By RANDY PETERSON and STACI HUPP
The Des Moines Register

AMES, Iowa - Iowa State University President Gregory Geoffroy on Tuesday called the national attention created by basketball coach Larry Eustachy's behavior on two Big 12 campuses "embarrassing" for the university.

One day after photos and an article detailed Eustachy's involvement in early morning parties with students at the University of Missouri and Kansas State University, the discussion and debate extended beyond Geoffroy's office - and far beyond Ames.

Cyclone players exited a meeting with athletic director Bruce Van De Velde, with some saying they would play for the embattled coach only if he sought help for his drinking. Media around the nation speculated about Eustachy's future with the program.

"The attention has been embarrassing to Iowa State University," Geoffroy said. "I'm not happy about that."

Iowa State players such as guard Jake Sullivan, the Cyclones' leading scorer as a junior last season, said their coach needs assistance.

"If he gets help for his drinking problem, I want him to be our coach," Sullivan said.

Eustachy has not acknowledged having a drinking problem, but in a statement released Monday, he said he was "aware of the role drinking has played in my behavior." The statement added, "I am addressing this matter."

The article and photos, initially published in The Des Moines Register on Monday (PHOTOS) , show Eustachy with beer at a campus party Jan. 23. Photos chronicled the 47-year-old married man kissing the cheeks of, and being kissed by, college-age women.

One Iowa State player defended Eustachy Tuesday, saying the coach was paying heavily for a mistake.

Guard Tim Barnes, who will be a senior this fall, disagreed with teammates that Eustachy has a problem related to drinking.

"I don't think he has an alcohol problem," Barnes said. "Everybody drinks every now and again. It's just unfortunate that at this time, they tried to put it on him that he's a villain when, in reality, he's just a human being.

"Everybody makes mistakes. For him to pay for it like this is very unfortunate."

Geoffroy said he and other Iowa State officials were studying options related to Eustachy's future at the university, but he declined to elaborate.

A decision will be made soon, he said. "It's important to move this along as quickly as possible," he said. "We are treating this very, very seriously."

Eustachy has not returned repeated calls seeking comment.

Van De Velde said late Tuesday afternoon that Eustachy's status at Iowa State still was being discussed.

"We have not made any decisions yet," Van De Velde said.

National debate

The impact of Eustachy's behavior at Missouri - and also at a January 2002 fraternity party at Kansas State - generated national interest Tuesday.

One example was at ESPN, where the story produced across-the-board impact.

On the Internet, Eustachy's future was the lead story on ESPN.com. The Web site's online poll logged more than 170,000 votes by early Tuesday evening.

On the radio, ESPN personality Tony Kornheiser said his three-hour morning program received about 400 e-mails related to Iowa State's coach.

On television, Boston Globe columnist Bob Ryan said on an ESPN program that Eustachy could struggle to retain his job: "It's the Heartland. We're not talking L.A. or Chicago or Boston or New York - we're talking the Heartland. If he survives, he's a very lucky man."

Eustachy is known across the country after leading Iowa State to the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament in 2000, when he was named national coach of the year.

Geoffroy said the university would make decisions related to Eustachy based on Iowa State's interests, not national pressure.

"I think people are basing their opinions on their own values, what they believe to be right and wrong," he said. "Ultimately, the decision will be made in terms of what's in the best long-term interest of Iowa State University."

Van De Velde said university officials were gathering a range of input before taking additional steps.

"There are a number of stakeholders that this impacts, and I think that we owe it to listen to people as we assess the situation," Van De Velde said.