• FOOTBALL GAB catches a rebuttal from ex-Bengal assistant Hue Jackson, who says Chad Johnson never punched Marvin Lewis.
• The BLEACHER REPORT brings some holiday cheer, as “Santa Claus” knows why Philadelphia Eagles fans pelted him with snowballs.
• Speaking of Philly, THE LEGEND OF CECILIO GUANTE notes that the streaking Sixers have won 13 of their last 15 with a roster full of unknowns.
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Days after accepting a $750,000 buyout from Indiana University in the wake of accusations he lied to NCAA officials about phone-related recruiting violations, the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES reports Kelvin Sampson has been seen texting his former Hoosier players.
Jay Mariotti has an anecdote that includes Sampson texting IU’s Armon Barrett - as the columnist paints a scene of torn player loyalty that may well have an effect the team’s performance.
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Dan Dakich’s career is off to an ominous start. The INDIANAPOLIS STAR reports that six Indiana players didn’t show up for the interim coach’s first practice Friday afternoon.
The boycott - by D.J. White, Armon Bassett, Jordan Crawford, Jamarcus Ellis, DeAndre Thomas and Brandon McGee - was over Kelvin Sampson’s resignation, and the promotion of Dakich over fellow assistant Ryan McCallum, who was the more popular choice among the players.
Does this mean the Hoosiers won’t be showing up in Evanston on Saturday against Northwestern? (As an NU alum, a forfeit win is still a win - especially when your Big Ten win column contains a big fat zero.) Read more…
Jeff Goodman of FOXSports.com reports today that Indiana Coach Kelvin “Sampson was informed early Thursday that he will no longer be the coach at Indiana, numerous sources told FOXSports.com.”
“The official announcement is expected to come Friday, when the university’s self-imposed seven-day investigation period ends. When asked to confirm Sampson’s firing, Indiana director of media relations J.D. Campbell told FOXSports.com, ‘I don’t know that to be true.’”
WTHR in Indianapolis also reports Sampson is officially out and his replacement for the rest of the season will be assistant coach Dan Dakich.
Now IU fans are hoping Dakich will soon become shades of Steve Fisher.
