5-ON-5 WITH OKLAHOMA'S KELVIN SAMPSON                                                                                                            >>> CollegeInsider.com

DAVE MAGARITY: What can we do to change the negative perception of our profession?

KELVIN SAMPSON: Take care of yourself. Live life with integrity and character. You have to have character when others are not around as well.

MAGARITY: How much do you think you can accomplish as NABC President?

SAMPSON: I think it's important to qualify what "accomplish" is. It is an honor and a privilege to lead our organization is such a tumultuous time. The actions of a few have to come to a head this year, but I am most proud of the progress which we continue to make. For the first time ever, the entire NCAA staff was in attendance at an NABC meeting. Myles Brand and his people are committed to making our game better and helping coaches. They are revisiting many rules in an effort to better serve the game. I feel very good about the partnership we have with Myles Brand and the NCAA.

MAGARITY: From all your years of coaching, who is the one player made the most lasting impression?

SAMPSON: Eduardo Najera and Hollis Price. When we are young we have heroes, but as we get older we have people that inspire us and Eduardo and Hollis inspired me. Eduardo scored a 7 on the ACT because he could not speak English. As a redshirt freshman he enrolled in two accelerated English courses and quickly made tremendous strides. He took the ACT again and scored an 18. He called me when he signed his five-year 24 million dollar contract with Dallas. Hollis was just a consummate leader. Some are given the title of leader, but others continue to earn the respect and admiration of others, each and every day?

MAGARITY: Which is more likely to happen in the next 100 years, the Red Sox winning the World Series or Ted Williams returning to the lineup?
SAMPSON: (laughing) I suppose that depends on the the advancements in cryogenics. Boston should have been in the World Series this season. They are close. It will be an interesting off season, but they have a chance to be better in 2004?

MAGARITY: Who would have been a better coach, General Lee or General Grant?

SAMPSON: That's a great question. Grant's teams would have been ranked higher, but Lee would have been better at overcoming injuries and adversity. He overachieved, doing so much more with so much less.

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