LUBBOCK, Texas — A divided campus awaits Bob Knight.

        Anticipating his arrival today, at least 30 Texas Tech faculty members added their names to a petition against hiring the former Indiana coach with the infamous temper and knack for winning.

        Vendors selling T-shirts in favor of Knight, meanwhile, cashed in on the dis pute.

        “Mr. Knight, we love your style!” read one. “Techsans for Knight! Supporting discipline and the American Work Ethic!”

        Shouted another: “Put the kids to bed and glue down the chairs, KNIGHT TIME, is coming.”

        Fired six months ago after 29 years with the Hoosiers, Knight was to arrive in Lubbock this afternoon. He will tour the campus and meet with administrators about possibly succeeding James Dickey, who was fired last week after Tech's fourth straight losing season.

        The Hall of Fame coach is coming at the request of his longtime friend, Tech athletic director Gerald Myers. Knight planned to address the media at an early evening news conference but will not take questions.

        “I think he's excited about coming and visiting and taking a look at Texas Tech,” said Myers, adding that he spoke to Knight Wednesday morning.

        Not everyone was excited.

        Associate professor of philosophy Walter Schaller continued Wednesday to circulate an e-mail petition that opposes Knight, and at least 30 faculty members put their names on it.

        In the 2,000-plus-word e-mail, Schaller argues that Knight's ability to build a clean and winning program should not outweigh his repeated misconduct. Schaller plans to forward the letter to Tech president David Schmidly by early next week.

        “Having Mr. Knight as the basketball coach at Texas Tech would bring much negative publicity and damage our reputation in ways that are completely unnecessary,” Schaller wrote. “At a minimum, the announcement of his hiring would be accompanied by the film clip in which he throws a chair across the basketball court, except this time the name of Texas Tech would be attached to such antics.”

        Myers said he could not comment on the petition because he hadn't seen it.

        Some Tech alumni agree with Schaller.

        They've written letters to the Lubbock newspaper to protest Knight, who was fired by Indiana for violating a zero-tolerance behavior policy when he grabbed a freshman by the arm to lecture him on manners.

Online pool and college hoops coverage at Cincinnati.com

Sports Stories

Pitino has eyes only for U of L Texas Tech braces for Knight visit Freshman ignited Kentucky's resurgence Holy Cross star nearly gave up the game IU's Davis campaigns to keep job IU's Haston gets another chance OSU center must be wary New women's stars ready to take spotlight Boys basketball coverage Girls basketball coverage Roger Bacon marches into regional final Alter runs past Purcell-Marian Elder, West Hi root for each other Boys regional semifinal matchups Munoz repeats as Ohio Ms. Basketball Girls state semifinal matchups Last-second shot sinks Campbell Co. Russellville too much for Highlands Guidugli weighs UC, UK, Notre Dame

UC: Crash boards or crash
DAUGHERTY: Two reasons for guarded optimism
BYU coach has come long way to NCAAs
UC game will air from tipoff
UC women eliminated on wild shot
Xavier women reach for the stars
Prosser reunites with old friend
Prep ineligibility won't affect Sato
Dillon limbo slows Bengals' moves
Bengals would juggle defense for Kirkland
Reitsma gets chance to show his stuff
Young close, Larkin not
Game report: Royals 4, Reds 2