OUTofTOWNHAWK
Well-Known Member
Weird, I really just wish Kirk could be a little more like Fran.
I think they should compromise. Kirk will start acting as if he has a pulse. Fran will start chewing gum.
Weird, I really just wish Kirk could be a little more like Fran.
I am not sure I follow what you are getting at?
Fran's "temper" (I think it is better described as his passion for his players) is part of the reason his players have improved. There would not be a story about the team's improved played if not for his demeanor, so it's hard to say, in my opinion, that the focus is wrongly put. The two are intrinsically intertwined.
Acceptance of their role as bottom feeders is not an option for him, and he's not going to let them slide into that mindset. After 3 years of mediocrity, that attitude can become pervasive - a "here we go again" benign acceptance of their fate. My take is he is not going to let them go there, and when he sees it, like last week at Michigan State, he's going to let them know about it, right then. It's not just about being physically better players, it's about an adjustment of their collective attitude as a team. It's not going to be poor, little, undermanned Iowa anymore. He's calling BS on that.
The fact that one element of the story is getting press over the other is not surprising - it's different, a stark contrast to what preceded him. As he has said, he's trying to change the culture of the program. Maybe as part of that, he has to rattle some cages. As they get better, the team's improvement and play will more and more become the story, and his demeanor, less so. That's what I meant.
Posted this in a different thread. I can just see how this conversation went down between Barta and Fran:GB(sticking head in Fran's open office door and knocking), "Hey coach, you got a minute?"Fran, "I'm a little busy preparing for Purdue."GB, "This will just ttttake(voice shaking) a minute."Fran(looks at watch), "What's up?"GB, "Ummmm just got a call from the higher ups in the B1G and they were wondering....how do I put this(nervous laughter)...they want me to ask you to tone it down a bit."30 seconds of uncomfortable silenceFran, "we done here?"GB, "Yep, great win on Saturday coach."Fran(pointing at empty coffee cup), "You want to pitch that in the trash on your way out?"
Barta's in the right. You can rationalize it all you want (Oh, he's just PASSIONATE), but getting mad and yelling and throwing things is child-like behavior. I don't tolerate it from my two year old nephew (although he is very passionate about his Weebles), and you shouldn't tolerate it from 50 year old mentors.
Barta's in the right. You can rationalize it all you want (Oh, he's just PASSIONATE), but getting mad and yelling and throwing things is child-like behavior. I don't tolerate it from my two year old nephew (although he is very passionate about his Weebles), and you shouldn't tolerate it from 50 year old mentors.
Bingo. Barta is stepping in because somebody has to be an adult here.Barta's in the right. You can rationalize it all you want (Oh, he's just PASSIONATE), but getting mad and yelling and throwing things is child-like behavior. I don't tolerate it from my two year old nephew (although he is very passionate about his Weebles), and you shouldn't tolerate it from 50 year old mentors.
Barta's in the right. You can rationalize it all you want (Oh, he's just PASSIONATE), but getting mad and yelling and throwing things is child-like behavior. I don't tolerate it from my two year old nephew (although he is very passionate about his Weebles), and you shouldn't tolerate it from 50 year old mentors.