IU to address Big Ten threat to bench Davis
Outburst at Kentucky game puts Indiana coach at risk of suspension
By Stan Sutton,
Herald-Times Sports Editor
Indiana basketball coach Mike Davis will meet with acting athletics director Terry Clapacs today as IU decides how to respond to word that Davis could be suspended for up to six games.
Notification of the possible suspension came from the Big Ten Conference in response to Davis' actions at the end of the Hoosiers' game Saturday with Kentucky.
It's the second time the university has received such a letter about Davis. The first time came after a behind-the-scenes incident at Illinois last season. That incident wasn't publicized and no disciplinary action was taken.
In the latest case, Clapacs said, "Clearly, they're pushing toward a suspension here."
He said the Big Ten sent a letter to the university this week indicating the coach had been found to be in violation of a statute in the conference's Ethical Conduct policy.
The IU coach rushed onto the court at the end of Saturday night's game to protest a call. He received two technical fouls, which calls for automatic ejection.
The notification gave IU three business days to respond, a deadline that will arrive at 3 p.m. Friday. Meanwhile, the threat of a suspension, which technically could cover as many as six games, hangs over the coach.
Clapacs said a maximum suspension seems highly unlikely.
"The rule says 'up to' (six games). I think the most any coach has ever been suspended is two games," he said.
Indiana could appeal any suspension and Clapacs said that is a possibility.
"We might, because I think it's important to support our coach," Clapacs said.
Davis said he wouldn't be surprised by a suspension. "My gut feeling is that they'll make Mike Davis an example," he said.
Clapacs and Davis will meet today to discuss the situation. One problem with an appeal is that the suspension might be delayed until the Big Ten schedule has begun. There are three more non-conference games, beginning with Temple Saturday in Philadelphia.
The IU coach on Tuesday reiterated his regret for the verbal assault against referee Bert Smith.
"You know how it is when you know you're doing something wrong and you just can't stop it," he said. "I knew I was wrong way before I walked off the court. I knew I was flat dead wrong.
"I felt so bad for the officials. I felt bad for the guy that made the call because he's got a family and he's got to go home. He's got to call the next game and people will say, 'That's the guy that teched Mike Davis.' He doesn't need that and I feel bad about that."
The letter received Monday by IU was similar to one received after Indiana's game at Illinois last season. After that game, Davis made a negative statement in the hallway outside the IU lockerroom, an area where reporters were barred, and it was overheard.
"What I say to my coaches in the hallway is private," he said Tuesday.
Davis also was fined $10,000 for disparaging remarks about officiating following Indiana's loss to Butler last December. He paid the fine out of his own pocket.
Clapacs said the letter received this week gave no indication of a possible fine.
Davis is among a group of coaches who were startled that the Big Ten refused to fine Penn State football coach Joe Paterno after he chased down an official in the stadium tunnel following an overtime loss to Iowa Sept. 28.
Paterno wasn't fined or suspended and Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany excused his conduct by citing his many years as a coach.
"If that's the case, who's to say certain teams won't get certain calls because of the coach," Davis said.
A few days after the Paterno incident Davis talked with Rich Falk, the Big Ten supervisor of basketball officials, at the conference's Media Day in Chicago.
"I want my $10,000 back," Davis said, only half joking, in a reference to the league's apparent favoritism.
Asked if he believes a six-game suspension would be excessive, the coach said, "Who am I? That's the way I look at it. I know where I stand with this whole situation. I know I was wrong, so who am I to debate with them?"
The Big Ten rules applying to the Davis case involve the league's policy on sportsmanlike behavior.
"They felt there was a potential violation of a rule that, actually, I have a little trouble understanding," Clapacs said. "It's a rule that involves the intent to incite the crowd."
Davis took strong exception to the thought that his action incited the crowd. Most observers, including Clapacs, felt fans of both IU and Kentucky were well behaved, even after the coach charged the floor.
"I could understand a potential violation of berating an official because he certainly did do that. He went too far," Clapacs said.
Davis mentioned that Paterno had grabbed the official.
"I didn't touch him (Smith) at all," he added.
The IU coach took exception to a television commentator's report that the IU assistant coaches could have stopped him from running onto the court.
"How are they going to grab me?" he said. "I did this, and the thing about it is I'm not the first coach that's been kicked out of a game."
Davis said fans around town had voiced their appreciation for the way he apologized. But, he added, "I have a bad feeling a lot of people don't like me being the coach here. People have no idea what I go through on a day-to-day basis."
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