Tape Has Knight Grabbing Player

A videotape aired Tuesday night shows Indiana basketball Coach Bob Knight grabbing a player by the neck during a practice and pushing him backward.

Two university trustees are investigating the outspoken and controversial coach after recent reports from two former players that he physically abused team members.

Last month, CNN/Sports Illustrated reported former player Neil Reed’s allegation that Knight choked him during a 1997 practice. The videotape obtained by CNN/SI shows Knight grabbing a player by the neck, pushing him backward.

Reed, who left Indiana in 1997, said he is the player on the videotape.

“I don’t need a tape to tell me what happened,” he told CNN/SI.

University officials who reviewed the tape Tuesday would not comment on its contents.

Officials had known of the tape’s existence and had tried to obtain it in the past, university spokesman Christopher Simpson said. After viewing the tape, Simpson said he couldn’t tell when it was made but is convinced of its authenticity.

“Clearly it’s an important piece of information as we continue our review,” Simpson told the Associated Press.

Indiana President Myles Brand last month appointed John D. Walda, the president of the board of trustees, and Frederick F. Eichhorn, a trustee and former president of the Indiana State Bar Assn., to investigate whether Knight physically abused team members.

The two flew to Atlanta on Tuesday to view the tape.

“The tape does seem to shed some light on the reported incident between Coach Knight and Neil Reed,” Walda told CNN/SI. “Now it will be up to us to continue and complete our investigation.”

The findings of the investigation are due no later than the third week of June.

Reed said Knight choked him during a 1997 practice and also ordered Brand to leave a practice. Knight and Brand have denied the claims.

Knight also has denied an allegation by former Indiana player Richard Mandeville, who told CNN Knight once came out of a bathroom, pants around his ankles, and showed players soiled toilet paper, saying, “This is how you guys are playing.”

In a separate report, former player Ricky Calloway said Knight punched Steve Alford and slapped Darryl Thomas. Both former players say the incidents never happened.

Knight could not be reached for comment Tuesday. The coach declined an opportunity to view the tape before it aired, CNN/SI reported.