Wow! Sporting News has reported that the General is taking his 900 plus wins and calling it a career.
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Comments
Reynellsays
Not sure how I feel about this yet. My first reaction was that it’s a class-less move by ditching your kids and program mid-year. He could have at least coasted through the rest of this year and pretty much handed the reins to Pat Knight at the same time. I was surprised at his bitterness towards the crowd after he won no. 900; he criticized them for not filling the seats on a regular basis. Did he forget that he was in football country and left the hoosier state years ago? Seems like he was bitter about something, and I have the feeling that it was issues with the AD and the amount of money the basketball program was dealing with (or not dealing with).
Wallysays
I think Bob Knight will be remembered as a great coach who won a lot of games and a few Nat’l titles. He put Indiana Univ back on the basketball map in the ’70s during what I consider a “Golden Age” of college basketball. His undefeated team of ’76 is one for the ages. The majority of his players will say that he positively influenced their lives. On the other hand, many will also recall him as a rude bully who lacked almost all social graces and insulted (or assaulted) numerous people along the way. In many ways, today’s game passed him by in that he isn’t able to relate to recruits like he once did.
He could have handled this better by staying on board but essentially handing the reins to Patrick as the defacto head coach without the public really knowing about it until after the season. On the other hand, maybe naming Patrick now will be better for TT recruiting.
To sum it up, I kinda think of Bobby Knight as the “Ty Cobb of college hoops” … a brilliant butthole 🙂
Wally
Mikesays
Bobby Knight was a great college basketball coach. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt. Yes, Knight displayed some incredibly poor judgement at times, but I also appreciate his irreverence. Bobby Knight never pretended to be like anyone else other than himself. Like Frank, he did it his way. I’m sure he had his reasons for leaving when he did. I’d rather wish coach Knight luck in his retirement rather than take one last opportunity to criticise him.
The “Ty Cobb of college hoops” allusion seems to ring incredibly true.
Several former assistants have gone on record as saying Bobby Knight could have won more titles if he would have been lax with his recruiting standards. Instead he would not recruit kids who he felt would not be ‘student’ – athletes.
I think when a coach or a player finally get to that point where they say enough, is enough, – I can’t do it anymore – I am not sure I am in a position to criticize. I am sure he gave this some thought and I am sure he consulted his son on this. As one recruit who is coming in next year said, “I am coming to Texas Tech because his son recruited me. I choose Texas Tech because of Patrick Knight. I wish him the best. He is one of the greatest coaches to every coach the game.
Reynell says
Not sure how I feel about this yet. My first reaction was that it’s a class-less move by ditching your kids and program mid-year. He could have at least coasted through the rest of this year and pretty much handed the reins to Pat Knight at the same time. I was surprised at his bitterness towards the crowd after he won no. 900; he criticized them for not filling the seats on a regular basis. Did he forget that he was in football country and left the hoosier state years ago? Seems like he was bitter about something, and I have the feeling that it was issues with the AD and the amount of money the basketball program was dealing with (or not dealing with).
Wally says
I think Bob Knight will be remembered as a great coach who won a lot of games and a few Nat’l titles. He put Indiana Univ back on the basketball map in the ’70s during what I consider a “Golden Age” of college basketball. His undefeated team of ’76 is one for the ages. The majority of his players will say that he positively influenced their lives. On the other hand, many will also recall him as a rude bully who lacked almost all social graces and insulted (or assaulted) numerous people along the way. In many ways, today’s game passed him by in that he isn’t able to relate to recruits like he once did.
He could have handled this better by staying on board but essentially handing the reins to Patrick as the defacto head coach without the public really knowing about it until after the season. On the other hand, maybe naming Patrick now will be better for TT recruiting.
To sum it up, I kinda think of Bobby Knight as the “Ty Cobb of college hoops” … a brilliant butthole 🙂
Wally
Mike says
Bobby Knight was a great college basketball coach. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt. Yes, Knight displayed some incredibly poor judgement at times, but I also appreciate his irreverence. Bobby Knight never pretended to be like anyone else other than himself. Like Frank, he did it his way. I’m sure he had his reasons for leaving when he did. I’d rather wish coach Knight luck in his retirement rather than take one last opportunity to criticise him.
The “Ty Cobb of college hoops” allusion seems to ring incredibly true.
Casey says
Several former assistants have gone on record as saying Bobby Knight could have won more titles if he would have been lax with his recruiting standards. Instead he would not recruit kids who he felt would not be ‘student’ – athletes.
Casey
Smitty says
I think when a coach or a player finally get to that point where they say enough, is enough, – I can’t do it anymore – I am not sure I am in a position to criticize. I am sure he gave this some thought and I am sure he consulted his son on this. As one recruit who is coming in next year said, “I am coming to Texas Tech because his son recruited me. I choose Texas Tech because of Patrick Knight. I wish him the best. He is one of the greatest coaches to every coach the game.