Mike Woodson’s former head coach at Indiana used the Senior Day microphone as an opportunity to get some things off his chest from time to time.
In March of 1994 he delivered one of his more famous lines as seniors Damon Bailey, Todd Leary and Pat Graham awaited their moment to address the fans.
“When my time on Earth is gone and my activities here are past, I want they bury me upside down and my critics can kiss my ass,” Bob Knight famously said to an adoring crowd. Many rose to their feet and gave a standing ovation at Assembly Hall.
So to some, it comes as no surprise to see Senior Day pivot away from the routine on occasion.
And it seems there were multiple agendas at play Sunday evening when Woodson and two of his players took center stage on the Branch McCracken Court.
Woodson, who found himself on the hot seat after a 14-13 start, had a message for the vocal group of fans who have been calling for his job.
After thanking the band, cheerleaders and several others, Woodson turned to the crowd.
“And most of all, our true fans,” he said. “True fans. I’ll say that again, true fans.”
There was no mistaking the intent. And while the circumstances were much different, the core message wasn’t all that different than Knight’s 30 years earlier — critics, bend down and smooch.
Then Woodson turned to sixth-year guard Xavier Johnson, and again showed displeasure with the portion of the fan base that has been critical of his player.
“I’ve got so much respect for (Xavier Johnson). So much respect. Because the true fans understand. All that other shit, they don’t understand.”
And finally, Woodson exited center stage with one more message for anyone who might still doubt his standing as IU head coach.
“Thank you fans for being true,” Woodson said. “And I am the coach here, understand that. And I’m not going anywhere.”
Johnson and Anthony Walker are going somewhere. They’re out of eligibility. But they kind of took a back seat on this Senior Day to those who will return. And that was a bit unfortunate.
The two other players participating in the festivities were of course Anthony Leal and Trey Galloway, both seniors who have a fifth-year of eligibility remaining. Both Leal and Galloway knew they were returning to Indiana for that fifth season before taking the mic on Sunday. So why did they participate in Senior Day?
Because they both had an agenda as well.
And it was very similar to something they both did three years ago.
But first Leal had to throw his full support behind Woodson. He too delivered a confident message aimed again at the subset of fans howling for a coaching change at IU.
“I do have to make something very clear,” Leal said. “Adversity is part of sports. And for those of you who are so quick to give up and call for quits and everything, there’s a reason why you guys aren’t coaches. So relax, there’s no other coach in the country I’d trust with anything in my life than Coach Woodson, and there’s no other university that I’d want to represent. So we’re gonna run it back, but you guys gotta chill.”
You guys gotta chill?
No, that’s not Leal taking a shot at the fans.
That’s Leal trying to establish harmony between two factions he’s been a part of — the fan base and the program. And that’s Leal trying to provide stability for the future.
That instinct seems to come natural to both Leal and Galloway.
Just hours after Archie Miller was fired three years ago, those same two players announced they were returning, irrespective of the coach. At that moment, Leal and Galloway became the foundation for the future, even as all of their teammates entered the transfer portal.
Over the last few weeks, there’s been speculation about a similar rush to the portal following this season, along with Woodson’s tenuous job security.
Indiana did leak last week Woodson would be back next year. But it wasn’t at all clear who, if anyone, would be returning to play for him.
So why did Leal and Galloway address the fans on Sunday?
As Leal said, he can give his Senior Day speech next year.
But this year?
For the second time, the two Indiana kids stuck their necks out, and became the foundation for a program facing an uncertain future.
And real fan or not, that’s something everyone should be able to appreciate.
The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”
- Find us on Facebook: thedailyhoosier
- You can follow us on Twitter: @daily_hoosier
- Seven ways to support completely free IU coverage at no cost to you.
