Students March to Coach’s Defense

They were Knight’s army, marching from Assembly Hall to the home of the Indiana University president who had fired Coach Bob Knight.

“Hey, hey, ho, ho. Myles Brand has got to go,” some students chanted. “Burn in hell, Brand,” said a banner hanging from a balcony.

Someone ignited an effigy of Kent Harvey, the freshman whose Thursday run-in with Knight at Assembly Hall triggered a weekend of news conferences, investigations and meetings that ended with the coach’s dismissal.

The news of the firing Sunday brought students to the arena where banners celebrate Knight’s three national championships. The students cursed Brand. Then, thousands strong, they marched about a half mile to the president’s home at the heart of the campus while police in riot gear stood watch.

Within the hour of Brand’s announcement, car horns blared and chants of “We love Bobby” echoed off the walls of the campus.

James Turner, a 21-year-old senior from Fort Wayne, grabbed a bullhorn outside Assembly Hall.

“I was born in the state of Indiana, I’ve lived here all my life, and I don’t ever want to be anywhere else. But today I’m ashamed to call myself a Hoosier,” Turner said.

Andrea Osman held up a red university flag on which she scrawled: “The spineless political institution of the year.”

Knight’s players had left the campus to drive to Indianapolis to watch Brand’s news conference and ponder whether to finish their college careers wearing Indiana’s cream and crimson uniforms.

“We realize that IU is a great university, but we came here to play for Coach Knight,” junior forward Tom Geyer said. “Right now, you just have to consider what all your options are.”

Before the news conference, Brand informed Gov. Frank O’Bannon of his decision to fire Knight.

“I have known Bob Knight for many years and am personally saddened by this outcome and the chain of events that led to it,” O’Bannon said. “Nonetheless, I am confident that IU’s action today is in the best interest of the university.”

Steve Alford, the star of Knight’s 1987 championship team and now the Iowa coach, said Bloomington would not be the same for him.

“I have always seen Indiana University and coach Knight as one and the same,” Alford said.