Mike Woodson had a unique plan in mind when he arrived at Assembly Hall on Sunday. As the Indiana Hoosiers prepared to face No. 13 Purdue Boilermakers, he decided to honor his late mentor, Bob Knight.
However, the honor wasn’t the regular one. He did it by referencing one of the most well-known moments in college basketball history.
Mike Woodson Honors Bob Knight With Chair Tribute on 40th Anniversary
In a symbolic gesture, Woodson placed a red plastic chair courtside, paying tribute to Knight’s infamous chair-throwing incident from 40 years ago. The night ended with Indiana securing a 73-58 victory over their rival.
After the game, Woodson added to the long-running debate about the true fate of the chair Knight threw during the heated matchup against Purdue on February 23, 1985.
“You realize that is ‘the chair,'” Woodson said.
“I’ve had it for a while. A lot of people claim to have the chair, but only Scott Greer, a former tennis coach here, was quick-thinking enough that night when Coach Knight threw it. He came to Assembly Hall the next morning and obtained the chair, getting signatures from Coach Knight and track coach Sam Bell. He even took pictures with it.”
“I wasn’t going to throw it, but I did want to sit in it.”
Mike Woodson talks about how he came into the possession of the actual Bob Knight chair and why he chose to use it on the bench today on the 40th anniversary of the infamous throw.@WISHNews8 pic.twitter.com/OdlFHluB5O
— Angela Moryan (@AngelaMoryanTV) February 23, 2025
Woodson’s statement further deepened the mystery, as verifying the claim is nearly impossible. Greer and Bell, who were the only individuals who could confirm the story, have both passed away.
Knight himself, who could have put an end to the speculation, died in November 2023. Despite the uncertainty, the moment remains one of the most recognizable in basketball history, with footage continuing to resurface among fans.
The original incident unfolded early in Indiana’s matchup against Purdue when Knight became frustrated with the referees’ calls. Just five minutes into the game, he was given the first of three technical fouls.
In response, he grabbed a chair from the bench and flung it across the court. The chair skidded past Purdue guard Steve Reid and into a row of photographers but fortunately did not cause any injuries.
A Moment of Nostalgia for Indiana
At first, Indiana fans erupted in cheers, seemingly supporting their coach’s actions. However, when officials ejected Knight, the atmosphere quickly turned tense. Angry fans began throwing coins onto the floor, and in the chaos, one struck Pat Keady, the wife of Purdue coach Gene Keady, in the eye.
Some Purdue players later admitted feeling uneasy as the game continued under heightened emotions.
Over the years, multiple individuals have claimed ownership of the real chair, yet no one has been able to provide definitive proof. Some believe it was discarded long ago, while others insist they have tracked it down through personal connections. The truth remains unknown.
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Even though the chair’s authenticity could not be verified, Woodson’s tribute was a way to honor Knight’s lasting impact on the program.
“All the documentation I gathered made it special to have it here tonight,” Woodson said. “I wasn’t going to throw the chair, but I did want to sit in it.”
While the tribute stirred nostalgia, Indiana’s performance on the court delivered the most meaningful statement of the night. Their decisive victory over Purdue demonstrated that the Hoosiers were still capable of making history of their own.
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