ANALYSIS/OPINION:
Georgetown University’s alumni may have found out something about themselves while they secretly worked to force the school to fire John Thompson III as head basketball coach.
They’re no different than the Louisville alumni who protected basketball coach Rick Pitino during the school’s recruiting sex scandal, where basketball officials helped organize sex parties for recruits. Or the Syracuse alumni who did all they could in the midst of that school’s academic and drug testing scandal to make sure that Jim Boeheim would not be forced out.
I’m sure Hoya nation doesn’t want to think of themselves that way, but they live by the same code that every other program in college sports today seems to live by — the Al Davis school of education, “Just Win, Baby.”
John Thompson III didn’t win enough. That was his fireable offense.
“It is with profound regret and deep appreciation that I informed John Thompson III this morning that the university will no longer be retaining his services as our head men’s basketball coach,” school president Jack DeGioia said in a statement. “For 13 years, he has been one of the elite coaches in college basketball. His performance as a coach has been exceptional, and he has served our community with remarkable distinction and integrity, sustaining our commitment to the academic performance of our students and providing them with the very best preparation for their lives beyond the Hilltop.”
Thompson represented the tradition of basketball excellence that put the school on the map — the son of the father, the great Hall of Fame coach, John Thompson Jr. In the end, though, it wasn’t enough for the son of the father that represented the school’s legacy, far more than any rich or powerful alumnus.
He didn’t win, not like Pitino, not like Boeheim and finally, not like his father, who took Georgetown to three straight Final Fours in the 1980s and won one national championship.
John Thompson III didn’t win like that — but he still represented that history, that era of excellence. It was the school’s connection to the past that changed the landscape for Georgetown and college basketball.
His name should have bought him a coaching tenure on his terms — but that benefit is only reserved for coaches who win, no matter what the cost.
John Thompson III had a record of 278-151 at Georgetown, with eight NCAA tournament appearances, including one Final Four in 2007. That success, though, and the tradition of the connection to the legacy of his father, wasn’t enough to buy JT3 enough time to right a ship that had gone wrong, with early exits from the tournament, two straight losing seasons, and some failed recruiting classes and players leaving.
People will say it was time, but I believed it should have been time only when JT3 thought it was time. Yes, I believe the Thompson name had earned the son the right to leave on his terms. Besides, I think he can coach. He proved that before he even arrived at Georgetown when he went 68-42 at Princeton. No one has accused JT3 of being a bad coach.
His crime wasn’t covering up failed drug tests, academic cheating, or bringing in hookers for recruits. Those sort of crimes in the cesspool that is college athletics are overlooked when you win.
Sometimes the crime of losing should be trumped by grace and dignity and tradition and legacy. There’s no shame in that.
Then again, there’s no shame in college athletics, period.
Like he handled himself during his 13 seasons at Georgetown, JT3 handled his firing with grace and dignity.
“I am honored to have been the head coach at Georgetown University for the past 13 years, where I had the privilege of coaching and mentoring outstanding student-athletes,” JT3 said in a statement issued by his attorney, the notorious agent, David Falk. “I am proud of what my players have accomplished on the court and how they are thriving since leaving Georgetown.
“I have been fortunate to work for a dynamic forwarding-thinking President, Jack De Gioia, whose guidance and unwavering support I cherish,” he continued in the statement. “I would also like to thank Athletic Director Lee Reed for his strong and public affirmation, particularly during difficult times.
“I am grateful to the fans of Georgetown for their tremendous support. Georgetown Basketball has been part of my life since 1972, which makes this moment even more impactful but I look forward to my next chapter.”
It was a gracious statement, but it didn’t come out of the school. It came from Falk, which would indicate that this may have been a bitter exit. And, based on the way JT3 went out of his way to thank DeGioia and athletic director Lee Reed, the bitterness wasn’t there.
No, it was likely the nameless, faceless, rich and powerful alumni who decided the embarrassment and pain of losing trumped the legacy that the Thompson name had built at their beloved school. If JT3 had only won, they likely would have overlooked any other crimes, like they did in Louisville and Syracuse and other schools.
We will have to see how the icon, his father, John Thompson, Jr., responds moving forward. He won’t be nameless. He was the name and face of Georgetown University — and so was his son.
If there was ever a place where your name should carry the weight to crush the indulgences of an ungrateful fan base, it should have been Georgetown.
• Thom Loverro hosts his weekly podcast “Cigars & Curveballs” Wednesdays available on iTunes and Google Play.
• Thom Loverro can be reached at tloverro@washingtontimes.com.
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