Gary Parrish

The academics slipped at IU once Sampson was out

THE TOPIC OF CLASS TODAY IS....CHARACTER.   INTEGRITY FIRST, SERVICE BEFORE SELF AND EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE DO.

Gary, could it possibly be that the players really just didn't care about school to begin with?  I am not naive to think basketball players are enrolled in college just for academics.  The players, for the majority, are there to try to get to the NBA- degree be damned.  Here's the thing- the majority of players in D-1 hoops come from the financially lower classes and they see the big bucks of the NBA.  These young men have been told for at least the past 4 years that they are so gifted and have been allowed to get away with so much.  They get the stars in their eyes and forget about reality (the fact that so few will ever make it to the NBA.)  If they just focused more time and energy on their education- THE PAYMENT THEY ARE RECIEVING FOR GOING TO ANY SAID COLLEGE ON SCHOLARSHIP- they would be better of no matter what career they assume after college. I digress.

Now on to the problem at Indiana- Gary most people like to surround themselves with others that are like them (i.e. similar interests, likes, etc.)  Sampson was a cheater and liar, thus a man of poor character.  Is it possible that he recruited players of poor character as well?  From the looks of how things have played out- yes.  The past few months have shown bad decisions one after another by the IU basketball team.  Enough about the difficulties of losing a coach, they were still in school and had a future.  These men were behaving like children and not going to school and doing what they were supposed to.  These young men, and once they turn 18 are legally men, make their own choices with consequences.  The fact that you lose a boss doesn't cause a man to throw a temper tantrum or threaten to quit; if anything, it strengthens your resolve as a man to forge ahead.  I have a great amount of sympathy for the fans of IU.  Sampson set this program back to the beginning- as if he gave the program his own version of the "Death Penalty." 

Would Crean have accepted this job had he known what he knows now?  Probably not.  A great salary does not make a job.  He is getting lauded for doing the right thing and getting rid of players that were troublemakers and inelligible academically; but isn't that his job?  Why should he be getting praised for doing his job?  Because so many others don't do their jobs?  Gimme an effin' break, he is not a child!  What do you think would happen if he didn't get rid of everyone on that team that wasn't squeaky clean?  The NCAA would give IU the "Death Penalty."  All eyes are on that program right now and anything not up to standards will jeopardize the whole athletic department greatly.  I hope he can turn it around for the sake of the school and fans but this is not going to be a 2-3 year renovation; this is going to be a 5-7 year rebuild.  Thus it will take men of character to see this through from the AD all the way down to each individual fan.  (Yes, I mention fan.)  Everyone must be patient and not want the quick fix; because that will only lead to more trouble down the road.  So when they are in the midst of a second straight losing season, do not put "For Sale" signs in Crean's yard.  Stand by your school, athletic department and team and let them know what you expect from them- Character.  Maybe the Air Force's core values could ring true in IU's athletic department:  INTEGRITY FIRST, SERVICE BEFORE SELF AND EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE DO.  I find these to be true no matter what walk of life someone is in.

Good luck IU fans.