At Indiana University, there is one man universally known as “coach.” In Indiana, there is one man known as “The General.” And, in the United States, there is one man known as Bobby Knight.
“We have given Indiana University basketball coach Bob Knight one last chance. And he’s failed to take full advantage of that opportunity,” pronounced Indiana University President Myles Brand on Sunday, Sept. 10. And with that, “The General” was relieved of his duty.
Bobby Knight, Indiana head basketball coach (1971-2000) was fired not for losses, but his wrath. With 763 wins, Knight is the fifth winningest coach in NCAA Division I basketball history. He led Indiana to three National Championships, five Final Fours, and 11 Big Ten titles. The greatness of Bobby Knight as a coach is indisputable, but what is in question is his temper.
In an incident last week, Bobby Knight was accused of grabbing and scolding an Indiana student for a blatant lack of respect. Knight was infuriated when the student called him by his last name. This incident was highly publicized by the media and led directly to Knight’s dismissal.
In his address to the media, Brand beat around the bush, saying that the latest incident was only one of many since the implementation of the zero-tolerance policy on May 15, 2000. To Brand, the incident with the Indiana student was the last straw in this ongoing saga.
Unfortunately, Indiana University handled the Knight situation inappropriately and unethically. If a zero-tolerance policy was put into place on May 15, why was Knight not removed from his position at the time of the earliest incident? Why did Indiana University not end this situation behind closed doors and not in the media?
After 29 years of service to the university did they not owe Knight the decency of a professional dismissal? The way that this incident was handled is an insult to the integrity of Knight and to college basketball.
Saying that Knight was not exactly an angel is an understatement. What he was, though, was one hell of a basketball coach on the court, and a man of respect off it. The university that Knight represented for 29 years owed him more than a press conference on national television. Indiana University could not fire the icon that Knight was in an indiscreet manner. Knight had to be depicted in a violent and uncontrollable light so as to cast a dark shadow upon him. If the public had not been informed as to why Knight was being let go, there would have been chaos in Indiana.
In a way, Knight was framed for this latest incident. In reality, it did not matter whether or not he was guilty of grabbing and yelling at the student. All the university was looking for was a reason to let Knight go. The moment that the campus police were contacted, Knight was sentenced.
In the opinion of his employers, Knight’s means did not justify the ends, and he was terminated for it. In lieu of all the accusations and turmoil, Bobby Knight is still a god in Indiana. You might not have agreed with him or his methods, but you cannot disagree with the results.
Those that loved Bobby Knight will always love Bobby Knight, just as those who criticized Bobby Knight will always criticize Bobby Knight. And, to those that are his critics, it is fitting to quote “The General” one last time: “I want they (sic) bury me upside down, so my critics can kiss my ass.”
