An Ugly Week for IU Basketball

Anyone with common sense could not be surprised by the "new" NCAA allegations against Kelvin Sampson and his basketball program. The NCAA does not look kindly against people who knowingly break the rules and it especially doesn't tolerate repeat offenders. Throw lying into the mix, along with a school that hires a coach already under investigation, and you can't be surprised with the adjective "MAJOR" in front of the word "violations."

Since the athletic department chose not to fire Sampson when they should have - in October - the university must now investigate the further allegations. I would be shocked if they found anything that did not warrant Sampson's firing on Friday. The NCAA is going to come down hard on IU in June, as they should. If Kelvin Sampson is still the coach at that time, it will be much worse, as well it should.

That said, last night was one of the weirder atmospheres I've ever been experienced. The battle between 2 Top 15 teams was a relatively minor part of the storyline. The ESPN Gameday crew was in town, the game was very late (9:00) giving the students a lot of time to partake in pregame festivities, it was the first game since the 7-day investigation was announced, and it was really the first time the fans could truly react after having digested the allegations.

For the first time all year I was fired up about the game. It seemed that everyone finally agreed that Sampson had to go. The pregame introductions showed a great deal of support for the players and none for the coach.

However, by game's end, I was once again disgusted with the students. With IU up by 20 they showed that they seem much more interested in winning at any cost than doing things the right way. They started chanting "Kel-vin Samp-son!". Do they have any principles or class? Last year they couldn't be bothered to show up to games on time. This year we are inundated with constant "Bull----" chants and even an occasional "F--- you refs" chant. And then last night's disgrace.

Many years ago when I visited the University of North Carolina on a college visit, they told prospective students that during orientation there was a pep rally during which students learned all of the cheers and traditions of North Carolina athletics. I think it's time that IU does the same. IU students need to learn that IU basketball (and all IU athletics) has always been about a lot more than winning. It is winning by playing by the rules, with true student-athletes, and fans who show good sportsmanship (even if a former basketball coach didn't always).

I remember going to my first basketball game as a freshman. Coming from Maryland, I was blown away when the IU fans gave a very polite applause when the visiting team was introduced. At first I thought it was weak. Then I saw how hard IU fans cheered the Hoosiers and I learned that it was about class and sportsmanship. It is one of the reasons I have always been proud to be an IU alum. It's time IU gets back to that, before we lose a generation of students to this era of win-at-all-costs.