LUBBOCK, Texas – Members of the Texas Tech faculty who are
protesting the possible hiring of former Indiana coach Bob Knight
say they realize a petition and a Wednesday faculty senate meeting
probably won't slow the momentum to make Knight the Red Raiders'
next men's basketball coach.
Knight could be named as soon as Friday.
"There was always a hope -- not a very large one -- that this
would head this off," geography professor Gary Elbow said of what
he sees as a done deal. "I still do feel like the university is
taking a rather sizable risk in hiring Bobby Knight, but they are
entitled to hire whoever they want. We have raised the flag, and
that's all we could do."
Dozens of faculty members are expected to attend a faculty
senate meeting that Tech president David Schmidly is scheduled to
address. About 85 of the university's 900 faculty members signed a
petition last week criticizing Knight's past pattern of behavior
and advising against his hiring.
Texas Tech regent James Sowell said he doesn't expect the input
from facutly members to Schmidly to be "inconsequential."
"The president wants to hear what they have to say," Sowell
said. "The faculty definitely has a right to have a say in this
issue."
But the ultimate decision whether to hire Knight rests with
Schmidly, who will make a recommendation to Tech chancellor John
Montford.
"I think by the end of this week it will be time," Sowell
said. "A decision needs to be made."
If the school decides not to hire Knight or if Knight turns down
a Tech offer, Sowell said the university will then turn to a list
of 12 other candidates. University officials have not released any
of the names on the list.
However, reopening the search isn't a bet worth considering,
Sowell said.
"If you made me bet right now, I'd bet that (Bob Knight) would
be the next basketball coach," the regent said. "The search
process hasn't included anybody other than Bob Knight."
To expand it now: "would be a waste of (the candidates) time
and our time."
Knight, who is being wooed to succeed fired men's basketball
coach James Dickey, spent three days last week on campus.
Knight, 60, who led Indiana to three national championships, was
fired last fall after he grabbed by the arm a student he considered
disrespectful for addressing him as "Hey, Knight." Indiana
University officials said it was a violation of a zero-tolerance
behavior policy set for the volatile coach.
Knight has said he finds the Texas Tech situation "very
appealing" and that he has great admiration for Tech athletic
director Gerald Myers, a friend of 30 years.
Myers and Schmidly began talking to Knight about the job four
days before firing Dickey on March 9.
"I think the momentum ... is fairly obvious," said Fred
Hartmeister, associate professor of education and law. "But I
think at the same time, President Schmidly will listen to our
thoughts and input."
Alan Reifman, an assistant professor of human development, said
he signed the petition because he believes the negatives in
Knight's past outweigh the positives he might offer Tech's
basketball program.
But Reifman said he is willing to give Knight a chance if he is
hired.
"He may prove me wrong," he said. "He may be an angel, but
there are certainly reasons to have doubts about that."
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