April 30
The heat has been on Larry Eustachy at Iowa State. Talk about making bad decisions -- for a head coach to go to a co-ed party on the visiting team's campus after his team just lost ... that decision was certainly bad judgment.

Eustachy could face a big problem with credibility in the world of recruiting.

It's one thing to go out after a game or to attend a party, but now Eustachy has admitted that he has a drinking problem and is seeking counseling. I'm not aware of all the facts, but the first way to attack such a situation is to admit that there's a problem. Then you must develop strategies to solve the problem.

It seems to me that Eustachy has started to take steps to handle this situation. He has admitted that he was out of control. Getting the kind of help that's needed is the best thing he could do.

I believe he deserves a second chance. He has decided to look in the mirror -- he's attacked it like a man. He has decided it is time to solve the dilemma.

He's done some things that are clearly irrational for a leader and a coach. There could be a big problem with credibility in the world of recruiting. Can you see what will happen? There's so much negativity discussed behind the scenes.

There's no doubt that some people will send articles to his prospective recruits. They will be placed in front of moms and dads who help influence decisions about where those young men go to school. It will be interesting to see how Eustachy handles this.

	Eustachy

But let's give the guy a second shot. He has admitted he made a mistake, and hopefully he will learn from that. I believe it can be rectified. Eustachy said he knows how many people have been hurt. He understands he can't take the past back, so he wants to look ahead to the future. As he put it, "I can't unring the bell."

I wish Eustachy and his family the best in the future. This isn't an easy situation to deal with.

But maybe something positive can come out of this. I try to look at the glass as being half-full instead of half-empty. It's a plus that Eustachy admits he has a problem and understands he must change the situation if he wants to continue in his current position. He's earning megadollars at Iowa State, a reported $1 million a season after a long-term deal following Iowa State's run to the Elite Eight in 2000.