Poor Crean

dmberger,

Your comments are accurate, and I think IU fans (at least all of them I've heard from) understand the absolute clustermess Cellvin left us. The phone call violations were the tip of the iceberg. As such, and given the good reputation Tom Crean brings in all aspects of his coaching career, we all understand that this is not a quick fix.

 I think the prevailing attitude is that we'd rather have a coach that takes his time and builds things on a solid foundation, rather than doing anything necessary to get really good really fast, which is what Sampson did. For my part, I hope Crean is at IU for at least 20 years, because I believe he'll do things the right way, embrace the tradition and former coaches/players (with the obvious exception of Cellvin) and make us proud of the program once again.

Perhaps Crean told Mr. Holman that "promises" made to by the previous coach could not be honored.

IU fans will not be patient?  I hope, for your sake, thats not accurate.  Impatience is what led to the desire to bring a proven cheater in, just because he "could coach"........the typical fan ( or I hope the small minority) that you say will not be patient needs to realize a few things: 1) IU tried for a quick fix with Davis, then with Sampson.  All they got you was a crazy man out of his league and a cheater; 2) IU has a solid reputation (the last couple years notwithstanding) of doing the right thing, academically as well as athletically, a rep gained and put in place by Bobby Knight, and Crean can get this program back to that level, given time and undertanding of the process; 3) IU is in a deep DEEP hole with the NCAA, a situation not helped in the least by the release of the acedemic scores, which were sub-par to say the least.  Anything they can do as an institution to get backj in the NCAA's good graces, they must do and, again, Crean can make that happen.

I don't pity Crean as many do.  I see a coach, confident in his ability to coach, AND to run a clean program, and one who welcomes this challenge.  Much like Mr. Knight was....

Davis had six seasons at IU and no titles of any sort.  I'd say that qualifies as patience.  With regard to Sampson I can't see that had he promised to turn over a new leaf (which I must assume he did) that the man shouldn't have been given a second chance.

C'mon Stourleyk, Davis bought himself 4 or 5 years at least with that great run in the tournament, the year or 2 after he took over.  I think they went to the NC game, right?  Beyond all expectations.  So while there was patience with him, it was gained by that initial experience and then faded fast. 

And I could care less if IU hoops ever comes back.  I'm not a fan of theirs, nor Creans.  There's some optimism on this board about IU hoops that I'd like to hear more justification for.  Top half of the Big 10 next year?  Back to the top 3 by 2009/2010??  Based on what??   They're going to be down a minimum of 2 scholarships for a while, maybe more scholly's after it's all over.  They'll have to work hard to overcome the APR hole their in.  It's going to be 3-5 years before .500 is a reality, in conference. 

Answer me this.  If you're a good hooper, even in state, why choose IU over Purdue, Butler, ND, or even Ohio State or another nearby school (Xavier, Cincy, Kentucky, others).  Why?  Why go there and lose for several years?   It's going to take a Fab 5, or Thad 5, type of group of freshmen to decide to go there to resurrect the program any earlier than 5 years, regardless of the coach. 

Traditionally, the kids who go to IU learn that winning counts in life more than on the basketball court.  Regrettably, Sampson did not subscribe to that philosophy.  The administration may have been able to know this or perhaps Sampson made a good impression on them and pulled the wool over there eyes.  There are many, many coaches like Sampson.  Take Coach Self of Kansas who when asked about the NCAA violations committed while he was coach at Illinois, said, "Everybody does it."

So for a certain kind of young man Kansas is the right place to go.  We'll take our punishment and learn from our mistake in hiring Sampson, a mistake of generosity.  When we win again, and we will, it will be with the right kind of player with the right kind fo program.

As for Davis and for that matter, Sampson, I wish them well.