Robert Carter: Mal, what about Bob?
So Mark Gottfried is gone from Alabama, to the surprise of just about no one. He gets $75,000 a month for the next 29 months, lovely parting gifts and thanks for playing our game.
Now, Johnny Gilbert, who’s our next contestant?
Not Minnesota coach Tubby Smith, formerly of Kentucky. His typical denial-of-interest statement was fairly swift and fairly convincing, though by no means airtight.
Anthony Grant? He’s supposedly The Next Big Thing, having achieved considerable success at Virginia Commonwealth. But Georgia might get him instead to replace the just-fired Dennis Felton, who was himself considered The Next Big Thing when the Bulldogs got him from Western Kentucky. Maybe Grant, maybe not.
As for John Calipari at Memphis — nope, sorry. He’s doing just fine where he is.
So now speculation turns to a 68-year-old guy in a sweater.
You may know him as The General. Or as an expert chair thrower.
Robert Montgomery Knight, the winningest coach in NCAA Men’s Division I history, is being seriously mentioned as a replacement for Gottfried. Knight is still synonymous with his successful-but-stormy tenure at Indiana, and now has a cushy analyst’s job with ESPN after retiring from Texas Tech.
Despite the verbal sparring with the likes of Dick Vitale and Digger Phelps, the rumors have been flying across cyberspace that Knight is itching to get back to the sidelines.
There are dozens of reasons why Coleman Coliseum would be the perfect place for Knight to prowl with his famous scowl. There are also dozens more why it wouldn’t.
Let’s take a look at why he should be considered:
1. He’s Bob Bleepin’ Knight. He’s the winningest coach in the college men’s sport. He’s forgotten more about coaching the game than many of his potential Southeastern Conference colleagues know now, or ever will.
2. His presence would immediately energize Tide fans and players alike. Commercial sponsors would be banging on Mal Moore’s door. Even the Bammers who generally hibernate during the football off-season would wake up and hear the sneakers squeal with Big Bad Bob in Tuscaloosa.
3. It would let supporters know that the university really is serious about its basketball program. The rank and file want a big name, which is to say the hoops equivalent of Nick Saban. Short of stealing Coach K from Duke or Rick Pitino from Louisville, Knight is about as big a name as Alabama could hope to get.
4. Strangely enough, Knight would attract football prospects. It’s been reported that Saban himself has been unhappy with the lackluster attendance and performance at Tide basketball games, because it’s embarrassing to show prospects on campus visits. Somehow, a full house to watch Sarah Patterson’s gymnastics team isn’t quite as attractive, I guess.
Now, reasons to say no to Knight:
1. He’s Bob Bleepin’ Knight, emphasis on “bleepin’.” It’s not that anyone at The Capstone is prudish about the behavior of its coaches — heck, Saban’s had to be bleeped in some of his press conferences. But Knight takes it to another level, which is not necessarily a good thing.
2. He wouldn’t be around for very long. No, I don’t think he’s going to keel over anytime soon, but the fact of the matter is that Bob Knight is 68 years old. He has already retired once, in the middle of a season at Texas Tech. If he came to Alabama, it would be a short-term deal, and not a long-term project to take the Tide to the top of college basketball.
3. Having Knight and Saban on the same campus may be more star power than Tuscaloosa can handle. It’s not that either man is a raving egomaniac, but neither is a shrinking violet. Even though they are friends, the pair might just suck all the oxygen out of the athletic complex.
4. Hiring Knight would not appease those concerned about the racial issue. Race is that ugly thing that always crops up whenever a coaching vacancy occurs at Alabama, and Knight would be just another white guy. Moreover, someone might bring up the incident with Indiana player Calbert Cheaney and the bullwhip at a practice session in 1992. It was largely laughed off in the midwest, as it should have been. But here in the Deep South (and especially in this state), racial overtones have much different meaning.
Getting Bob Knight to coach the Tide is a longshot at best. He could certainly do the job. But would it be best for Alabama for the long term? I’m not so sure.
Robert Carter is the sports editor of The North Jefferson News.