While some schools have seemed to put books second to hoops, there are still a number of premier level programs that have maintained a high level of importance for education. Best example I can think of is John Thompson (and now his son) at Georgetown, who is said to have kept a deflated basketball on his desk to remind his kids (many of whom were All-Americans) that basketball is a temporary pursuit, and the real value of the scholarship was the opportunity for a free outstanding education. For Thompson, it was about exploiting the fact that rich white people wanted a good basketball team so that poor inner-city blacks could get free access to a superior education. There are quite a few other coaches with reputations like this, so I wouldn't declare the NCAA system morally bankrupt just yet. As for Crean, I have only really followed him the last few years as MU moved into a major conference, but to me he seems something of a confounding coach. He seems to be a pretty decent recruiter of guards but not of big men, and his game situation coaching is solid but not exactly inspiring. I don't think IU has hit the jackpot with Crean, but he will be better than Mike Davis, and cleaner than Kelvin Sampson. I just don't see him as turning them around in the same way that Pearl did with Tennessee or say what Matta did at OSU.
Since Motta /Matta? at OSU has big ties to Indiana I am kinda suprised his name didn't enter the picture more. I could be wrong but I think Crean has recruited a couple of kids out of Indiana. Pearl is probably in a situation where he has the opportunity to make a run at the national title a couple of more times so that would take him out of the picture. I saw an interview with Pearl and in that piece it was said he was not highly paid. Being the huge Indiana fan that I am it hurts me to say that the programs reputation in the last few years also has something to do with the ability to get a super coach. I think Crean is a good coach but the verdict is out on if he is a super star. I have been impressed with his current teams but they seemed to be a little up and down at times. We all know that the NCAA is not done with IU yet, and I think that looms large. All you have know about John Thompson Jr. is where he played his college ball, and the great coach he had to know why he is more book oriented than most of the coaches in the NCAA. By the way the SI piece on him was great. As for his father, I don't think he had very many academic all Americans. I think he had great athletes and good kids but I'm no sure there was a great focus on grades. Some one help me out here, why does the AD at Indiana still have his job? If anybody can justify him keeping his job I would like to here it. I think he is more guilty than any body in this whole mess, including KS.
Punish the Monkey.....let the organ grinder go...
Sportnut, John Thompson Jr. is the father, John Thompson III is the son. As for the elder Thompson, he actually had an academic advisor made an assistant coach, so that there would always be someone on trips and such to make sure players did their work. If you look through the Sports Illustrated archive, there are a few articles about Thompson and his emphasis on education. There is one story that Thompson once threatened to send Mutombo back to his father in Zaire because he missed a single class. I think if I am not mistaken, Bob Knight was another one of these coaches who recognized that the opportunity was the free education, not the basketball. It would be nice if IU could find another coach who would bring the same standards, as Sampson obviously did not. Not sure about Crean's reputation with this issue though.
Chargdres, I stand corrected on both John Jr. and his son,Thanks. I hope Crean can restore some of that academic pride to IU. He certainly tried to establish some Indiana camaraderie in his acceptance speech yesterday. he mentioned BK, Indiana highschool basketball, IU basketball tradition, and a few other tibits. I think he got an 8 year contract so I guess he has some time, if the fans will be patient. I still think the AD should go.
Chargdres, I stand corrected on both John Jr. and his son,Thanks. I hope Crean can restore some of that academic pride to IU. He certainly tried to establish some Indiana camaraderie in his acceptance speech yesterday. He mentioned BK, Indiana highschool basketball, IU basketball tradition, and a few other tibits. I think he got an 8 year contract so I guess he has some time, if the fans will be patient. I still think the AD should go.
Bring back Bobby Knight.........
