Loyalty in College Sports

Oh Mike, say it ain't so.

Mike Anderson has officially left the University of Missouri's basketball program to become the head coach at the University of Arkansas. Less than a week ago Anderson was quoted as saying, "I've always stated I'm a Missouri Tiger. I'm excited about what is taking place here." Sounds like Mike wasn't going anywhere, anytime soon.

Courtesy of: NewsOne

But here we sit, less than a week after his team was eliminated from the NCAA basketball tournament, and Mike is headed to the place where his coaching career began. The University of Missouri's Board of Curators had approved a bump in salary that would have made Anderson a $2 million per year head coach over the next seven years; apparently Arkansas upped that offer to $2.2.

I understand, at least a little anyway, why Mike wanted to head back to Fayetteville; he spent 17 seasons under coach Nolan Richardson as an assistant, and even two games as a head coach when Richardson was fired before Anderson's last season there.

Mike Anderson and Nolan Richardson

Courtesy of: SW Times

But for the most part, I flat out don't get it. He had recruits in place; the team was in the Top 25 for all but two weeks this season. Why the big rush, Mike? I forgot that Arkansas was a hot bed for basketball... Oh wait, it's not. The SEC is the ultimate football conference; think getting people to watch Big 12 basketball was tough? Try it in the SEC, Mike.

This is where I question the loyalty of Mike Anderson. He recruited his "best friend" Paul Pressey's two sons to come and play for him at Mizzou, and then leaves them out to dry? Now, there is a chance that Phil and Matt could transfer, but why make them sit out a year for your selfish intentions? Reports have stated that guys left Mizzou Arena in tears tonight... Was it worth the extra $200,000, Mike?

This is the ultimately sickening thing about college sports; everyone wants to be the top dog. Coaches recruit kids to come to school, stay four years, get an education, and win basketball games. Who knows if their coach is even going to be there for all four? These kids make decisions that are going to affect the rest of their lives when they sign a National Letter of Intent to play at a university, why doesn't the coach have to do the same?

I hope Anderson has to forfeit some of his new contract to pay for the breach of contract ($1.4 million) the University of Missouri will receive from the University of Arkansas.

"40 Minutes in Hell" may be over at the University of Missouri, but good times are ahead for Mizzou's program, with or without CMA.