Still want more franwich?

[iahawks10]

Coaching compensation is asinine. Even the lowest b1g underperformer makes more than most of us will make in their entire career.

Very true, but looking at Underwood at Illinois, he is responsible for generating $13 million in profits. Kirk is responsible for $41 million at Iowa. College sports is a huge business and only getting bigger. It goes without saying that the head coach is the most important person in the program.

 

[GOHOX69]

Very true, but looking at Underwood at Illinois, he is responsible for generating $13 million in profits. Kirk is responsible for $41 million at Iowa. College sports is a huge business and only getting bigger. It goes without saying that the head coach is the most important person in the program.

You're right but are they generating those amounts?

 

[RocknRollface]

Actually just one BTT title, but I agree with your post. Your first sentence sums it up for me. The Oregon game in the 2nd round was a kick in the crotch. The Richmond game kicked me when I was down. I've been done with Fran since then.

People always point to Fran getting us to the tournament most of the time. That's all well and good. Could things be worse? For sure. But Fran has done zippity doo dah in the post season these past 14 years.

I'll always be a Hawk fan but I'm ready for a change. But, tampa.. remember Alford/Lickliter. Yeah, I know. The next guy could be a downgrade, but I have no problem with rolling the dice. Fran has been solid, but hardly irreplaceable IMO.

After Oregons pg mopped the floor with jbo Fran brought him back for a 6th year and the same fcking thing happened again against Richmond.

 

[iahawks10]

You're right but are they generating those amounts?

Their programs are and they’re responsible for nearly everything that goes into it.

 

[GOHOX69]

Their programs are and they’re responsible for nearly everything that goes into it.

Football maybe. The men's games look like a 1/3 of carver in attendance.

 

[Rambler Hawk]

We’re irrelevant and have been for decades. No reason Iowa b-ball should be such a shit-show every year.

Its seems somewhere around 1989 - Iowa turned into a true 'football' school and Illinois turned into a true 'basketball' school. Both schools can never seem to excel at both sports....

 

[eyesofhawk]

Its seems somewhere around 1989 - Iowa turned into a true 'football' school and Illinois turned into a true 'basketball' school. Both schools can never seem to excel at both sports....

Well BJ, Roy, and Ed were still giving Carver some of its best ball ever in 89. So your timeline may be a little off

 

[Jimmy McGill]

I'm sorry, but no brand of basketball is "fun" without at least a sweet 16.

 

[BirdistheWord]

I think that the team is headed towards the Lickliter-Alford level. It is getting bad.

Not a big fan of alfraud, but Lick has his own floor

 

[iahawks10]

Football maybe. The men's games look like a 1/3 of carver in attendance.

Illinois basketball had $13.9 million last year in profits. Iowa basketball had $4.3 million in profits.

https://www.sportico.com/business/c...finances-database-intercollegiate-1234646029/

 

[Etalicus]

Top half of BIG finishes 9 of last 11 seasons?
Dancing last 6 years if you include covid year when we were a lock?

I am frustrated also but Fran has found ways to be very competitive in the BIG the last decade.
Looks bleak right now, tho.

Not when it matters

 

[uihawk82]

Top half of BIG finishes 9 of last 11 seasons?
Dancing last 6 years if you include covid year when we were a lock?

I am frustrated also but Fran has found ways to be very competitive in the BIG the last decade.
Looks bleak right now, tho.

I have totally checked out on watching the men's team for any length of time. I can't say now much it bothers me that Fran hasnt had a guard or two who could really take it to the rim and penetrate time and again.

Freeman is a pretty good guard but still doesnt slash and penetrate to the point of really bending a defense.

And then the hawk defense is just always weak.

 

[iahawks10]

Freeman is a pretty good guard but still doesnt slash and penetrate to the point of really bending a defense.

I think you found the problem. At 6’9” C/PF, I expected more driving and slashing from Freeman. Has Fran has just been playing him out of position or is he a bust? 🙄

 

[amahawk]

Very true, but looking at Underwood at Illinois, he is responsible for generating $13 million in profits. Kirk is responsible for $41 million at Iowa. College sports is a huge business and only getting bigger. It goes without saying that the head coach is the most important person in the program.

Or is it the NIL fundraiser?

 

[InsaneHawkJJP]

To the OP’s original question

I’ve only watched parts of 3 games this year. I’d hate to lose Freeman if we do fire Fran🤞🏻, but that’s a risk I’d be willing to take.

 

[Tom Paris]

When Fran leaves there will he a downturn with the players a new coach would inherit

That will begin next season. Fran's not going to be here.

 

[joelbc1]

When does it get embarrassing? Holy shit.
Reminds me of Andre Banks clanking shots when Raveling had checked out. I don't think Fran even knew where he was tonight.

Did you really think this season was much more than a .500 team? I’m not really disappointed as some here…..maybe a tad more realistic? Fran has some good parts not work with for next year…..,he needs to have a “go to guy” next year…..there was no Luka or Twins on this team……it showed.

 

[hawkjt]

Fran needs to get lucky and find 1 or 2 quality guards in the off-season. It can be done.
Rutgers picked up the ex-ISU guard Jeremiah Williams( who was ruled ineligible due to gambling scandal) and since he was ruled eligible 2 weeks ago RU has won 4 straight. He was BIG player of the week last week and is averaging 17 pts. He is flat out one of the quickest guards in the league and a 3 level scorer. He is better than any guard in the Fran era.

Fran has got to unearth guys like Williams.
I know he has built the family culture at Iowa based on loyalty and love and is very hesitant to recruit over guys but college sports are quickly trending to a pro sports business...adapt or die.

 

[HawkLogic]

I’d say clearly Iowa has got the better of the deal here, paying bottom third pay for top half results 9 out of 10 years (or 10 out of 13 years). I’m not sure there’s much of an argument here. Two of those three non top half finishes were year one and two.

TJ Otzelberger is making $2 million/yr after $500K raise. That makes him last place in Big12 and more than $1 million/yr behind Fran. Rutgers Pitziel down at bottom of B1G in pay---he's turned around a historically bad Rutgers program and he's got two 5-star recruits for next year...and his team is trending up at end of season. The point is that there is opportunity to hire younger/lessor named coaches and do a lot better than our 14 year re-tread has done.

TJ took over a team that only had 2 conference wins and got them to sweet16 in single year...that again goes against the Fran narrative that somehow Fran turned around a program that was dead and unreviveable because it had 4 conference wins. Compare TJ's sweet16 1st year and Fran has never in his 28 year career made a sweet16,

Of course the next hire could end up doing worse than Fran's past 14 years. It is equally possible Old Man Fran isn't able to adapt to the NIL/Portal era and is going to do worse than fomer Fran has for past 14 years.

I want what ISU has had in the 2000's....an Elite 8 and a couple sweet16s and and maybe a nice NCAA run this year.

I remember Fran's 2nd and 3rd year team that made an NIT runs and we face teams with newer coachs building programs....We lost to coach Altman's Oregon in Frans 1st NIT...they have since been to final-4. We beat Bennetts UVA in Fran's 2nd NIT....they have since won the national title....we lost to Drew's lor in Fran's 2nd NIT and Baylor has since won at National title. Fran's CEILING is low because he doesn't adapt/improve, has zilch for coaching tree from assistants, his system of no defense/slow dudes is DOA as soon as it hits NCAA tourney.,

Fran Fan's can keep on pumping his 51% B!G winning percentage and worrying about things being awful with next coach while we are trending to awful with Fran. I'm ready to move on...At very least, Iowa should not be extending his contract any more years.

 

[CerroGordoHawk]

I'm sorry, but no brand of basketball is "fun" without at least a sweet 16.

The duckies and bunnies crowd on this site doesn't want to hear it but sports is all about championships/post-season. The Phoenix Suns won a shitload of games with Steve Nash and Amare Stoudamire but they could never get it done when it counted. The 2001 Seattle Mariners set the AL record for wins and tied the MLB record but couldn't get to the World Series. All we ever hear is "Kirk won 10 games" and "Fran gets us to the tournament." Big deal, where is the post-season success then if these coaches are so great?

 

[NI hawk]

Not a big fan of alfraud, but Lick has his own floor

Agree . I don't have the hate for Alford many fans do.

 

[hawkjt]

If Fran moved on why not offer TJ 5million/ yr , 6 yr deal?
We have the financial firepower with the coming media rights money to outbid 90% of programs including ISU.
If the #s are correct that the Illini net 13 million to 4 for Iowa in bb, it is clear the right investment can pay off.

 

[NI hawk]

TJ Otzelberger is making $2 million/yr after $500K raise. That makes him last place in Big12 and more than $1 million/yr behind Fran. Rutgers Pitziel down at bottom of B1G in pay---he's turned around a historically bad Rutgers program and he's got two 5-star recruits for next year...and his team is trending up at end of season. The point is that there is opportunity to hire younger/lessor named coaches and do a lot better than our 14 year re-tread has done.

TJ took over a team that only had 2 conference wins and got them to sweet16 in single year...that again goes against the Fran narrative that somehow Fran turned around a program that was dead and unreviveable because it had 4 conference wins. Compare TJ's sweet16 1st year and Fran has never in his 28 year career made a sweet16,

Of course the next hire could end up doing worse than Fran's past 14 years. It is equally possible Old Man Fran isn't able to adapt to the NIL/Portal era and is going to do worse than fomer Fran has for past 14 years.

I want what ISU has had in the 2000's....an Elite 8 and a couple sweet16s and and maybe a nice NCAA run this year.

I remember Fran's 2nd and 3rd year team that made an NIT runs and we face teams with newer coachs building programs....We lost to coach Altman's Oregon in Frans 1st NIT...they have since been to final-4. We beat Bennetts UVA in Fran's 2nd NIT....they have since won the national title....we lost to Drew's lor in Fran's 2nd NIT and Baylor has since won at National title. Fran's CEILING is low because he doesn't adapt/improve, has zilch for coaching tree from assistants, his system of no defense/slow dudes is DOA as soon as it hits NCAA tourney.,

Fran Fan's can keep on pumping his 51% B!G winning percentage and worrying about things being awful with next coach while we are trending to awful with Fran. I'm ready to move on...At very least, Iowa should not be extending his contract any more years.

Unreal Iowa is looking at playing on Wednesday night of the big ten tournament. Beat crap Michigan and Maryland teams at home at Iowa is sitting in 4th place.

 

[Rambler Hawk]

Well BJ, Roy, and Ed were still giving Carver some of its best ball ever in 89. So your timeline may be a little off

So they were all in Carver at the start of the 1989 season? Hmmmm….😎

 

[TampaHawkfan]

Agree . I don't have the hate for Alford many fans do.

Agreed. I am not a fan of Alford, and his time at Iowa was mostly pretty uninspiring so I'm still glad that he moved on, but Lickliter buried the program. Worst winning percentage in program history. No comparison between the two coaches IMO.

Alford at least had a few good teams, even if the postseason appearances were mostly pretty dismal.

 

[TailgateTom]

Top half of BIG finishes 9 of last 11 seasons?
Dancing last 6 years if you include covid year when we were a lock?

I am frustrated also but Fran has found ways to be very competitive in the BIG the last decade.
Looks bleak right now, tho.

So top half finishes and first weekend exits from the tournament. Glad you set the bar high...

 

[hexumhawk]

Does BG have the cajones to make the move? I hope so.

 

[Slim45]

That will begin next season. Fran's not going to be here.

i know you’ve said this before on here and i feel you must have some pretty good info to base it on…care to share where it’s coming from? No need to get super specific, but would love to know how closely to the source you’re hearing it…

 

[Tom Paris]

Second hand from someone within the program. If I am wrong I will apologize profusely.

 

[NI hawk]

Second hand from someone within the program. If I am wrong I will apologize profusely.

Almost feels like he has checked out this year. I am sure he hasn't but this season certainly has been disappointing.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Second hand from someone within the program. If I am wrong I will apologize profusely.

Hope your info is accurate and he decides he's had enough.
I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[uihawk82]

I think you found the problem. At 6’9” C/PF, I expected more driving and slashing from Freeman. Has Fran has just been playing him out of position or is he a bust? 🙄

And my bad as I was really thinking of Perkins. Perkins ends up taking a lot of short jumpers in the lane which is good and he is very good. But you can draw more fouls and get easy layups getting to the rim.

I havent seen enough of Freeman but he knows how to dunk and move around the rim.

 

[Hawk-A-Doodle-Doo]

I'd take the job for just the ice cream, but I'd have to negotiate to include pregame and post game. And i'd look like the most dedicated coach around because I'd show up 8 hours early every game. One more thing, I'd need a unlimited supply of Tums.

Be sure to have your agent negotiate for insulin coverage too.

 

[Rambler Hawk]

Almost feels like he has checked out this year. I am sure he hasn't but this season certainly has been disappointing.

I am also thinking that with his youngest son publicly saying he won’t go to Iowa…this is a tale sign. I really think a break would be best for both sides. 😎

 

[Rambler Hawk]

Second hand from someone within the program. If I am wrong I will apologize profusely.

That’s good enough for me - thanks for sharing. Fran had had a nice go of it, building up the program from ashes…but the time has come for him to pass the torch…

 

[HawkHoops80]

Everyone wishing is going to be disappointed. I think Fran has been trying to leave since last year, but he got the cold shoulder from Notre Dame and now his realistic options to leave are basically non-existent. I don't even think he could get any of the A10 jobs that will open up this year if we are being honest, and I don't think he's willing to take a $2+ million paycut for a job lower than that.
So it's either retiring or staying at Iowa and trying to right the ship, and the guy didn't hire a new agent so that he could retire.

 

[Slim45]

Second hand from someone within the program. If I am wrong I will apologize profusely.

My hope is it was known within the program to start the season and that’s the reason Perkins and Pat both already said they aren’t coming back next year. The reason Jack said he won’t play for Iowa. And maybe the reason Mulvey took his redshirt hoping he fits the next coaches system better. Idk just spitballing. The Mulvey comment is a little more out there i know lol

 

[LaQuintaHawkeye]

Might be time to reenergize the program,

Agreed.

Attendance is suffering

Recruiting has been, at best, average

Fran may say that he's still very motivated, but if you've been anywhere for 12+ years without a conference championship or significant run in the NCAA, then it's safe to say the fire in the belly has dampened a bit.

 

[HawkHoops80]

My hope is it was known within the program to start the season and that’s the reason Perkins and Pat both already said they aren’t coming back next year. The reason Jack said he won’t play for Iowa. And maybe the reason Mulvey took his redshirt hoping he fits the next coaches system better. Idk just spitballing. The Mulvey comment is a little more out there i know lol

Yeah.. that has not happened lol. If it was known inside the program that there would be a coaching change the university wouldn't have greenlit the coaches to take multiple east coast trips within the last couple of months for recruiting visits. The coaches charter for those visits and it ain't exactly cheap to fly out for. When universities know a change is coming, they usually pull the plug on the recruiting budget until the change is made. Hell, I've heard of ADs making teams start to bus to some road games when they are thinking of firing a coach so that they can save some money for the buyout.

 

[SB_SB]

Be sure to have your agent negotiate for insulin coverage too.

I'm sure @GOHOX69 has a pill for that somewhere in his lab.