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(10/18/00 6:45am)
A lawsuit filed by Indiana citizens and IU alumni against the University for avoiding state laws is beginning to take shape. The plaintiffs now know who will defend the University, what judge is likely to hear the case and what is likely to happen next. \nThe lawsuit claims that IU President Myles Brand and the board of trustees deliberately skirted Open Door Laws Sept. 9 by meeting in two separate groups of four trustees before Brand made his decision to fire then-basketball coach Bob Knight. Lawyers Gojko Kasich and Roy Graham filed the suit in Monroe County Circuit Court Oct. 2.\n"We are confident that this action is right as rain and will pursue this matter even if it requires an appeal," Graham said. "The importance of the law at issue in this case protects all of us: the poor, the rich, the good, the bad, the ugly, the famous and the infamous. In other words, people from all walks of life."\nThe University will be represented by a trio of lawyers from the Indianapolis firm Baker and Daniels. The firm has represented large corporations such as AT&T, Bank One, General Motors and Clarian Health. Ellen Boshkoff and Scott Himsel are the lead counsel, assisted by Stacy Prall. Boshkoff, an expert in employment and commercial litigation, graduated from the law school in 1990 summa cum laude, and Prall is also law school alumnus.\n"I think Baker and Daniels is one of the more powerful law firms in the state," said Kasich, who practices in Lake County.\nUniversity Counsel Dorothy Frapwell said all of IU's litigation will be handled by outside counsel.\nWhen Monroe Circuit Judge Elizabeth Mann excused herself from the case, she gave both counsels a list of three judges from which each side could remove one. The University struck Richard McIntyre of Lawrence County from the list, leaving the plaintiffs to choose from David Johnson of Greene County and Frank Nardi of Owen County. Graham chose to remove Johnson, leaving Nardi to preside over the case. Nardi was informed of this decision late Tuesday night.\n"I'll have to decide if I'll be able to accept it," said Nardi, who is not allowed to speak about the specifics of the case.\n"I have been honored to practice in front of Judge Nardi for several years and he is a fine judge," said Graham, a Bloomington lawyer. "Everyone can be assured that he will listen, deliberate and issue fair rulings."\nKasich said the University needs to make the next move, no matter who hears the case.\n"They can file a motion to dismiss, or they can file and answer to our suit and proceed further," Kasich said. "We plan on serving them with a discovery motion in the next week or so."\nWhen contacted, IU lead counsel Boshkoff said, "I can't really comment on anything today."\nGraham said discovery is likely to include depositions of Brand and the board of trustees, which could occur in early November.\nThe trustees intentionally met in two groups of four at Brand's house before the Sept. 9 football game to discuss Brand's decision to fire Knight. If five members of the board, a quorum, meet at the same time, state law requires that they give notice to the public 48 hours in advance. At such a meeting, they would have to meet publicly or state their reasons for not doing so.\nHouse Majority Leader Mark Kruzan, D-Bloomington, introduced a bill two years ago that would have banned this practice. \n"The bill failed and that's why IU will win this lawsuit," Kruzan said. "The law clearly protects the loophole that IU used to hold these conferences."\nBut Kasich disagrees.\n"Part of what we wanted to do is show that public agencies are doing things they shouldn't be doing," Kasich said. "Maybe it's time a judge or the legislature put a stop to it"
(10/16/00 5:48am)
The excitement of Midnight Madness concluded with a flurry of fast breaks, alley-oops and 3-point bombs.\nTo conclude the first practice of the season, the men's basketball team held an intra-squad scrimmage that ended in a 26-26 tie. Although the 10-minute game didn't show how good the Hoosiers could be, it proved that this year's team needs to work on nearly all facets of the game before its first game Nov. 14 against Pepperdine University.\nIt was a fast-paced game filled with breaks, quick shots, shaky defense and unorganized offense. But it had some flair. Midway through the scrimmage, sophomore forward Jeffrey Newton lobbed a pass to freshman forward George Leach, who slammed the ball through the net, bringing more than 9,000 fans to their feet. As soon as the fans sat back down, freshman guard Andre Owens led a fast break, threw a no-look pass to Newton, who tossed an alley-oop to freshman guard A.J. Moye who threw it down amid thundering cheers.\n"We showed an entertaining style of ball tonight, and we wanted to give the fans a preview of what our basketball is going to be about," Moye said. "But we could have done better in a lot of areas. Defensively, that's not a reflection of how we plan to play basketball."\nJunior forward Kirk Haston said interim coach Mike Davis told the team that the scrimmage lacked defensive discipline.\n"Coach Davis was a little disappointed in the way we played," Haston said. "The thing we have to improve upon is our defense. Offensively, we're not going to have any problems."\nOwens and Moye shared point guard duties for the white team, and junior Dane Fife ran the show for the red team on the occasions where fast break points weren't available.\n"It was definitely helter-skelter out there," Fife said. "We're not used to playing at 1 a.m. There was a lot of adrenaline and a lot of excitement out there. I think if you gave us a few more minutes, we would have settled down and started playing well."\nThe scrimmage was the first time this year that five players have been together on a team, except for pickup games, because only four players are allowed on the floor during pre-season individual workouts. \n"Offensively, we knew we were going to be a bit sloppy," Haston said. "It's going to be a lot more organized once we start working on the offense. Tonight, we had a lot of transition baskets mainly because there were a lot of quick shots taken and long rebounds, so that's automatic fast breaks." \nLeach led the white team with eight points. Haston scored eight for the red squad, while the surprise of the evening was junior forward Jarrad Odle's approach to the game.\n"My first couple years were basically screening, rebounding and defense," said Odle, who led a fast break and scored six points. "I'm looking to score a lot more this year. I think I've got to be more of an offensive threat and take some of the load off the other guys."\nNow that the first practice -- and the fun -- has passed, the team is focusing on defense, offensive rebounding, Pepperdine and the rest of the season.\n"I have high expectations for this team," Haston said. "This is a high-class program and pride is what kept this team together, and we want to show the rest of the country why we're proud of it"
(10/13/00 6:19am)
With Mike Davis in charge of the men's basketball team, midnight practice will no longer simply be a few drills and a scrimmage. \nIt's Midnight Madness, complete with a high-flying slam dunk contest and sharp-shooting three-point contests. The annual event, essentially the first full-squad practice allowed by NCAA regulations, begins at 12:01 a.m. Saturday morning in Assembly Hall and is open to the public for either a nonperishable food item or $1 donation.\nFor this team of Hoosiers, it's more than practice. It's their chance to prove to the fans that this team is ready for the season to begin and that they've put the past in its place.\n"This is our coming-out party," freshman guard A.J. Moye said. "This is the beginning of a new era. It's the initiation of something new." \nIn the past, Midnight Madness was nothing more than the men's team warming-up, doing a few drills, then scrimmaging. It was the fans' one opportunity to watch a practice run by former coach Bob Knight.\n"He'd would break it down and it was formatted like a practice," Moye said. "This is more fun, a fan-friendly event. It's the initiation of something new. We can put this Coach Knight thing to rest, at least physically."\nIn addition to the dunk contest and a scrimmage, which are common at most first practices, the women's basketball team is joining the men's squad for Midnight Madness. The women's team will participate in the spot shooting and three point shooting contest with the men, and they will judge the dunk contest.\n"Friday night is for the students, for the fans, it's for Indiana basketball and that's why I included the women's team," said Mike Davis, the interim men's basketball coach. "They're a part of Indiana basketball. It should be special for them. Our guys get enough pats on the back and enough attention."\nMoye said he's pretty tired of the grueling conditioning drills of individual workouts, and he's happy to get the season started. \n"When I got here, I wasn't in the best shape," Moye said. "I was dragging along and hurting. But I didn't realize all the other guys were hurting too."\nDavis said tonight is a reward to players for their efforts during workouts, and for the fans who supported the team in the last few months.\n"I'm not going to say anything as long as our guys aren't acting crazy," Davis said. "I pressed a lot of them."\nBut most of all, Moye is looking forward to having fun in front of a crowd, which Davis expects to be between 10,000 and 12,000 strong. \n"We're going to set the tone," Moye said. "The fans are going to see some high-flying guys, some sharp-shooting guys, and a lot of camaraderie between the men's and women's teams."\nBut they can't have too much fun. The players must wake up early in order to participate in the Hoosiers Outrun Cancer 5K race. Most of the players will walk instead of run.\n"I know I'll be walking," junior forward Kirk Haston said. "We come back that afternoon for practice, so I don't think they'll want us doing too much running. But we'll be out there, and we're looking forward to seeing everybody and talking with the fans"
(10/13/00 5:59am)
In years past, the first practice of the season has been known simply as 'Midnight Practice.' But tonight it's 'Midnight Madness.' \nInterim men's basketball coach Mike Davis has decided to let the players have fun, as a reward for their hard work during grueling individual workouts. Tonight's practice is designed for the fans, and should provide a glimpse of the talent IU possesses.\nHere are three things to watch during tonight's Madness.\nThe dunk contest\nMost of the players and coaches are predicting freshman guard Andre Owens to win the competition. Even though he's only 6-foot-2, Owens has shown tremendous leaping ability during individual workouts.\n"If I was picking favorites, I'd go with Owens," said junior forward Kirk Haston, who has been mentally preparing for the competition, but would not divulge his secret dunk. "I'm going to show you some less than stellar jumping ability." \nA.J. Moye, a freshman guard, will also attempt to win the contest. But he admits he can't jump like Owens.\n"I've never been known as much of a dunker," Moye said. "But I'm going to go out there and try."\nRachael Honegger, a senior on the women's basketball team is predicting victory for red-freshman center George Leach, a 6-foot-11 leaper. She said he has a lot of style, but difficulty landing the dunks.\n"I'm going to put my arm in the rim," Leach said. "Andre can't do that."\nThe freshmen\nThis year's incoming class is the best IU has had in recent years. Jared Jeffries, Mike Roberts and A.J. Moye join Leach and Owens to form one of the nation's top-10 recruiting classes. They are all are expected to make significant contributions, especially offensively, as Moye and Owens are likely to share point guard duties. A front line of Jeffries, Leach and Haston could prove to be the best in the Big Ten. But time only time will tell. \n"There's been days we've all been on the same team and just gave it to them," Moye said. "This is a special class. We have some exceptional talent. We're a young team but don't let that fool you." Jeffries, a Bloomington North graduate, could have the biggest impact. As a McDonald's All-American selection — as was Owens —Jeffries will shoulder a lot of IU's scoring responsibilities.\n"When you walk into a gym and see this guy, you just know he can play basketball," Davis said. "He really stands out."\nDuring workouts, Jeffries has shown an ability to hit just about any shot from anywhere on the floor, including outside the 3-point line.\nThe new offense:\nThe days of the motion offense are in the past. Davis has implemented an up-tempo system that could push the Hoosiers over 100 points several times this season. When the Hoosiers scrimmage tonight, fans will notice the difference.\n"We're going to try and do a lot of things in transition, and run more set plays," said Davis, who is teaching the team a 1-4 set. "We're going to try and get the ball to guys who can do something with it."\nAnd he'll utilize each player's special ability.\n"Jared Jeffries really stands out. We have guys who can score inside in Kirk Haston and George Leach," Davis said. "And guards who can shoot the ball -- Dane Fife is playing better, Kyle Hornsby can shoot, Tom Coverdale can shoot, and Moye can get to the basket.\n"We have some guys who can play"
(10/02/00 5:50am)
A lawyer representing 48 plaintiffs is filing a lawsuit today claiming IU President Myles Brand purposely avoided state laws. \nAttorney Gojko Kasich of Crown Point, Ind., claims Brand and the board of trustees deliberately skirted Open Door Laws by meeting in two separate groups of four trustees before Brand made his decision to fire then-basketball coach Bob Knight. "Here's an institution that's supposed to pride itself on integrity, and they're intentionally intending to surpass a law so nobody knows what their vote is," Kasich said.\n"Somebody has to say enough is enough. These guys need to be shown that they don't have absolute power.\n"This is a case that tugs at the heartstrings of those who are concerned about how our University is being run."\nBloomington lawyer Roy Graham, an IU alumnus, will file in Monroe Circuit Court today for Kasich, who is unable to make the trip from Crown Point. The University will have 20 days to respond.\n"The public is perhaps unaware of the importance of this law," Graham said. "I personally believe that had the administration done the difficult thing of opening the meeting up, it might have saved the University some of the embarrassment." \nThe trustees met in two groups of four before the Sept. 9 football game to discuss Brand's decision to fire Knight. Brand said it was not necessary to hold a formal meeting because the board decided in May that it would take action if Knight failed to follow guidelines set forth at the time.\n"I wanted to brief the trustees, but most importantly I wanted to get their perception," Brand said Sept. 15. "I asked each of the trustees, 'What is your opinion?'" \nTrustee Cora Breckenridge said Friday that she did not want to comment.\nShe previously told the IDS, "There were deliberations of course. But it was not a meeting where we could do any voting because it was not an official meeting. There was not a quorum there, and that was done purposely by the president."\nJohn Walda, trustees president, said the board is not guilty of any wrongdoing.\n"It sounds to me to be pretty silly," said Walda, who was out of the country at the time of the meeting. "If a suit is filed, it doesn't have any substance. It's clear to anyone who knows the law, that what was done is in compliance with the law. \n"The legislature was careful to provide ways in which consultation can take place without having an official meeting. Everything the trustees and the president did are in compliance with the letter and spirit of law, therefore there is nothing to be embarrassed about."\nTrustee Dean Hertzler, a senior at IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis, stands behind Walda's comments.\n"The lawsuit is a feeble effort to try to gain some publicity and support for a lost cause," Hertzler said. "There was no meeting, there was no official action taken by the board of trustees, and therefore the lawsuit is out in left field.\n"What does this guy want? That every conversation between the trustees and the president be recorded?"\nKasich said he and the plaintiffs, mostly IU graduates and state residents, simply want the truth to come out.\n"The most we can get is a court making a decision that would void any decision made during any illegal meeting," Kasich said. "Then you get an injunction telling them not to do it in the future and agreement on attorney fees."\nKasich and the plaintiffs asked Anne O'Connor, Indiana's public access counselor, to file a legal opinion on the matter, which should come later this week.\n"It's not a violation of (the) letter of law, but it violates (the) spirit of the law," O'Connor said. "It hinders the stature (the board) has, in the eyes of those who watch what they're doing: alumni, students, watchers of IU. Citizens certainly have a right to observe how government works."\nThe University might avoid losing in court because of other legal aspects to the case. A quorum was never formed, and the discussions centered around a personnel issue, which the law allows to take place behind closed doors. Brand also had the authority to fire Knight at will, Knight's lawyer Russell Yates confirmed. \nBut Kasich is still confident that the case will not be dismissed.\n"There's a problem here, so let's let the Indiana courts take a look at it," Kasich said. "If the court approves this type routine, then every public body is going to skirt the Open Door Laws in the future"
(09/29/00 6:46pm)
Based partly on an IDS story published Sept. 20, two lawyers are filing suit against IU for violating Indiana's Open Door Law.\nLawyer Gojko Kasich of Crown Point, Ind., claims IU President Myles Brand deliberately skirted the law by meeting separately with two groups of four trustees before making his decision to fire basketball coach Bob Knight. Kasich said the lawsuit has 45 plaintiffs.\nKasich and Bloomington lawyer Roy Graham, who practices family law, will file in Monroe Circuit Court Monday.\n"The public is perhaps unaware of the importance of this law," Graham said. "I personally believe that had the administration done the difficult thing of opening the meeting up, it might have saved the University some of the embarrassment." \nThe trustees met in two groups of four before the Sept. 9 football game to discuss Brand's decision to fire Knight. Brand said it was not necessary to hold a formal meeting because the board decided in May that it would take action if Knight failed to follow guidelines set forth at the time.\n"I wanted to brief the trustees, but most importantly I wanted to get their perception," Brand said. "I asked each of the trustees, 'What is your opinion?'" \nTrustee Cora Breckenridge said Friday that she did not want to comment.\nShe previously told the IDS, "There were deliberations of course. But it was not a meeting where we could do any voting because it was not an official meeting. There was not a quorum there, and that was done purposely by the president." \nJohn Walda, the president of the board of trustees, said the trustees are not guilty of any wrongdoing.\n"It sounds to me to be pretty silly," said Walda, who was out of the country at the time of the meeting. "If a suit is filed, it doesn't have any substance. It's clear to anyone who knows that law that what was done is in compliance with the law. \n"The legislature was careful to provide ways in which consultation can take place without having an official meeting. Everything the trustees and the president did are in compliance with the letter and spirit of law, therefore there is nothing to be embarrassed about."\nTrustee Dean Hertzler, a senior at IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis, stands behind Walda's comments.\n"The lawsuit is a feeble effort to try to gain some publicity and support for a lost cause," Hertzler said. "There was no meeting, there was no official action taken by the board of trustees, and therefore the lawsuit is out in left field.\n"What does this guy want? That every conversation between the trustees and the president be recorded?"\nGraham said Kasich contacted him because Kasich wanted assistance from an lawyer in Bloomington.\n"We talked quite a bit, and I challenged him to justify what he was thinking," Graham said. "This has to be done honorably and fairly. I do respect and admire President Brand and the trustees."\nIDS reporter Rachel Kipp contributed to this story.\nSee the previous IDS article, Official says IU violated spirit of law.
(09/28/00 8:21am)
The storytelling and name calling between the IU administration and former basketball coach Bob Knight's camp continues.\nRussell Yates, Knight's attorney, sent out two letters Wednesday. One was sent to the IDS, calling for IU to "immediately discontinue their campaign of misinformation that is apparently intended to publicly justify the University's firing of Coach Knight without true cause." \nHe also sent a letter to University Counsel Dorothy Frapwell suggesting the two sides meet and come to an agreement over items related to Knight's contract. Frapwell said it was a very cordial letter but had not replied as of late Wednesday night.\n"I want to get his deferred compensation resolved, then I want to talk about the noncompete clause," Yates said. "I hope we can have an amicable meeting, and then everybody can go their own way."\nThe University has deposited $1.3 million in the compensation fund, and it has grown to more than $4.5 million thanks to interest. It is to be paid out over a 10-year span, but the start date is in question. The noncompete clause states Knight will forfeit the deferred compensation if he joins a Division I program in Kentucky, Indiana or in the Big Ten.\nYates wrote the IDS in response to a letter written by President Myles Brand Sept. 13 that was addressed, "Dear Friends," and distributed to alumni. Brand recapped and re-affirmed his decision to release Coach Knight from his contract. \n"Unfortunately, as weeks passed, I received more and more reports of hostile, difficult and uncooperative behavior by Coach Knight toward fellow IU employees and toward the University," Brand wrote. "This continuing series of events over several months left us with no real alternative. With the support of a strong majority of the board of trustees, I decided to relieve Coach Knight of his duties as basketball coach.\n"Included among these incidents was a meeting in which Coach Knight verbally abused a female IU administrator with others present; his continued refusal to work through the chain of command …; angry and inflammatory remarks he made in public and private …; and his refusal to appear at previously scheduled pre-season Varsity Club events …"\nYates said most of Brand's comments are "misleading, incomplete and wrong." \n"Suffice it to say, President Brand, as well as (Christopher) Simpson, based on our review of the facts and our investigation, have twisted the facts to suit the result they have long desired," Yates wrote at the conclusion of his letter.\nSimpson, vice president for public affairs and government relations, spoke for himself and Brand, who was out of town.\n"I see nothing to be gained by going back over those issues," Simpson said. "The last time I talked with a person of the media was 10 days ago, so I'm not sure I understand this 'campaign of misinformation.'"\nYates was upset by Brand's comments, "The overriding issue here is that no person -- no president, coach, faculty member student or trustee -- is bigger than Indiana University," and that, "Coach Knight wrote the final chapter to his career here."\nReplied Yates: "Knight has had a greater and more positive history with Indiana University than either Myles Brand or Christopher Simpson have, or will ever have."\nSimpson was unaffected by the insult and said he had no comment regarding the personal attack.\n"When you're the chief spokesman for a university this size, (derogatory remarks) come with the territory," Simpson said. "We wish Coach Knight the absolute best, and we're 110 percent behind coach (Mike) Davis and his basketball team as we move toward basketball season."\nRead the letter from Myles Brand.\nRead the letter from Bob Knight's attorney.
(09/20/00 6:06am)
With the national spotlight fading on from, president Myles Brand wants to make sure everyone knows he is focusing on the future instead of the past and academics instead of athletics.\n"The perception created by the attention to Bob Knight and athletics is that we have lost sight of our central mission," Brand said. "It's just the opposite. IU is an academic institution first and foremost. Teaching, learning and research is what we're all about."\nBrand emphasized his desire to move forward during an interview with the IDS. He spoke of IU's positive attributes, how state economics play a role in the University's future and how the athletics department is a separate entity from the University. Brand avoided questions regarding the specific details of his decision to release former basketball coach Bob Knight. \n"Sometimes you have to act for the long-term benefit of the institution," Brand said. "It was the hardest decision of my life, because I appreciate the good things he's done."\nBrand said his single most difficult task now is making sure IU continues to receive and attract funds and resources. Indiana's economic status in part determines how much money the University receives from the state. IU automatically receives a portion of the state's budget every year, and when the economy is doing well, it can battle for more.\n"IU has to compete for state funding to continue to make progress in our academic mission," Brand said. "The state's economy is the single most important factor as to whether IU will do well."\nIn good economic conditions, more money flows to the state because as people get richer, they pay more in taxes, resulting in a larger surplus, said Bill Witte, an associate economics professor. \n"The state then determines where to spend the money," said Robert Becker, chairman of the economics department. "But if budgets are tight and the state is fiscally is not doing well, (legislators) may have to watch what they\'re spending and where they're spending it."\nTrustee Stephen Backer said that if the legislature doesn't have the money because of a slow economy, then all budgetary items are reduced.\n"If the economy is doing well, you have a better shot of getting more money," Backer said. "But if it's small, then everybody will take a hit."\nTrustee Stephen Ferguson -- a former state representative -- said the money IU receives directly relates to the amount students are charged for tuition.\n"When the surplus is low, there's a tendency to look to tuition instead of state appropriations," Ferguson said. "There's a tradeoff. If you get less appropriation, then you raise tuition."\nA common misconception is that tuition money goes to help the athletics department. At 90 percent of major college programs, that's the case. Not at IU, Brand said. \nEven though three non-revenue varsity sports have been added in three years -- in accordance with the NCAA's gender equity rules -- Brand will continue to rely on athletics director Clarence Doninger to balance the budget.\n"I've made it very clear to the athletics department that we're not going to move any academic money into athletics," Brand said. "That makes it all the more important that the department run a clean and efficient program."\nTo keep the athletics budget operating in the black, Brand is relying on money that will come from the NCAA and its television rights contracts. He also said he doesn't plan to strike any advertising deals in the near future, which will keep Assembly Hall free from large advertisements -- a possibility Knight alluded to in a speech Wednesday.\n"That's not on the docket right now," Brand said. "I can't tell you what will happen in the future when we get a new athletics director"
(09/20/00 5:27am)
The board of trustees used an intimate knowledge of state laws to narrowly avoid breaking Indiana's Open Door laws Sept. 9, one day before President Myles Brand announced basketball coach Bob Knight's release.\nThe trustees intentionally met in two groups of four before that day's football game to discuss Brand's decision to fire basketball coach Bob Knight. Brand said it was not necessary to hold a formal meeting because the board decided in May that it would take action if Knight failed to follow guidelines set forth at the time.\nBut Anne O'Connor, Indiana's public access counselor, said such impromptu meetings shrink a body's credibility in the eyes of the public.\n"It's not a violation of (the) letter of law, but it violates (the) spirit of the law," O'Connor said. "It hinders the stature (the board) has, in the eyes of who watch what they're doing: alumni, students, watchers of IU. Citizens certainly have a right to observe how government works."\nIndiana Code 5-14-1.5 states, "that the official action of public agencies be conducted and taken openly, unless otherwise expressly provided by statute, in order that the people may be fully informed."\nTrustee Cora Breckenridge said Brand left a message on her voice mail stating that she needed to drive from Elkhart to Bloomington in time for the morning meeting.\n"The President told us he purposely didn't want a quorum of trustees," Breckenridge said. "He was having a meeting with four trustees at 10 o'clock and a meeting with four trustees after that. The ninth (trustee, John Walda) was out of the country."\nIf five members of the board, a quorum, meet at the same time, state law requires that they give notice to the public 48 hours in advance. At such a meeting, they would have to meet publicly or state their reasons for not doing so.\nWhile the board did not hold an official meeting, defined as "a gathering of a majority of the governing body of a public agency for the purpose of taking official action upon public business," it is in dispute whether the trustees did take "official action." That is defined in Indiana Code 5-14-1.5-2 (d) as "Official action means to receive information; deliberate; make recommendations…"\n"There were deliberations of course," Breckenridge said, "but it was not a meeting where we could do any voting because it was not an official meeting. There was not a quorum there, and that was done purposely by the President." \nBrand said informal communication between the trustees and him are important to conducting business.\n"I wanted to brief the trustees, but most importantly I wanted to get their perception," Brand said. "I asked each of the trustees, 'What is your opinion?'" \nBreckenridge said she met with trustees Frederick Eichhorn, Stephen Ferguson and Dean Hertzler, also an IU-Purdue University at Indianapolis senior. Hertzler confirmed that he had private conversations with several trustees that day.\n"The president was told that the matter of Coach Knight grabbing the young man was under investigation, and he was waiting for the police report, and that once he received that report he wanted to make a determination of how we needed to proceed," Breckenridge said. "That was in essence of what the meeting was all about."\nTrustee Stephen Backer was adamant that the board did not violate state laws.\n"No way. Absolutely no way," said Backer, an Indianapolis lawyer. "As my understanding of the sunshine law, there's no way"
(09/12/00 8:01pm)
Players on the IU basketball team are unsure of their future after Bob Knight's dismissal Sunday.\nJunior guard Dane Fife said he will transfer, as did freshman guard A.J. Moye. \nOthers said a large part of the team will leave IU because of IU President Myles Brand's decision to fire Bob Knight after 29 years at IU.\nEmotions peaked and slumped throughout Monday, as the players met with Knight and athletics director Clarence Doninger, who could name an interim basketball coach as early as today. Selecting assistant coaches Mike Davis and John Treloar might be the only way for IU to retain all if its players.\n"If (the administration) wants to keep this team together ' and they've given us their word that they do ' then that means they'll keep coach Davis and Treloar here," junior forward Kirk Haston said. "The ball's in their court. Let's see if they really support us."\nMoye was extremely upset Monday afternoon. While most of the team met inside Assembly Hall, he and sophomore forward Jeffrey Newton sat outside at a picnic table.\n"I don't want to play here as long as Brand is here," Moye said. "He lies to kids, he lies to players. I want him out. Nobody wants to play here unless Brand resigns. He screwed Coach Knight, and he'll probably screw coach Davis pretty soon too."\nBrand was traveling last evening and could not be reached. Christopher Simpson, vice president for public affairs and government relations, said Brand has met with the team twice in the last two days.\n"I understand it's a difficult situation for the players, but I don't agree with (Moye's) characterization," Simpson said.\nFife, a team leader, said his family urged him to transfer immediately after Knight was fired.\n"Coach Knight also urged me to transfer," Fife said. "Because there's no reason for me to be here with what's going on and how we've been treated. He's going to help me and contact coaches. I have an idea of where I'd like to play, but it's a matter if they have a place for me to play and if I\'d be valuable."\nFife also suggested that the entire team could make a statement by leaving the program.\n"I hope all the players transfer for the way we've been treated," Fife said.\nJunior forward Tom Geyer, Fife's roommate and good friend, wasn't as quick to think about his future being at another university. While Fife started 22 games last season, Geyer only played in nine.\n"Dane is leaving for his own personal reasons," Geyer said. "I can do nothing but wish him the best. We've lived together, and we've done a lot of stuff together.\n"My options are a little different than everyone else's. I came here because Coach Knight asked me to come here and walk on." \nBasketball administrative assistant Les Fertig, who was hired last week by Knight, explained that players' love and appreciation for Knight is a reason for their emotional states.\n"I've been in a lot of team situations, and I've never seen kids react as passionately as they did when Coach met with them (Sunday) night," Fertig said. "I've been in situations where kids have been frustrated and upset that there's a coaching change, but basically the kids just wanted to play.\n"Here, this is entirely different. These players are 100 percent devoted to Knight"
(09/11/00 9:10pm)
INDIANAPOLIS -- IU basketball coach Bob Knight left for a brief vacation in Canada Saturday morning. IU President Myles Brand put Knight on a permanent vacation Sunday afternoon, when he removed Knight from his position for violating the "zero-tolerance policy," established May 15 by the University.\n"The problem is that he has continued a pattern of unacceptable behavior which is similar to the pattern he had prior to May 15, except it's gotten worse," Brand said. "There wasn't just one instance. It was ongoing."\nBrand cited several examples of Knight's behavior that violated the policy.\n• Knight has embarrassed IU in public and private. "Coach Knight has made angry and inflammatory remarks about University officials and the IU Board of Trustees," Brand said.\n• Knight has disrespected alumni. "The coach has informed the University that he refuses now to participate in previously scheduled Varsity Club events ' the most popular and widely attended events our alumni anticipate each year," Brand said.\n• Knight verbally abused an IU administrator. "There has been an instant in the recent past in which coach Knight verbally abused a high-ranking female University official in the presence of other persons," Brand said.\n• Knight has not cooperated in fulfilling the sanctions. "It is important to note that the coach has agreed to fulfill these obligations, but he has forced the University to go through a protracted, unpleasant and completely unnecessary process to reach that end," Brand said.\n• Knight was insubordinate. "I requested, more than once, that he postpone his trip and stay in Bloomington. He adamantly refused," Brand said.\n• Knight initiated physical contact with freshman Kent Harvey. "The severity of the act is in dispute. But the bottom line is that an angry confrontation with a student explicitly violates the spirit and letter of the guidelines," Brand said.\n"The fact is, that in giving coach Knight one more opportunity, he has failed to take advantage of it. It was his decision."\nBrand offered Knight the chance to resign when they spoke on the phone Sunday morning. Upon hearing Knight's refusal, Brand told Knight that he was being removed ' effective immediately.\n"Knight told me he wanted to continue to coach at IU," Brand said. "We had our conversation. It was a civil conversation and he understood the points. He did not react angrily. Coach did say he did not believe he did anything wrong. The conversation lasted about 10 minutes."\nThroughout the weekend the IU Board of Trustees communicated with Brand informally and the IU Police Department continually briefed Brand on the Harvey incident. Brand said the Trustees did not take a vote, nor did they need to, because the University exercised a clause in Knight's contract: "If the University at any time desires, Coach shall cease to serve as head basketball coach when so advised in writing."\n"The large majority of the Trustees fully supports this decision," said Frederick Eichhorn, vice president of the Board of Trustees. "We regret that the coach's actions have resulted in this conclusion, but this is the best answer for the University at this time."\nThe IU basketball players showed their support for Knight by driving to Indianapolis for the news conference and discussing their feelings with the media. They leaned against the wall, with their shoulders shrugged, heads slightly lowered as Brand made his remarks.\nThe players also appeared at the beginning of a pro-Knight rally that started in front of Assembly Hall, weaved its way through campus, lasted more than six hours and grew to more than 2,000 people strong. The rally ended when Knight showed up after midnight at Assembly Hall to disperse the crowd. \n"We wanted to come down here and thank everybody for their support," junior center Kirk Haston said in front of Assembly Hall. "I knew he had supporters, but to see the students come out here like this ' it's great."\nAthletics Director Clarence Doninger and Vice President for Administration Terry Clapacs, will lead a committee to find an interim coach for the 2000-01 season. \n"I thought we were set for the year, and then some," Doninger said. "We will certainly consider in-house, and we will certainly listen to the team. We're going to be very open minded, and we're going to move very quickly."\nDoninger also said that even though a new person can coach the IU basketball team, nobody can replace Knight.\n"Coach Knight has been the IU basketball coach and in this time of unparalleled success," Doninger said. "This has been a golden era with so many positive things. He has been a tremendous coach. It's been a wonderful ride. He's had some glitches along the way. But I think it's a very and sad ending"
(09/09/00 4:00am)
Coach Bob Knight never stops teaching.\nHe said that's exactly what he was doing when he grabbed freshman Kent Harvey's right arm about 2 p.m. Thursday in Assembly Hall. Harvey's stepfather, Mark Shaw, said the incident was more than a lesson in manners - it was a unwarranted assault.\nKnight admitted to grabbing Harvey's arm and talking with him. That's where the stories begin to differentiate.\nKnight's version\n"As I pushed the door open, there were (five) kids," Knight said. "And the first three kids tried to go through the door as I'm trying to go through the door as I swing the door open and they're holding it. And as I try and slide through the door, kind of sideways, as does this kid, right about even with the door, this kid looks at me and says, 'Hi Knight.'\n"And as he's moving, I put my hand on the inside of his elbow and I looked at him and I said, 'Son, my name isn't Knight for you. It's coach Knight or it's Mr. Knight. I don't call people by their last names and neither should you.'" \nKnight added any deviation from that is false. \n"When somebody calls me by my first name as a kid, I always tell them, 'I'm not on a first name basis with you,'" Knight said. "'My name's coach Knight or Mr. Knight.'" \nAssistant coach Mike Davis saw the incident as he returned from lunch at the same time as Knight. His description parallels Knight's description. He said Shaw's description was false.\n"Knight never said a curse word and he never raised his voice," Davis said. "I kind of circled around and looked out the glass and (the students) were all laughing."\nShaw and Harvey's version\n"Kent (Harvey) was startled by seeing this celebrity," Shaw said. "And for whatever reason, (Knight) took him by the right arm, grabbed him - hard enough that we saw the imprint and where the skin had been broken. His skin was red as well. Then Knight got right in his face, using the f-word, the G.d. phrase, all of these phrases basically dealing with "You're not giving me no f-ing respect. How dare you call me by my last name? I'm coach Knight, or Mr. Knight, I'm older than you."\n"Kent was so shocked he couldn't tell me exactly what Knight said. It was the other boys who told me what Knight said."\nShaw was adamant that his stepson was telling the truth and didn't instigate the incident. \n"I know my boys - they are kids who tell the truth," Shaw said. "This is not a disgruntled athlete or somebody with an axe to grind. Bob Knight (didn't) know him from Adam. This is a 19-year-old freshman in his 10th day at college who is going about his business getting tickets.\n"What Bob Knight's lucky about is that Kent didn't turn on him and beat the absolute shit out of him."\nHarvey said he wants an apology from Knight.\n"He shouldn't have done what he did," Harvey said. "It was uncalled for."\nHarvey's biological father, Jerry, also stands behind his son's statements and credibility.\n"I've never gone to an authority about him at any time for any reason," said Jerry Harvey, who lives in Indianapolis.\nLongtime critic\nHarvey may simply be a freshman who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, but his stepfather has been critical of Knight for years. Shaw hosted a radio talk show in Bloomington for two years during the 1990s and admitted he often criticized Knight.\n"It's an interesting coincidence that this thing comes out where the stepfather is probably the (harshest) critic that I've ever had," Knight said. "That's to me, the interesting point in this whole thing."\nShaw admitted that he is not popular with many people on campus and dismisses any coincidence.\n"I hosted a radio talk show and was highly critical of the coach, and his behavior," Shaw said. I was very strong in my comments about the fact that Knight should be dismissed for his conduct. \n"Anybody who would correlate this occurrence with me is ridiculous."\nDespite his criticism of Knight, Shaw said he did not encourage Harvey to file a complaint. Harvey called home shortly after the incident and talked with his stepfather.\n"I asked him what he wanted to do," Shaw said. "He said, 'I should file a report with regard to it.' "That's when I called Chris Simpson, (IU vice president for public relations and government affairs)."\nShaw said he called Simpson because he has appeared on Shaw's radio program in the past, and he said they've held several off-air conversations.\nThe future\nThe incident occurred before the University announced the specific guidelines of the "zero-tolerance" policy ' which will apply to all IU employees, said Athletics Director Clarence Doninger. The policy was a result of an IU Board of Trustees investigation into a CNN/SI report that Knight assaulted former basketball player Neil Reed, among other allegations. May 15, the Trustees suspended Knight for three games and fined him $30,000. \nThe Trustees could approve the "zero-tolerance" policy at its Sept. 15 meeting, said Doninger, who is head of the committee writing the policy. \nSimpson said the lack of specific guidelines does not give Knight any added leeway in this investigation.\n"If you go back to the press conference in May, President (Myles) Brand was very clear that he will no longer tolerate any improper physical conduct," Simpson said. "These guidelines certainly exist today. We are taking this extraordinarily seriously."\nThe police investigation began at the time of the allegation and is headed by IU Police Department detective Richard Seifers. Harvey's brother, Kevin, said the family has not discussed whether Harvey will press charges. \nKnight told the IDS that he has been interviewed by IUPD. Harvey and his four companions also gave statements to campus police Friday. \nBut IUPD spokesman Lt. Jerry Minger said he didn't know how long the investigation will last. \n"It's arbitrary on how long the investigation will take," Minger said, "depending on the length of interviews and so forth. It could take days."\nTrustee Ray Richardson described how the University will proceed in its investigation.\n"The administration will be in charge of getting the facts, and will rely in part on the police report," Richardson said. "Nobody should jump to any conclusions until the facts are in."\nHeather A. Dinich, Pete Newmann, and Brooke Ruivivar contributed to this story.
(09/06/00 5:35am)
Former Ohio State University assistant coach Les Fertig has joined the IU basketball coaching staff as an administrative assistant. Fertig arrived on campus Monday and was in Assembly Hall teaching the coaching basketball class Tuesday morning. He will spend the rest of the week moving from Columbus to Bloomington and assume his duties Sept. 12.\n"There are two appeals to this position," Fertig said. "One is coach (Bob) Knight and having the opportunity to work with someone of his ability, and second is that I'm working at a program that is one of the nation's finest, in terms of basketball tradition. When the opportunity was offered to me and I jumped at it. I feel very fortunate to be here."\nFertig will handle administrative duties for Knight and help assistant coaches Mike Davis, Pat Knight and John Treloar with their duties. Norm Ellenberger held the position before he took an assistant coaching job with the Chicago Bulls earlier this summer.\n"While I can't go on the floor and coach during practices, I'll do things along the line of scouting our own team, so I get a lot of coaching input," Fertig said. "And I'll be teaching the (coaching basketball) class and doing other administrative things to help Coach out. This isn't just a job, it's a special job in major college basketball. It's one of the premiere opportunities in Division I basketball."\nTreloar is said he is excited to have Fertig on the staff.\n"He's coming on board, and I think he's going to bring a lot of knowledge and experience," Treloar said. "He's been in the Big Ten, so he's seen what it takes to win in the Big Ten. I think he's going to be a great asset."\nJunior Mike Ward, a student in Fertig's first coaching basketball class, was impressed with Fertig's teaching ability.\n"He's a smart coach," Ward said. "He realizes that this class needs to go at a slower pace. He had us do a footwork drill that didn't even involve a ball." \nFertig, 55, started his coaching career at the University of Oklahoma working under coach Dave Bliss ' who was Knight's assistant at West Point and IU. He then coached at West Point and at Ohio State from 1989-92, but he's been out of the profession for the last eight years, working various business ventures. \n"I want to continue to learn and get back into the profession," Fertig said. "I've seen the other side. I've been away from it, and like a lot of situations, you learn to appreciate it and realize that you're in it because you love it. I found that this is what I really want to do. This is what I think I'm best at. Very few people get a second chance when they've left it."\nPat Knight and Fertig developed an association, almost by accident, when Pat Knight was coaching in Columbus. From there, they developed a friendship. When Pat Knight joined the IU staff, Fertig visited Bloomington on several occasions and watched a few IU basketball practices. His intensity at the practices caught Treloar's eye.\n"He started coming over and watching practice, and you could see that even though he was doing something different, his interest and heart was still there to continue to learn," Treloar said. "You could see how focused he was, and that he was trying to learn from coach Knight. \n"There are people that no matter their age, they seek out ways to make themselves more knowledgeable about their craft or profession, and you have to respect them"
(08/28/00 5:20am)
Even without mentioning coach Bob Knight, the IU basketball program found itself constantly in the news this summer. \nSome people involved with the program moved on the NBA. Others ran into some trouble with the law. Here are the highlights, and lowlights, from summer headlines.\nPromotions:\nGraduate A.J. Guyton waited three hours on June 27 for NBA commissioner David Stern to announce his name. After waiting through the first round and not hearing his name, Guyton finally cheered when the Chicago Bulls selected him with the 32nd pick in the NBA draft.\nThe Bulls also selected point guards Khalid El-Amin and Jamal Crawford. It's likely that one of the three will be cut before the season begins. Guyton played shooting guard at IU, but will play the point for the Bulls, a position he played during his freshman and sophomore years.\nFormer IU standout Isiah Thomas was named head coach of the Indianapolis Pacers July 20, taking over for Larry Bird who retired from the position. Like Bird, Thomas has no coaching experience. He takes over a team that made it to the NBA finals, but lost in six games to the Los Angeles Lakers.\n"We chose Isiah by the qualities that he has a person, and as a player," Pacers president Donnie Walsh told The Associated Press. "I feel he\'s got the leadership, intelligence and determination to be successful as an NBA coach." \nThomas led the Hoosiers to an NCAA title in 1981 when he averaged 16 points per game and was selected a first-team All-American.\n"I understand how special a place Indiana is with its basketball tradition in terms of its basketball heritage," said Thomas, who was nominated to the Basketball Hall of Fame earlier in the summer.\nBefore accepting the job, Thomas had to sell his ownership of the Phoenix-based Continental Basketball Association.\n"My job is to continue to develop our young players, to get the most and best out of our veterans and to lead this team and organization to a level that it has not reached," Thomas said.\nFormer administrative assistant and unofficial assistant coach Norm Ellenberger left the program to take an assistant coaching position with the Bulls Aug. 7. He spent 10 years with the Hoosiers, where he coached current NBA players Calbert Cheaney and Alan Henderson. \n"This is an exciting opportunity which I have looked forward to for many years," Ellenberger said. "This is a real thrill and the realization of a dream for me. I have known coach Tim Floyd for many years and I look forward to working with him and his staff."\nBefore IU, Ellenberger spent four years at University of Texas at El Paso, helping the Miners to the NCAA Tournament in each campaign. When coach Don Haskins was sidelined with laryngitis in 1990, Ellenberger served as head coach, directing the team to a 16-8 mark.\n"Certainly there is a difference in the game because there is a difference in the rules, but the game of basketball is the same at all levels," Ellenberger said. "Now working with young millionaires ... that's a little more complicated." \nTwo days after Ellenberger was named assistant coach, former IU standout Keith Smart also took an assistant coaching position in the NBA. He signed a contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers to be the director of player personnel and an assistant coach. \nHe spent the last three seasons in Fort Wayne as head coach of the Fury, a CBA team. Smart led the Fury to winning seasons in 1997-98 and 1998-99, marking the first time in the franchise's history that the team posted back-to-back winning seasons.\n"Keith has great enthusiasm for the game and his success in the CBA demonstrates his ability to teach and develop players at the professional level," Cleveland coach and IU alumnus Randy Wittman said. "We feel his attributes will be instrumental in the development of our team."\nSmart made one of the most historic shots in NCAA history when his jump shot at the end of regulation won the 1987 NCAA title for IU.\nProblems:\nThe Huntington Herald-Press identified Sean Kline ' who has committed to play for IU in the fall of 2001 ' as one of two players suspended this week from the Huntington (Ind.) North High School athletics program for violation of the school's substance abuse policy.\nKline, a 6-foot-8 standout, was suspended from his team for five games for unspecified violations of the school corporation's substance abuse policy, according to Associated Press reports. Ranked among the nation's top-50 high school players in many circles, Kline averaged 22.2 points and 12.5 rebounds as a junior.\nKline spent part of the summer playing for an Indiana team in the 2000 AAU Boys' Nationals in Orlando, Fla. \nJunior guard Dane Fife was arrested in the morning of June 15 for illegal consumption, Bloomington police reports said.\nFife was seen leaving Kilroy's Sports Bar shortly before 3 a.m. with Jeff Sagarin and Adam Auffarat by Bloomington Police Lt. Joseph Qualters, who was unsure of Fife's age, police said. At the time he was 20 years old.\nQualters asked other officers in the area to look for Fife, who was found in the 200 block of E. Seventh Street, police said.\n"(Fife) readily admitted that he had been doing wrong," said Qualters in a police report. "The subject also acknowledged that he had been inside Kilroy's Sports Bar."\nFife also had a false Michigan driver's license, which stated his birthday was May 24, 1979, police said. His blood alcohol level was .08 and he was issued a misdemeanor citation of illegal consumption, minor entering a tavern and issued an infraction citation for possession of false identification, police said. \nQualters opted to cite Fife and allow him to be released to Sagarin and Auffarat because he was cooperating, police said.\nSophomore forward Jeffrey Newton was arrested June 3 near Scottsburg, Ind., for misdemeanor possession of marijuana and a felony charge of obstruction of justice said state police Sgt. Marvin Jenkins. The obstruction of justice charge was later dropped.\nNewton was riding in a car driven by senior Olumuyiwa A. Baker, 23, of Bloomington, police said. Baker also received a preliminary misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana and was charged with driving with a suspended license, police said.\nAn Indiana State Police trooper pulled Baker over about 1 p.m. for speeding and not wearing a safety belt, Jenkins said. The stop occurred on Interstate 65 four miles south of Scottsburg and about 50 miles southeast of Bloomington.\n"During the stop, the unit that made the initial traffic stop happened to be a canine unit ' with a drug dog ' and during the stop one of the other troopers observed what he believed was the smell of burnt marijuana," Jenkins said. "They used the dog for a search. In and around the vehicle there was a small amount of marijuana located."\nSophomore Tom Coverdale was arrested May 26 for illegal consumption, after Bloomington police responded to a report of a fight at Bluebird Nightclub, police said.\nAccording to a police report, initial reports were that Coverdale battered a female in the club, then left and ran from the area. Officer Fritz Lantzer found that no battery occurred, but that he smelled alcohol on Coverdale's breath and cited him for illegal consumption, police said. He was booked into Monroe County Correction Center, then later released on his own recognizance, the jail said.