Days are numbered for Kelvin Sampson

The notice goes on to state that Sampson "Acted contrary to the NCAA principles of ethical conduct … failed to deport himself in accordance with the generally recognized high standard of honesty …by providing the institution and the NCAA enforcement staff false or misleading information; and … failed to promote an atmosphere for compliance within the men's basketball program."

Indiana University has addressed the issue, and is not content that their head coach may no longer be employed if the allegations are proven to be true.

"We are extremely disappointed in these new allegations regarding coach Sampson," said Indiana athletic director Rick Greenspan. "To say the least, we view these allegations with grave concern and will cooperate fully with the NCAA as they adjudicate these charges."

Indiana representatives have until May 8 to address the issue. They then have to appear before the Division 1 Committee on Infractions on June 14. Sampson’s contract states that if there is any reason to believe that he has violated any NCAA regulations, he should be treated with the necessary disciplinary action.

In May of 2006 Sampson supposedly made impermissible phone calls to recruits. He was also present at a 2-day camp and made illegal contact with a prospective recruit. Sampson is not the only one who will deal with charges; his assistants Jeff Meyer and Rob Senderoff are also being accused of ignoring Sampson’s illegal recruiting methods.

Sampson is currently under a 7-year deal worth over $7 million that expires in 2013. As of now, his job is secure on a day-to-day basis. IU athletic director Rick Greenspan will make the final decision on what to do with Sampson. However, university directors have to be careful, as there has been no concrete evidence as of yet but merely allegations. IU does not want to end up with a lawsuit for taking the wrong action. Past NCAA coaches such as Bob Knight and Jim O’ Brien sued their universities claiming that the actions taken against them at the time were not lawful.

If Sampson is fired, who will take his place? Rumors have been circulating that since Bobby Knight is now on the market he would be the best candidate for the job. These are just rumors, but it should be noted that Knight has not ruled out the possibility of returning as the Hoosiers head coach. Many also wonder whether or not Knight was aware of the notice of allegations ahead of time, which is why he decided to quit his job at Texas Tech just two days before it was released. Well there are no known certainties, the decision of what to do with Sampson will undoubtedly affect the prestigious reputation that Indiana’s athletic program has had for so long.

As a result of the horrific shootings that occurred at Northern Illinois University last Thursday, all sporting events that were scheduled to take place between now and February 24th will be cancelled. The men’s basketball team had an away game scheduled for Wednesday against Toledo and a home game against Tennessee State set for the 24th. The women’s team also had match ups against Central Michigan and Toledo, both which will not take place on those dates. In addition, several other teams that were scheduled to travel, including women’s track and field, women’s gymnastics, women’s softball, men’s and women’s tennis, and men’s golf teams will not go on the road. Classes are also set to resume on Monday, February 25.

There will be an on-campus memorial service on February 24th to honor the victims of the shooting. In addition, several Illinois-area sports teams are honoring the victims of the shooting in their own way. For instance, the Chicago Blackhawks will be wearing NIU Huskies decals on their helmets. Several teams have also dedicated moments of silence to give shows of sympathy for those who have been deeply affected. Last year, the Virginia Tech shootings sparked awareness that caused schools to implement several security measures for students and faculty members. The recent NIU shootings tested these measures, but they were unfortunately ineffective.

In total, 25 athletic competitions that were set to take place will be cancelled. This unfortunate series of events demonstrates just how tragic the effect has been on the administration.

"At a time like this, it is critically important for us to focus on coming together as a university to overcome this terrible tragedy," NIU athletic director Jim Phillips said. "To be certain, the welfare of our student-athletes is uppermost in the minds of our coaches and staff.”

There haven’t been any discussions regarding when the cancelled games will be rescheduled. NIU will resume its normal academic and athletic schedules on February 25. From now until then, everyone involved will mourn the loss of the 5 that died, the 7 that were hospitalized, and the 15 that were injured.

Knight call it quits, but will he be back?

In his 42 years of success, Knight finished his coaching duties with the Texas Tech Red Birds. In addition, he also had several remarkable seasons with the Indiana Hoosiers. Sadly, some will remember him as the coach who was terminated due to his unscrupulous behavior. However, others will never forget the influence he had as a coach.

At 67, there isn’t much that Knight hasn’t done. As the all-time career victories leader with 902, Knight has demonstrated that brutality and enthusiasm are keys to success. He has also made it clear that if he did not receive proper respect, he would show no sympathy. These approaches unfortunately lead to his termination from Indiana University when he supposedly berated a student for greeting him the wrong way.

Knight’s biggest accomplishment was probably surpassing North Carolina head coach Dean Smith on the leader board for all-time career coaching victories. Knight will pass down the Texas Tech coaching honors to his son, Pat Knight, who has been perfectly groomed for the job. While many criticize the fact that Knight is leaving his team during the middle of the season, some feel that it does not come as a surprise as it was his plan all along.

Knight has won the Coach of the Year honors on four separate occasions, and there is no question that he will go down in the books as one of the game’s most remembered coaches despite the criticism that he has received throughout his career. Will his son Pat be able to fill the role? It will be hard to determine, but given that Texas Tech is in the middle of the pack in the Big 12, he isn’t facing extreme pressure. However, the Red Raiders do have four games remaining on their schedule against ranked teams, so it will be interesting to see how the club transitions under their new head coach.

Should Knight be scolded for ending his tenure with more than a handful of games still remaining in the regular season?

“I don’t believe that at all,” said Texas Tech guard Alan Voskuil. “I just think it was time. He’s behind us 100 percent. I don’t think he quit one bit. He’ll be there. We can always ask him any questions if we need anything.”

Knight has hinted on radio interviews that he would not rule out a possible coaching job in the future. One would guess that after 42 long seasons Knight would finally be done, but there is no telling what he will do next, as he has demonstrated several times that he is full of surprises. For now, it is up to his son Pat to fill his shoes.

Golf Academies Offer Blend of Traditional And Non-Traditional Classes

Golf academies offer an unusual alternative to more traditional learning institutions such as colleges and universities for those who can’t imagine themselves taking years of classes that have little or nothing to do with their careers. Rather than spend years trying to fulfill requirements and take mandatory courses for a liberal arts based degree, students attending golf academies get a strong balance of both traditional academics and golf-specific courses without multiple classes that aren’t necessary for your future. There’s nothing wrong with a four-year education, but many individuals can’t afford to spend tens of thousands of dollars on classes that aren’t going to enhance their careers; for them, golf academies can provide an affordable solution.

Golf Education Doesn’t Ignore the Basics

While golf academies do offer you a fast track to a career (you can earn a degree in less than two years), they don’t ignore the basics, either. The classes at most golf schools give you everything you need to be successful in the business of recreation. The focus is solidly on golf related courses with core, general courses that will meet all of the requirements for conferring an associate degree. In other words, you may still have to take an English course and a math course, but these will be practical classes that apply to real life – no theoretical mathematics or reading thousands of pages of boring literature. You will learn how to write better and use math in your everyday life by taking practical classes that won’t interfere with your real focus and won’t gobble up dollars and months of your life.

Non-Golf Courses to Look for at Golf Academies

If you are looking into golf schools, keep in mind that the focus should be primarily on golf related courses, but that there will be required courses such as English and math that every student will need to take. The key is to find a school that has tailored the English, business and math curriculum to fit your career goals. A sampling of courses that are particularly suited to a career in golf might include:

• Accounting. Anyone who is pursuing a golf career will need some solid accounting skills. Whether you become a golf pro, golf course manager or tournament planner, you’ll be handling lots of money and will need to understand budgets and spreadsheets.
• Computer Skills. Word processing and computer skills are often part of an English course. Keeping up with technology and the various computer programs that are commonly used in businesses will make you more marketable when looking for a job after graduation.
• Business Law. Understanding the ins and outs of the legal system and how it pertains to running a golf business is essential.
• A Selection of Business Courses. These courses should straddle the line between golf studies and general studies. They should cover management skills and business techniques that pertain to golf careers.
• Communications. No matter what industry you work in, communications skills are essential to moving up the ladder of success. Good golf academies understand that no matter how well you can handle the books and how great a golfer you are, if you can’t convey your thoughts clearly to others, you’ll have difficulty in the workforce.

The remainder of the courses at golf academies should cover all aspects of golf course management, golf instruction and the many facets of golf club operation, from food and beverage management to golf club repairs and maintenance. If you find a school that balances this blend of courses, you’ll get a well-rounded education in the least amount of time so that you can quickly enter the workforce as a golf professional.