Sampson needs to go

If you know anything about IU basketball, you know who coach Kelvin Sampson is. You’ve seen his face on the display above the court and on T-shirts that people wear to games. You’re familiar with his trademark blue shirt and red tie, which fans have taken to imitating. At IU, we expect a lot from our coaches, and we usually get what we want. But lately, what we’ve seen from Sampson isn’t anything to be proud of.\nOn Feb. 13, the IU Athletics Department formally announced that it had received allegations of major recruiting violations from the NCAA and that the NCAA was waiting until a meeting in June to decide what action to take. However, Sampson’s contract with IU makes him subject to any additional punitive measures that the University wants to take. Considering the charges, which include illegal three-way phone calls, we believe the only thing to do is let Sampson go.\nWhen he came to the IU basketball program, many thought the sanctions that followed him from his career at Oklahoma were a non-issue. He had broken rules but was dealing with the consequences, and the basketball community gave him the benefit of the doubt. But when new allegations were brought to light, Sampson’s margin for error was already gone. In the face of sanctions for recruiting violations, he continued anyway.\nIt turns out the man who has been acting as the figurehead for our basketball program, IU’s most cherished sport, has become the weak link in its reputation. All the victories we have tallied this season will be tainted by the public knowledge that our coach acted without regard for the rules repeatedly. Our victories will ring hollow and will be marked by an asterisk in the minds of our opponents and even our fans. Basketball might be all about setting records and overcoming expectations, but these things mean nothing if they aren’t done fairly.\nIU prides itself on its commitment to integrity and high expectations from the community. The way people see the Patriots after their coaching scandal, or the lame note of all those who broke Major League Baseball records but are accused of steroid abuse, make remarkable things feel empty. The result for the Hoosiers’ season will be no exception. If IU basketball is to continue to be great, it has to be honest. \nWe realize many people will certainly not agree with this stance. They might claim the expectations IU put on Sampson forced his hand and somehow “made” him break these rules. No doubt, he was in a difficult position. But just because he had strong motivation to act dishonestly does not make it any less dishonest. We put pressure on Sampson because we wanted him to help us achieve greatness, not simply the image of it. IU has lost great coaches before – Bobby Knight, anyone? – but it is better to lose one man than to taint the legacy of an esteemed program.