Players react to dismissal

Cam Cameron may not have achieved a winning season during his five years as IU's head football coach, but his impact on his players was undeniable Wednesday afternoon.\nJust hours after IU Athletics Director Michael McNeely announced his decision to let Cameron go, the players met with their former coach for an emotional meeting. \n"(The meeting) was very silent," senior linebacker Justin Smith said. "Most of the coaches weren't there because they are out recruiting right now. But coach Cameron was very emotional and you could feel the emotion. This program is full of people with character, and we've been through a lot together. Coach Cam will be able to bounce back from this and be successful."\nLess than four days ago, it was a giddy and excited bunch that talked to the press following a Kentucky win, but it was an uncharacteristically subdued group of players that discussed the fate of its coach.\nMinutes before the press conference, the players had to say goodbye to their coach. The players who met with the press looked shocked, and one player left before any questions began.\nBut instead of giving their opinion about the decision, the players talked about their coach and what he's meant to them and the program.\n"We're very close, and we still will be very close even though he's not a coach," senior quarterback Antwaan Randle El said, without his usual enthusiasm. "Not only was he a coach, he was a friend and I think that's more important than anything. He's someone you can relate to, that encourages you and gives you advice. He's a very close friend of mine, and we do what friends do."\nCameron took over the coaching position when the now-fifth year seniors joined the football program. This year's team was solely comprised of Cameron's recruits, and the positive way he lead and influenced the team was expressed by various players.\nOvercoming adversity had become the recurring theme for a team that started the bitterly disappointing season 1-5 and faced harsh criticism.\nBut even though people outside of the program criticized the program, it was the coaching staff the players credit with keeping the team together.\n"It's kind of a shock," junior tight end Kris Dielman said. "Everybody was jumping out of the boat when we were 1-5 and then we turned around and won out some big games. But coach Cam kept us going. I didn't expect this. I had a lot of respect for coach Cam. I'm shocked."\nOff the field, Cameron helped direct his team through a variety of personal tragedies that affected the team in the past couple seasons.\nMost recent was the tragedy surrounding Levron Williams and the death of his mother. During the meeting, Cameron reminded the team to keep Williams in mind, and remember to help him with whatever he needs.\nPrior to this season, the team faced misfortune when former offensive coach Pete Schmidt passed away from cancer, and also when the Hoosiers administrative assistant Buck Suhr lost his daughter.\nCameron guided the players through these situations, and to the 4-1 finish following the bye-week.\n"I thought he was a good coach," junior tackle Enoch DeMar said with a solemn face. "I liked him. Losing the coach that recruited you hasn't sunk in yet, because I think a lot of the parents had their faith in him. I know my parents had their faith in him, because he recruited us, he knows us. I was already disciplined, but he showed me how to stick to your plan and work hard. I totally didn't expect it. That's all I can say"