Illinois Basketball: Swing the Hammer… Every Day

The more cynical among us thought of Thursday’s Illinois Mens Basketball press conference as a pep rally.  It was actually a remarkable occurrence and a statement about the strength of the program.

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Before addressing the press conference, I want to be clear about something right from the start. People deserve a second chance.

I often say that its okay to make a mistake, as long as you don’t make it again.  However, some mistakes are so serious that the consequences need to be severe and a second chance shouldn’t be in the cards.

Domestic violence in my book is one such mistake.  Any player guilty of domestic violence should have no place on the Illini basketball team. It should be that simple.

Now, the press conference.

There were more than a few negative comments and columns on Twitter about the press conference Thursday.

Was Whitman playing the attorney for John Groce, kicking him under the table when he said too much?  Didn’t John Groce look really uncomfortable being there?  Didn’t John Groce’s jacket look too big? Where’s our ten-point detailed plan for the future? Why didn’t I hear anyone mention Lean Six Sigma? Etc.

This press conference was a number of things, and yes, that included a plan.

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But first and foremost it was an incredibly heartfelt and human response to a very trying time for the program.

The press conference wasn’t focus grouped.  It wasn’t polished. It wasn’t scripted by PR or attorneys. It was two men confronting a problem as human beings, not as scripted automatons.

Any discomfort that Groce displayed was likely based on the fact that he was discussing this issue at all.  And who can blame him?

Obviously Groce would prefer to discuss X’s and O’s, recruiting, and the relative merits of his team’s performance and future.  What coach wouldn’t?  Who wants to talk about the allegedly criminal actions of people whose off-court behavior they are, at least partially, responsible for?

But Whitman and Groce didn’t run from this.  Instead, seeing a brewing firestorm, they stepped in to address it.

Whitman said this is what he will do in these situations.  That is leadership.  While I appreciate that and think it is the right approach, hopefully it isn’t necessary very often.

It was clearly Whitman’s decision to hold this press conference, but I doubt he was met with any resistance from Groce, who would never miss an opportunity to champion Illinois basketball.

It was clear that both of these men were there Thursday mostly to demonstrate that they are fully invested in the program and in its future.  They sent a loud message to the fans and recruits.

Amid the chaos, there is stability.  Human beings make bad choices.  But the players will be supported, while simultaneously being held responsible for their actions.  For their bad choices.

The watchword of the day was “choices.”

Both Whitman and Groce discussed the importance of choices that players make, most relevantly off the court.

At one point, Groce said: “Life is about choices.”  And of course that is true.  And within that truth exists many, many life lessons.

Groce reminded us of a significant choice that he made.  In that context, he discussed why he chose to coach.  He said it was because he wanted “to impact kids lives… educate them.”

Whitman has done a “deep dive” into the program and I think he saw what many of us see.  Groce is a teacher.  He cares deeply.  And he has the skills and drive to put the Illini back on the right track.

Regardless of how you feel though, it is important that the discussion remains civil.  I admit that I have been a little less than polite in some of my comments to those who had a negative opinion of the press conference.

As fans, one thing we all share is the desire to see Illinois succeed, and that passion for success manifests itself sometimes in kind of ugly ways.

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But as my grandfather used to say, there’s more than one way to skin a cat.  Some of us are in Whitman’s corner and think that the best way to succeed is to stay the course, support the coach, and battle through the adversity.

Others want to mutiny, remove the coach, and hope something better comes along. I understand both perspectives.

Either way, we all want a plan.

Some of us heard a plan, albeit somewhat of a zen approach to the delivery.  That doesn’t cut it for some of you.

Some of you wanted to hear details, a step-by-step plan with very specific information.  The difference probably comes down to trust.

I trust that Whitman and Groce know what they are doing, and that they know some things that we don’t.

From my perspective, a plan was laid out – albeit in broad strokes – but it was there.  Build bodies. Build character. Build relationships. Build confidence. Educate. Recruit.

The details for all of that take place in the classroom.  The classroom is the locker room, the living room, the basketball court, the coaches office.  But the classroom does not extend to the press room. Some people have a problem with that. I don’t.

We all heard, perhaps, what we are conditioned to hear. This is what I heard:

“Peace of mind produces right values, right values produce right thoughts. Right thoughts produce right actions and right actions produce work which will be a material reflection for others to see of the serenity at the center of it all.”
Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values.   

The press conference was a step in the right direction.  A conversation with Illini Nation.  A plea to the fans to stay positive and to trust Whitman and Groce.  To chill the hell out, and deal with the fact that Groce isn’t going anywhere.