It’s easy to kick a man when he’s down. But that’s exactly what I see going on these days.

     There are many Oklahoma fans who seem to delight in the problems that Kelvin Sampson has with Indiana University and the NCAA. I don’t quite understand why.

     Sampson did a great job coaching at OU. He missed getting into the NCAA tournament just once in 12 years as a coach in Norman. No other coach in Sooner history has that good of percentage.

      Yeah, there was the Final Four and Elite Eight appearances. Just how difficult is that to accomplish when you’re coaching basketball at Oklahoma?

     But let’s throw out the resume. That speaks for itself. Kelvin gave his heart and his soul to the school. He raised his kids here. He and his family loved the state of Oklahoma. He was a part of it. He did so many things good for the community.

     I’ll always remember when the late Dan Lutz was struggling with cancer. Sampson didn’t know him. But there he was visiting him in the hospital trying to bring him some cheer. He would do things like that all of the time.

     Sure Sampson got OU into a little minor scrape with the NCAA. He was making too many phone calls to recruits. He reasoned that everyone did it and it was no big deal.

     Not smart!

     Then he gets an opportunity of go to Indiana. It was a dream job. He was going to a lot better job for a lot more money. He was going to a place that actually cared about basketball. He was going to place where fans filled the arena. Wouldn’t most people take a better job for more money?

     Still, tears rolled down his eyes when he left. He was leaving a place with great memories.

     Now he is in hot water with Indidna. Once again there were too many phone calls. And he might not have been truthful to the NCAA.

     There are those who seem happy Sampson is in trouble. I am one who is not. When my friends get in trouble I try to stick by them.