Are you suggesting that Fran should be fired? If so, that is completely asinine.
In other breaking news...
- Thread starter Hawkfan_08
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Call it whatever you want, but he shouldnt be seeing his 13th season coaching here imo.
1 way to enhance the environment at Carver Hawkeye Arena... aside from selling booze... would be to sell drugs too.. no?
and allow people to smoke during the game... like the good ol days.
I think that would liven things up a bit
and allow people to smoke during the game... like the good ol days.
I think that would liven things up a bit
Hasn't sniffed a BIG10 title or made it to the sweet 16. What are the grounds that he deserves a lifelong contract?
Agree that the Iowa men's basketball fan base is not highly engaged.
There was a stretch from 1979-1989 where it was very engaged, a period that included Iowa's last share of the regular season conference title (79), their last Final Four (80), the Elite 8 heartbreaker (87), and two other Sweet 16 appearances (83, 88).
College basketball is a sport defined by how well a team does in the NCAA tournament. Iowa has had one Sweet 16 appearance over the past 35 years, and that one (1999) was with a lame duck coach. Next March will be 44 years since Iowa last won a share of the conference title. An Iowa fan has to be in their early 40s to have any memory of the 1987 team (which was nationally relevant), and in their early 50s to recall the Final 4 or conference champion teams.
IMO, there just haven't been the special seasons for Iowa basketball that drive a highly engaged fan base. Iowa State has had 3-4 Sweet 16 appearances in the 21st century -- Iowa has none. No undergrad student at Iowa (including my son who is a senior at UI) has any memories of Iowa basketball making a run in the NCAA tournament.
For a less engaged fan base, attending Iowa basketball games is based on convenience, so start times, conflicting events (including studying for finals this week), location of Carver, and weather impact attendance. Don't see that changing unless the Iowa program finds a way to break through a make a tournament run.
This is maybe the main issue. Iowa basketball hasn't been very relevant at all nationally for a LONG time, if we use a Sweet 16 appearance as a standard of real relevance. Many fans grew up watching Iowa BB not achieve much of anything with any consistency. When that happens over decades, interest wanes.
You must not have read/followed the whole thread.......Wisconsin was not the focus of the point being made and was not related to the reference of a glorified YMCA team.You think we are better than a glorified YMCA team?
Product on the court/mat/field drives fan interest.
Football - Consistent winner
Wrestling - sellouts (fewer matches) Women - nice crowds - consistent product
Men BBall - Average product (overall - for past 20 + years) when you factor in Fran, Alford, Lick …
I live in Des Moines and used to be part of Polk County iClub … many of my friends and family who are die-hard Hawks … one thing the majority have in common - they can take or leave the Men’s BBall program - meaning they may watch them, they may record the game, and they have little interest in driving to IC…
Iowa men’s BBall isn’t just about last season or this season … it’s the product that’s been on the court through three coaching regimes.
Many die-hard BBall fans either lost interest or now watch with a passing interest.
No sweet 16s since 1999.
Don’t shoot the messenger but it sort of is what it is … Not saying it’s right or wrong … But in the end - it’s the culmination of the overall product.
Fran is:
249-164 (60%) overall at UI
115-109 (50%) in Big 10 games UI
We aren’t a BBall powerhouse - we’re a slightly above-average BBall program … As Bill Parcel said: “You are what your record says you are.”
Football - Consistent winner
Wrestling - sellouts (fewer matches) Women - nice crowds - consistent product
Men BBall - Average product (overall - for past 20 + years) when you factor in Fran, Alford, Lick …
I live in Des Moines and used to be part of Polk County iClub … many of my friends and family who are die-hard Hawks … one thing the majority have in common - they can take or leave the Men’s BBall program - meaning they may watch them, they may record the game, and they have little interest in driving to IC…
Iowa men’s BBall isn’t just about last season or this season … it’s the product that’s been on the court through three coaching regimes.
Many die-hard BBall fans either lost interest or now watch with a passing interest.
No sweet 16s since 1999.
Don’t shoot the messenger but it sort of is what it is … Not saying it’s right or wrong … But in the end - it’s the culmination of the overall product.
Fran is:
249-164 (60%) overall at UI
115-109 (50%) in Big 10 games UI
We aren’t a BBall powerhouse - we’re a slightly above-average BBall program … As Bill Parcel said: “You are what your record says you are.”
Uh, well, there are 800,000 people within/within an hour of Des Moines … No, not New York … but only NY is NY… In Iowa’s case, yeah - it is the center of the universe.
I can't believe any of you truly believe that it's the lack of Sweet Sixteen appearances that keeps students away. We've had the National Player of the Year. We've have more than our share of All-Big Ten players. We play a particularly exciting brand of basketball and regularly finish in the upper segment of the B!G, often in contention for the title until the very end. There are plenty of schools that would love to have our success. Personally I think a lot of our problem is the heavy percentage of out of state (Illinois, in particular) students we have due to our relatively low tuition. Plus, it seems as though around here, if it's not on my phone, it doesn't exist.
I still support Fran. I think we have a great class coming up and now that our nil is going up maybe we can pick up 1 or 2 portals. I think this team is rebounding better as the season has gone on and we show periods of good defense. We just need to be a little more patient and i think we make a ncaa run. I remember the final 4 team and am waiting for the next one. Maybe the stars align, we get and stay healthy, Sandfort starts hitting 3's like he's capable, and our reserve continue to grow. Feel free to mock me. I can't help but think maybe this is the year and we springboard from here.
When I bought my first real season after I graduated I got to witness the Undefeated home season that Horner Brunner and Alaska provided us.
Early in the year the crowds were very light. It was really fun as each win built up to watch more people in the stands and by the middle of the conference year we were selling out.
I hate to say it but we're just not good enough for the fair weather crowds. Yes I think our odd scheduling and other factors play into effect but in reality it's more apathy than anything.
Early in the year the crowds were very light. It was really fun as each win built up to watch more people in the stands and by the middle of the conference year we were selling out.
I hate to say it but we're just not good enough for the fair weather crowds. Yes I think our odd scheduling and other factors play into effect but in reality it's more apathy than anything.
I think he's well liked by the players and coaches and most fans actually. He just loses it a little too much once in awhile in games. But he would do anything for his players, he would fall on the sword for them...and his family.
Fran is very likeable, and well respected among collegiate coaches across the nation.
Our glorified YMCA team's only losses are to ranked teams, with the last loss to Wiscy due to playing without our top scorer and rebounder and without a starting guard.
If Fran were to be fired, it should have been after the 2017-2018 season. You can't fire him now.
I would like to see what Fran can do with the portal. There is no questions he is a good coach. The problem has always been a serious drop off in talent outside of a few key players from one year to the next. If Fran can upgrade the depth of talent, I think you will see the results follow suit.
Fran has to utilize the portal, though. Otherwise, yes, I agree Iowa should probably part ways with him in the next year or two if things continue as normal.
Honestly, I think he's talking about the racial makeup of the team when he references the YMCA.
This year will be a great example of how badly we failed at the portal. Another big that can rebound and defend with zero scoring prowess makes this a much more legitimate team.
Yes, it was extremely unfortunate that Fran couldn't find any big at all via the portal during the offseason. FR has played valiantly this year, but it's obvious that JO and RM provide no depth behind him.
Iowa is probably a legitimate top 25 team with a 6'10/6'11 post player worth a f#ck on the roster.
But, as we've discussed numerous times, under Fran, Iowa is always 1-2 players away from being really good. That's probably the most frustrating part about his tenure. You can see the potential, but there's just never been that year where all the pieces are in place for a legitimate shot at a conference title or deep run in March.
tho
those who donated to the Carver construction can purchase season tickets if they also continue their annual contribution. it was not a one time gift and then tickets for life.
Iowa fans are speaking with their attendance.
I'm sure collegiate coaches appreciate him because he knows his place and does seem to have integrity.
Kinda along the lines of Izzo saying that Lickliter was a great coach as well.
Not sure what YMCA others have played at, but I've played against and with a pretty good mix of skin colors at the Y.
I don't think so,.. Some of the most rabid Iowa fans I know seldom physically attend games. Doesn't make them bad fans,.. Just makes them fans that prefer a flat screen, a cold beer and the commitment of a few hours vs a majority of the day...
Our starting Center (who came from the Portal) is dominant and playing great. Are you drunk?
I can't knock that FR has played his ass off but 11 and 8 is not dominating. Also, he came from the portal like 3 years ago.
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