University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Knight's Legacy Passed Down Through Southern Miss
10/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Anne Knight is the matriarch of the Knight Family, a family that is firmly rooted in the tradition of the Black and Gold. For her, HOMECOMING is more than just an event. It is an opportunity to reflect on her fond memories of an institution that serves as a cornerstone to her family’s structure.
Knight worked at the University of Southern Mississippi for 21 years. Her career began in the registrar’s office then moved along to the coaching and sports administrations office and finally to student services in athletics. It was in this role that she served her final six years as a member of the University’s staff before retiring in 1998.
When looking back on her time working in athletics, Knight has nothing but fond memories.
“I absolutely loved every minute of working in athletics. I’m a people person and enjoyed being around the student-athletes. I was there for the big 1996 team which was a great year.”
The 1996 team referenced by Anne Knight went on to win the inaugural Conference USA Championship. One of the major highlights for Knight from her time as a Golden Eagle was watching Lee Roberts throughout his career as a record-breaking quarterback and leading the team to new heights. In fact, Knight and her family continue to have a close friendship with Roberts and his family, proof that Golden Eagle Nation stretches far beyond what takes place within the lines of the playing field.
HOMECOMING is a time for Knight to keep up with some of her former student-athletes. Throughout the years, she watched and cheered as some went on to have successful professional careers following their time in school and has seen the growth of Southern Miss Athletics.
The love of sports and Southern Miss runs deep within the Knight household. Her late husband, Harold, worked as a professor at Southern Miss for 30 years. Anne and Harold raised five sons: the oldest Chuck, David, Steve, Don and the youngest Larry. Their three eldest sons (Chuck, David and Steve) are all graduates of the University of Southern Mississippi.
As the family grew, so too did the Southern Miss tradition within the family. Steve Knight had a successful career on the baseball diamond and the basketball court for the Golden Eagles before going on to becoming the all-time wins leader in the State of Mississippi as a Basketball Coach in 2010 and Athletic Director at William Carey University. Steve’s contributions to athletics paved the way for his induction into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame last year and he is also a member of the Southern Miss M-Club Alumni Association Sports Hall of Fame.
The oldest son, Chuck, worked at the university for nearly 40 years and continues to work part time to this day.
“If you stuck him, he’d bleed black and gold,” Anne Knight said. It was also through the university that Chuck met his wife Cindy who obtained her master’s degree from the university.
As a student, Anne remembers decorating the town in the early 70s but cannot believe the amazing change that HOMECOMING has undergone as it has transformed throughout the years. The tailgating and the crowds have changed from her time in school but the love of Southern Miss HOMECOMING continues to run deep throughout all of Golden Eagle Nation.
When thinking about HOMECOMING, Anne’s favorite part is seeing all of her former student-athletes come back to Hattiesburg and see how they have grown since their time at Southern Miss. To see how they have gone on to establish themselves in their careers and start their own families, rooted with the Southern Miss tradition, brings a smile to her face.
For the past 24 years, Anne has been a faithful season ticket holder and always enjoys seeing the love of Southern Miss being passed down to the younger generations.
The tradition Knight’s family holds doesn’t stop with her sons. Her oldest son passed the love for the black and gold down to his three children: Adam, Lisa and Lori. Adam was an athletic trainer for the Golden Eagles, Lisa graduated from USM and is now an academic advisor in the school of business at Southern Miss and Lori proudly served as a Drum Major within the Pride of Mississippi Marching Band.
Lisa and her family are looking forward to this HOMECOMING because of the amount of family that will be returning to Hattiesburg for the celebration. This year’s celebration is especially special as the Knight Family will have four generations present.
Lisa and her husband Patrick, who works within the athletics department, will be able to share this year’s HOMECOMING game with their 9-month-old daughter, Harper.
“Although she might not understand, it’s an amazing feeling being able to bring her back to where her parents met and where they went to school,” Lisa said. “HOMECOMING is a time for us to relive those amazing experiences together that we had at Southern Miss. The Black and Gold runs deep in our veins and we get to pass that onto our daughter.”
With four generations of Golden Eagles set to experience HOMECOMING at The Rock this year, Anne Knight can truly look back with pride knowing that she established a strong tradition and love for Southern Miss throughout her family. As the years go by one thing continues to grow stronger every year: Anne Knight’s love for Southern Miss and HOMECOMING.
