Comments a Surprise to Fife
Indiana guard Dane Fife was once defiant in his support of former coach Bob Knight. Fife was one of several Hoosiers who threatened to transfer after Knight was fired two years ago by Indiana President Miles Brand.
Yet even Fife was taken aback this week by comments from former Hoosiers who said they would be rooting against Indiana.
The comments were made by Pat Knight, Bob’s son, and longtime Indiana employee Steve Downing, both of whom are now employees of Texas Tech.
“I love the kids to death,” Pat Knight told the Avalanche-Journal in Lubbock. “I have no feelings for [Coach] Mike Davis at all.”
Fife’s reaction?
“I was a bit surprised at what they said because I think we had a great relationship,” Fife said. “But they have their issues with Indiana, and at the same time I understand that. But, you know, I was surprised. That’s basically what I’m going to say.”
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Oklahoma Coach Kelvin Sampson said he hopes his father, Ned, will be able to attend today’s game against Indiana.
Ned Sampson, 72, had surgery last week in San Jose to remove a blood clot on his brain. Kelvin Sampson said his dad did make the trip to Atlanta.
“The trip took a lot out of him,” the Sooner coach said. “He’s tuckered out. He’s really tired. They had to drain fluid from around his brain on Monday or Tuesday before he left. So this is something he’s still recovering from. He had major surgery.”
A few Oklahoma players were heartened after visiting the elder Sampson in the hospital last week.
An interview room filled with reporters erupted in laughter when Oklahoma guard Ebi Ere described his visit with Ned Sampson.
“For a man that just had surgery on his head, had fluid taken out, he was the happiest person I ever saw,” Ere said.
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Chris Dufresne
