Georgetown finally fires John Thompson III

… ending the Thompson era 

If any other coach had accomplished what John Thompson III has at Georgetown in recent years, he would have been gone long ago.

However, JT III is the son of the legendary Coach John Thompson Jr., who built G-town into a national power in the 1980s.

This was a case of where nepotism was not the right move. JT III did well early, taking the Hoyas to the 2007 Final Four in his third session a the helm, but they have not even made the tournament three of the past four seasons. They have not competed in the Big East, as diminished as it is compared to the glory years, finishing next to last, 5-13, 14-18 overall.

That is ninth out of ten-team league.

What a fall for the mighty Hoyas.

Administration has waffled on this

Still, the administration has dawdled over the past month trying to determine his fate.

Really? Were he not the plantation owner's son, he would never have been there.

It is time for Georgetown to develop a basketball program in the post-Thompson era. And there are some great looking young coaches out there right now.

King Rice at Monmouth could have been one had his team not collapsed in the MAAC playoffs. Danny Hurley's is also there.

Students revolted

Even the G-town students petitioned to have him removed.

In fact, the administration response may have been precipitated by the threat of a students protest that was scheduled for Friday afternoon.

According to the Casual Hoya website, written prior to the firing, "On Friday afternoon, students plan to lead a protest on Georgetown’s campus asking for accountability from University leadership on the situation with the men’s basketball team. After three weeks without a response from Georgetown administrators to the student/alumni petition fans submitted to the university with over 1,400 signatures, fans are still demanding answers."

Editorials at The Hoya and The Georgetown Voice have demanded change, and finally, their voices have been heard.

Yet, the looming, towering 6-11 presence of his father on campus has prevented that.

Until Thursday, the day the Sweet 16 begins. Now, maybe Hoya fans can again start thinking about becoming a national power and competing for a national title.

And, now, maybe I can start rooting for Georgetown again.