Give coach Sampson a chance

Few among us forget the Sunday afternoon that coach Bobby Knight’s employment with this University was terminated. And for those of us who supported the coach, the reason for the termination given – the violation of a “zero-tolerance policy” – was insufficient. And perhaps what it symbolized was worse. It was the defeat of our mythic, larger-than-life, three-time national championship winning “general” by forces he could not conquer. The reactions from some among us, then, to the recent announcement of recruiting non-compliance by coach Sampson is predictable. Prominent commentators like Star columnist Bob Kravitz and former IU basketball star Kent Benson have called for his ouster. After all, if our champion, if our general, was defeated by the forces of “zero tolerance,” how could the new coach survive?\nThe great film studies professors of our University can point to myriad examples of life imitating cinema. In this particular case, I believe the 1986 film “Hoosiers” is instructive. Collectively we have the choice of playing the role of George (“I don’t know why Cletus drug your tired old bones in here. He must have owed you something fierce”) or Myra Fleener (“I think it would be a mistake to let him go ... give him a chance”). In making this choice, I think it is important that we not hold our leaders to a standard that is unachievable. No one among us is perfect. Coach Sampson has made a mistake. He has admitted the mistake and he has paid the price. Most of us should have no problem identifying a situation in which we were given a second chance at this University. It is our time to extend that opportunity to coach Sampson. Give him a chance.