Not even the most knowledgeable political analysts and experts could have predicted that one of the year's most debated issues would be the firing of Indiana University men's basketball coach Bob Knight. Like all issues in a presidential election year, the firing of Knight seems to have the country divided into two parties. However, for this issue the parties are not the Democrats and Republicans. Rather, this issue has the country divided into the Knight supporters and the Knight detractors. And like any other issue, both sides seem to have plenty of evidence to support their stance on Knight.
             Those that support Knight and feel he was mistreated are quick to mention his vast array of coaching accomplishments and record. Knight led the Hoosiers to 11 Big Ten titles and was undefeated in 1976, the last time a college basketball team accomplished the feat. He also coached Michael Jordan and the U.S. men's basketball team to the gold medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Games. However, the Hoosiers have failed to advance past the second round of the NCAA tournament since 1994. Knight had a 763-290 record overall, including six years at Army. This means that Knight is a coach who has won more career games than all but four other coaches and a coach whose name rests atop most lists of coaching accomplishments.
             Indiana players have been recognized as well. A total of 21 different players have received All-American and All-Big Ten honors. For nine consecutive seasons, a player made the All-American Academic and All-Big Ten Academic Teams, and a total of 14 players have been honored in that regard. Knight also has one of the highest graduation rates in NCAA basketball. Knight takes immense pride in the graduation rate of his players. All but two of his four-year players have completed degrees, a ratio of nearly 98 percent. One of Knight's rules for his players is that they attend every class. Those who know Knight best all agree th...