Get on the bus or just stay home

OK that's it, I'm tired of all this negativity. I'm fed up with fans who claim to be loyal but constantly bash their beloved team. I'm over all of your e-mails, phone calls and Facebook messages telling me how horrible I am for backing my soon-to-be alma mater. Plain and simple, I'm tired of a large number of people who claim to be part of "the Hoosier Nation." And I know I'm not the only one. \nYou all know who I'm talking about. \nI'm referring to the "fans" who were complaining about Mike Davis' ability as a coach as he prepared his team for the 2002 National Championship game. I can't stand the guys who flooded message boards calling for his firing after every loss and the people who can't get over the Bobby Knight era.\nWell, Mike Davis is gone and, in Kelvin Sampson, we have a new coach with a phenomenal track record and, big surprise, they're still whining like high school girls who had their cell phones taken away. I've received countless e-mails all year about how this portion of the fan base would be open-minded about whoever replaced coach Davis. In a shocking turn of events, they are still unhappy. You'd have thought Davis endorsed Sampson or something. \nBasically the feeling I get from the "old boys club," which is the most annoying portion of any fan base in all of sports, is that they only would have been happy with one of three guys: Steve Alford, Randy Wittman or Bob Knight. Before they even looked at his track record, the "Knighties," as I refer to them, had already decided Sampson wasn't their man. At this point it's just pathetic, and I don't care to deal with it anymore.\nWatching Kelvin Sampson introduce himself as IU's 26th head basketball coach, I was genuinely excited. And as he spoke, I heard a man who was thrilled and even overwhelmed to be in this position. He has accepted the difficult task ahead and fully understands what it means to be a Hoosier. After all, he is one now.\nSo for you "Knighties" out there who question this move and can't bring yourself to look forward and forget the past, just get out. If you can't get excited about what is happening in Bloomington right now, you'll never be happy. Real Hoosier fans don't want or need you around anymore. Your negativity is poisoning the air around Assembly Hall, and your closed-mindedness has no place in the future of Indiana hoops. \nIt is a new era, and if you don't want to be a part of it then I say good riddance. Get out and stay out. \nMy philosophy has always been the same: Either cheer for your team or get the hell out of the stadium.