Sampson’s dirty work puts stain on Indiana

The table of those college basketball programs that operate in an entirely clean manner includes one fewer occupant today, which puts the number of remaining seats taken at, oh, three.

Indiana has forfeited its standing as one that couldn't pick a major NCAA violation out of a lineup if a $100 million endowment depended on it, all because it surrendered to a win-at-all-costs temptation by hiring a cheater of a coach whose next job should be as a Verizon Wireless spokesman.

Can you hear Kelvin Sampson now?

The NCAA apparently has, accusing him of five major violations in a program that before his arrival treasured its spotless compliance record as much as any banner hanging inside Assembly Hall.

The unfortunate part isn't that Sampson's days as coach have apparently dwindled to seconds, his dismissal reportedly set to become official by week's end. Sampson and members of his staff built this cell phone tower of deceit themselves, making 577 improper recruiting calls when coaching Oklahoma and more than 100 at Indiana while on probation.

Now the coach, in just his second year at Indiana, is being charged with trying to cover up his misdeeds by lying to Indiana and NCAA officials. It's difficult to distinguish what he is more of -- conceited or brainless.

Here are two of the allegations against him: He "acted contrary to the NCAA principles of ethical conduct when he knowingly violated recruiting restrictions imposed by the NCAA ... failed to deport himself in accordance with the generally recognized high standard of honesty normally associated with the conduct and administration of intercollegiate athletics by providing the institution and the NCAA enforcement staff false or misleading information ..."

Yeah, but at least he has that graduation rate of near zero going for him.

The regrettable part is that all those external concerns made when Indiana hired Sampson -- that the lure of a coach who promised greatness was enough for officials to disregard his sordid ways and also the school's pristine history when it came to following rules -- have proven true. That yet another college program has sullied its name by hitching itself to a coach with established baggage.

Bob Knight might have been a controlling, controversial figure, but the game's winningest coach built the Hoosiers into a national power without cutting corners or violating statutes. That's all gone now for Indiana, having disappeared quicker than Sampson's fingers can dial. It's not that surprising.

The attraction of winning causes many to taste a forbidden fruit unlike any other. It has even trickled down to the youth and high school levels, where sports haven't been at their purest form in decades.

It caused Indiana athletic director Rick Greenspan to hire Sampson over other, much cleaner choices such as then-West Virginia coach John Beilein, to award Sampson a seven-year, $7.3 million contract despite knowing of the coach's previous NCAA transgressions.

Greenspan took a risk and an entire program was burned, all on the chance the guy who in 25 years had won 64 percent of his games could discover some sort of 12-step program for kicking a habit of calling recruits when he shouldn't. It makes you wonder why Greenspan's head isn't resting on a chopping block adjacent to Sampson's, but athletic directors always seem to squirm away from such grimy events untouched, don't they?

It's not as if Indiana has a choice when it comes to Sampson's future. This is how the NCAA does things -- it sends you a letter outlining all allegations and gives you time to clean up the mess with an internal investigation, all the while knowing it will unmercifully hammer your program if it considers any self-imposed punishment too light.

The Hoosiers appointed a deadline of Friday to complete their inquiry, and it's impossible to believe anything can or should save Sampson. But he isn't the story anymore; his actions long ago have painted him as a coach with no respect for rules who has been afforded more second chances than anyone in his position deserves.

But while decisive action by school officials this week will likely avoid the university's long-term image being severely stained, Indiana basketball will never again enjoy its place among the nation's cleanest programs.

Another has surrendered to what most believe an inevitable position for all major college teams, meaning the table has one fewer seat filled today. That's the unfortunate part.

Ed Graney's column is published Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. He can be reached at 383-4618 or egraney@reviewjournal.com.