UIndy works to maintain reputation
The way athletes represent their alma mater came into focus at the University of Indianapolis after Adrian Moss, a former UIndy basketball player, was arrested on Oct. 5 in downtown Indianapolis in connection with disorderly conduct and public intoxication.
Shortly after 3 a.m., the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department received a dispatch of a disturbance on Meridian Street. According to the official IMPD police report, when officers arrived at the scene, several males were attempting to remove Moss from the situation but he would not leave.
According to the report, Moss continued to make unreasonable noise as the officer ordered him to leave the scene. The officer then arrested Moss who continued to yell, “I am a professional basketball player.”
Because Moss recently was drafted in the first round of the National Basketball League of Canada and traded to the London Lightning, his arrest involved UIndy in the resulting media coverage.
According to Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Sue Willey, this is not the first incident of this nature that has involved an athlete at UIndy, although these incidents are usually minimal and do not attract as much media coverage.
“When you have too much alcohol, you make poor decisions, and it can cost you very big,” Willey said. “I preach that while they [student-athletes] are here and hope that they remember that when they leave.”
Men’s Basketball Head Coach Stan Gouard said that coaches and others frequently emphasize making good decisions, knowing that student-athletes are public figures. Gouard said that the university always has made an effort to ensure the safety of its students.
“There is an alcohol policy in effect here. We have rules for our team, and we hold basketball players to a higher standard,” Gouard said. “Dr. Willey has done an excellent job with the alcohol policies, but it’s up to the athlete not to abuse the things that we put into effect. At the end of the day, we are just trying to make these guys successful.”
Gouard went on to say that he hopes his players understand that what they do now will affect their future.
“You’ve got to make sure you carry yourself in a way that’s acceptable to yourself, to your family back home and then [to] your UIndy family,” Gouard said.
Willey said that she does not have a problem with legal drinking, but that she believes there is a difference between social drinking and trying to get drunk.
“Some people come to college to drink and get drunk,” Willey said. “If that is what you want to do, you shouldn’t be a student-athlete.”
Willey said that she does her best to warn students that what they do comes back to their university even after they graduate, and she may consider having a meeting with the seniors to make sure they are aware of this in the future.
According to Willey, she has been adamant about alcohol policies because to her the most important purpose is to make sure that Greyhound athletes leave the university with a degree. Willey said that is the reason she enjoys Division II is because she feels that academics are more important than athletics.
“I’m happy for players when they get to go on and play at the professional level, but not as happy as I am if they play at the professional level as a graduate of UIndy,” Willey said.
Gouard believes coaches and others need to keep doing what they have been doing to try to prevent future issues.
“We—as coaches, administrators—need to make sure we keep assuring these guys that it’s OK to do the right thing. It’s OK not to drink,” Gouard said. “Are they always going to make a good decision? No. But I feel good because we talk about it every day.”
