softball
- Thread starter 4IA
- Start date
Looper's specialty was supposed to be pitching. She was the pitching coach at Texas and was a pitcher herself in college at FSU. She has not recruited a D1 caliber pitcher since she has been here. I think that tells you a lot.
Hawk,
Erin Riding the pitcher in the 2015 class is legit so let's see how it plays out before making such proclamations. Cat Osterman gives Looper a tremendous amount of credit for her success so don't forget that. Maybe Looper has been in on other BIGTIME pitching recruits that decided to go elsewhere. Pitching isn't easy to recruit
Erin Riding the pitcher in the 2015 class is legit so let's see how it plays out before making such proclamations. Cat Osterman gives Looper a tremendous amount of credit for her success so don't forget that. Maybe Looper has been in on other BIGTIME pitching recruits that decided to go elsewhere. Pitching isn't easy to recruit
It isn't easy but that is what her job is. If she can't recruit a top talent she has to develop the talent that she has. If we still walk too many as well as not having speed she obviously hasn't developed that talent. Four years is a long time to not have recruited a pitcher. I understand you feel the need to support Looper and I respect that. I would support her if I felt she deserved support but I don't think she is getting the job done. Hopefully the '15 pitcher you mentioned works out because I have been a Hawkeye fan since probably before you were born and hate to see a once solid program hit rock bottom.
Hawk,
I understand your frustration with where the program is, your not alone believe me. I also agree with you that with Looper pedigree pitching should be this programs strength but I don't care what anyone says, a coach can only get so much out of a players ability.
The one thing I do know is that the Blevins situation most definitely effected Loopers ability to recruit her first 3/4 yrs. I've had extensive talks with people inside the travel ball world that I respect tremendously and they echoe what insiders on here have stated. If a coach is black balled because of someone else's actions it makes it damn near impossible to succeed.
I do believe Loopers recruiting is starting to pick up and there will be an influx of talent into the program. Hopefully Looper can start to win over some of the Blevins backers instate and she can keep top end talent instate. It's my opinion that EVERY program should ALWAYS be built of instate talent if posssible.
I know people don't think Looper can turn this around and they might be right but the one thing I know first hand is that her love for Iowa and the type of person she is was one of the biggest selling points for my daughter committing. I've said it before Iowa is a SPECIAL place. We don't like to see the program where it is either but we won't stop believing in what it can and will be.
The cold hard truth is if a Looper doesn't win she won't be around long. The Iowa softball situation reminds me of the Arkansas basketball situation after they unceremoniously fired Nolan Richardson. That firing created a divide among the fan base and it absolutely ruined that program for years. A divided fan base will cripple any coach.
I wish I knew how to fix what ails this program but I don't.
I understand your frustration with where the program is, your not alone believe me. I also agree with you that with Looper pedigree pitching should be this programs strength but I don't care what anyone says, a coach can only get so much out of a players ability.
The one thing I do know is that the Blevins situation most definitely effected Loopers ability to recruit her first 3/4 yrs. I've had extensive talks with people inside the travel ball world that I respect tremendously and they echoe what insiders on here have stated. If a coach is black balled because of someone else's actions it makes it damn near impossible to succeed.
I do believe Loopers recruiting is starting to pick up and there will be an influx of talent into the program. Hopefully Looper can start to win over some of the Blevins backers instate and she can keep top end talent instate. It's my opinion that EVERY program should ALWAYS be built of instate talent if posssible.
I know people don't think Looper can turn this around and they might be right but the one thing I know first hand is that her love for Iowa and the type of person she is was one of the biggest selling points for my daughter committing. I've said it before Iowa is a SPECIAL place. We don't like to see the program where it is either but we won't stop believing in what it can and will be.
The cold hard truth is if a Looper doesn't win she won't be around long. The Iowa softball situation reminds me of the Arkansas basketball situation after they unceremoniously fired Nolan Richardson. That firing created a divide among the fan base and it absolutely ruined that program for years. A divided fan base will cripple any coach.
I wish I knew how to fix what ails this program but I don't.
Looper being hired based off her Texas success, was to me smoke and mirrors. Really I could have coached Cat and been successful, sometimes the once in a lifetime player fall in your lap and you ride the wave to where ever it takes you, and it took Looper here to Iowa. You are absolutely right she SHOULD be able to recruit top pitchers based on her relationship with one of the top pitchers ever in the game (Cat). This should be a strength. Its not.
Recruiting Iowa girls have two fold effect, it will help the fan base relate and hopefully bond with this team and it will bring the girls Friends and Family into the sparsely attended softball home games to support them. Winning is the most important key to having a turn around. If Looper wants to be accepted here she needs to win with her own recruits, not the left over ones from Gayles time. How do so many other Big Ten teams who had coaching changes around the same time seem to be excelling and winning, yet Iowa is still the doormat. It makes us as fans restless and disappointed. I am sure Gayles situation effected Marla but she had a chance to swoop in with her first year of winning and keep it rolling but instead it died. I will give her this year and next but she needs to do something. Hopefully help is coming in the next couple classes of recruits.
They should be going after Amber Fiser from Benton Community she was commited to NW but things didn't work out so not sure where she is going now, but I know if she was good enough to pitch for NW she should be able to for Iowa. Maybe she has no interest in Iowa but they need to put some full court press on her.
Recruiting Iowa girls have two fold effect, it will help the fan base relate and hopefully bond with this team and it will bring the girls Friends and Family into the sparsely attended softball home games to support them. Winning is the most important key to having a turn around. If Looper wants to be accepted here she needs to win with her own recruits, not the left over ones from Gayles time. How do so many other Big Ten teams who had coaching changes around the same time seem to be excelling and winning, yet Iowa is still the doormat. It makes us as fans restless and disappointed. I am sure Gayles situation effected Marla but she had a chance to swoop in with her first year of winning and keep it rolling but instead it died. I will give her this year and next but she needs to do something. Hopefully help is coming in the next couple classes of recruits.
They should be going after Amber Fiser from Benton Community she was commited to NW but things didn't work out so not sure where she is going now, but I know if she was good enough to pitch for NW she should be able to for Iowa. Maybe she has no interest in Iowa but they need to put some full court press on her.
I live in the DFW area and have friends who coach locally. All have said that Riding is a legit D1 pitcher. We need to add another pitcher soon. I was in Lafayette this weekend and Starkenberg threw pretty well. She gave up two solo shots to Louisiana and two unearned runs. She also held Hofstra in check with only one run until 2 outs left in the seventh when the wheels came off. This is the first I saw her this year and she seems to be improved but we need Riding to be legit and another pitcher added to our arsenal.
Other than Sundays game we were in all of the games. It was frustrating that we ran ourselves out of a run verses Hofstra in game one. The left fielder threw out Fritsch at home and the catcher was waiting with the ball when she arrived. We also blew an opportunity down 4-3 to Louisiana with a lead off double. The number nine hitter was up and we didn't attempt to bunt her into scoring position. There are a lot of ways to score with a runner on third with 1 out. The next batter hit a dribbler to the left of the pitcher. The pitcher would not have been able to turn and make a throw at home as she barely got the out at first. Getting the ball in play there would have scored the run. It's frustrating as Looper does not appear to be the best "in game coach." The first four games could have easily went Iowa's way, but too many missed opportunities.
Other than Sundays game we were in all of the games. It was frustrating that we ran ourselves out of a run verses Hofstra in game one. The left fielder threw out Fritsch at home and the catcher was waiting with the ball when she arrived. We also blew an opportunity down 4-3 to Louisiana with a lead off double. The number nine hitter was up and we didn't attempt to bunt her into scoring position. There are a lot of ways to score with a runner on third with 1 out. The next batter hit a dribbler to the left of the pitcher. The pitcher would not have been able to turn and make a throw at home as she barely got the out at first. Getting the ball in play there would have scored the run. It's frustrating as Looper does not appear to be the best "in game coach." The first four games could have easily went Iowa's way, but too many missed opportunities.
We ran ourselves out of several games last year. I know from coaching third for 30+ years that you are going to occasionally have a runner thrown out when you are being aggressive but Looper has had too many of those happen it seems.
After the UNI tournament, I thought there were some glimmers of hope (although watching us get pounded by a completely superior NDSU team was no fun). Starkenburg seems to have the size and athleticism to be a decent #1 pitcher, and Gyerman and Pratt could give Blank some help in the lineup. Getting swept the last two weekends has been a bit discouraging.
Before the season started I thought we were at risk for about 45 or so losses and a 14th place conference finish, but at this time I think we can potentially do better. There are still too many .200 or under bats in the lineup, and the pitchers need to get their ERAs down. Under the circumstances, if we can find a way to get 9 or 10 B10 wins I'll be pleased.
Does anyone know what the format will be for the B10 tournament this year?
Before the season started I thought we were at risk for about 45 or so losses and a 14th place conference finish, but at this time I think we can potentially do better. There are still too many .200 or under bats in the lineup, and the pitchers need to get their ERAs down. Under the circumstances, if we can find a way to get 9 or 10 B10 wins I'll be pleased.
Does anyone know what the format will be for the B10 tournament this year?
In one of LinusPF earlier posts (different thread) he said it was the same format as last year. A 12 team bracket with the 13-14 teams not making the tournament. I don't see on the Big Ten website anything about the tournament.
Shayla will throw some good innings for us. She kept Lafayette in check other than 2 solo shots. The other 2 runs were unearned. Like others have said walks and HBP need to be minimized.
After this weekend I don't see us winning a game until sometime after conference starts. I agree with Row that Gyerman, Blank, Pratt and Fritsch can help generate offense. There are others too but the consistency isn't there quite yet but there's potential. Wood and Mullarkey had some quality at bats in Lafayette last weekend.
Here's hoping for 3 wins this weekend....Go Hawks
Shayla will throw some good innings for us. She kept Lafayette in check other than 2 solo shots. The other 2 runs were unearned. Like others have said walks and HBP need to be minimized.
After this weekend I don't see us winning a game until sometime after conference starts. I agree with Row that Gyerman, Blank, Pratt and Fritsch can help generate offense. There are others too but the consistency isn't there quite yet but there's potential. Wood and Mullarkey had some quality at bats in Lafayette last weekend.
Here's hoping for 3 wins this weekend....Go Hawks
I attended the Friday night game in Fullerton versus Fresno State. Iowa lost 9-0 as the Fresno pitcher had a perfect game. Let's just say 73chief's assessment of the talent level with this Hawkeye softball team is correct.
Posted from Rivals Mobile
Posted from Rivals Mobile
Fans, we are just going to have to accept the fact that Iowa will not be very good this year in the win loss column. I think they will grow and compete but they don't have the horse's to win a lot. I really wish they did, I love the Hawks in all sports and want them to be successful. I am giving Looper 1 more year after this one to see what she can do as far as the recruiting goes. She has a very young team. Still getting run ruled in every other game is getting old and her girls are probley not liking it much. Hope that drives them to work harder!
