Bob Kravitz has a column on the fact that Bob Knight is to be inducted into IU’s Hall of Fame. It’s a no-brainer. Kravitz’s column focuses on whether there will be peace between Knight and the University. Hopefully it will. I wasn’t particularly happy with Knight’s firing, but that chapter is over and done with. Though, I don’t see Knight as being the type to let bygones be bygones. Regardless, Knight is a Hall of Fame coach on any scale you care to mention.
What confuses me — things are often confusing when you don’t do any research — is why it would have taken so long for Jerry Yeagley to be inducted. Yeagley’s career as IU’s soccer coach was incredibly successful and, so far as I know, with none of Knight’s personal volatility. Yeagley coached the IU men’s soccer team from 1973 – 2003, won 6 NCAA Championships, and a Division I record 544 games.
Both Yeagley and Knight are giants in their respective sports. Halls of Fame seem mostly useless to me, but if IU is going to have one, these guys should feature prominently.
Yeah, love him or hate him (Knight), there is no denying his success. He can be a belligerent s.o.b. but I think I.U. made a mistake firing him.
I believe there is a five year waiting period (at least for coaches–it may be longer for athletes), so Yeagley wasn’t eligible until now. Otherwise, Knight would have been in long before he was fired anyway.
I believe John M is correct in the five year waiting period. It’s odd though because they waived the five year period for renaming the field at Bill Armstrong Stadium after him.