Last week Indiana University president Michael McRobbie officially ended the disgraced, two year Sampson era of Hoosier basketball, following allegations that Sampson had made illegal phone calls to recruits a second time. While Indiana conducted an internal investigation to look into the accusations, it was a formality Sampson’s IU days were a wrap. IU wanted to avoid any wrongful dismissal lawsuit and not have to pay Sampson the remaining money on his contract that ran through the 2012-13 season, but it was just a matter of when Sampson would be terminated..
 
 The real question is how could Sampson, a seemingly very intelligent man do commit such an idiotic infraction?

Sampson is indisputably a very good coach. Over the last decade Sampson has been one of the most successful coaches in college basketball. During his 11 year tenure at Oklahoma University, Sampson won 72.1 percent of his games (the highest wining percentage in Soonier history), made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, a trip to the Final Four in 2002 and Elite 8 in 2003 and he was the National Coach of the Year in his first season in 1995. Sampson took an irrelevant basketball program and transformed Oklahoma into a national title-contending powerhouse that was a problem for everyone.
 
 Sampson’s effect transcended the boundaries of the hardwood. Not only was Sampson revered for his coaching accomplishments, the North Carolina native was also nominated President of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) in 2003 by his peers. Sampson is a groundbreaker, being the first Native American college basketball coach to achieve national notoriety, is highly esteemed by his coaching fraternity brethren and by all accounts is a noble, upstanding guy.

 So it really makes it that much more bewildering that a man held in such high regard, and one of the premiere coaches in the collegiate game would commit such an egregious act of blatant deception. Sampson had already been busted for making 577 illicit phone calls at Oklahoma when he was hired at IU.

One offense is somewhat understandable. It’s bad but you can get the benefit of the doubt, especially given Sampson’s credible reputation. Sampson was slapped with a $500,000 fine and forbidden from doing any off-campus recruiting or making phone calls for a year. But best believe, the NCAA won’t fall for the okie-doke again. If you get popped a second time the regulating authorities won’t be as merciful. They’ll be no “let me ride” like Dr. Dre. That’s your behind.

 For Sampson to get caught for the same offense a second time is absolutely asinine. It’s truly mystifying a repeat perpetrator could somehow believe he’s incapable of being busted for the same violation, as though he’s endowed with some kind of tephlon immunity. IU already gave Sampson a second chance after an intern learned Sampson had violated restrictions placed on him after he “unknowingly” participated in a clatter of three-way phone calls. IU sanctioned itself, stripping the basketball program of a scholarship during the 2008-09 season.

IU took a major risk even hiring Sampson, given the baggage he brought along with him. McRobbie was even willing to take a bullet for Sampson and penalize the program rather than terminate him for making calls on the hush. For Sampson to blatantly disregard NCAA violations and his own personal probation is unmitigated disrespect for IU. Sampson’s deceitful crimes are a slap in the face to the intelligence of IU officials and the NCAA, and prove he must have thought they were mindless suckers to allow his infractions to go undetected.

 IU has been an exemplary basketball program for decades. The Hoosiers have won three national championships and their players have excelled in the classroom as well.  Producing quality student-athletes that earn degrees is one of the signatures of IU basketball and what makes it one of the country’s preeminent programs. However, Sampson’s despicable actions have undoubtedly tarnished IU’s reputation and brought shame to a proud institution.

What saddest is the Hoosier players are the real loser in this entire debacle. They’re the ones who put their faith in Sampson. While IU, (23-4 overall, 13-2 Big 10 Conference) still has a chance to snatch a Big 10 Championship and make a deep run in the NCAA Tourney, they’ll miss not having their general on the sidelines. Sampson’s experience and basketball acumen could have been pivotal to the Hoosiers creating some madness in March. Now, IU’s magical season has been jeopardized and they have to deal with off court madness before the first song of the Big Dance is even played.

 There’s still a chance IU could do some damage in the Tourney. Sampson’s firing could have a galvanizing effect, and the Hoosiers could play with toughness and fortitude that enables them to rise above their adversity. Or, IU could crumble amid the negativity and distractions. It really depends on the leadership of the Hoosier coaching staff.
 
 As for Sampson, he will certainly go down in the annals as the most infamous coach in IU’s tradition rich basketball program. The Bible, “says you reap what you sow.” In essence, Sampson is only getting what he sowed. Therefore, he has to deal with the self-induced repercussions and humiliation he’s brought on himself.

Will Sampson ever coach a D-1 squad again? Probably. It won’t be at a big-time university, but Sampson will coach again. Schools are always willing to give prolific coaches multiple chances. Look at Jim Harrick and Jerry Tarkanian. No matter how stank and grimy your misdeeds may be, winning is the omnipotent deodorant that freshens every putrid odor. But if Sampson is fortunate enough to coach again, he better value it with his life because that’s what he’ll get for a third felony: Life without parole with no oasis to roll.