Good Luck Dakich

Dan Dakich is the interim coach at Indiana following the Kelvin ‘Cheat’ Sampson scandal. I like Dakich. Maybe because his name rhymes with jock itch, maybe not. Probably not. Never the less, I like the guy, liked him at Bowling Green, liked him less when he had his flirtations with West Virginia (UM fans can thank him for backing out and allowing John Beilein the opportunity to build that program), and finally liked him more for his gracious return to BGSU. I wish him nothing but the best of luck and hope that at the end of the season the folks at IU will remove the interim tag.

I know I have said a lot about Cheat and everything surrounding him but two other things have come to mind.

First, what in the world was Indiana thinking they were getting with this guy? He came in under scrutiny for crying out loud. Play with fire and you’re bound to get burned. In my humble opinion the Hoosiers should take the step of a post-season ban this season and right now. Yes, I understand that it wouldn’t be fair to punish these players for Sampson’s transgressions and I would agree. Unfortunately it does not work that way. It didn’t for Ohio State in Matta’s first season and to those players and it didn’t matter when Michigan did it a few years back either. The message needs to be sent and made clear … don’t cheat.

Second, I need to give credit where credit is due. Kelvin you’ve apparently raised a great son. Sampson’s son Kellen is the graduate assistant for the Hoosiers. Kellen didn’t leave the team upon his dad’s resignation. When asked what his reasons were for not leaving the team with his dad his said there were 13 reasons to stick around; 13 is the number of players on the roster. Kellen Sampson, you’re a classy guy and I mean that. I also mean this … perhaps your father needs to pay attention and exhibit the same class he has taught you.

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Something needs to change

First off, let me make a quick correction to my previous blog. During an NCAA dead period in recruiting a coach can call a recruit once a week. A recruit can call a coach as many times as he likes and the only face-to-face contact can take place on campus; a coach cannot go visit a recruit. Moving on …..

The other night the Indiana Hoosiers visited the Illinois Fighting Illini to partake in a quaint game of basketball. Perhaps during intermission the teams would forego the typical strategy session and arse chewing to share tea and crumpets and maybe by chance the ever so manly slap on the rear end out the door; the good ole atta boy slap.

C’mon people this is Big Ten basketball!

The crowds at Big Ten basketball games have long been ruthless to opposing teams. Heck, I know it was a staple of the Izzone during my years at Michigan State. The only time it crosses the line is when it becomes profane and in bad taste (or it’s at Crisler Arena, then its all profane and in bad taste). Home crowds create home court advantage.

Quick back story - Indiana basketball star Eric Gordon had orally committed to play for Bill Webber’s Illini squad before he reneged on that oral committment and went to play for Kelvin ‘Text’ Sampson. Needless to say Illini fans are p-i-s-s-e-d.

You see, Gordon is a stud and would have been the backbone of a very young Illini squad. Albeit Gordon is young himself I have to believe if the NBA hadn’t changed their clearance to enter the league that Gordon would be playing at a different level right now.

So I am sorry Indiana Hoosiers men’s basketball, Kelvin ‘Cheat’ Sampson, Eric ‘Renege’ Gordon, and all others associated with this hooey but I just cannot feel sorry for the kid because the Illini fans chanted ‘Liar, Liar’ at him. He brought that upon himself.

To sum it all up. I think something needs to be done about oral committments. In fact, I think those committments may need to be binding or at least carry some sort of penalty. The recent college football signing day saw three U of M signees renege on their original oral committments to other schools, two of which were Big Ten schools, to sign with the Wolverines (and yes Wolverine fans I know it happens with other schools too).

This whole orally committing to one school and then signing with a different school is growing into quite an epidemic. I believe the only appropriate way to handle that type of situation is to publicly reopen your recruitment much like Josh Jenkins of Parkersburg, WV did. Otherwise, once a recruit makes an oral committment the rule out to be hands off or pay a price. And just perhaps part of that price is facing the cold hard truth and being called a liar all night by the school you spurned.

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