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Jon Crispin, ESPN analyst and former Penn State G, shares amazing story about facing Bob Knight

Ethan Stone

By Ethan Stone

Published:

Jon Crispin played his freshman year of college basketball at Penn State.

The current ESPN analyst joined the college sports crew at SiriusXM to discuss what it was like to face off against Bob Knight. His story was incredible.

The story starts during that freshman year at Penn State. Crispin was talking to the student newspaper and was trying to describe what a feeling it was that Bob Knight was scouting him.

“I said how cool it is that teams actually put you on a scouting report and they have to prepare for how to stop you,” Crispin said. “And I said ‘how cool is it for me know we’re playing Indiana and say Bob Knight has to figure out a way to stop me.”

But that sentiment wasn’t quite what ran in the paper. Crispin’s story was actually made out to be a little less humble than he portrayed it.

“Sure enough what gets written is ‘Jon Crispin: I want Bob Knight to figure out how to stop me.’ And I said lord almighty, that’s the last thing I need.”

Crispin later said that Knight saw the story and had a habit or reading newspapers to find out more about the opposing team. When game time came around, Crispin saw Knight and decided to approach him.

“I said ‘hey coach, how are you doing?’ Crispin said. “and he says ‘I’m just sitting here trying to figure out how to stop your ass.”

Hear Crispin’s full account here:

Ethan Stone

Ethan Stone was an editor for his student newspaper at the University of Tennessee and is now a News Manager for Saturday Tradition.