Dear President LaTourette:

The recent firing of Coach James Rosborough as your head basketball coach appalls me. This is a major break in the trust and integrity of your university.

When Coach Rosborough was hired, Robert J. Brigham, then-athletic director, told him he would have at least four years to build the program which Coach Rosborough felt he needed. Over the past three years I have been following his progress. I have attended several of the games and presently am a two-year member of the Huskie Club. The first year he had no options because of his late appointment and he worked with the talent on hand. He now has had two successful years of recruiting and has built a young team of freshman and sophomores into seasoned players for next year. Four members who were transfers or had been red-shirted because of injuries will return to strengthen the squad.

He really has had only two years of building and to fire him from the job as coach just as the team comes together seems incredulous. We have just witnessed Tom Landry being sacked as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys when the new owner brought in his college roommate. He owns the team and has the right to do what he wants, but your university has a higher calling. If your school does not stand by its word how can you teach the students of tomorrow about ethics, character and fair play? It appears that your new athletic director is bringing in a friend. Coach Rosborough was selected by your committee over many applicants based on his abilities and not because he had a close friend as athletic director.

Coach Rosborough has built character in his players as they project the image of gentlemen on the road. He has the support of his players. We have all witnessed violations of ethics and the rules of fair play in several major university sports programs. Let Northern Illinois University raise their standards as a major university where ethics and principles are the foundation of education.

I think your only option is to re-instate Coach Rosborough for one or more years—to fulfill your end of the agreement.

Thomas W. Rogers

president

Thomas Rogers Company

Moline