Indiana University forwards Emmitt Holt and Thomas Bryant were cited for underage drinking early August 22. According to IndyStar, Holt and Bryant were cited for illegal possession of alcohol at a local convenience store.

Though the students weren’t officially arrested, the negative publicity that this incident has brought the school has more than upset the university’s president Michael McRobbie. McRobbie addressed the behavior of his athletes in a staff meeting, saying that the stories of the behavior does nothing but, “… embarrass the university, they embarrass all of you in athletics, and they are a complete distraction from our primary role as an educational institution.” (IndyStar)

NCAA guidelines have left matters such as underage drinking up to the school the athletes belong to. McRobbie’s reaction to the behavior of his athletes gives the impression that some kind of disciplinary action will be taken against the players, but just how far is he willing to go?

Indiana state law has a variety of penalties in place for minors found to be in illegal possession of alcohol including,
• Suspension of driver’s license for up to one year
• Spending up to 60 days in jail
• Paying up to a $500 fine
• Participating in a court-ordered alcohol treatment program

It is evidenced by Holt’s prior offense that none of these penalties will be enforced on these two athletes. According to USA Today, Holt was cited in Nov. 2014 for underage drinking and hitting his teammate with his car, and only received a two week suspension as a consequence of his actions.

The lack of severe penalties for these behaviors has allowed head coach Tom Crean’s players to slowly spiral out of control. Not only are his players putting their futures at risk, but they are putting the future of Hoosier Basketball in jeopardy as well by bringing such a bad name to it.