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Texas Tech basketball: Bob Knight’s most memorable moments as a Red Raider

By Matthew Conner

Portrait of legendary basketball coach Bob Knight at Texas Tech on July 28, 2006.
Portrait of legendary basketball coach Bob Knight at Texas Tech on July 28, 2006. /
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NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 03: Head coach Bobby Knight of the Texas Tech Red Raiders looks on during the constellation game of the NIT college basketball game against the Minnesota Gophers at Madison Square Garden on April 3, 2003 in New York City. The Red Raiders won 71-61. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 03: Head coach Bobby Knight of the Texas Tech Red Raiders looks on during the constellation game of the NIT college basketball game against the Minnesota Gophers at Madison Square Garden on April 3, 2003 in New York City. The Red Raiders won 71-61. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Knight’s introductory press conference at Texas Tech was unforgettable

When Knight was introduced as Texas Tech’s head coach on March 23, 2001, the university made a calculated decision to protect its new head coach from too much scrutiny.  Instead of having a traditional press conference for just the media, United Supermarkets Arena was opened up for the public to attend in what was as much a pep rally as it was a media event.

The turnout that day was greater than it was for any of the previous season’s home games as essentially the entire lower bowl of the arena was filled (an estimated 7,500 fans showed up).  What’s more, the floor of the arena was full of media members from around the nation, many of whom were openly booed by the Red Raider fans after asking difficult or probing questions of Knight.

There are two moments I remember most from being at that event.  First, as Knight was on the video board before walking out, he was instructed by then-athletic director, Gerald Myers, how to do the school’s “Guns Up” hand signal.  It was rather humorous to watch Knight’s expression as he was told how to get his “Guns Up”, a gesture he made whole-heartedly as soon as he was introduced.

Even more memorable, though was his quote about his red sweater.  Famous for wearing a red sweater during much of his time at Indiana, he was given a red Texas Tech sweater to wear for the event.

As he began his remarks, Knight showed off his trademark wit by saying, “This is without a doubt the most comfortable red sweater I’ve worn in six years.”  It was his way of taking a shot at the administrators at Indiana, many of whom had been trying to run him out of Bloomington for years.

Knight had to do very little to win over the Texas Tech fans.  Just his reputation and his larger-than-life image were enough to infuse new life into the basketball fans in West Texas.

However, his memorable quote and his willingness to embrace all things Texas Tech at his introductory event helped get his tenure off to a great start.  It was truly one of the most surreal and exciting events to happen in Lubbock in the early 2000s and one that no one in attendance that day will soon forget.

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