And Kelvin Sampson Has Broken My Heart.

Remember “The Simpsons” episode where Ralph gave Lisa the Valentine, Lisa told Ralph she didn’t “like, like him”  and later Bart showed Lisa in slow motion where you could see Wiggum’s heart breaking frame by frame?  This was how I felt yesterday when Indiana University released the major infractions they received from the NCAA.  Early in the morning, the news broke that IU had received the official list of violations from the NCAA and that they would discuss the allegations later in the day.  I haven’t felt this violated since 2005 when I worked for the Philadelphia Soul. 

We all know that LWN drinks his hater-ade daily.  He despises the NCAA for their usual lack of action, but above that loathes cheating athletes, coaches and universities.  Yesterday LWN became another crest-fallen fan.  A school that has not had a major violation in any sport since 1960, now will be hit (probably hard) with sanctions from the governing body of college athletics. 

IU of course has 90 days to respond, but those of us who follow these cases know that the Athletic Department and the University should act with expediency to lessen the blow from the proverbial hammer that will squash IU like an unwanted bug in your home.

Indiana has had a number of terrible hires in the recent past.  Gerry DiNardo, Mike Davis and the sketchiness that surrounded the Sampson appointment are the most notable.  Sampson was and is a great game coach, this cannot be questioned.  He is a huge upgrade as an in-game strategist compared to Mike Davis.  You can’t question his emotion, his substitutions (for the most part) and his ability to draw talent to universities.  Where Mike Davis looked like a guy who couldn’t win a game of Stratego against a Kindergartner, Sampson can go head to head against almost any coach in the nation.

Unfortunately, there is also a down side to good coaching and questionable recruiting practices.  IU is going to find that out over and over again.  Some will say (and have said) “hey, it was only phone calls.  It’s not like he was grade fixing.”  I agree with this and LWN is always willing to give someone a second chance.  Sadly, Sampson can’t put the phone down, he continued to make these impermissible phone calls, and above all lied four (4) times to NCAA investigators. 

Personally, I feel that IU needs to blow it up.  Please allow me to break out my “jump to conclusions mat” for a minute.  They should fire Sampson immediately and bring in an efficiency consultant a la Office Space and have Rick Greenspan interview for his job.  Greenspan has to be on the hot seat, and I feel I am justified in saying this after his subdued look and tone during the IU press conference yesterday afternoon.  Greenspan seemed confused, asking for clarification on numerous occasions from Grace Calhoun, IU’s Associate Athletic Director/Student Development/Compliance/Senior Woman Administrator.

So what does IU do next?  If I am working in the athletic department, I fire Sampson sooner before later.  Sampson is toxic, and there is a stipulation in his contract about violations leading to termination.  Also, this shows the NCAA that you are taking “corrective action” to solve this problem before everything spins out of control. 

Let Dan Dakich finish the season off.  He is a former head coach and has a great rapport with the current team.  Impose sanctions on your program immediately.  I propose the following sanctions.

1.  Probation

2.  One scholarship loss for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

3.  Termination of anyone mentioned in the NCAA infraction report.

Will the NCAA come back with more?  Possibly, but this may insulate the program from further significant damage.  Additionally, while no one will come right out and say it I presume that the NCAA will look upon these self-imposed restrictions favorably considering IU is regarded as one of the “cleanest” institutions of higher education in the country. 

If IU isolates themselves from this “snake oil salesman in a wizard’s hat,” (a phrase stolen by me from Joe Tiller) and they can prove that the athletic department was forthright then they have a chance to turn this Titanic/Hindenburg conglomerate into something like a mere hot air balloon/hang gliding catastrophe. 

Let’s hope that IU’s athletic department has the foresight to take care of the situation.  Mark my words, if IU gets uppity toward the NCAA things will get quite ugly.  Think future post season bans for example.  It’s like calling your girlfriend fat, you just don’t do it.   

It almost pains me to say it, but Sampson needs to be put out to pasture.  He probably needs to end up coaching at a backwoods high school for the foreseeable future.  This way ESPN can run a feature on him in 2-3 years in their “Where are they now” segments.  Then Sampson can talk about his wrongful termination suit, why it failed, how he is a great educator, and takes great joy simply teaching the game of basketball to a group of kids in a rough and tumble town that was ruined because a Wal Mart moved in and drove all the local shopkeepers out of business.

He can discuss how going back to his roots has made him a better person, how he is at peace with himself, how he will one day challenge the “show clause” tag applied to his name.

Until then, there are only two more questions to answer…..  WHEN THE HELL IS REGGIE BUSH TAKING THE STAND?  WHEN THE HELL IS USC GOING TO HAVE THE BOOK THROWN AT THEM?