you can’t give a kid a coat to wear temporarily, but the NCAA can make MILLIONS off these kids yearly, print their programs in Color, sell their jerseys, and yet a color article is an infraction….what idiots.
October 16th, 2007 at 8:21 amKelin…you beat me to it.
If a coach is considered slime and a classless cheater for sending color rather than B&W, forgot to get back a couple articles of used clothing and 1% (according to the sample of 1000) of his phone calls were three-way rather than two-way….we’ve got a bunch of misguided people making judgements.
Those things are inconsequential compared to stuff like choking players, bar fights, drunk driving and trying to take a police officer’s gun.
October 16th, 2007 at 9:28 amI would be willing to have a have a mediocre team that loses and recruits the RIGHT WAY than win with a brazen and careless cheater like Sampson.
IN-TEG-RI-TY.
October 16th, 2007 at 9:47 amMajorBeef-
I want to believe you, so is it safe to assume you were 100% ok with Mike Davis his last three years and you wish he was back and you enjoyed the way the team played? NO violations, no phone mistakes, mediocre team, losing conley, oden, mcroberts, etc etc.
If you say YES I will not say another word…but if you say no then tell me what you are really saying….
My gut tells me you were is disgusted with MD as I was, and I supported him but enough was enough.
KS and Senderoff is wrong wrong wrong, but I hope he gets it right right right. You cannot argue in other areas of the program that ARE important he has done some great things….
1. Re Establish the fan base
2. Re established the connection with Indiana kids and coaches
3. Demand good character and has a passion for kids
4. Helped with getting new facilities
5. Increase our talent level
6. Improved the play, effort, and defense of the team.
7. Demand that kids will work hard on and off the court and graduate
All things we “Indiana” fans including Benson, Hilman, and Kitchel ALL want.
October 16th, 2007 at 10:12 amThis is retarted. It was 10 phone calls. I bet you morons calling for Sampson’s head weren’t complaining when Gordon signed his letter of intent, or when we had over a dozen top 100 recruits at midnight madness this year.
I’ll take Lance Stephenson and Dexter Strickland over a minor technicality any day.
And I have a message for all you “good ol’” Knight boys, including Kitchel, Benson, and whoever else is coming out of the woodwork to chime in on this: I’m pretty sure this isn’t the 70’s, and integrity isn’t spelled “K-N-I-G-H-T” but I guess choking and verbally abusing players is better than accepting a 3-way call.
October 16th, 2007 at 10:40 amI find it interesting that MOST of the recruits don’t think that these violations are a big deal at all …..including TZ. Maybe we should listen to the kids.
October 16th, 2007 at 11:06 amListening to the kids is a bad strategy. (See Mike Davis getting the IU job).
What you can take out of what some of the recruits are saying is that they really like Kelvin and are willing to stick with him. My guess is that a post season ban would yield a much different tune.
October 16th, 2007 at 11:47 amtrue big a, but how can you speculate that IU will recieve a post season ban? i mean of course that would change people’s minds, that goes without saying. i mean thats like saying if i walked into a room of people and shot someone, i’d probably go to jail. it’s common sense.
a post season ban seems like a stretch and pretty unlikely considering the nature of the “crime” (if you can call it that).
October 16th, 2007 at 12:11 pmI’m not speculating they will receive a postseason ban. My point was that kids are fine with the sanctions are long as IU is not in serious trouble because it really will have no effect on the players. IF more severe punishments were to be handed down, I think you’d be hearing a different tone from some recruits.
October 16th, 2007 at 12:21 pmIs it just me, but the national sports media outlets making this out to be a big deal because they need a story to keep their lives busy. Lets keep this simple. phone calls, B&W copies, and Jackets… oh my. give me a break, the punishment fits the crime. I think when recruits actually read the rules that were broken, they will say “so what?”. The very fact that we punished ourselves for such crap will show that we as a program took the responsibility to handle such prblems. If the ncaa bans us from postseason I will recruit everyone here to press charges. If Florida State can allow thugs to break the law while under their care, if unc is allowed to get nba players to play with their recruits, etc and allow them to play in bowls and and tournament then something is real messed up. Whatever happens to us we have to stay united in the final decision, it just seems that everyone outside IU wants us to fail, so they can get a bigger chunk of the pie. I don’t want to see that happen.
October 16th, 2007 at 12:26 pmjaime
Fair enough Big A. You’re right.
October 16th, 2007 at 1:48 pmLet’s have some kind of perspective here. While I am VERY disappointed in KS and his assistant(s),
October 16th, 2007 at 2:22 pmwe are talking about violations that are rather
minor in the overall scheme of things. Yes, I was once a big supporter of Coach Knight (I was
an IU student in the early part of his career)
and like Kent Benson, I once took pride in the
squeaky clean program he ran. But, believe me, I
very much prefer an overly aggressive recruiter to
a coach who seemed bent on self-destruction and
devising ways to make the administration look bad.
Would you really want to go back to the “If rape
is inevitable, just lie back and enjoy it” or the
choking players days?
This, too, shall pass. Let’s give the man the
benefit of the doubt here. We certainly gave a
bunch of those to Bobby.
Whoa. First remember that Kent Benson said he was consulted on the hiring of Sampson before it happened, He had a chance to voice his concerns long before this — a chance none of us will ever get.
Second. NCAA contact rules are antiquated enough to allow for text messaging, when phone calls are not allowed. Enough said about the quality of those rules.
Third. They implemented a zero tolerance policy against Knight for two reasons: he had many violations before then and he was losing too much. That bears repating. He. Was. Losing. Sampson wins? Then Sampson stays.
October 16th, 2007 at 2:47 pm10 calls PLUS the 35 PLUS many that are undocumented. And it’s the same rules he already broke, so he can’t claim ignorance or negligence. And his story is BS (”I didn’t know”? Are you kidding me???). And it took an intern to catch it (who’s running compliance over there anyways?).
Yeah, no big deal. Just win, right? Hell, who cares if he pays the players? Or falsifies transcripts? JUST WIN!
October 16th, 2007 at 6:15 pmJ…I agree but these are secondary violations and you cannot discount all the good he has done and throw it away…..Were you complaining on Friday? Were you upset when Eric Gordon signed? Did you call for his firing when he made Deandre lose 57 pounds?
October 16th, 2007 at 7:40 pmFirst off the 10 3 way calls werent outlined in the original sanctions, Mrs. Green from Ice Miller had to get clarification on them to KNOW they were banned too. The funny part of that is the 10 calls there is only 1 that is in question, if there was no outline on them why didnt KS use that LOOP HOLE to smear the spirit of the sanctions, he didnt cause he was smart enough to know he needed to follow all rule and use common sense. I think this will be the biggest thing in his favor when the NCAA comes calling, nothing more will happen period, just doesnt add up to anything other that poor record keeping, NOTHING MORE………..
I will address the 35 calls too, it was published that of the 35 calls atleast 2/3 of them will go down as messages being left with either answer machines, coach, aau coach or family, nothing to gain an advantage and the staff was compliant and PRO-active with the investigation. Even the independent law firm stated NO WAY did KS bend the rules or do things purposely to circumvent the rules or sanctions laid on him. He even went out of his way to NOT smear them by using the LOOP HOLE, that will speak volumes when like I stated above the NCAA comes calling…….
That leaves us with 13 calls or so of OVER 1000 that are in question, anybody could make this mistake but by RG and the IU admn. putting the clamps on RS for a year with no raise and KS being ineligible for his 500.000 raise, this ensures to the NCAA that IU is policing itself with no favoritism and will allow for the NCAA imo to not even get involved……….
So all you haters hate away,IF KS had stretched the rules or knowingly cheated he would be gone. read the transcripts and get back to me, show me anywhere it says the staff did anything but comply with that was asked of them up to and including their home phone records, there is NO cheating going on, just hard work with SLOPPY record keeping and that is something that wont be tolerated at IU, hence the severe penalties handed down………..
Check the facts, it helps build your case and in this one the haters dont have one that is why they choose not to use the facts. I guess when you have been waiting for a year and half to POUNCE of KS the facts dont matter, but they do and that is why he is still in charge of the IU bball program………
October 17th, 2007 at 3:47 amknasmiley-
I just read the report in the indystar about more calls (100)and my college degree has served me right….KS didn’t make ANY of the calls in question nor did McCallum….and the report says..there are a lot of 1min. calls but they either didn’t patch through or no answeror to a parent who is also the coach. I know if you call on a cell phone if you are on there for 10 seconds it still equates to a minute….finally if I am reading this right..there is just ONE 3 way call in question by KS and he admitted to it but said it related to a kid wanting information about his visit.
Screw this entire story and I forsee a pissed off team taking the floor in the next few weeks and you do not want a TEAM that is motivated to PLAY Harder for their coach. Nor do you want a more focused EJ or DJ……
October 17th, 2007 at 8:36 amUh, that’s if you believe KS when he says he didn’t know he was on a 3-way call. If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you…
Also, there’s absolutely no indication that those 1 minute calls were simply unanswered calls or to the coach. Those are possibilities. Also possible is that those calls were to recruits who were then told to call back.
That would fit in a pattern of rule-breaking and trying to get around the rules.
You either have ethics, or you don’t. Fact distortion and rationalization are not adequate substitutes.
October 17th, 2007 at 5:08 pmAlso possible those calls were to President Bush asking for a tour of the White House…..YOu can add all the possiblities you want, I am only going on what has been said and reported. As I said before no one was questioning his ethics on Last Friday night!
October 18th, 2007 at 8:29 amSince the news broke of the phone calls I’ve also felt KS should be punished. $500,000 fine and one scholarship fits the bill. Firing the coach for a minor infraction does not the fit the crime. Many people discuss firing coach (especially Benson, Hillman and Kitchel) and I say Bob Knight is in their way. Wake up Bennie - Joe and TK. Bob was truly and embarrsement in his later days to IU. His coaching ability was nothing compared to KS. Look at Memphis State. I understand Derrick Rose requested things to go there. Clem Haskins assisted players with tutors who tooks tests for them. People we are talking about phone calls. Another former IU alum Bobby Wilkerson says we should stand by KS. Hang in there loyal IU fans.
October 19th, 2007 at 7:58 amI was delighted when Kelvin Sampson was named IU coach. I was thrilled by his accomplishments since. I was overjoyed last Saturday after learning of Hoosier Hysteria’s wondrous events. My hopes for IU basketball had never been higher.
Just a few hours later, on Sunday morning, I was heartsick and confused when I learned Kelvin Sampson, had broken his vow never again to break the rules for which he earlier was sanctioned.
Kelvin Sampson obviously is highly intelligent and by many accounts a decent, even an outstanding human being. How could he have allowed this to happen? How could he have committed a few wreckless acts to potentially squander all the good he has done for IU basketball? How could he have betrayed the faith I and many others had built up in him and the program he is building?
I wish I could come up with answers to those questions. Can anybody help?
October 19th, 2007 at 1:35 pmI’m a boilermaker, but i’m not here to start any trouble. I can understand your loyalty to your coach, but what jack said makes since how can he let this happen after promising it wouldn’t. Sampson is a perfect fit for IU, high graduating rates and hard nose style. The only thing that doesn’t fit is the infractions. They may be small infractions, but there infractions. Thats not IU! The one thing that can be said about IU and Purdue is that we make the most out of nothing and we make sure they graduate and do everything else the right way. What if Bobby Knight and Gene Keady got the players north carolina and duke got back in the 80’s and 90’s.
October 24th, 2007 at 4:38 pmWe would have killed everyone including eachother(literally). I loved the players Purdue had don’t get me wrong, but u know what i’m tryin to say. Anyways stand by Sampson till u get the facts and if he made any of the calls or ordered any of the calls he should be fired. Small infractions or big it doesn’t matter he gave u his word that it wouldn’t happen in bloomington but it did, and that isn’t what IU is about. U PROGRAM DESERVES RESPECT!!! If he is at fault in the slightest of ways he disrespected u. I hope things are gunna be ok cause i can’t wait for our rivalry to get heated again!