For several players on the men's basketball team, just the sight of legendary coach John Thompson sent adrenaline running through their bodies.
It's not everyday that the son of a Hall of Fame coach is named to the head coaching position at a university. Junior Charles Bass said he can't wait to begin playing under Ronny Thompson.
"There's a sense of excitement for what's going on around here," Bass said. "Seeing [Thompson] and his family support, it definitely rings a bell that he's serious and he's got the pedigree to prove it."
Bass was one of several players who attended the press conference Tuesday. Juniors Peyton Stovall, D'Andre Peyton and freshmen Pat Nelson and Brandon Lampley all showed up for the announcement.
Thompson met with players at 4 p.m. Tuesday to discuss his plans for the team and to prevent players from leaving the program. Thompson said he wanted to have one-on-one chats with players who are thinking about transferring from the team.
"I just need to get in front of them and let them get a feel for me and let me get a feel for them," Thompson said. "I just want to sit down face-to-face and chew fat."
Thompson has already lost one player. Maurice Acker signed a scholarship letter of agreement Tuesday afternoon with Marquette.
Since former coach Tim Buckley's reassignment, rumors have been circulating throughout the community that some of the younger players on the team could be transferring to other schools. Acker, the Mid-American Conference's Freshman of the Year, is the first to transfer away from Ball State.
Stovall, who will be returning to the team next season after missing most of the 2005-06 season because of an ACL-injury, said he expected players to have a positive reaction after meeting with Thompson.
"I think some of the guys want to get in here and talk to coach Thompson and just find out what he's about," Stovall said. "After that, I'm sure those guys will change their minds."
Michael Bennett, the Cardinals' director of basketball relations, has been leading the team in the three-week period since Buckley's reassignment. Bennett won't know the status of his future until he sits down to talk with Thompson but he said the last three weeks have been hectic trying to keep the players on schedule.
"I was running around with my head cut off trying to keep track of everyone and keep everything tied up so [Thompson] could come in with a smooth transition," Bennett said.
Bennett has been in close contact with many of the players and said they were in support of the coaching hire.
"The players I talked to so far are pretty happy with the decision," Bennett said. "His coaching pedigree speaks volumes and [players] haven't expressed any discouragement whatsoever."
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