Lubbock, Texas — Texas Tech faculty who oppose Bob Knight don't expect much support from their colleagues at a meeting Wednesday to discuss a new basketball coach.
About 85 of Tech's 900 faculty members signed a petition last week criticizing Knight's past behavior and advising against hiring him, but some see it as a done deal.
Knight, who could be hired as soon as Friday, will be the subject of a faculty senate meeting today at which president David Schmidly is expected to speak.
"There was always a hope not a very large one that this would head this off," said geography professor Gary Elbow, a Knight opponent.
"I still do feel like the university is taking a rather sizable risk in hiring Bobby Knight, but they are entitled to hire whoever they want. We have raised the flag, and that's all we could do," he said.
University regent James Sowell said he doesn't expect the input from faculty members to Schmidly to be "inconsequential."
"The president wants to hear what they have to say," Sowell said. "The faculty definitely has a right to have a say in this issue."
But the ultimate decision whether to hire Knight rests with Schmidly, who will make a recommendation to Tech chancellor John Montford.
"I think by the end of this week, it will be time," Sowell said. "A decision needs to be made."
If the school decides not to hire Knight or if Knight turns down a Tech offer, Sowell said the university will then turn to a list of 12 other candidates. Officials have not released any of the names on the list.
However, reopening the search for a candidate to succeed fired coach James Dickey isn't a bet worth considering, Sowell said.
"If you made me bet right now, I'd bet that (Knight) would be the next basketball coach," he said. "The search process hasn't included anybody other than Bob Knight."
The 60-year-old Knight spent three days last week on campus.
Knight, who led Indiana to three national championships, was fired last fall after he grabbed the arm of a student he considered disrespectful for addressing him as "Hey, Knight." Indiana officials said it was a violation of a zero-tolerance behavior policy set for the volatile coach.
Knight has said he finds Texas Tech "very appealing" and that he has great admiration for athletic director Gerald Myers, a friend of 30 years.
Myers and Schmidly began talking to Knight about the job four days before firing Dickey on March 9.
"I think the momentum is fairly obvious," said Fred Hartmeister, associate professor of education and law. "But I think at the same time, President Schmidly will listen to our thoughts and input."
Alan Reifman, an assistant professor of human development, said he signed the petition because he believes the negatives in Knight's past outweigh the positives for Tech's basketball program.
But Reifman said he is willing to give Knight a chance.
"He may prove me wrong," he said. "He may be an angel, but there are certainly reasons to have doubts about that."
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