Bobby Knight Not Attending Indiana University Hall of Fame Ceremony

Several media outlets are reporting that Bobby Knight, former head coach of men's basketball at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, will not be in attendance at the IU Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. WTHR Channel 13 Indianapolis reported that the event, scheduled for November 6^th in Assembly Hall, is expecting a capacity crowd to honor seven IU sports greats, including Knight. In addition to the ceremony on the 6^th, each inductee is also scheduled to be honored at halftime of the football contest between IU and Wisconsin on November 7^th in Memorial Stadium.

FOX 59 News Indianapolis reported on October 28, 2009 that Dick Vitale, ESPN analyst and friend of Knight's, claimed on twitter that Knight would not attend his induction into IU's first ever Hall of Fame Ceremony.

In yet another twist in the Bobby Knight vs. Indiana University story, ESPN reported on October 27, 2009, that Knight was returning a $75,000 check from Indiana alumni, intended by the University to settle a lawsuit filed by Knight against IU claiming that the school did not properly defend Knight against a suit filed by a former assistant coach, one Ron Felling. Knight is said to have settled the Felling suit for $25,000. Knight, in the ESPN article, is quoted as stating "In all the years I coached at Indiana and elsewhere, I never accepted a thing from alumni and I don't intend to start now. This issue is with the university, not with the alumni. It would be amazing what this university's legal office has spent over the past nine years avoiding this obligation as well as paying off all the broken athletic contracts they have made," Knight said.

On the WTHR13 NightBeat Broadcast at 11:00 PM, October 29th, reporters interviewed Fred Glass, Athletic Director at Indiana University. Glass said that Knight had sent a letter to him explaining his (Knight's) decision to not attend the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. "Knight said in the letter that he (Knight) did not want to create a media circus," Glass said. "I completely understand his reasoning."

Kevin Mendall, a student at Indiana University, was also interviewed. Mendall, when asked about his opinion of Knight's refusal to attend the Hall of Fame Induction ceremony said "He is still bitter about getting fired."

In addition to Knight, six other former athletes or coaches will be honored by induction into the IU Hall of Fame. They include former men's soccer coach Jerry Yeagley (1973-2004), Steve Downing (men's basketball, 1971-73), Katrin Koch (women's track and field, 1989-92), Joe Norman (football, 1975-78), the family of late Mike Rabold (football, 1956-58), and Alan Somers (swimming, 1961-63).

Jennie Runevitch WTHR.com

FOX 59 FOX59.com

Associated Press sports.espn.go.com