If you’re honest with yourself, there’s not much to be optimistic about in basketball or football.
- Thread starter curtisj157
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Iowa basketball used to be appointment tv. Not anymore. It’s been a rinse/repeat year after year after year. Each year we only have 4 or 5 players that deserve to be on BigTen scholarship. 14 losses and complete irrelevance again this season. Football is mired in mediocrity and irrelevance.
I would be hesitant to dump Kirk, let him retire. But firing Fran seems right and just. He has never accomplished anything here, wasted NBA talent in order to play his sons. Made a fool of himself and embarrassed the University on multiple occasions. Fire Fran.
“General operating appropriations in Iowa have decreased 47.5% per FTE from $11,770 in 2001 to $6,174 in 2023.” This is how Iowa now supports higher education. Basically the state doesn’t care. Also per this article: “In 2023, public institutions in Iowa had $6,526 in education appropriations per FTE, approximately 59% of the U.S. average.” https://shef.sheeo.org/state-profile/iowa/
My issue is I'd rather trade a lean 1-2-3 years for the occasional chance to do something special in either sport. I don't think I'm the only one that thinks that way.
I do think Kirk has given us a few really exceptional years. The Orange bowl winning 2009 team is the most satisfying team from my point of view and Drew Tate 2004 also pretty good result. For basketball, it really comes down to doing something in NCAA tourney. Lute's Final 4 team was only 10-8 and 5th place in conference. No one gives a chit about finishing 5th---its about putting together a string of wins in NCAA tourney and at least putting up a fight. Getting pounded by Oregon in 2nd round with POY Garza, both Murrays, and JoeW is Fran's career best.
Kirk and Dr Tom are better comparisons, Dr Tom got Iowa to Elite8/16s Fran has done nothing but be overpaid , fail in the Tourney and play His Sons over better Players, FTG
I’m not optimistic about it, but I am somewhat hopeful for next year in that KFs best years usually come when we least expect it. Conversely, he totally shats the bed when we have reason for high expectations with tons of returning quality talent. How in the world was this team and specifically the defense so bad with only losing Coop and Evans from last year’s D!!??
While I completely agree with your sentiment, it would be an absolute frickin’ miracle for Iowa to have a surprise great season next year. They will have a brutal schedule & continued dinosaur coaching philosophy, with mostly “high-MAC” talent returning and very little help on the way.
This year's offense has grown leaps and bounds over last years. The defense was a big disappointment this year. If we had this year's offense with last year's defense, we would have won a couple more games.
If
Imagine this team with Kirk's choice of Brian as OC. Always remember that Brian would still be the OC if Kirk had his way
After Garza and Murray couldn’t go anywhere in the tournament as a high side I said eff this crap, I’m out. It was 50 years of continuous gut punches. With transfers and pay for play, we have next to no chance to reach a final four so I stopped caring.
I guess if you're the fourth worst passing offense in the country as opposed to the worst total offense in the country than yeah that's improvement but hardly leaps and bounds.
I stopped caring about men’s BBall a few years ago … Fran should have been gone years ago … Fan apathy toward the bball team is not at the level of Lick … but it’s not too far away …
As for football - the road ahead will be difficult. No sure-fire B10 West 4 wins … Six wins too in 2025 …
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