Could Tom Crean be the man to ‘bring back Bobby’?

by Alex Bozich in Commentary | June 18th, 2009

When the update came through via Twitter, the first thought that raced through the minds of Indiana fans was, ‘Is Coach Crean going to bring back Bobby?’ He did, after all, say he wanted to bring every former coach, player and manager back to Bloomington. (If he had more than 140 characters, I’m sure a disclaimer would have been added for Kelvin Sampson and Eli Holman. No one throws a potted plant and gets away with it!)

From all indications, the return of the General to Assembly Hall is unlikely to happen anytime soon or possibly, ever. Through back channels, hands have been extended and overtures made. With no results.

Despite the over the top pleas by Dick Vitale and the majority of the IU fanbase, hard feelings about his dismissal still run deep for Coach Knight. And that may always be the case even though the administration that chased him from Bloomington is long gone.

Knight never has been or never will be a man that forgives or forgets easily. If you peel away the bully mentality that dominates his personality, this is a man that is still hurt by the way things ended at Indiana.

From Indiana’s perspective, the major factor is in place to facilitate a reunion: Tom Crean. Knight was never going to acknowledge IU under Mike Davis or Kelvin Sampson. Knight’s relationship with Davis ended once his former assistant took over. And his tolerance for a cheater like Sampson was zero. But with Crean, the program finally has a coach that even Knight would be proud of. Even if he never admits it.

Tags: Bob Knight, Bring back Bobby, Tom Crean

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BFowler

Based on Coach Knight's personality and what seems to be a tendency to hold a grudge (see: Dick and Jeremy Schapp among others), I would be truly amazed if Coach Knight ever steps foot into Assembly Hall again - even if ESPN's Game Day comes to Bloomington.

CutterInChicago

I grew up with Knight as I.U.'s Coach and was saddened to see how things ended (but in retrospect, it likely saved us from inheriting Pat Knight as our coach... chew on that) and there is likely always going to be part of me that would love to see him come back and "be a part of the program" but I am not sure it will ever happen or is feasible (and even despite Knight's lawsuit against my alma mater).
If you are Tom Crean and bring him back, you are likely to be heralded as a hero in many circles but there is also the chance that its like inviting your crazy, ego-driven but successful uncle to live with you and your family...
If Knight could come back as an "elder statesman" and do wonderful things like raise funds for the library or a new facility, super - but does anyone really see that happening?
At the end of the day, my school is Indiana University not Bob Knight Tech and I support the I.U. basketball team and not specifically its coach.

PS - I believe Eli Holman did what Coach Knight had done before in terms of throwing a potted plant, in the coach's office no less. I doubt Eli knew that though :-)

plane1972

Well put, Cutter. Plus, I'm not sure how much we really know about Knight's true feelings on this situation. No offense, Alex, but you take some pretty big liberties trying to diagnose the situation.

Expecting Coach Knight to do anything beyond cutting a ribbon on something named after him or tipping his hat in front of a frenzied AH crowd would be fairly audacious of the university. Elder statesman/trusted adviser would be a great thing for Coach Crean and the program.

indianajoe

I really don't know why you get those assumptions. I'm trying to find where Alex took those liberties and I still can't find them. Most of what he said is common knowledge.

IndianaJoe

I would like to know what liberties he took because I can't find any. I thought most of what he said was common knowledge.

CraiginOR

I loved "the Bob", which is to say I loved the style his teams played and that you could SEE his offense and defense play to his orchestration. Brilliant. I never liked the way he treated his players, I never liked his persona and after he left he became more petulant and childish. He was what he was when he was, I don't care if he comes back. No, Bob has fallen from grace. If Coach Crean wants to extend his hand, I can support that but only because I respect Coach Crean. AND plane1972, Alex is always professional. "Elder statesman"? (cough cough)

jg

It would really make me happy to see Bob Knight acknowledge the Indiana program and let others acknowledge him the right way for the accolades he helped bring to the program and the university. He must know that the fans have not forgot this. But I don't see Crean being successful in bringing him back, yet. I think its a good thing that Knight's ego hasn't tried to swallow up the opportunity to come back to IU as we struggle to get back so he can laugh on the inside and feel vindicated for being chased out of town. I think he doesn't want to be used as a marketing tool or pillar for others to lean on in order to bring our program back. Simply put, once Crean can show he can win, our new facilities are completed and those trusted by Knight start putting pressure on him to come back, we won't be seeing Knight anytime soon. As Red would say, 'pressure and time' and a few more wins.

JerryCT

I agree with you. Until we win and are on stable footing , having him back for a even a visit looks like we are using him.

I believe he will return after TC has returned the program to respect and some level of success like at least a B10 title. Then the visit can focus on our appreciation of him vs our struggles.

Even then only a visit is useful, staying to "help" might hurt us, even though I loved the successes we had during his years.

Hardwood83

I say he comes back eventually- the same ego that is keeping him away will draw him to seek the spotlight, at least for recognition/court naming, etc. I think (hope?) his coaching days are over and I'm guessing his commentator role will go stale so he'll need something to do.

GFDave

I think Alex has it right. Coach Knight will probably never acknowledge that he had any role in his dismissal and so I don't think he would come back without extensive groveling on IU's part. I wouldn't want to see IU apologize to Knight, which is what I think it would take to get his attention. I'd like to see a reconciliation, but it has to be a two way street with bygones being bygones. I'm not holding my breath and I can live without it.

Kelin Blab

I think the link to knight coming back to IU is the route Crean seems to be taking: former players....

1. Knight I still think is softening given his newfound love with the media....

2. He is running out of reason to say NO to IU, given most of the people that ran him out of town are gone and crean is NOT MD or Denim SHirt

3. Finally, Can bobby say not to hilman, benson, zeke, tolbert, etc. All his former guys who are getting behind the program and want to see him honored at IU.

I think crean is building a 'political base' so to speak to get bob on his side...it may work. I forsee some IU basketball alum gather or retiring jerseys in the near future....

Keepbobbyaway

Didn't IU fire Knight? Why do all the people want to have him come back? He was fired. Told to leave. For every Big 10, NCAA, and NIT championship he won, he had 5 times as many incidents that embarrassed him and/or the university. The guy has always been about his own ego and is loving the fact that "IU fans" are stroking it and continue to. Miles Brand was wrong and I have thousands of fans that love me and agree with me, wah, wah, wah. IU is such a bad place and I'm never going to set foot there again, wah, wah, wah. It serves no purpose to bring him back or to name anything after a disgraced coach. How many other schools have honored fired coaches with naming something after them? This is crazy talk. Yes, Coach Crean, pay tribute and acknowledge our history, but I for one, and I'm sure I'm in the minority here, don't care if the bully ever comes back. Let him continue to sulk and think that the world mistreats him, when in reality, he brought his firing on himself with his own actions. Brand was the only one with enough guts to say enough is enough. Ask any person in management at any company and see if they bring back people after they fired them no matter how much good they did in the past. I'm confident the answer would be none or real close to none.

slojoe

I don't know if or when Crean could get Coach Knight back to IU, but if Knight showed up at a game at AH, the roar of the crowd would be so deafening that I think it would far eclipse any at AH ever. Although he is a controversial figure, I think all the bad would be, at least, momentarily overlooked by the crowd and the emotion of the moment would take over.

My prediction is that Crean will do this by small steps getting him involved in some small way, and then hopefully getting to a game in AH.

superhoops

I don't see the importance of him coming back anytime soon. I think it would be a disruption to the current staff. Let Crean run the show and keep Bob out of it. Maybe in about 10 or 20 years when some of the hype and passion dies off he can come back and watch a game or something and not turn the event into a circus. Vitale needs to keep his mouth shut. What school is going to name something after a coach that was fired? Not gonna happen anytime soon. Future leaders can decide that once objectivity is restored to the process. There's just too many passionate people on both sides of the issue to objectively decide what course of action should be taken at this point in time.

MemphisHoosier

Well i for one would love to see Knight come back for anything. I think if a new arena is built in the future it should be in his name. I know he isn't gonna go for it right now but I think there is a key and its Pat Knight.

Pat has shown in interviews that he likes Crean and I think the way to start these things is to invite Pat Knight and Tech to play at Assembly Hall. I don't know if this would work or what happens next but if Pat comes back and he enjoys the ovation the crowd gives him and Bob sees it he might be more likely to be open to listening to what Creana nd IU have to say

Kelin Blab

I do remember last year or the year before IU was due to play tech and it got cancelled.....given tech having a down year, I could see IU v Tech in a non conference game this year in bloomington....you are right...that could be the first step......

On a side note memphishoosier...on my way to tiger town tomorrow....stopped by the store and bought my nephew an IU jersey...WHY....my brother is a huge IU hater...so why not dress his kid in an IU jersey.....

MemphisHoosier

well kelin hope you enjoy your trip in the deathly humid area we live in down here. It'll be good to have another person who knows a thing or two about basketball in our area for a short time. everyone around here just can't see what the big deal is about fake ACT scores and flying players brothers to games

Kelin Blab

dude a couple of things.......It is 101 degrees in lovely memphis...slightly above hell tempature.....

Finally.....Gus chicken is as good as IU beating Purdue by 20...at Mackey!

GFDave

Pat Knight was booed as a player. I don't see him receiving an overly warm reception as a coach.

IUAlumni09

Honestly, if Coach Knight still has problems with IU and unwilling to accept a (possible) olive branch from Coach Crean, it is his problem. As good a coach as he was, he did break simple rules that anyone, regardless of past accomplishments, would be fired for. Nearly everyone involved with his dismissal is no longer at IU, so even if he still has ill feelings toward those individuals, he should not continue to turn his back on the institution that both it and he benefited so much from.

Jonathan

Why is that question always brought up? The IU fan base seems to be as unified and strong now as its been in a long time. When Bobby is ready he can get someone to tell someone. Until then Tom needs to just worry about getting the program back to its former greatness.

robweber2

Very eloquent article, Alex. Nj.

Big D

I have one question about this WHY?
He likes being mad he always stays mad. If he comes back there is a very good chance he will make an ass of himself and the school
How often does a school bring someone back who has taken them to court.

DTFree

I predicted last Jan. Knight would get back in fold under cover of his "media" job and then go from there...

Stan

Bob B Free!!!

Longtime IU fan

The comments on here show why Knight should not come back. I would wager that most on here were not even at IU when Knight was coaching. I have noticed that the younger fans don't appreciate what the General did for IU.
I do.
I wish he would come back but the attitude many of you show is probably why it won't happen.

How bout you all give up those banners, the ones of you that are "embarrassed"?

Could Tom Crean be the man to ‘bring back Bobby’?

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