Beloit College

At the tailgate picnic at the BC Homecoming in the fall of 2016 I had the opportunity to re-connect with Bill Knapton. It had been a while since I had been with him and he and I discussed an historical moment regarding the college’s basketball program, and in fact the role of athletics at BC. I mentioned to him that my father once told me that among the most important decisions he ever made as President was to hire Bill Knapton following the decision of the MWC to kick BC out of the conference. My father was a strong supporter of college athletics, but not the Division I type of support that was occurring. I told Bill this and he recounted his interview for the position with my father. Apparently, Miller asked Bill what was the most important goal of a coach. Bill said that, knowing my dad’s position on amateur athletics, he said that it was to balance the sporting activities of student athletes with their academics. He felt that this was the position my father was looking for. Bill recounts that instead my dad said no, it was to win.
  
On a personal note, I have fond memories of the Friday and Saturday evening basketball games at the Field House in the first years of my father’s presidency, being between my 5^th to 9^th grades. ( I was not in Beloit for high school.) . I would go with my dad to the games and we would always sit in the top section of seating and enjoy the games and the atmosphere. He always sat in the same seat, as he did for the football games.