Bobby Knight passes away

[Navin R. Johnson]

Legendary coach Bobby Knight died today at the age of 83.  I was not necessarily a fan but I respected his knowledge of the game and I think he ran a clean program.  "Season on the Brink" was one of my all time favorite reads. (Although he hated it). Knight's name will always be synonymous with college basketball.

[hskr4life]

His antics will live on forever!

[Bugeaters1]

 

[Huskerpapa]

Bobby was a polarizing man.  He did a lot of good.  Many would stand in line advocating about his compassion.  But perhaps more people believe he was evil.  He was a great coach; but he personified everything wrong with that type of coach.

 

All that said...may he rest in peace.  

Edited November 2, 2023 by Huskerpapa

[Tallbaby21]

I like to think the specter of a Feb 9 road trip to Lincoln caused him to retire midseason on Feb 4. 

[tcp]

RIP Coach. A million steel folding chairs are resting easier at this news. 

 

Seriously, one of the finest to ever step into a coach's box.

[Handy Johnson]

I remember him Coaching the ‘84 Olympic Team with Jordan & a little known player at the time, Charles Barkley. 

[atskooc]

5 hours ago, Handy Johnson said:

I remember him Coaching the ‘84 Olympic Team with Jordan & a little known player at the time, Charles Barkley. 

Barkley was cut from that team. 

[throwback]

I remember the first time he brought Tech to the Devaney Center, sometime in the early 00s - so much local buzz around him and that game as it had to be the first time he coached against NU in Lincoln. He was such a huge deal at that time.

 

A lot of folks sitting around me were watching him more than the game, hoping for some sort of blowup  

 

As I recall, Tech was pretty good but we kicked the crap out of them. Students might have even rushed the floor?

 

He couldn't have been on better behavior, though, which I'm sure disappointed some people.  

 

[Handy Johnson]

4 hours ago, atskooc said:

Barkley was cut from that team. 

You’re right, I remember Knight saying how difficult it was to keep him off the roster after his performance in tryouts. I’d take Chuck over Joe Kleine or Leon Wood any day. 

[AuroranHusker]

1 hour ago, throwback said:

I remember the first time he brought Tech to the Devaney Center, sometime in the early 00s - so much local buzz around him and that game as it had to be the first time he coached against NU in Lincoln. He was such a huge deal at that time.

 

A lot of folks sitting around me were watching him more than the game, hoping for some sort of blowup  

 

As I recall, Tech was pretty good but we kicked the crap out of them. Students might have even rushed the floor?

 

He couldn't have been on better behavior, though, which I'm sure disappointed some people.  

 

 

72-44. I remember it well. A beatdown.

 

 

[Norm Peterson]

He was very effective for the players he had in that era.

 

His style of coaching would most definitely not go over today.

 

You remember Rutgers firing a coach because he once threw a basketball at a player?

 

For Knight, that would have been like a typical Tuesday.

 

They just don't make 'em like that anymore. Love him or hate him, he was interesting.

 

RIP to one of the most entertaining ball coaches of all time.

[hhcmatt]

3 hours ago, Norm Peterson said:

You remember Rutgers firing a coach because he once threw a basketball at a player?

 

For Knight, that would have been like a typical Tuesday.

 

You've got this twisted. Mike Rice made Bobby Knight look like Barry Collier.

[Cazzie22]

From the perspective of having a duffel bag kicked by my head by my Junior High Basketball Coach I had no problem with Bob Knight being a demanding Coach.  His teaching aids, books, videos etc., for installing motion offense were of very high quality.  He won because he saw basketball as a team game and expected his players to respect the game.  Indiana did not have overwhelming talent but won three titles under his tutelage.  His ‘75 team would have won had Steve Downing not been injured.  “Kids haven’t changed, adults have changed because we don’t demand anything from them” is an accurate assessment of society the last 40 years.  He also expected his players to get their education and kept a program free of violations.  “Culture”, an overused term in today’s lexicon was never a concern.  You did things his way and you were praised for doing so as much as criticized for not.

 

Bob Knight was a flawed individual.  Who among us are not. His dichotomy of expecting self control but lacking that virtue makes for easy and legitimate criticism.  
 

He was the best basketball coach of my lifetime.  RIP and it’s a sad day for College Basketball and the State of Indiana.

[Faux Mike Peltz]

Does anyone remember that reality show Knight School where guys tried out to be a walk on at Tech??? 

[atskooc]

6 hours ago, Faux Mike Peltz said:

Does anyone remember that reality show Knight School where guys tried out to be a walk on at Tech??? 

Yes.