Could the trustees be next?

he day after IU Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan resigned, my sports editor and I were posed this question while being interviewed on an Indy morning radio show: “What is the attitude toward the board of trustees with all of the problems surrounding the basketball program?”
I was initially caught off-guard by the question and answered that most people couldn’t name the trustees, so it is unlikely that they will be upset at them. However, since that interview, I have changed my attitude toward the question and believe the board of trustees could indeed face backlash from Hoosier fans in coming elections.
Hoosier fans are understandably upset at the Kelvin Sampson era of Indiana basketball. Heading into last season, fans had dreams of a possible Final Four run, setting up the program for future success in recruiting and the Big Ten.
Instead of contending for the NCAA title, the Hoosiers imploded down the stretch as the University self-reported NCAA violations by Sampson and his staff that led to the former coach’s resignation. More controversy hit the program as graduation, leaving for the NBA Draft, transferring and dismissals left the Hoosiers with just one returning scholarship player for the coming season.
First-year coach Tom Crean has brought in a respectable recruiting class in the short time he has been in Bloomington, but it is unlikely the team will experience much success in the win column next season.
Right now Hoosier fans are upset, but if they have to go through a losing season or two they will become livid. Add in possible further penalties from the NCAA and fans will demand someone to take accountability.
With Greenspan already out of a job, a natural reaction would be to look at the board of trustees. The members of the board of trustees are relatively unknown to the general IU alumni base, but they are extremely influential regarding any major University decisions.
The board of trustees approved Sampson’s contract in April 2006, making the coach the highest-paid state employee. In theory, the board of trustees could have rejected Sampson, who was under investigation by the NCAA for impermissible phone calls, as a candidate by refusing to approve his contract.
The good news for the board of trustees is that IU alumni choose just three of the nine positions. The Governor appoints the remaining six trustees. This June, Trustee Patrick Shoulders won re-election in a three-way race with less than 50 percent of the vote. If the election had been a two-way race, it would have been interesting to see the outcome.
The next election is June 2009 when Trustee Phil Eskew Jr. can run for a second term. If the Hoosiers suffer through a losing season and more NCAA penalties, could Eskew be shown the door by upset Hoosier alumni? A grassroots effort led by die-hard fans from the popular IU message board www.peegs.com could easily be the downfall for any incumbent.
While incumbents usually have an advantage, if the basketball program is struggling, people will want accountability – regardless of how much influence the board of trustees really had in the final decision to hire Sampson.