ELItorial: Mid-Knight madness at Tech

He's back and better than ever, or at least that's what we're supposed to believe. After a year away from the sidelines, Coach Bob Knight has re-emerged at Texas Tech in hopes of resurrecting the Red Raiders after four consecutive losing seasons. Knight stands poised to reclaim his dominance, regardless of how controversial his exit from the game may have been in September 2000.

Yet as sports spectators, we're left wondering whether this new Knight will be any different from the old Knight. Should we expect his infamous sideline temper tantrums again? Should we anticipate the same antics that led to the initiation of a zero-tolerance behavior policy, and ultimately his dismissal from Indiana University?

If the 9,400 fans that showed up to welcome Knight at the Red Raiders' first official practice on Sat., Oct. 13 are any indication, then it appears that past indiscretions matter less than Knight's long history of winning. Or perhaps these fans expect Knight's unconventional, in-your-face style of coaching, and hope it will invigorate a university that hasn't gone to the Big Dance since 1996. Since Texas Tech hired Knight in March, both the school and the town of Lubbock have opened their arms in support of their new coach. Nearly 12,000 season tickets have already been sold for Red Raiders home games—a substantial boost from last season's average attendance of 9,557. Knight's impact has also extended beyond the basketball court; scholarship donations have skyrocketed since his appointment. Knight-mania has truly invaded every corner of Texas Tech, from the bleachers to the back offices.

Regardless of how one feels about his escapades over the past few years, it would be erroneous to discredit all of the recent hype. There is no denying that the General knows how to lead a winning team; in his 35 years of coaching, of which 29 were at Indiana, Knight suffered only one losing season. He has been one of the most influential and noticeable coaches in NCAA history; his touch is evident even in the first few days of the 2001-02 season. Baylor coach Dave Bliss, responding to the arrival of the legendary coach in the Big 12, expressed the general sentiment of coaches and players throughout the conference: "Bob Knight on the sideline affects everything." What else but the return of Knight could have overshadowed Rick Pitino's return to the college ranks in his first practice as head coach of the University of Louisville?

Despite the current Knight frenzy, we must not overlook his tumultuous history with the game. Many question his coaching methods, expressing concern over the excessive demands he makes of his players. Others criticize his conduct at games, noting that he too frequently loses his composure on the sidelines. Old habits are hard to break; prior to Saturday's midnight scrimmage, Knight offered a glimpse of his former self when he harped on referees. He reminded the spectators not to hound the officials, "Except, when I stand up and say something, you'll know damn well they're wrong." Knight's comments during the preseason assure that the "new" Knight will not exert a significant effort to avoid his classic confrontations with referees and the media.

Knight's legacy as a coach has always been rooted in the commotion he brings to the game; his winning tradition has always placed a distant second. Over the past few weeks, many have referred to his arrival at Texas Tech as the dawning of a new Bob Knight era. But seeing Knight raving on the sidelines last Saturday, still in his traditional red sweater, it's already becoming apparent that this new era is just a continuation of the old. What remains to be seen is how Texas Tech will react if Knight has failed to bring his magic touch with his hot temper.

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