Knight Line

When the idea of Texas Tech hiring Bob Knight first came up, two distinct groups formed quickly: Passionate supporters and passionate opponents.

Nearly eight months later, with the Red Raiders days away from their opener, both sides have found some common ground: Knight has exceeded their expectations.

Backers have been surprised and critics impressed with how much publicity Knight has brought the school and how many dollars he’s generated. Seeing $70,000 earmarked for the campus library has gone a long way with his most vocal foes, the 100 faculty members who signed a petition against his hiring.

“To my knowledge, we’ve never had a coach who probably even knew where the library was, let alone put any money into it,” said geography professor Gary Elbow, who proofread and signed the petition. “The bottom line is going to be actions speaking louder than words. If he comports himself well, then the administration has pulled off a pretty good coup.”

The faculty faction was probably the largest, and certainly the most vocal, of the anti-Knight groups that surfaced in the two-week spring courtship before Tech hired the coach who was fired by Indiana in September 2000.

Most West Texans were willing to overlook his bad temper, foul language and outrageous behavior, focusing instead on the good that Knight could do in so many areas where Tech was bad.

They pointed to Knight’s three national championships, his .726 winning percentage in 29 seasons, the high graduation rate of his players and his unblemished record with the NCAA. They also expected an attendance boost for the men’s team, which drew about 4,000 fans at the new $68 million, 15,050-seat United Spirit Arena, where the women’s team draws roughly 13,000.

Biology professor Robert Baker started out among the skeptics. He didn’t sign the petition, but took his concern straight to school president David Schmidly.

Schmidly asked Baker, a devoted men’s basketball fan since coming to Tech in 1968, to withhold judgment until meeting Knight at the faculty athletic council.

At that session, Baker wound up challenging Knight about his past. The coach was ready. He explained every episode in detail in a meeting that lasted 90 minutes. Baker and others left believing they had the right man for the job.

“When we went outside, he came over to me and said, ‘Thank you,”’ Baker said. “Whenever he sees me now, he still kind of ribs me, ‘Do you have any more hard questions?”’

Knight’s hiring made national headlines, even though it was on the Friday of the second weekend of the NCAA tournament.

Tickets and souvenirs sold at a record-shattering pace in the following days and weeks. Buyers included disgruntled Hoosiers fans from throughout the country, especially Indiana.

Tech sold all its season tickets within 1 1/2 days, doubling its total to 13,000. That included the sale of more than 1,000 personal seat licenses, which required an eight-year commitment and cost between $1,400 and $4,000, not including the price of season tickets.

Several games are sold out; only individual tickets remain for the rest. With the Lady Raiders entering this season ranked No. 7, Tech may overtake Tennessee to lead the nation in combined women’s and men’s attendance.

Membership in the Red Raider booster club, has grown by 25 percent, to 4,000. A student booster club that began in February has 5,600 members, making it the nation’s largest.

To cash in on the momentum, the Red Raider Club organized fund-raising events across the state called “A Sharp Knight Under the Texas Stars” featuring women’s coach Marsha Sharp and Knight. Nearly 1,200 people showed up in Dallas, 800 in Houston.

On Knight’s advice, more money was raised at each stop through an auction. It also was his idea to sell 48 courtside seats that had been used by reporters; the $144,000 raised will go toward scholarships.

“He’s been in a program that’s very successful, so he understands what the program is worth and how to market it,” said Steve Uryasz, executive director of the Red Raider Club. “He’s had unique ideas on a variety of things. It’s a creative side of basketball we didn’t have, expertise that you don’t normally get.”

Knight has had lucrative ideas for athletic director Gerald Myers, too.

Knowing his TV show would be a hot seller, Knight suggested that it be packaged with shows for Sharp, football coach Mike Leach and baseball coach Larry Hays. All four were bought by many markets.

Tech also is selling a broadcast package of 11 men’s games and nine women’s. Those are in addition to the games snapped up by national or regional networks. The Red Raiders expect to double their 11 TV appearances from last season.

Another step Knight has taken has been to work with John Steinmetz, president of Tech’s student government and the student booster club.

On Knight’s suggestion, they added 1,000 student seats, bringing it to 4,600. They also were behind the plan to distribute tickets on a first-come, first-served basis for each game. Camping out will be allowed 24 hours before most games, 48 hours before major ones.

Knight also had Steinmetz arrange for students to vote on what color sweater he wears. They picked black, and Knight showed off the new look at an exhibition game last weekend.

“Having worked with coach Knight has been very much a learning experience, one I greatly appreciate,” Steinmetz said. “He’s quick to point out when you’re wrong, but he’ll also compliment you when you’re right. He doesn’t beat around the bush.”

Most of Knight’s innovations are carryovers from his days at IU. Another is his devotion to the library.

After raising more than $5 million for Indiana’s library, Knight announced a $10,000 donation to Tech’s during his introductory news conference. Library development director D’Anne Harmon heard the news while pulling into her driveway and nearly plowed into her garage.

By the time Knight wrote the check a month later, so many friends had chipped in that he gave $25,000. He continues the push by stuffing a $100 bill into a glass basketball case at the start of every public appearance, then passing the box around the room.

Others have responded with less prompting. A $10,000 check came from a Lubbock resident who lived near Indiana’s library when Knight coached there.

“We’ve had three or four notes and letters like that,” Harmon said.

Knight has his own story to illustrate how beloved he’s become in the community. It starts with his being pulled over for going 47 mph in a 40 mph zone.

The officer didn’t realize who Knight was at first. After taking Knight’s Indiana driver’s license, the officer slapped the card against his hand for several seconds while deciding what to do.

“I think the guy was saying to himself, ‘Boy, would I like to give this guy a ticket. I just don’t think I can put up with all the stuff if I do,”’ Knight said. “He sticks the driver’s license back in the window at me and says, ‘Get a Texas driver’s license!’ Then he turns around and walks away.

“That’s not a real highlight, but I kind of like it because I really think the enthusiasm of people in the community saved me a speeding ticket.”