Source: Indiana’s Kelvin Sampson to Be Fired Friday
College Basketball February 13th. 2008, 8:35pm
According to a media source, the buzz in college basketball circles is that Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson will be fired Friday for violating telephone restrictions and then lying to both the school and the NCAA. Our source says that the school is looking to act quickly with Sampson because if he were to guide the 13th-ranked Hoosiers to the Final Four - it’s entirely possible with talent like DJ White, Eric Gordon, and a cadre of role players - it would be much more difficult (nearly impossible) to fire him. If the school doesn’t cut the cord with Sampson Friday, it is possible that he could gain traction among fans via victories (the Hoosiers host Michigan State Saturday, and Purdue Tuesday) despite his misconduct.
Greg Couch of the Chicago Sun-Times already has a column out hinting at some of what we’ve said, with this great line: “every day Sampson is at IU is another day without credibility.” Jeff Goodman of Fox Sports “guesses” Sampson won’t last through the season. We suspect more details about Friday’s firing will surface once tonight’s game against Wisconsin is complete. [It's gone final: Wisconsin 68, Indiana 66 on a late Brian Butch three-pointer.]
Photo: Icon Sports Media
41 Responses to “Source: Indiana’s Kelvin Sampson to Be Fired Friday”
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February 13th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
He should have never been hired in the 1st place. Good riddance. I do think IU won’t report pull themselves out of the tournament because they probably think they can win it since Gordon and White won’t be back next year.
Of course they won’t win it.
February 13th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
does this mean gordon can transfer to illinois without waiting a year?
February 13th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
like within the next week can he come to illinois…?
February 13th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Damn, we had them tonight, fuckin Duke just got away…
/Big 10 sucks
February 13th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
ahhahahahahahaha…retard.
NickP/mmonast/rick/cavs fans who are always here…is this a mirage or is Larry Hughes suddenly, um, fucking awesome?
please stay larry! we love you! always did!
February 13th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
What a shit day to be an Indiana fan. Where the fuck does Brian Butch come off hitting a game winning three? That goofy fuck is 25% on the season.
Fuck me.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
i dont care for lumbee indians … so fuck him
February 13th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
Well the Badgers just made it a little easier to give him the boot…HEEEUUUUGE WIN!!
February 13th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Butch started the season 3-32 from three…he’s been shooting it much better of late
February 13th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
I know it’s risky to stick your neck on the line like that with a post like this, and we rarely do it, but our source is solid on this one
February 13th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I hope your sources are better than Florio’s.
Also, what’s up w/ D. George blocking this Kidd trade? I don’t even like the NBA but was getting excited about the West playoffs.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Maybe Jason Kidd hit George’s wife too
February 13th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
Apparently George was excited too Mike, he doesnt want to leave.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
God damnit, the Terps had their chance. Fuck.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
They knew this could happen with firing Sampson in the first place … seeing as how he left Oklahoma in the exact same situation to go to Indiana.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
firing = hiring
February 13th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
Moleman, take back that comment. I want casinos in eastern NC, so I’m fully behind the Lumbee’s getting recognition. The casino’s would look good with the ten million new condo’s they’re putting up in Washington(NC) and the rest of the so called ‘inner banks’.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
So, Sampson is going to get fired on Friday? This is going to make for an awfully awkward Thursday in Bloomington.
They might as well pull the trigger tonight. One thing I know from managing folks… if you know you are going to can someone; the longer you wait, the more they catch on, the more likely it is that they’ll purposely fuck something up before getting the hook.
Seriously, what’s the point in waiting till Friday? I assume they have a game on Saturday. Do it tonight. Let the fans/kids get over the initial shock. Go play ball on Saturday. Dragging it out is dumb.
February 13th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Also: why does Devean George even have a no-trade clause in the first place?
February 13th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
so um, whats bobby knight up to?
February 13th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
I just sat in the 4th row of that game. Contrary to what media reports will say, the students (yes, I’m one of them) booed Sampson when he was introduced.
Let’s just say it’s been a wild day in Bloomington…let me know if you need any other “info” TBL, because a lot of stuff is flying around right now…
February 13th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
seriously, isn’t anyone suspicious with the resignation of Bob Knight and this news coming out? or do we believe this is purely coincidental?
February 13th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Bob Knight as head coach with Isiah Thomas returning to the college ranks as his assistant. It can happen if we say it three times in the mirror. IT CAN.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
@sparty:
I heard that on ESPN1000 in Chicago by a caller a few hours ago. I thought he was crazy at first, but…….
February 13th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Let’s go, Alford. Clap. Clap. Clap-Clap-Clap.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
I agree SVP, Indiana needs a credible former Hoosier to take the reins after being embarrassed by Sampson.
Maybe Damon Bailey can make the jump from high school to college!
February 13th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Dane Fife! former Hoosier, his family a bunch of college players turned coaches. why not?
February 13th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
@SVPS - Alford is almost as big a scumbag as Sampson.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
And a shit coach to begin with. You never think this shit will happen at your school, then it does and you don’t know how to feel.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Oh and Butters, Butch is currently shooting 23.3% from three point land.
Though of course, the shot tonight was pure skill.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
“Hi, is this Sean Miller? Hey Sean, how would you like to move a couple hours west/northwest to Bloomington?”
That’s the best call Indiana could possibly make. I hate him because he owns my Flyers, but the guy can flat out coach.
February 13th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
What a douchebag fuckhole…
February 14th, 2008 at 12:06 am
Like IU didn’t know they were getting a blatant cheater who was either too arrogant or too stupid to do so without covering his tracks? The AD oughtta be shitcanned too.
I’m surprised he’s not proactively throwing another assistant under the bus like he did a few weeks ago when the school first announced the violations.
Oh, and as an Iowa resident, I can tell you that Steve Alford is gloriously overrated. Outside of the recruiting cache of the Big 10, or some other major conference, he ain’t squat. Look at New Mexico St. this year to see his real coaching “ability” without anything else inflating it.
And if Bobby Knight goes back to Indiana, well…I just may vomit up a lung. He may not cheat, but he’s twice the asshole as anyone else out there. And that’s saying a lot when you’re talking about college hoops coaches.
It’s late, and I have fulfilled my ranting quota for the day.
February 14th, 2008 at 12:09 am
More proof that Butler is the best team in Indiana
February 14th, 2008 at 12:13 am
I meant New Mexico, not NM State. And their record is good (18-6), but a weak schedule and .500 conference record. So I stand by my Alford-is-overrated comment.
But he does finish a strong second in best coaching hairstyle-Steve Lavin Gel Division.
February 14th, 2008 at 1:14 am
My vote is for Calbert Cheaney - only because I like saying his name.
February 14th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Write it down… Bob Knight is going back to IU to finish out his career (3-4 years). He would love to give the finger to Myles Brand (IU President who fired him, who now oversees the NCAA). Something tells me he got tipped off to the whole Sampson situation.
February 14th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Anyone who thinks Bob Knight is going back to Bloomington is smoking hefty amounts of crack.
February 14th, 2008 at 9:31 am
I do respect the IU fans for booing that POS and not taking the Patriots route and rallying around their cheating coach
(And in the paper this morning it said Butch is 8 for his last 13 from distance…I think the others hit rim/net first though)
February 14th, 2008 at 10:26 am
[...] Source: Indiana’s Kelvin Sampson to Be Fired Friday {The Big Lead} [...]
February 15th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
[...] Whoops. It looks like The Big Lead’s “solid” media source, the one that breathlessly told TBL that IU coach Kelvin Sampson was going to be fired today, is wrong. (Someone told me the opposite, infor what little it’s worth.) Barring a surprise from IU president Michael McRobbie’s media address today, Sampson will be investigated for a week, “investigation” likely meaning “how do we fire Sampson without paying him $5 million.” [...]