Matthew Glenesk

matthew.glenesk@indystar.com

On Wednesday, Indiana University announced its latest five inductees into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame.

Among the former Hoosier athletes honored was A.J. Guyton, who played basketball for IU from 1997-2000 and was the team's MVP each of his four seasons in Bloomington.

Guyton said he felt "shock, joy and disappointment" regarding the honor in an open letter he posted on Facebook Friday. The letter was addressed to his former coach Bob Knight.

The Big Ten's Player of the Year in 2000, Guyton explained he was initially "saddened" at the news because the schism between Knight and the university would most likely prevent his coach from attending the Nov. 7 induction ceremony. Knight and the university have been at odds since his dismissal in 2000 for violating the school's "zero tolerance" policy by grabbing the arm of then-IU student Kent Harvey.

"What's missing is the man who personifies Indiana basketball. The man who's the bridge between the past & the present. The negative feeling I had was knowing he wouldn't be a part of this celebration. I realized at that moment how much his approval meant to me, mainly because he's the sole reason I'm considered for this honor."

Guyton continued that the school's divorce with the coach from IU has been hard, not just on Knight's loyal fans, but also his former players, who want to be able to celebrate their college successes with the man greatly responsible for them.

Here is a portion of Guyton's letter to Knight, asking the former Hoosiers coach to return to IU and help heal the wounds of a program still divided nearly 15 years after his firing:

"I feel the Indiana basketball community is torn. My loyalty is & has always been with Bob Knight. I attended IU because there was an opportunity to play & people said I couldn't make it under Coach Knight. He didn't overly recruit me, there was no press conference. He simply asked after my visit 'so are you coming to Indiana or not' as he gripped my shoulder tightly. 'Yes sir' I replied. That was it! The turning point from deciding to go to Michigan State was Coach Knight's one simple statement to me & my parents. "I can't guarantee you're going to play right away but you will have a fair opportunity to earn minutes, you will graduate in 4 years, you will leave here a better person, & there's nothing I won't do for you once you graduate". I've called Coach on 4 different occasions since i've graduated without any prior contact with him & each time he did what I asked. This is why my loyalty has always been with Bob Knight.

On the flip side, I am Indiana basketball. I couldn't abandon the few fans, supporters & memories I still have. I made multiple efforts to ingratiate myself back into the IU basketball family. Once I did, I realize how different it is, how separated we are. There's only one trace of Knight's time and that's old reliable Tim Garl. I believe there will be & has been a black cloud hanging over Indiana University because of the severed relationship. Indiana has just as much or more history as Duke, UNC, Kentucky, UCONN & UCLA, the "storied" programs. The one common denominator is the relationship the school has with the coaching legends (Dean Smith, Jim Calhoun etc) & former players. The break up was bad, it was awful, it ruined my Senior season of basketball...

All these things factors into why the relationships seems to be forever damaged, the relationship between Coach Knight & Indiana University.

I'm saying this to say, without you Coach Knight, the relationships are strange at IU. We are accepted and appreciated but there's a mission to "move on" from us. You're the only person who can make everything right & bridge this gap. It's not about the former administration, it's about the players you created. Where are in limbo, stuck in between. We are all experiencing various successes but not knowing how to include IU basketball. Receiving this induction without being able to look you in the eye and thank you for creating me makes it "less authentic". I remember you couldn't attend the Wooden Awards because of all the things going on at IU during that time. I didn't go without you.

Coach Knight, you taught each and every one of us how to over achieve by being the best AT being prepared. To believe it's not about talent, it's about outsmarting talented players. To be there for one another on & off the basketball court, for life. To have a short memory when it comes to mistakes, but also train yourself to make as little mistakes as possible. To make up for those mistakes by making the right plays. I don't know what happened during that time & I'm certainly not asking anyone to apologize for anything. I'm simply extending a public invitation for you to do ME a favor, attend the induction ceremony on November 7th, it would mean the world to me as a former player and supporter. For you to come see the young professional you've helped create. I believe it's time, i believe the time is now.

We think that forgiveness is weakness, but it's absolutely not; it takes a very strong person to forgive. It's a long shot, but if we share this letter enough, it might end up in the right hands. I'll never speak of this again, I also believe in moving on. Indiana University, what ever charity you have to donate to on Coach Knight's behalf, lets get it done. Time's ticking & we all deserve a homecoming. I'm asking you Coach Bob Knight, you said you'd do anything for me once I graduated, can you please attend my induction ceremony, which is coming back home to Indiana University?"