This past week the University of Indiana decided that basketball coach Bobby Knight would be allowed to keep his job. A new zero-tolerance policy would be in place for him and, provided he meets several other minor requirements, everything will be OK.

I really could care less whether or not he’s there. Yeah, he’s pretty much a jerk, but he’s always provided me with a laugh, much like fellow clown-puncher John Rocker.

But it did make me think about how important winning is. If Bob Knight were not as successful as he has been, he would have been dismissed long ago. Three national championships will tend to make that cheek turning a little easier.

What really bothers me is how everybody always talks about how much academics and character count in collegiate athletics.

It’s just another great thing to talk about when it’s there, but when push comes to shove, winning is the bottom line.

Perhaps the greatest example of this is located right here at Iowa State in the Jacobsen building.

Dan McCarney runs what could be the cleanest program in Division I football. Nearly one-third of the football team posted at least a 3.0 GPA this past spring.

Seven made the Dean’s List and there was even a 4.0 or two in there. He recruits class players, and he isn’t afraid to kick players off the team if they get into trouble.

They’re not all eagle scouts, but it’s nice to see when they get in trouble it’s for stealing a $3 bottle of wine instead of dragging their girlfriend down a flight of stairs.

Ultimately, does anyone care?

Dan McCarney is the guy who chose to play in front of the student section instead of going on defense first in overtime vs. Wyoming in 1996. Or that he let Mike McKnight go for a 41 yard field goal when we were down by four against Colorado. Or that he never makes half-time adjustments. Or that he would never throw to Andy Stensrud, not that he buys flowers or donuts for every coach in the athletic department when their respective team wins. Or that he’ll show up to just about any student event if asked.

If we cared about academics, McCarney would be in the hall of fame. Instead, every year he has to fight for his job.

The best description I’ve heard of Dan McCarney came from a Cyclone Internet Message Board. “Sunday through Friday, I love the guy, but those god damn Saturdays.”

Winning teams may not recruit out of the local correctional facility, but Coach Mac seems to have a higher standard than nearly all others, which is good. How many times have you seen a Nebraska football player in trouble with the law on Sportscenter?

Take Tim Floyd. He raised the bar for ISU basketball in his four years here. He also recruited any warm body who could help him win. If you’re a good person, then hey, that’s a bonus. For every class guy, such as Dedric Willoughby and Marcus Fizer, there is a Belefia Parks and Dewayne Johns.

When we were beating Kansas in the Big 8 Final, I didn’t hear anybody calling for Joe Modderman to get in there for Kenny Pratt.

So where are we better off? Doing things the right way and making slow improvement, or taking chances on questionable players to win?

If you can be tops in the nation with student athletes who are always role models, you are not a coach, you’re a god. Or at least a Fennelly.

If Indiana has decided winning is more important, that’s fine. Knight is not a murderer; he’s just a jerk. If character mattered, he would have been fired 10 years ago.

Don’t give me any of that stuff about throwing the first stone. If Jesus were the Indiana President, he would have fired Bob Knight, too.

At any rate, barring a breakout season from ISU football, it will be an interesting decision made by the ISU Athletic Department. McCarney has done everything right since he’s been here.

There’s just that little 10-34 career record keeping him out of the hall.

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Matt Craft is a senior in secondary education from La Porte City. He doesn’t care what the football team’s record is next year as long as they beat Iowa.