As part of the Fan Fest which is part of Final 4 activities he was signing autographs for an hour. I went downtown specifically to meet him. Couldnt take long as they were pushing people thru. Kind of fun. Walked over from my office and paid 5 dollars to get in. I didnt know I could get in for free until after I had left.
Met Fran Today
- Thread starter leiserom
- Start date
I have a close friend whose son plays at IC west. Says he has talked to Fran several times and says he is a "great" guy. Says he is a very into his sons playing, but also does not play the "authority" role. Says Fran will be the first to criticize his kids and coach them up. Says he is a great coach who will work the kids. My buddy says Fran will coach up the other players as well. Fran seems to care more about the Wins as opposed to his own kid. Good to see.
I'd be interested to know how former Iowa players really feel about playing for him.
I have been told he hasxa pretty extensive vocabulary that the Nun's wouldn't appreciate.
Not everyone I would think would be a fan of his temper.
I have been told he hasxa pretty extensive vocabulary that the Nun's wouldn't appreciate.
Not everyone I would think would be a fan of his temper.
Yeah he does have a temper, but its more about do you want to win. I mean before Fran got here at Iowa, we were stuck with a coach who sat in his seat and buried his head into his hands. the guys barely got out of his seat to coach??
Fran will swear and cuss at times, but he is a guy who does't do that for the fun of it. If Fran is yelling at you, its because you deserved it.
You know what people like even more than the temperament of a coach? Yeah it's called winning. It's a very big IF but IF Fran makes a deep tourney run one of these years posts like this one are going to look really stupid and be long gone.
The temper card is a really back-handed way of being critical of not winning enough for some.
There was a podcast a few months back or so where Fran was talking about a trip to Europe this Spring to see Basabe, Olaseni, White. I also know that Devyn Marble has come back and worked out in Iowa City.
Do you remember when Gatens was part of the movement which got Lickliter fired? And yet last summer there's Gatens playing in the PTL.
Ryan Bowen joined the staff for a short time, and at the time Fran was hired he made an effort to get past players involved at Iowa again.
We've had less than the average transfers, despite Fran having a temper, than the rest of D1. And not one guy who has left hasn't had the main issue be playing time.
Fran has reached out to Iowa High Schools since he got here, another thing Lickliter never did, and I've heard it's beneath Prohm as well. You notice who is signing these Iowa kids?
And has our recruiting range expanded under Fran? Yet all these AAU coaches get feedback and would have a clue which programs their kids should maybe steer clear of.
Posters with a bit of inside info repeatedly talk about the gatherings of players at McCaffery's house. How this is more like a family than some programs.
Tim, speaking Frankly I'm not sure you could know how former Iowa players really feel about playing for Fran. Not sure you would believe it.
But, yeah, he has a temper and can cuss with the best of 'em.
You better never set foot into a college basketball or football practice then.
Your Mom, CyCity.
Well I think you just made that up but I'm perfectly content that they focus on out of state recruiting instead of Iowa kids
Glad to hear that because top Iowa BB players can toe the line with anyone in the country. I'm exited to see that top talent play for Iowa. Players like Mcdermot,Paige,Barnes are becoming common rather than the exception in Iowa. I want to see them stay at Iowa. The kid from Muscatine may be the best prospect from Iowa to play here since Lorenzen.
I have not had an opportunity to meet Fran..but everything that I have heard from other people who have met him personally have good things to say about him. I have not heard anything negative.Compare that to Alford and I heard nothing but negative experiences.
I hope you told him about these forums, He can get much needed advice and have a vast pool of possible assistant coach's and recruiting experts to choose from as he continues to try to move the program forward.
I would like to introduce him to my high school coach. No room for Sallys with that guy.
Tim, keep chilling in Key West. I am glad Fran has a temper, show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser. Fran has actually mellowed since he got here. I don't think he got a T this year.
His past players like Fran a lot. I think overall we have a good family environment on the team.
Joe Weiscamp is going to be a bada$$ Hawkeye. The guy is good and still growing. We will have some veteran inside players that should be darn good by the time he gets here. And hopefully solid, experienced PG play too. Ready for Joe to dive into the mix.... Iowa will be in the NCAAs all 4 years that Joe is here. Like 75% of this season, it is going to be some fun to watch basketball, but all year long.
Glad you said Lorenzen instead of Ricky Davis. As Al played at a high level - that improved the team - for 4 years. He wasn't a defiant, selfish player who looked to only take advantage of situations, then leave. Al was a great one.
One player that was a miss for Iowa IMHO is Jeremy Morgan. He should have been wearing the Black & Gold. He had a great junior year and tournament. He will shine next year. Glad he at least stayed instate.
I haven't met Fran yet except a quick handshake and words in passing. However I've heard probably a dozen stories from close friends/relatives (not 3rd hand/rumor) about what a great guy he is. one consistent comment I've heard if that's he is a good listener. He also remembers almost everyone, which in his position is pretty incredible.
Fran has a fiery streak but he is no worse than Bo or Izzo and there is only one reason those guys get a pass on their sideline behavior...they are hall of famers. He truly cares about each of his players which is why you see them connected to the program well after graduation.
One example that stands out to me is that even Ben Jacobson, the polar opposite personality wise and rival coach, loves him and dedicates his personal time to Frans cancer awareness efforts.
Fran has a fiery streak but he is no worse than Bo or Izzo and there is only one reason those guys get a pass on their sideline behavior...they are hall of famers. He truly cares about each of his players which is why you see them connected to the program well after graduation.
One example that stands out to me is that even Ben Jacobson, the polar opposite personality wise and rival coach, loves him and dedicates his personal time to Frans cancer awareness efforts.
I remember seeing a bit with Tom Izzo in regard to how hard he is on his players, He said that he sit's down with each player at the get go and tell's them he is going to be very hard on them, He said that he tell's them that if he doesn't work them hard and get on them almost everyday that he is cheating them out of reaching their full potential.They know what they signed up for when they signed with MSU.
I doubt that any player comes to Iowa with blinders on in regard to Fran's demeanor and how hard he will push them in practice and or games, I am sure Fran and staff are pretty honest with them and I'm pretty confident that players that meet with the kids during the recruiting process give their input/feedback. So I just don't buy into the thought that Fran is some hot head that loses the players and that he pushes them too hard in practice, I think most knew what they signed up for when coming to Iowa. I'm sure mistakes are made in regard to what buttons to push with each individual player, I'm pretty sure it happens all across the country with different programs.
I doubt that any player comes to Iowa with blinders on in regard to Fran's demeanor and how hard he will push them in practice and or games, I am sure Fran and staff are pretty honest with them and I'm pretty confident that players that meet with the kids during the recruiting process give their input/feedback. So I just don't buy into the thought that Fran is some hot head that loses the players and that he pushes them too hard in practice, I think most knew what they signed up for when coming to Iowa. I'm sure mistakes are made in regard to what buttons to push with each individual player, I'm pretty sure it happens all across the country with different programs.
Kids react differently to each coach they have. Part of the coach's skill is being able to adapt to the players' individual needs to maximize their potential.
As for me, the coaches that got the most out of me were the ones that yelled. One of them told me that if he wasn't yelling at you, that means he had lost faith in you.
As for me, the coaches that got the most out of me were the ones that yelled. One of them told me that if he wasn't yelling at you, that means he had lost faith in you.
I think Fran has really toned it down the last two years, vs. his occasionally TFO (Total Freak Out) in his first few years. Did he get a technical this year?
He certainly hasn't made many friends amongst the central Iowa media. I can say that with great confidence.
Also my nephews play on the AAU circuit and my brother (a Hawkeye fan) has been around him a few times. He told me that he has "not been impressed". I will say my brother has pretty much the opposite personality of Fran. It could be as simple as that.
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I assume your talking about the first part and you're absolutely right. Most of the successful coaches over the years (in all sports) were/are prickly with the media.
Believe what you want my friend. My brother also thinks Reese Morgan can walk on water so there's some koolaid for you.
When a person with a cyclone name comes on to put down a player or coach, it is probably a biased cut down. Probably should go back to your own cyclown site and make those comments. No true Hawkeye Fan cares what you have to say or believes what you say. It's your masturbation and we don't want to hear about it.
I'm just asking a question.
I personally think Fran is a quality guy.
But I am not playing for him.
And with the freefall in 2 of 3 seasons at closing time, which made the difference between good and great seasons, wondering if there is a reason possibly connected to kids reacting to his coaching style.
I personally think Fran is a quality guy.
But I am not playing for him.
And with the freefall in 2 of 3 seasons at closing time, which made the difference between good and great seasons, wondering if there is a reason possibly connected to kids reacting to his coaching style.
Ha! I wish the U of I alumnus and multi-millionaire was my brother. He's not.
Take my info or leave it. I don't care. I get the same reaction when I pass along less than positive information about ISU on the Cyclone board. Many people aren't interested in the truth. They just want their own beliefs to be confirmed.
Yes he has toned down lately. But that was strategic, as Fran has said. He purposely came in over the top on the officials. Great strategy knowing that you are going to stink it up for a couple of years. These officials are the same year in and year out. Everything else in the future will seem minor.
I do not think Fran received a technical this year. However, he should have! There were a couple of severely BS calls on our players late in the season, in games that we had lost. He should have got T'd up for two reasons; show support for his players on the horse crap calls(especially when we were being mugged, and it wasn't being called in February & March). And two to show a point for games down the road, so that hopefully refs pay attention to what needs to be called....
When opposing fans are coming in to tell us negative crap in anonymity about our coach based on interactions with someone's relative, next-door neighbor's cousin twice removed friend then that probably means we have the right guy. Reminds me of the great Izzo absolutely lambasting us for firing Lick. Right!
Oh no don't get me confused with that! I hope you never fire Fran. Give him a lifetime contract. I think he's in over his head. Unfortunately from what I'm hearing Prohm likely is as well.
That's odd, I know of at least a half dozen media types for whom Fran has bent over backwards and they were deeply appreciative. Stuff that doesn't make the paper.
Nice try Clone, but you shouldn't make up stories based on a couple meaningless press conferences.
No one said anything about lifetime contracts. The point is the last thing we need our brain trust, however much that amounts to, is to listen to opposing fan bases. Case and point Izzo.
One thing I am certain of is winning cures all. When we were hot in January you could not find many if any posts from relatives on the AAU circuit or our fans in general questioning temparment. Lose some games down the stretch and the conspiracy theories come out of the wood work. It can never be we were just not good enough to meet the artificially raised expectations that resulted from an unexpected winning streak.
"Whenever he got his Irish up, Franny lowered the boom"\\\
"Whenever he got his Irish up, Franny lowered the boom."
Again... believe what you want. When it comes to Iowa sports media I'm somewhat plugged in. The real stories come out at the watering hole after the work is done.
Also the worst incident I've ever observed when it comes to coach v. media involved ISU coach Tim Floyd. It happened way behind the scenes and it was reprehensible.
Fran continues to increase his recruiting footprint which speaks volumes about the year-over-year improvement of the program. The players that have transferred mention playing time as the primary reason- not Fran's demeanor.. Fleming was behind Ellingson in the rotation for the entire season and behind Williams thereafter. Something tells me Fleming is behind Moss as well, hence his comment of a "logjam". Will be interesting to see if Fran is able to take the program to the next level (round of 16 or 8, etc.) over the next few years. Feel fortunate to have him as the front man of the program. . .
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