After my shift ended at work today, I scrolled through my Twitter feed, and started seeing Kevin Wilson’s name all over my screen. At first I figured he said something funny/controversial, but then I realized some major shit had gone down in IU Athletics. My first reaction was shock, since Wilson has brought our program back from the ashes (for IUFB standards) and to our second bowl game in a row. IU signed Wilson to a 5 year, $15 million contract last season, so I figured Kev would be IU’s coach until I got my diploma in 2020, if not longer.

Then shit hit the fan.

Speculation was rampant in the first few minutes after news of Wilson’s firing broke, but we could all agree on one thing: it was a non-football issue. Wilson record at IU was a losing one, but he engineered 4 straight wins over Purdue and was marching the Hoosiers towards their first back to back bowl game (#IUFB4NASHVILLE) since the Stone Age. Athletic Director Fred Glass cited “philosophical differences in terms of leadership” as the reason for Wilson’s “resignation”. Rumors swirled of abusive conduct towards players, including pressuring injured players to play anyways. Multiple former players alleged they were forced to play through concussions and other injuries by Wilson. But Glass addressed these rumors, saying an investigation was done and that student athletes were not being put at risk. So, this begs the question: what the hell went wrong?

Did I mention that IU immediately hired rising star DC Tom Allen on the spot?

Not as an interim, but as permanent HC. I don’t blame them, since Allen has made the IU defense a formidable force in the Big 10, which is quite the step-up from being about as effective as a pitcher in a t-ball league. But if Wilson wasn’t removed for player misconduct, why was he? I imagine Kevin’s reaction to his firing was similar to that of his faux Twitter persona, @FakeCoachWilson . And, if there wasn’t any misconduct, I can’t really blame him. My impression, based on Glass’s comments, is that the two had been butting heads, and when Glass realized that he had a high quality DC in Allen, he went for the kill. What better way to keep the top DC on your staff than to oust the guy you always disagree with from the top spot? If Wilson did something wrong, just make it public and clear, or at least provide a less shitty explanation for his firing. I’m not a fan of IU Athletics politics kicking a solid coach to the curb without cause. That having been said, I think Allen will do a fine job, and I’m a big fan of his. But I believe that IU Athletics owes Wilson and the fans a better explanation than “leadership differences”. Because right now it looks like a Glass-led coup.

While we’re on the topic of IU Athletics, I have a simple request. If Wilson’s firing had anything to do with player misconduct, IU made the right choice. But they should make an effort to extend this commitment to respecting student athletes across the board by not inviting Bob Knight to any more reunions. At last night’s IUBB game versus UNC, the 1981 Championship team was honored, and to nobody’s surprise, Knight, in his classic asshole fashion, refused to attend. And frankly, I’m glad. Bob Knight was awful to his players, and there are dozens of reports of him physically and verbally assaulting his players. The number of banners he won for IU are meaningless in comparison to his treatment of his players. I’d take Tom Crean, who loves his players like a father, over Knight any day.

I wish Kevin Wilson all the best. It’s been a helluva roller coaster ride, and, barring any reports of misconduct, I truly feel bad for him in this seemingly unjust firing. #BOOM4KEV