Bobby Knight Resigns

[PeaveyFury]

Bobby Knight has surprisingly resigned tonight as Texas Tech coach:

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/ncaa/02/04/knight.resigns.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

[burniebrewer]

I just read that on Yahoo. What a surprise it was to read that.

[hawing]

We were watching part of Texas Tech's most recent game this weekend and my S.O. said to the TV, "Time to retire, Bobby." So the reason for his resignation is obvious to me. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[BuckyTuba]

When my time on earth is gone and my activities here are passed, I hope they bury me upside down, so my critics....

Classic.

[burniebrewer]

Based on the lead story on ESPN, Knight said he is tired and can't take it anymore.

[RU Rah Rah]

It bugged me when Dick Bennett did this, and it bugs me now with Knight. You have to suck it up and finish the season. I mean, could you imagine what Knight himself would say to a player who just up and quit in February for some vague reason? (It would be unprintable.)

[Menotti80]

I know what you are saying Rah, but he said he did it to benefit his son, who will be taking over as head coach. Letting his son coach the last 1/3 of the season gives him the best chance to return next year. So keeping that in mind, his timing doesn't bother me. I cant argue with a guy who does something unselfish to benefit a family member...

[RU Rah Rah]

I know what you are saying Rah, but he said he did it to benefit his son, who will be taking over as head coach. Letting his son coach the last 1/3 of the season gives him the best chance to return next year. So keeping that in mind, his timing doesn't bother me. I cant argue with a guy who does something unselfish to benefit a family member...

I see what you're saying, but doesn't it seem like he's manipulating the hiring process by setting up his son? (And this is exactly what Bennett did -- he wanted Brad Soderberg to succeed him, so he quit in December and they had to let Soderberg finish the year.)

 

[MarquesJohnson2000]

I believe that Texas Tech and Knight had already established several years ago that Knight's son would be his eventual successor.

[davego]

Im Brad Soderberg fan. Thought he got raw deal @ Wisconsin (nothing against Bo, of course) and certainly got jobbed @ St. Louis.

[heresrobin]

Is it possible that Knight only stuck around this year to get his 900th win? Kind of like Sutton going to San Fransisco just to get his 800th win this year? Both those situations sort of irk me a little bit.

 

I respect what Knight has done though. Obviously one of the best ever - you can't deny what he's done. But I've never liked him and have found the act he puts on with the media and his tirades with the refs and his players to be embarrassing. Just seems like the game passed him by 10 years ago. The coaching fraternity seems to love him though and says he's a great guy, but that is not the impression that he gives on camera and in the news, at least to me. In his defense though, if the media was constantly hounding me and egging me on, I probably would lose it in front of cameras too every once in a while.

[jason21nl]

I think Knight is a jerk, and that he walked out on his players especially his seniors. I think he only stuck around to win his 900th game. He won a lot of games, and got his kids to graduate(probably because he threatened to punch them if they didn't) but the guy is a flat out jerk.

[burniebrewer]

I think Knight is a jerk, and that he walked out on his players especially his seniors. I think he only stuck around to win his 900th game. He won a lot of games, and got his kids to graduate(probably because he threatened to punch them if they didn't) but the guy is a flat out jerk.

I don't think he's a jerk at all. Sure he "quit", but is it fair to not be able to give your all back to them? He's 67 and the daily grind took it's toll. He was honest to admit it had gotten to be more than he could handle anymore.

Now, you could make a case for him being a jerk with the way he's handled himself on numerous occasions in relation to press conferences and throwing chairs.....

 

If I had a son, I would love for Knight to be his coach. He's a disciplinarian, sure, but his players graduate and that is a tribute to him.

 

I really found my respect for Knight in an interview I saw where he discussed everything in life except basketball. He was very engaging and articulate, I enjoyed listening to his views ranging from authors to his grandkids.

[TooLiveBrew]

Bob Knight is as big a jerk as exists on this earth. Now, whether or not you think his resignation is a 'jerkish' move, that's up for debate imo.

 

Based on the lead story on ESPN, Knight said he is tired and can't take it anymore.

That whole 'got his 900th win' thing is such a coincidence! I guess Tech knew what they were getting into, and if not, that's just poor foresight. Here's hoping his son can coach & recruit - for their sake.

[brewcrewreview]

How is Bobby Knight such a "jerk" when he has always posted a high graduation rates and never has been involved in any NCAA sanctions and/or scandals all of these years? I think he is a role model for all players and coaches to look up to.

[homer]

You can be a jerk and graduate players. The two aren't dependent on each other.

 

Just like you can be a jerk and still donate money to charity.

[heresrobin]

Another question I have is, did Knight always flip out on the refs, grab and yell at his players on the sidelines, and have this surly persona with the media? Or did it only happen when he stopped winning championships? A lot of the footage I see of him from the 70's and early 80's, he seemed much more humble and personable, and genuinely happy. Does anybody recollect what the general opinion of him was during that time? Was it the same as it has been the last 15 years or so?

The guy just seems to absolutely despise the college basketball machine and media.

[RU Rah Rah]

He also signed a contract extension in the fall.

 

Knight and Tech apparently did have an understanding that his son would succeed him, so I suppose that piece of it couldn't be characterized as a surprise. Bennett did that at WSU, and that seems to have worked out pretty well for them. (I don't understand, though, how these state-run institutions can have hiring practices like this.)

[TooLiveBrew]

I don't understand, though, how these state-run institutions can have hiring practices like this.

 

I agree, RU. Can't make sense of the nepotism.

[brewcrew00]

Do any of you have any personal stories of how he is a jerk? I don't think it's fair to coin him that at all unless he's acted as such to you. 99% of his current and former players would run through a brick wall for the man. Any one who has worked with/for him in his 42 year career has nothing but the highest compliments to pay him. Nearly everyone he has met said he is one of the most genuine people they have ever had the pleasure of meeting.

 

We don't know the conversations he's had with the folks at TTU, for all we know, they were waiting for this day for a couple of years. His son, Pat, was named his successor several years back, this isn't anything new or unexpected.

[brettac1]

Another question I have is, did Knight always flip out on the refs, grab and yell at his players on the sidelines, and have this surly persona with the media? Or did it only happen when he stopped winning championships?

 

He's always been that way. Read "A Season on the Brink". He actually mellowed in his old age.

[smbrewersfan15]

It's funny really. I wonder what we would all be saying about Knight if he had been the coach at Wisconsin. Actually almost happened before he took the job at Indiana. Had a deal all set to come to Madison and coach but under the condition that it be kept quiet until an official announcement could be made. Unfortunately, the media decided to run with the story causing Coach Knight to change his mind and tell Wisconsin officials he wasn't coming there. Ultimately he went to Indiana, won 3 National Titles and is the winningest coach in college basketball. Kinda makes me wonder what would have happen had he been the Badgers' coach. Heard that story my whole life and always wondered about that scenario.