I think it's important to remember that no one associated with UGA started these absurd Bobby Knight rumors. It was entirely the creation of an 89 year old columnist who as Blutarsky correctly points out has never had UGA's best interests at heart. (Image: Fangini)
Roger Clarkson at the ABH points out the very reasonable and accurate reasons why this will never happen.
I continue to be shocked by the number of UGA fans who are raising their voices to say this is a good idea. Their reaction reminds me of the country bumpkin girl who marries the first guy that makes her laugh. Just because he's into you doesn't mean you have to get married.
If we're going to pay the kind of money that I'm hearing we will pay, we can find someone that will bring even more "relevance" and "excitement" to the program. And as Clarkson says, we can probably find someone who has won a conference title more recently than 1993 or been to the Sweet 16 more than once since 1995.
We could certainly do worse, but we could do a helluva lot better, too. BTW -- Clarkson is right. This won't happen. The only reason I'm still writing about it is because it's the elephant in the room du jour.
One more reason it won't happen? As the Mobile Press Register points out, Knight won't contact us. We only get to work within his process and rules. We're the ones with the $1.2-$1.8 million rumored pursue strings. He's the one making much, much less at ESPN. Why can't he pick up the phone and show us he's serious?
See Also:
-- UGA players would be fine with it - AJC
-- For Pete's sake - Hale
PWD
34 comments:
Furman Bisher is a bigoted old fart who has always despised the University of Georgia. His bogus and poisonous diatribes against Coach Butts still ring in our ears. Stick it up your butt Bisher. You are still reviled around here! Dr. Thomas Johnson Class of '74
The idea that Knight would be a good hire for UGA is laughable.
I love how you flippantly describe Coach Knight as a low life, overrated, hyper aggressive bottom tier coach and make no mention that he ....oh I don't know, just has the most wins in men's basketball history. Any ape can tell just by watching ESPN gameday that he is a genius of X's and O's.
Now wasn't that our problem under Felton. Long periods without scoring followed by flashes of brilliance. The talent is there now to at the very least be competitive in the SEC. Knight can vastly improve our team the moment he walks in the gym.
Granted, he is not a long-term solution by any means. But money alone is not going to attract a premier coach that is able to take this program where we want it. We must establish some sort of framework and legitimacy that will entice a big time, big game coach to take over the reins from Knight when he retires.
Evidently its on someones mind, because on 790 this morning even after that fantastic Super Bowl, thats all they were talking about,Bobby Knight. Adams wants him.
"We must establish some sort of framework and legitimacy that will entice a big time, big game coach to take over the reins from Knight when he retires."
That plan has worked so well at Knight's last two stops. Why would things turn out any better in Athens?
The fact that Knight will not contact UGA is the key to understanding why he would not be a good hire. He is a "my way or the highway" guy. He will just cause a bunch of problems if everything doesn't go his way.
"low life, overrated, hyper aggressive bottom tier coach"
ToiletWine, funny, I didn't see any of those words you just typed in Paul's post. Could you point them out to me?
And if you think Bob Knight is a paragon of framework and legitimacy, you obviously didn't see him sparring with every AD and University President he worked for.
No, Paul did not use those exact words. They are merely the the perception of Knight I derived after reading these posts.
What is the problem if a Coach and Administration is not always on the same page, the bottom line is results, of which Bobby Knight is the foremost leader.
And to the Senator, Whatever your perception of Bobby Knights previous stint is (Texas Tech was at least a contender for making the tournament every year, something that half the teams in the SEC can't say) he still has more credibility than Anthony Grant and Sam Mitchell combined.
TW, I could care less about Knight's "credibility". What I do care about is building a basketball program in Athens for the long-term.
I have no idea how Knight is the answer for that, and judging from your response, you don't either.
ToiletWine = Pat Knight
Anonymous 10:21 +1
"What is the problem if a Coach and Administration is not always on the same page, the bottom line is results."
That's what they said about Jim Harrick.
No Knight. He is not an acceptable representative of the university. Would any of you, seriously now, want someone like Urban Meyer coaching the football team? I wouldn't take him. How about Jerry Tarkanian?
The "fans" clamoring for Knight are the same "fans" that never attend a game or watch on tv. They only who Bobby Knight is and was.
Our administration will do the right thing, which does not involve contacting Knight.
I don't think that it will happen either... but the fact that you think UGA could do "a helluva lot better" is more than absurd. UGA is not a prime basketball job (though with our location it should be). Knight can make it one, quickly. He's obviously not the coach he was at Indiana, but he took Texas Tech out of the gutter and to the NCAA tournament quickly. I know we went on a fluke last year, but I for one want some freaking progress after 6 years of puttering below the conference average. Knight, even if he stays for only 3 years, will push us forward quickly.
Look at what kind of talent knight left his son at TT. They are terrible. This hire should be someone young with an opportunity to be here a long time. We dont need to be going through another coaching change in 3 years.
It is a done deal. Knight will be our next basketball coach and golf coach.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZD1vkzYmyI
To everyone who is labeling this potential hire as the worst thing to ever happen to Georgia athletics: get off your high horse. Stop saying that anyone who is half way interested in Knight is "a fan who never goes to the game or watches them on tv." That's flat ridiculous. I'm a student at Georgia, and my friends and I go to nearly every home game. Hell, we've even travelled to Nashville to see them play Vandy. And trust me, there are plenty of "real" fans who want Bob Knight at Georgia. There is even buzz on campus about it, and most of the student body forgot we had basketball two years ago.
I understand if you don't want Coach Knight at Georgia; there are legitimate reasons to oppose him. However, there are numerous reasons why it makes sense, too. Stop the ad hominem arguments and stick to the subject matter: Bob Knight. If you oppose him, fine. But grow up and realize that you don't know everything about what's right for Georgia basketball.
Also, stop talking as if Knight is some kind of deplorable human being. Sure, he is a hard ass and quite fond of the f-bomb. But he is in know way comparable to Urban Meyer or Nick Saban. He has never been on NCAA proabation and he has always had solid graduation rates. Is he hard ass, yes, But he is not an Urban.
Just my two cents.
Hear Hear. It does not bother me that he butts heads with administration. They can't all be Mark Richt...
Anonymous 11:56 AM +2
Anthony Grant *IS* Felton, same shat yall wannabe knowitalls were saying 5 years ago. And it's a little easier to recruit a more talent packed state, with less "big brother" rivals than fricken Texas Tech in Lubbock Texas. Athens GA is a little different animal. Funny how the minority are so vocal here, everyone I've talked to IRL, and every poll I've seen seems thrilled with the idea that Bobby f-in Knight could be UGA's next basketball coach.
But I guess we should listen to the mighty bloggers, one on this very site who picked Oklahoma over Florida in the title game. LOL, yeah... PWD's a real genius. I'm takin what he says to the bank as truth :rolleyes emoticon here:
If Adams could not get along with Dooley, Damon would not even think about interviewing him, much less get him in the final three before King Mike. Damon is going to have his fingerprints all over this hire, and it, thank God, won't be Bobby Knight.
You are kidding yourself if you think a 68 year old coach is the answer. I like Bob Knight, he is obviously a very good coach, but he is a short term solution, which UGA does not need. We need someone to develop the program and put on the natioanl stage by winning, not because of his status.
I would be in favor of hiring Knight if he was ten years younger, but there is no rational reasons to hire him for short term success and then go on another coaching search in a few years. Knight staying a few years at TT has not improved their program or progress.
If we hire Knight, not only are we on ESPN every other weekend (and Super Tuesdays), but we're talked about in every off-season, post-season, etc... By coming we instantly will fill the place. Those things alone are great for potential recruits. He could sell TV exposure and Athens and get better recruits than Felton. Are we really mad that he is a hard ass? He is extremely passionate, works hard, and loves his players. Would we instantly be winners? No, but we'd be on TV, and this program needs something to start with.
Jarred, i dont want the circus to come to town, i want a good coach knights time has come and is long gone. We dont need a 70 year old coach.
I don't understand why some of you on here think an up and coming coach would want to come here and do anything but build a resume and move on to a better BB program. You people need quit thinking so highly of Georgia BB and realize what we need is exactly what Knight could give us. He is sitting on 902 wins, so there is a chance that he could be here long enough to average 18 wins for 6 years and reach 1000. He will elevate a pathetic product and make it a viable coaching postion at that time.
But if you think that Miller,Capel,Grant or any of those are coming here to stay then you would be wrong.
Anon 2:32 - He wouldn't be here for 6 years. At best maybe we keep him for 4 or 5. He is certainly past his prime. But I really think he has the capability to build the team (not make it great) and set the foundation for this team. We are not an elite team, not even a good team. We have no history, and are just regarded as a football school. Hiring Knight would put the spotlight on UGA year round. Whether or not we become great is irrelevant. When you have the winningnest (is that a word?) coach ever, ESPN wants to cover you. We need to get consistantly noticed on a national stage, not just get on TV when we play Kentucky/Florida/Tenn.
Those of you who think Knight will set a foundation--what are you basing that on?
They're not arguing that he'll set a foundation based on how he left the TT program, which is now back at the bottom of the Big 12. Knight hasn't recruited blue chippers since the 80's (Tech was built on JUCOs)
Media attention and national exposure is great, but let's earn it through building a solid, winning program, not hiring a controversial pick. When the people advocating for him include Dick Vitale, Furman Bisher, Sonny Perdue, Vince Dooley, and Michael Adams you know something is wrong.
Let's trust our talented Ath. Dir. to pick a young, energetic coach who can build our program.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knight_School_(TV_series)
This is the kind of excitement that Coach Knight could bring to Athens.
John Wooden for Coach!
Reason No. 542 Why Damon Should Just Say No to Hiring Sideshow Bob:
Hiring Knight puts UGA right back into the ranks of the "getting attention for the wrong things" schools that we all at least claim UGA has risen above (e.g., the Kemp debacle; Harrick pere and fils; selling SEC championship rings).
I can take an occasional backup tackle getting drunk in a bar on S. Lumpkin and passing out on a toilet seat. (I don't like it, but I can still remember what it's like to be 20 in downtown Athens on a Saturday night.) But to see my beloved Dawgs -- even our less than motivated b'ball team -- getting punched and screamed at by a Grumpy Old Man cartoon character while everyone in an admittedly sold-out Stegeman waits to see who gets hit by the first folding chair would be a complete embarrassment.
Yes, I know what our b'ball SEC record is. But, believe it or not, it is less worse to me to be the 1970s Vanderbilt of SEC basketball than to have the 1990s Spurrier of basketball coaches at our helm. Our basketball problem will be solved by better in-state recruiting, not by 50-state (and ultimately negative) ESPN coverage.
Besides, my gorge rises at the prospect of future written and broadcast stories contrasting the personalities of Richt and Knight -- call it the "Jekyll/Hyde"; "good cop, bad cop"; "Goofus/Gallant" angle. Richt deserves far better than to have to sit next to Knight and pretend to tolerate his behavior. Richt is an outstanding football coach and represents UGA well in all aspects. Knight was (and maybe still is) a great tactician, but -- let's be honest -- he's a real d'chebag.
I'll pass.
Anon 6:44,
Yup. Some people seem to have very short memories about the wisdom of flash and immediate wins & exposure at the hands of questionable character. I honestly cannot believe how many "yeah but he wins" people are coming out of the woodwork so soon after Jim Jr. and His Basketball Quiz.
Are we that freaking desperate? God, I hope not. We'd certainly look it to hire a nutjob like Knight at this stage.
Big difference between Harrick and Knight. Knight runs a clean program and graduates his players. Can't compare those two.
Anon 7:02,
You certainly can compare them. Harrick was a cheater who won; Knight is a flaming crackpot who used to wins. In both cases they embarassed their institutions wherever they have went. (Texas Tech, too).
Moreover, the reason for hiring them would be very similar--a desire to win at any cost.
The quality of English on most of my posts would embarrass a 7-year-old.
Time to slow down the typing, I guess.
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