The more I read, the worse I feel...

IU released its report to the NCAA regarding its investigation of the basketball program's violations. NCAA Report I was hoping I would feel a little better about the situation. Instead I feel worse. In no particular order, here are my thoughts:

• I was wrong about Rob Senderoff being made a scapegoat. He should have been fired immediately, along with Sampson and fellow assistant Jeff Meyer. Both Senderoff and Meyer made calls from their home phones without logging them. They say it indicates “sloppiness.” I say it indicates either an intentional effort to evade the NCAA sanctions or an attitude that following NCAA rules and the sanctions are NOT a top priority. Either one is unacceptable.

• Someone is lying – either 2 recruits or Sampson & Senderoff. On the 3-way calls in which Sampson claims he did not know that Senderoff was on the line, 2 different recruits said that Sampson & Senderoff both spoke. Perhaps both recruits want to hurt IU but I somehow doubt that they would think through it in that much detail.

• The sanctions IU is proposing are more stringent than initially reported but I still don’t think they’ll work. It’s like after grounding a kid for a week, he or she doing the same thing, and then grounding them for a month. I don’t think “more of the same” punishment is the right way to correct the problem. I think you have to take away what is most precious to that person. In this case it is their job. Since the NCAA can't fire Sampson I think they will either suspend him for the NCAA tournament or ban IU from the tournament altogether. If that happens, I couldn't disagree with it.

Apparently many alums and donors have complained to IU about the situation and want Sampson out. Hopefully the pressure will continue to build and we can get this program cleaned up.

Sampson and Greenspan's Fall Guy

Fox Sports is reporting that IU assistant basketball coach Rob Senderoff is expected to resign from his position. Senderoff was the assistant coach implicated in the most recent NCAA phone rule allegations. It looks like Sampson and Greenspan are trying to offer the NCAA and an angry alumni base a sacrificial lamb. I can't speak for anyone else, but this just makes me more angry.

Why wasn't this done 2 weeks ago when the original "sanctions" were announced? At that point at least a few people may have believed that these problems were caused by a renegade assistant coach. Now it just looks like Sampson and Greenspan realize that they're both in much hotter water than they thought and they're doing anything they can to protect their own hide. PATHETIC!!!!

Do IU Nation a favor, Mr. Sampson and Mr. Greenspan, and RESIGN NOW!

Kelvin Sampson MUST GO!

Two weeks ago IU announced that an internal investigation found that Kelvin Sampson and his staff had again made impermissible phone calls this past year. IU announced that it was "punishing" Sampson and his staff by taking away one scholarship, withholding a $500,000 raise for Sampson and assistant Rob Senderoff, and banning Senderoff from doing any off-campus recruiting for a year.

This is an absolute disgrace. Athletic Director Rick Greenspan should have fired Sampson immediately. Since he didn't, IU President Michael McRobbie should fire Sampson and then Greenspan for giving this CHEATER a THIRD CHANCE. I used to think IU was special because it always played by the rules and graduated its student-athletes. Now it's no better than Kentucky or UNLV.

What is almost laughable is that Greenspan seems to think that the NCAA will consider this "punishment" sufficient. Who is he kidding? The NCAA was not happy at all the first time Sampson cheated. Now, less than a year later at a different school, he breaks the SAME rule AND VIOLATES THE NCAA SANCTIONS AGAINST HIM! The NCAA is going to come down hard on Sampson and IU. I wouldn't be surprised if he and/or IU is banned from postseason play. Although it will be way too late, perhaps then IU will do the right thing and FIRE SAMPSON.

I've been debating asking for a refund for my season tickets. I just feel dirty rooting for this team. I've decided to give it a chance. Hopefully IU will see the error of their ways and eventually fire this clown. If not, then I'll have a major decision to make when my renewal form comes in next year.

More Sunday night musings

• The Ravens again lucked out today. The play-calling remains a joke (43 passes?!), clock management is terrible, and they show no discipline (more stupid penalties). Yet Trent Dilfer continues to show he has no arm and Joe Nedney missed a GW field goal late in the 4th. If the Ravens don't win their next 2 they'll be lucky to finish .500. Even if they win the next 2 they may not get to .500 with 5 of their last 9 games against Pittsburgh, San Diego, Indianapolis, and New England.
• If I'm Tony Dungy, I'm loving how this season is playing out. Despite being the defending Super Bowl champions, having a 5-0 record, having a 3-game winning streak against New England, and playing them at home in a few weeks, everyone wants to talk about New England going undefeated. I'll maintain my earlier contention - Indianapolis is more likely to go undefeated than New England.
• Another thought - Tony Dungy is one hell of a coach. Consider this - Peyton Manning had a 32-32 record before Dungy. With Dungy, he's 60-20. Without Manning, Dungy is 54-42 with QB's like Trent Dilfer, Shaun King, and Brad Johnson.
• IU football is fun to watch. They've got a tough schedule remaining but they've got a chance in most games. They don't always play well but they play smart, disciplined football. And Kellen Lewis is worth the price of admission.
  
• 6 of the 8 2007 playoff teams have direct or indirect connections to the old Oriole Way:
• Cleveland: GM Mark Shapiro - Baltimore native, worked under John Hart who was a longtime manager in the O's minor league system.
• Boston: GM Theo Epstein - Intern under then O's president Larry Lucchino (now Bosox prez) in early 90's
• Colorado: GM Dan O'Dowd - various roles in O's front office from '84-'87.
• Arizona: GM Josh Byrnes - former assistant to Theo Epstein (see above)
• Philadelphia: GM Pat Gillick - former O's GM, led O's to only 2 playoff appearances of last 24 seasons; according to Peter Angelos "he had to go." O's haven't had winning season since he "had to go."
• Chicago: Manager Lou Piniella came up through O's farm system, playing for Earl Weaver in minors in the 60's.

Hey Maryland - Take the banner down!

The NCAA recently released graduation rates for student-athletes entering college from 1997-2000. Amazingly, the University of Maryland men's basketball program had a 0% GRADUATION RATE. Not 12%, not 2%, but ZERO! They couldn't even get a benchwarmer to graduate.

0% Graduation Rate

Another interesting stat came out of the article: NONE of Maryland's starters or top reserves from the 2002 NCAA championship team have earned a degree. In fact, there are more members of that team IN JAIL (1) than there are college graduates (0).

If the University of Maryland had any self-respect they would take their banner down. As much as I hate Duke, Coach K wouldn't put their '92 banner up until Christian Laettner graduated.

The one thing that is never brought up is the competitive advantage a team like Maryland gets. While players on other teams are working toward a degree in addition to playing basketball, Maryland players can concentrate on playing ball and do the minimum work to stay eligible. Pathetic.

A new IU football hero!

His name is Tom Nowatzke. He played at IU from 1962-64. He's in the IU Athletics Hall of Fame. He's the only IU player to score a touchdown in a Super Bowl, when he scored the tying TD in BALTIMORE'S Super Bowl V win over the Cowboys. He considered Johnny U one of his best friends. But this quote in today's Bloomington Herald-Times is why he's now one of my "heroes":

"To me, the Indianapolis Colts are not a team."

Preach on! Preach on!