Boycott?

Gary Parrish of CBS Sportsline reports that several team members have threatened to quit if Sampson is fired, and that the players informed Rick Greenspan of their intent during a meeting yesterday evening. The key paragraph:

According to the sources, after Greenspan informed five selected players -- namely D.J. White, Eric Gordon, Kyle Taber, Lance Stemler and Adam Ahlfeld -- of his decision to replace Sampson he called a meeting with the entire team in an attempt to "prepare" them for Friday's official announcement that Sampson would either be suspended or terminated in time for the Hoosiers' weekend game at Northwestern. But before Greenspan finished his speech, the sources said an unidentified player stood up and insisted "if Sampson ain't coaching, we ain't playing" and that Greenspan responded with what he thought was a rhetorical question.

"Greenspan asked if he should just cancel the whole season," one source said. "And the player told him 'We don't care what you do. But if Sampson ain't coaching, we ain't playing.' And then they just walked out."

I'm skeptical of this report. It's not consistent with what local reporters with good connections are saying. Even if true, while the players' loyalty is admirable, if anything, such statements push IU even further toward firing Sampson. IU certainly cannot ignore the results of a NCAA investigation just because the players are mad.