Kelvin Sampson is contrite about the mistakes he made at Oklahoma. That's no small thing. For instance, try to remember the last time Bob Knight truly apologized for something he did.
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Sampson is off to a 1-1 start as the coach at Indiana and wants to restore his reputation, stained by NCAA violations at OU.
"It's been embarrassing," Sampson told USA Today. "It's been humiliating because I'm better than that. I made a mistake, and I regret it. But I think over the years a person builds credibility by doing things the right way.
"I screwed up with the phone call thing. I wish it had not happened. That mistake never will be made again."
Truth is, Sampson is not on the spot as much as is Indiana. Sampson was a well-thought-of coach whose name often was mentioned for jobs at other schools. But not until Sampson ran afoul of the NCAA did an offer come from the Kansas-UCLA class of jobs. Not until Sampson's reputation was sullied did the likes of Indiana invite Sampson to take over.
Funny world, college basketball.
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