| | Associated Press
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Indiana University will investigate abuse allegations by a former basketball player against coach Bob Knight, the university's spokesman told The Tennessean.
The newspaper reported this week that Chris Lawson, who played
for Indiana from 1989-91 before transferring to Vanderbilt, saw
Knight punch another player in the head at halftime of a game.
Knight also pelted Lawson with basketballs from close range one
day during practice, berated his assistant coaches and was verbally
abusive to players, Lawson said.
On the day the story broke, spokesman Christopher Simpson said
the matter had been discussed by university officials and that
because the alleged punch "doesn't appear it can be verified,"
the school would not look into the incident further.
But Simpson said in Friday's editions of the newspaper that the
school had changed its stance on the matter. He said Indiana
president Myles Brand and trustee John Walda were gathering
information about the alleged incident.
"Things change and our position has evolved," Simpson said. "We became concerned if allegations of serious misconduct are made, we don't want to be oblivious to them."
Lawson, contacted at his home Thursday night in Salina, Kansas, said he had not heard from university officials.
Earlier allegations by former player Neil Reed that he was
choked by Knight during a 1997 practice prompted a university
investigation. As a result, Knight was suspended for three
regular-season games next season and fined $30,000.
In handing down the punishment May 15, Brand said that any act that violates a supervised "zero-tolerance policy" or is deemed to be embarrassing to the university will result in his immediate dismissal.
| |
ALSO SEE
IU won't probe new Knight accusation
 |
