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Gibson
Must Go
IV

By Ted McKean

Part four of a four part series.

Perhaps it's all sour grapes. Maybe all those old players who
left basketball Coach Bill Gibson didn't really have legitimate
gripes. Maybe the disillusionment that this year's team has
suffered under is a figment of imagination. But then what does
the future hold in store for Virginia basketball? Maybe Bill
Gibson will change his ways to a degree; maybe a decent
atmosphere between player and coach will once again be
generated.

We doubt it. Three years ago Coach Gibson held a meeting of
his team during the season when dissension was at its peak. He
asked the players to air their gripes, and they did, in a most
vehement and explicit manner. The same gripes that have come to
bear this year somehow came out at that meeting of three years
ago. At that point, Gibson made proses of reform. The change
was short term a player reported.

We feel that very little will come of the list of grievances
submitted about Coach Gibson. The chances of his reform appear
negligible; a trend has been set. Coach Gibson's coaching
techniques are well and permanently established; change for the
better seems very unlikely.

But Steve Sebo, Athletic Director, finds himself in a touchy
position. Whether he wants a new coach or not, he cannot fire
Gibson. That would be a concession to the mutinous crew of
players, a concession that Maryland made and was consequently
laughed at across the entire country. The Athletic Department
must prevail, or, in the minds of some, a precedent will be set
which will allow every college team in the nation with any gripe
concerning the coaching to simply fire up a petition and dispose
of the coach.

But Sebo must make some significant action to satisfy the
rebels. If he doesn't, then he may not have five players to don the
orange and blue when basketball season opens next November.
The dissatisfaction is extremely deep seeded, not something that
was merely the result of a drunken whim in Charlotte. This
dissatisfaction has been building for years. We hope that Mr.
Sebo, and the Faculty Committee on Athletics, comprehend the
seriousness of the situation.

We also hope that Mr. Gibson realizes the seriousness of the
charges against him. For in all of our investigations and
discussions with former players and current players, compliments
directed toward the coach have been conspicuously absent, from
the most mild mannered to the most outspoken players. The best
we have heard is awe for Gibson's recruiting ability, yet is that
really well founded?

For instance, what about the idea of the great Boston Celtic
star Sam Jones, who is retiring following this season? To get a
coach of his calibre and reputation would prove a tremendous
coup, a sensational first in the breaking of racial barriers, and a
move that would put the University of Virginia on the athletic
map for good. Although Jones is slated to take the job of Athletic
Director at Federal City College, a new school in Washington,
D.C. next season, he has not signed a contract as of yet. In a
conversation with The Cavalier Daily last week however, Jones
did mention that he made a binding promise to Federal City.

Let's permit our imaginations to run away with us. What if
Coach Gibson were to resign suddenly and surprisingly, and we
would have to look for a new coach. First of all, we'd be behind
Maryland, who, although they still have a basketball coach (who
is on the ropes), are now reportedly out looking furiously for a
replacement. But maybe we could come up with an ingenious
move that Maryland or any of the others had not thought of.

Another outstanding possibility would be Ernie Fears (also
mentioned in a previous letter to the editor), the very successful
coach at Norfolk State. Fears, it is said, has done minor miracles
with the material he has had to work with at Norfolk.

Yet we may as well consider these mere pipe dreams. For
Coach Gibson, as far as the Athletic Department, is here to stay.
His foes and there are many, can only hope for his resignation.
Our vote is cast.