Thursday, September 17, 2009
Myles Brand, Former IU President, Dies at 67
One day after pancreatic cancer claimed the life of Patrick Swayze, NCAA President Myles Brand has passed away from the same disease.
Here at Indiana, Brand is best known as the man responsible for firing the legendary Bobby Knight back in 2000. I guess he's best known for that overall, since ESPN mentions it in their lead.
You can read the ESPN obit here.
As NCAA prez, Brand pushed for a higher academic standard in athletic programs around the country. He took over the job in 2001 after leaving Indiana following the uproar that accompanied the Knight termination. Whether he was right or wrong in firing The General (and, in my book, he was wrong), Brand was a hard worker and a man of high moral standards.
He was put in a tough choice with the Knight firing, he couldn't have Knight assaulting players and students with no ramifications. Needless to say, I'm glad I didn't have to make the decision to let him go.
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