After hours of waiting and heresay, Rick Greenspan finally made his much anticipated appearance in the bowels of Memorial Stadium. The press conference began at 9:04 PM, lasted just over 20 minutes and confirmed much of what has been speculated.
Sampson is out. Dakich is in. McCallum and Meyer will be retained as assistants.
"I am confident that Coach Dakich, with his head coaching experience and his history as an IU basketball player, will be able to assist Indiana University during this challenging period," Greenspan said.
Greenspan said the settlement reached with Sampson was a decision that was reached quite honestly in the best interest of both parties. What I mean is that, there was not a great appetite I don't think of neither party's part to be involved in potentially contentious litigation."
Greenspan confirmed that several players were absent from practice on Friday. According to multiple media outlets, D.J. White, Armon Bassett, Brandon McGee, DeAndre Thomas, Jamarcus Ellis and Jordan Crawford were not present for practice. However, Greenspan said the team held a walkthrough for the Northwestern game later Friday evening and that "most or all of the players" were there.
When asked about the chances the players would boycott Saturday's game, Greenspan said, "I assume there's that chance." Greenspan, however, refused to comment on whether there would be repercussions should the players do so, saying, "That's so hypothetical. I won't even go there."
Concerning the next permanent coach at IU, Greenspan said that Dakich was not auditioning for the permanent head coaching position and not to "expect any great revelations in the next day or two or week or two even."
Greenspan said nothing had been discussed about the open assistant coaching position. The IDS's Chris Engel approached Damon Bailey in Assembly Hall, but Bailey declined to comment on the purpose of his presence. Greenspan said he didn't know Bailey was there.
