Kelvin Sampson's lingering goodbye
Indiana coach, excuse me, former Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson and the university parted ways just before the weekend with Sampson pocketing $750,000. College basketball followers know that Sampson was in hot water with the NCAA for alleged recruiting violations that had to do with text messaging players. Those problems were compounded when he supposedly failed to be completely forthcoming with NCAA and university officials.
Indiana conducted its own investigation and by Friday had decided to seek a settlement with Sampson to get him out its hair. The 23-4 Hoosiers responded by beating Northwestern Saturday after a mild protest by a few players who boycotted practice Friday. New coach Dan Dakich was understanding as he tries to keep the Hoosiers on course.
The goofy epilogue here is that Sampson, even after separating from the basketball program, continues to return to the scene of the crime -- or rather continues to employ the means. He has been text messaging some Indiana players. It was reported that starting guard Armon Bassett was one of the Hoosiers that Sampson text messaged.
"He told me he loved me, he was happy for me and go Red," according to Bassett. At least one other player said he was messaged by Sampson, reserve Brandon McGee.
Comments
I know rules are rules but sheesh it seems as soon as someone breaks a rule that 90% could care less about, the entire world piles on and acts like the man steals ice cream from babies for a living.
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Dave,
It's the alleged repeat thing that got him.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: Dave | February 25, 2008 4:45 PM
How is it the AD keeps his job? Sampson had the same problem at his previous college. Dont you think if you hired this coach. You take him behind doors and explain to him that its not acceptable to continue this type of activity. You then put in a monitor system of checks and balances to prevent this from happing again.
Posted by: Anonymous | February 26, 2008 11:06 AM
Sadly, Sampson is a personal tornado, leaving a path of destruction in his wake.
And IU has hardly done anything to self-punish the guy. They cut one scholarship for a player who's going to jail, got a private donor to fund most of the payout, and saved themselves $500K from his bonus. So far they are still ahead $300K, and even had Sampson available to coach them play the top 3 teams in the Big 10.
Posted by: Steph | February 26, 2008 12:31 PM