I ran across an interesting article that -- had this occurred in Peoria or especially had it occurred to the men's basketball program in Peoria, it would have been labelled as just more evidence of being a renegade program, and would have dominated the headlines.
It regards a scandal and some of the hush-hush and coverup in the women's basketball program at Valley rival SIU.
BUT-- oddly, this is barely known outside of a few articles that can be dug out, as it appears to have not only been kept under wraps a bit, but all the players, even the team's superstar were quietly allowed to leave, be fully released from their scholarship, and even apparently helped to find other programs to go to.
It appears SIU is doing all this to keep from having any of the players pursue charges against the coach or lawsuits, but all the while no official investigation by the school or the local press appears to be happening.
The story is about Southern Illinois' women's basketball program where the head coach is accused of repeated mental & verbal abuse aimed towards the players, and possibly more....
Several examples are given in some of the articles, but almost all of the actual coverage and facts are easier to find in press reports outside of Carbondale or on some message boards, than anywhere inside Carbondale.
And even discussion threads about this are being locked on the message boards.
At least eight of the top players have fled the program. (Dana Olsen, Tanaeya Worden, Paris Campbell, Courtney Grant, Debbie Burris, Cortney Sales, Ellen Young, Brenna Saline.) or have spoken out about the abuse.
http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2008/05/22/sports/24537065.txt
http://www.siude.com/home/index.cfm...story_id=c01b00d2-a0ab-454c-8df4-b8979540e6b2
http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080328/BLOGS0701/80328022
http://www.wsiltv.com/p/sports_stories.php
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-150971759.html
There have also been allegations of coverup, and even allegations of NCAA rule violations in running players off then not allowing them to participate in their own open hearing to appeal.
http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2008/05/10/front_page/24410337.txt
I guess the only reason I even give a dang about all this, is the self-righteous, arrogant attitude I have seen recently coming from SIU fans who pummel BU and the BU basketball program with insults as if their houses are clean.
Even some of the recent attacks by certain SIU fans on Jim Les in regards to the TCS episode, are so hypocritical when viewed in the light of what's happened in Carbondale.
But then, what else to expect. SIU leads the Valley both in Men's and Women's players being run off in the past couple years, so they have to do what's needed to deflect attention.
