| Updated: 11/30/2012 10:14 pm |
Published: 11/30/2012 9:59 pm
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A dark cloud hung over the University of Tulsa's campus Friday night on the eve of the Conference USA Championship game against Central Florida.
The cloud comes from the suspension of athletic director Ross Parmley after he was named in an FBI indictment involving gambling.
Around TU's campus Friday some fans were concerned about the scandal, but all affirmed they would continue to stand behind the university and its athletic department no matter what.
One of those fans was Scott Schell, who's been a lifelong Golden Hurricane fan. Schell couldn't remember there ever being a scandal at TU like this before.
"To me, it's been crazy," Schell said. "They just caught themselves in a bad moment, especially with championship weekend."
But NCAA investigation or not, Schell said he would continue standing behind his favorite team and focusing on the Conference USA Championship game Saturday.
"If we are willing to stand behind our team, who cares what the outcome is for any investigation," he said.
Others were concerned the investigation would become a factor on the field Saturday.
"Now it just causes a huge distraction," a student told FOX23 News. "So now they're focused on something totally different, and that just...it definitely may be a big setback."
But in a week where the landscape of college sports changed once again with Tulane and East Carolina leaving Conference USA for bigger opportunities, and Middle Tennessee and Florida Atlantic taking their places, this is a time when an athletic director should be behind the wheel guiding TU's ship.
But even though Parmley isn't around, Schell is confident TU will be in a good place when the conference realignment dust settles.
"I think they'll stay with conference USA or go to a bigger, better location," Schell said.
But if Parmley were in the driver's seat, Schell would have some preferences for TU's future.
"Probably either Big East or Big 12," he said. "But I know they have a lot of challenges ahead of them to actually get up into those ranks."
For now, Schell was just hoping his fellow fans would leave distractions aside when their team took the field Saturday morning.
"TU fans, we just always stick behind our team," Schell said. "That's just the way we are."
