DI Alford story

[tm3308]

This is my last story that will appear in the DI. Words can't describe my satisfaction, or just how fitting it is.

Ex-Iowa coach Alford issues apology 11 years after Pierce assault controversy - The Daily Iowan

 

[Section136]

Words can't describe my satisfaction, or just how fitting it is.

Odd. Its as if the Pierce/Alford situation directly affected you judging by this statement. Werent you in elementary school when this went down?

 

[tm3308]

Odd. Its as if the Pierce/Alford situation directly affected you judging by this statement. Werent you in elementary school when this went down?

That was just in reference to the fact that I will likely have very few, if any more chances, to objectively bash Steve Alford. As for the "fitting" part, I mean out of all the countless possibilities for what would be my last story, it just happened to be this one. And the people I grew up with know just how much I despise Alford.

 

[trj]

That was just in reference to the fact that I will likely have very few, if any more chances, to objectively bash Steve Alford. As for the "fitting" part, I mean out of all the countless possibilities for what would be my last story, it just happened to be this one. And the people I grew up with know just how much I despise Alford.

Why? You stuck in a cubicle somewhere working for an insurance company?

 

[Section136]

And the people I grew up with know just how much I despise Alford.

Why though?

Thats like me saying I despise Ronnie Harmon even though I was too young to really know what the hell happened in the Rose Bowl.

 

[tm3308]

Why? You stuck in a cubicle somewhere working for an insurance company?

I really am not sure I want to go to a bigger paper; I'm a small town kid at heart. Even Iowa City, after living here for 5 years, is not really for me. So taking over and running a small town paper, hell maybe even in Corydon, would be fine with me. I love covering high school sports, and ran myself ragged driving home every Friday night this fall to cover Wayne's games on my own time and dime.

The only thing I think I would miss in a really small town are the in-depth profiles that I can write at the DI. In a town like Corydon, there really isn't a lot you can say about a kid that everybody doesn't already know. But those stories are a blast to write, and I'm not sure I want to go through the daily grind of covering high-profile sports for the rest of my life.

 

[tm3308]

Why though?

Thats like me saying I despise Ronnie Harmon even though I was too young to really know what the hell happened in the Rose Bowl.

I hate the impact he had on the program, the way he left and kept taking pot shots. I heard plenty of the stories (lawnmower, etc.). As for the stuff with Pierce, I wasn't old enough to really understand what was going on in 2002. I just knew Pierce wasn't playing, and that sucked to a 12 year old. But I was almost 15 when he was arrested again, and by then I'd learned more about what happened in the first case and how despicable it all was.

IDK if you saw the story I posted about a buddy of mine who got a rather nasty phone call from Alford because of a few things I posted here a couple years ago. He was a manager as a freshman and was going to walk on, but left the program after a year because he couldn't stand Alford and elected to walk on to the football team. He confirmed to me that all the stuff I said about Alford's personality was spot-on, and I said as much on here. Alford called and threatened to screw things up with football and my buddy's connections within the physical training field on campus. That also factors into why I was happy to write a negative story about Alford. He's just a dick.

 

[You]

You're better than Corydon, Tork.

 

[Casey388]

You should see about getting on in a smaller city that has a D2 or D3 college in it. Wouldn't be as large as IC but would have some of the same opportunities.

 

[BrueCrew3]

You're better than Corydon, Tork.

Don't be so sure.

Believe me .. what I've read from Tork is good stuff. He could survive in a larger town. Maybe even a bigger city. So please don't take this wrong.

Tork .. .. You're perfect for Corydon. Why? Because that's where you WANT to be. Small town newspapers are dying. It takes guys like you to want to make them survive.

I say go for it!! The chance may not be there 5 years from now.

GO HAWKS!!!

 

[hawkfan33]

May I suggest grad school in LA, UCLA perhaps? Get on the school paper there and trash Alford in the school newspaper all the time. Don't let the battle end! Go fight him on his new turf! You and TJ Simers can team up and pester Alford every press conference. Plus you'll get some get some street cred in the sports blogs that way.

 

[hawktech]

I figured your last story would have been about Hoiberg and the ISU violations. It will be interesting to see where that course runs, especially since they are now considered major... Alford. I only hope he rotts where he will most certainly end up.

 

[MisterLucky]

Miller's use of the word hubris pretty much sums up Alford. Good luck in the future Tork.

 

[tm3308]

May I suggest grad school in LA, UCLA perhaps? Get on the school paper there and trash Alford in the school newspaper all the time. Don't let the battle end! Go fight him on his new turf! You and TJ Simers can team up and pester Alford every press conference. Plus you'll get some get some street cred in the sports blogs that way.

While that would be awesome, grad school is not in my future. That takes money, and those pesky little things known as good grades. Mine took a pretty big hit once I started writing at the DI last year. Went from a 3.56 and the dean's list for the spring of 2010 to posting a 2.6 or worse in the three semesters since.

 

[HawkPrdatr40]

I hate the impact he had on the program, the way he left and kept taking pot shots. I heard plenty of the stories (lawnmower, etc.). As for the stuff with Pierce, I wasn't old enough to really understand what was going on in 2002. I just knew Pierce wasn't playing, and that sucked to a 12 year old. But I was almost 15 when he was arrested again, and by then I'd learned more about what happened in the first case and how despicable it all was.

IDK if you saw the story I posted about a buddy of mine who got a rather nasty phone call from Alford because of a few things I posted here a couple years ago. He was a manager as a freshman and was going to walk on, but left the program after a year because he couldn't stand Alford and elected to walk on to the football team. He confirmed to me that all the stuff I said about Alford's personality was spot-on, and I said as much on here. Alford called and threatened to screw things up with football and my buddy's connections within the physical training field on campus. That also factors into why I was happy to write a negative story about Alford. He's just a dick.

The real impact to the program happened with the NEXT HIRE, his name TODD LICKLITER. Let it go people!!

 

[SPGroth]

What are your plans Tork?

 

[AngelEyes]

is Joe Sharpnick still doing cartoons for the DI?

 

[tm3308]

The real impact to the program happened with the NEXT HIRE, his name TODD LICKLITER. Let it go people!!

Your crusade isn't going to get anyone to let it go. Give it up.

Alford's actions fractured the fanbase, which compounded the impact Lickliter had. He didn't walk into a very good situation.

 

[tm3308]

What are your plans Tork?

Right now, I'm looking at Sports Spotlight (magazine/website that covers mostly high school sports) in Des Moines. The owner is actually from Corydon, too, and I feel pretty confident about my chances of landing that job. It's just going to be a matter of whether it pays enough for me to earn a living wage. I've also put in for assistant sports editor at the Clinton Herald. I'll be sending out a lot of resumes over the next couple weeks. But I'd like to have a job in which I'm covering high school sports right out of the gate. If I stick to what I'm thinking right now, great. If I end up deciding I miss writing the profiles too much, I can always get back into that.

 

[BrueCrew3]

The real impact to the program happened with the NEXT HIRE, his name TODD LICKLITER. Let it go people!!

Tork is right - YOU need to let go of YOUR crusdade.

You can say all you want about SA recruiting good players, but the truth is that in the end, he left the cupboard bare for that next hire. That shows bad recruiting. Why? Because, IMHO, people were appalled by his behavior during the PP incident and put off by his arrogance. And kids sensed that. So WHEN that next hire was made, there was nothing there. Was Lick a good hire? No. Did the program continue to it's downward spiral? Yes. But if the program had been left in better shape, it MIGHT not have happened.

You will NEVER convince me that SA isn't responsible for the dead period and that he didn't start the decline. And I'm sure there are a number of people on this forum that feel the same way.

Just my $.02 .. ..

GO HAWKS!!!