BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) – Indiana University President Michael McRobbie sent a tough message to the athletic department this week: It’s time for Hoosier athletes to shape up or they may be on their way out.
On Wednesday, Glass’ annual football kickoff luncheon was upended by growing consternation over an 18-month series of legal issues involving football and men’s basketball players. The most recent chapter occurred over the weekend when two basketball players were arrested for illegal possession of an alcoholic beverage, raising the ire of fans, administrators and McRobbie.
“I want to see the world-class accomplishments of our faculty and students celebrated, as well as the accomplishments of our student-athletes,” McRobbie told the coaches Tuesday. “What I do not want to see is any more stories of repeated student misbehavior. They embarrass the university, they embarrass all of you in athletics and they are a complete distraction from our primary role as an educational institution. This misbehavior simply has to stop.”
Athletic director Fred Glass concurs and said he delivered a similar message in a similar tone.
Since the troubles first began with the arrest of former basketball player Hanner Mosquera-Perea on an drunken-driving charge in February 2014, basketball coach Tom Crean has dealt with players accused of using fake identification, underage drinking and failing drug tests.