West column: Knight needs to take honorable step and resign

Pat Knight's most memorable moment in three seasons as Lamar University's basketball coach came late in the first year when he tore into his players with an epic rant that went viral on Youtube. Among other things, Knight said, "These guys are stealing money by being on scholarship with their approach to things." Considering his epic failures of the past year and a half, one wonders if the figurative term of "stealing money" should now be applied to Knight. After the players recruited by Steve Roccaforte responded positively to their new coach's harsh words by finishing strong, winning the SLC post-season tournament and grabbing the league's NCAA berth, Knight received a nice reward. His contract was extended and his salary was bumped into the $200,000 range. With the Cardinals having gone an abominable 4-45 since the extension and pay raise, in no small part because of Knight's abysmal recruiting, the LU basketball program is among the very worst in Division 1. And that's led to unprecedented fan apathy. You could shoot a cannon anywhere into the Montagne Center stands most nights and not hit anybody. Knight suggested after a 15th consecutive Montagne Center loss last Saturday night that Lamar maybe should just go ahead and fire him. It's a good idea, except for one huge problem. LU is hardly in a financial position to eat what's left of his contract. So Knight needs to do the honorable thing and resign. That way nobody will be tempted to accuse him of stealing money with an approach to things that's costing the school roughly $65,000 per victory.

http://www.panews.com/sportsbobwest/x1427966468/West-column-Knight-needs-to-take-honorable-step-and-resign

More from Bob Wesr...

Lamar's victory over mighty Abilene Christian Thursday night was significant for more than ending a 14-game losing streak this season and another 14-game against Southland Conference foes dating back to last season. Prior to the game in Abilene, LU had moved perilously close to owning the worst RPI (ratings percentage index) in college basketball. After losing their first six SLC games by an average margin of 16 points, Pat Knight's Cardinals had tumbled all the way to No. 348. Only Division 1 teams below them were Presbyterian, Grambling and Bethune-Cookman. With the win over ACC, which is No. 342, the Cardinals moved all the way up to 346 . . . If Knight won't do the honorable thing and resign, as was suggested in the space last week, Lamar officials need to come up with a way to move him out. Immediately. Tic Price, who is already employed at LU, would be an excellent choice as an interim coach to finish out the season. The longer Knight stays around, the longer it's going to take to start a rebuilding process that is going to be painful because of his feeble recruiting efforts and a probable APR hit the school will take. Lamar needs to bring in an outside consultant who knows the school and knows basketball, let him evaluate the situation and oversee a coaching search

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