Truth & Rumors > NCAAB

Hoosiers players threaten boycott

Views
203
Comments
-1

A day that began with the threat of a player walkout and included a coaching change ended late Friday night with a degree of normalcy for the Indiana University basketball program. Early Friday, a person close to the team said players had threatened to boycott tonight's game if Kelvin Sampson wasn't still their coach. The source said players would follow D.J. White's lead on whether to play. Later, just seven players attended an afternoon practice run by interim coach Dan Dakich.

Indianapolis Star

D.J. White, AP D.J. White, AP
Comment has been removed
February 23, 2008  10:26 AM ET

Being a Hoosier fan, if the players boycott, they should be suspended. They don't run the team. I don't care if IU gets beat by 30 using JV players. The team needs to understand that they can't go back and Dakich is in charge for now. They have a special season going and it's on the verge on blowing up in their face if they don't stop looking back and not forward.

February 23, 2008  10:34 AM ET

Go ahead and transfer to juco then, foolios! You're coach is a cheat so you want to blame the university? LAME!!!

February 23, 2008  10:34 AM ET

You're > YOUR

February 23, 2008  01:01 PM ET

Let them boycott all they want. When they do, take back their scholarships and let them actually pay for the education and possibly see them in a classroom for the first time in their college careers.

February 23, 2008  01:40 PM ET

Suspend them for a game for the practice missed. Then start revoking their scholarships. The players seem to have a bad case of "We're the center of the universe." Paying for college and actually having to go to class would bring them back to reality.

February 23, 2008  02:07 PM ET

Boy these players are copping an NBA attitude pretty early on.
They should put up or shut up: Play for Dakich or quit the team and give back the scholarships.

February 23, 2008  03:12 PM ET

I say good for them, so long as they understand the consequences. As the school, I would start revoking scholarships, but as a player, I'd be glad if my teammates stood up for their beliefs, even if it meant losing something important.

February 23, 2008  03:52 PM ET

It was noble of the young men - but its stupid to think you can pull that stunt. You absolutely owe the school to play.

February 23, 2008  04:19 PM ET

Bob Knight must be laughing his arse off.

February 23, 2008  05:02 PM ET

Can you blame DJ White for being a little aggravated. 3 coaches since the time he's been there. Not what he signed up for.

February 23, 2008  05:06 PM ET

Haha, probably, Juice Boy.

And I think you are right, jacmanrob. It was a noble deed they did for their former coach, but they have to understand that technically they are getting paid to play as they aren't paying for school.

It would be the ultimate kicker if the school takes the scholarships and the kids transfer to Illinois to play. Payback's a b**tch.

February 23, 2008  07:17 PM ET

They should play and stop boycotting. That is just dumb. They are there on scholarship and the way the repay Indiana for giving them a scholarship is by boycotting. Wow, that is nice. They need to just play and actually go to practice.

February 23, 2008  08:03 PM ET

The boys just need to play and stop worrying about everything else. They are very talented and have a lot to look forward to going into March. They should focus on what is important.

February 23, 2008  08:13 PM ET

What about what's important to them? A coaching staff that they know will be there the next day, and the university keeping promises it made to them when they signed on to play for the school. These guys and athletes like them earn millions of dollars for universities, not just in the revenue generated from games, but the ability to get alumni to come back and donate to the school, but everyone acts as though they should have no control over their futures.

February 23, 2008  08:24 PM ET

I'm with ChocolateJesus on this one. They make so much money for the university it's not even funny. Then they go and have their coach, the guy whom they trusted the most, taken away. The players have a right to be p*ssed. However, I hope they haven't gone too far with it all.

Schneed is right. This is definitely not what DJ White, or anyone for that matter, signed up for.

February 23, 2008  09:04 PM ET

Do the players think it is ok to break the rules and lie about it? You could win all of your games, but if you don't have integrity, you're not worth much. What example is Sampson setting for anyone that's watching? MLK said, " I have a dream that one day everyone will be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character". What does this say about Sampson's character, or a player that boycotts his team?

February 23, 2008  11:10 PM ET

Let's get out the violin and play sad songs for the poor athletes. Sure they make money for the university. And in return they get an education that others pay $40,000 to $50,000 for plus the best medical care money can buy, food way better then the real students get plus the status of being an Indiana bb player. If they think they're being taken advantage of, they can go do something else.

Their coach got taken away? And I'll bet they miss their mommy and daddy too the poor little dears. Their coach was a liar and a cheat. Sampson is the one they ought to be mad at. He was willing to risk ruining their careers at Indiana in order to win more glory for himself.

February 23, 2008  11:21 PM ET

They shouldn't be mad solely at Sampson. Indiana hired him, knowing what he did at Oklahoma. They (as everyone else) didn't think he'd be dumb enough to do it again, but the players get screwed in the end. Indiana took the gamble, reaped some benefits, but lost their coach. So they have a right to blame the school. The school wasn't bit**ing when the team was winning games.

 
February 24, 2008  12:05 AM ET

I guarentee all that crap was rumors. They squeeked by tonight against Northwestern after no prep. There is so much talent on that team, I just hope Dankich can keep them together and make good decisions. They should be top 10 by Monday.

Comment

Remember to keep your posts clean. Profanity will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed.


The Si.com Cover Hub Go to the Cover Hub

Stub Hub

The 2009 schedule has been released. Search for tickets!

Truth & Rumors

MOST POPULAR

  1. 1
    Bills owner wanted Gruden
    Views
    61879
    Comments
    392
  2. 2
    Parcells to Browns?
    Views
    18292
    Comments
    230
  3. 3
    Why Knicks passed on Iverson
    Views
    30976
    Comments
    109
  4. 4
    Raiders players happy with new QB
    Views
    12437
    Comments
    94
  5. 5
    Yankees keeping eye on Halladay
    Views
    49443
    Comments
    91

Message Boards

  1. NCAAF > General NCAAF

    2009's most disappointing team
    Views
    772
    Replies
    29
  2. NCAAF > General NCAAF

    CFB Game Day 11/21/2009
    Views
    350
    Replies
    145
  3. NCAAF > LSU Tigers

    Les Miles FIRE HIM
    Views
    241
    Replies
    25

Blogs

SI.com

Swimsuit

SI Photos