Knight Returns - IU Basketball Heals A Wound
For any college basketball fan of the 70's, 80', or 90's, one name is well remembered- Bobby Knight. Indiana University became a legend in the basketball world with Coach Knight. He led the team to 3 NCAA championships and only missed going to the championships 5 times during his career in Indiana. Bobby Knight was the face of IU basketball!
Players loved him, parents loved him, Assembly Hall loved him, and fans loved him. He was the coach! He knew the game and he expected the best of his players. He expected to win! Many controversies surrounded him at IU though and in September of 2000, Knight was fired for breaking the zero tolerance policy that then President, Myles Brand had established following Knight grabbing a students' arm after the student passing him said "Hey Knight, what's up?" Other students walking with this student said that Knight grabbed his arm, drug him to the side and cursed at him and told him to show him ( Knight ) some respect because he was older than the student. IU players, students, and fans were shocked to learn that Knight was being fired and IU basketball would never be the same!!
Yesterday, almost 20 years since that firing, Knight done something that no one ever expected him to do. He walked back across the floor at Assembly Hall in front of one of the largest crowds ever to cheers from students that had never personally met or played for him. The legend, Bobby Knight was back in Assembly Hall and IU basketball had healed a wound that had lasted 20 years!
IU was playing one of their biggest rivals, Purdue University- another Indiana Big Ten team and the score was not pretty for IU - Purdue led with 74 points to IU"s 62, but none of that mattered once the 79 year old Knight was known to be in the building. It began with a Halftime show that started with introductions of the 1980 Big Ten Championship team and then Isaiah Thomas , then the names continued from to players from the other years that IU had championship teams, then a video appeared of Knight saying, " I wasn't the easiest guy in the world to play for. Does that surprise you?" and then former players Quinn Buckner, Steve Green, and Knight's son, Pat are bringing Coach Knight onto the floor of Assembly Hall. The crowd faintly begins to chant, "Bobby". Fans were unsure of the response that might come with this man who had vowed to never return to IU and was now standing on the center stage of the game. As those former players began to wave for more noise, the crowd burst into the moment and chanted his name! A would had been healed and Bobby Knight, one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history had returned home! Fans chanted, " Thank You Coach" as well. Many knew that they were a part of history being made. Tears flowed as many that were in the audience knew Knight and at 79 years old did not look like the great coach that they remembered but he was still "Back Home Again In Indiana". Knight motioned the crowd to quiet down and then said, " Play Defense". Words that will go into the history books especially on this day!
Mr. Knight was first spotted on campus in April of last year at an IU baseball game, but nothing big was made of it and in July Knight moved back to Bloomington, just three miles from Assembly Hall so this day was just another step in the healing process of a coach and a school, but it was a huge step in Indiana University basketball history.
My final words are " Thank You Coach Knight for all you gave to the basketball program and thank you to whomever made yesterday possible! A legend has returned to Indiana University's Assembly Hall".
Players loved him, parents loved him, Assembly Hall loved him, and fans loved him. He was the coach! He knew the game and he expected the best of his players. He expected to win! Many controversies surrounded him at IU though and in September of 2000, Knight was fired for breaking the zero tolerance policy that then President, Myles Brand had established following Knight grabbing a students' arm after the student passing him said "Hey Knight, what's up?" Other students walking with this student said that Knight grabbed his arm, drug him to the side and cursed at him and told him to show him ( Knight ) some respect because he was older than the student. IU players, students, and fans were shocked to learn that Knight was being fired and IU basketball would never be the same!!
Yesterday, almost 20 years since that firing, Knight done something that no one ever expected him to do. He walked back across the floor at Assembly Hall in front of one of the largest crowds ever to cheers from students that had never personally met or played for him. The legend, Bobby Knight was back in Assembly Hall and IU basketball had healed a wound that had lasted 20 years!
IU was playing one of their biggest rivals, Purdue University- another Indiana Big Ten team and the score was not pretty for IU - Purdue led with 74 points to IU"s 62, but none of that mattered once the 79 year old Knight was known to be in the building. It began with a Halftime show that started with introductions of the 1980 Big Ten Championship team and then Isaiah Thomas , then the names continued from to players from the other years that IU had championship teams, then a video appeared of Knight saying, " I wasn't the easiest guy in the world to play for. Does that surprise you?" and then former players Quinn Buckner, Steve Green, and Knight's son, Pat are bringing Coach Knight onto the floor of Assembly Hall. The crowd faintly begins to chant, "Bobby". Fans were unsure of the response that might come with this man who had vowed to never return to IU and was now standing on the center stage of the game. As those former players began to wave for more noise, the crowd burst into the moment and chanted his name! A would had been healed and Bobby Knight, one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history had returned home! Fans chanted, " Thank You Coach" as well. Many knew that they were a part of history being made. Tears flowed as many that were in the audience knew Knight and at 79 years old did not look like the great coach that they remembered but he was still "Back Home Again In Indiana". Knight motioned the crowd to quiet down and then said, " Play Defense". Words that will go into the history books especially on this day!
Mr. Knight was first spotted on campus in April of last year at an IU baseball game, but nothing big was made of it and in July Knight moved back to Bloomington, just three miles from Assembly Hall so this day was just another step in the healing process of a coach and a school, but it was a huge step in Indiana University basketball history.
My final words are " Thank You Coach Knight for all you gave to the basketball program and thank you to whomever made yesterday possible! A legend has returned to Indiana University's Assembly Hall".
I didn't know about any of this! But glad he is back!
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware that he was back in Indiana or that they were going to have him appear at IU at the game until after it happened either.
DeleteWhat a day this must have been for IU fans. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was. My friend said lots of tear flowed while he was there.
DeleteWhat a great story!! Loved reading it.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
I'm not much of a sports fan so this is all news to me.
ReplyDeleteI used to be a huge basketball fan, but now I don't watch as much since my husband is not a sports fan.
Delete