If true, not a surprising choice

J

JDeMoney

Well-Known Member
Keno Davis was 100% my choice and I am saddened he was not offered the job. I am even more saddened -- but not at all surprised -- he apparently was not even considered, given the polarizing nature of the end of the Tom Davis Era.

That said, here is why I am not at all stunned to hear reports that Gary Barta feels that Fran McCaffrey is "the right fit" at Iowa. Here are five reasons why:

1) Big Ten expansion appears to be targeting the East Coast and Notre Dame. McCaffrey happens to be an East Coast guy who used to coach at Notre Dame.

2) McCaffrey's teams typically run on offense and press on defense. Many Iowa fans have been clamoring for a return to that style.

3) McCaffrey will be hugely popular among the eggheads on campus. All of his players graduate and he is an Ivy League guy.

4) Given his ties to Digger Phelps (and just being an East Coast guy in general) Iowa will get huge props from the talking heads at ESPN. Yes, PR is always a consideration in big business and big-time college athletics.

5) Last time Iowa hired a coach who started his head coaching career in the Lehigh Valley (Tom Davis-Lafayette), it worked out pretty well.
 
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Jamie, I have no idea why the first item on your list should matter to Iowa hiring a coach.

But here's the one big fat elephant of a question in the room: Do you think he can recruit well enough to succeed at Iowa? What Midwest recruiting contacts does he have? Is there any hope that he can bring some East Coast players to Iowa (it has happened before--long before most readers here were born).
 
FreddyBrown said:
Jamie, I have no idea why the first item on your list should matter to Iowa hiring a coach.

But here's the one big fat elephant of a question in the room: Do you think he can recruit well enough to succeed at Iowa? What Midwest recruiting contacts does he have? Is there any hope that he can bring some East Coast players to Iowa (it has happened before--long before most readers here were born).
Click to expand...

I should clarify ... It's because the initial response for many fans with regard to recruiting will be: "Can he recruit in Big Ten country?" In fact, that was the nature of your big fat elephant question.

The obvious answer is that Big Ten country is likely to further permeate McCaffrey's own backyard. In other words, the days of the Big Ten being "a Midwest conference" are numbered.
 
What if the Big Ten just adds ND?
1.Expansion will not take place until at least 2014....until then?
If Barta gave that reason one ounce of cred...mistake...by 2014 Iowa bb could be buried for good.
2. I suppose this is true...and welcome,but playing fast with slow players does not work either.
3. If this is a big factor, then yes, it is good. If he recruits strictly in eastern iowa, we will also graduate most of our players also. Or just stays in johnson county...great.
4. You are not serious with this,right? Lick was COY,remember? Toast of the town. So what?
5. Another...what?

Unless he brings in a staff full of midwest super-recruiters...this makes no sense.
 
JHHawk said:
What if the Big Ten just adds ND?
1.Expansion will not take place until at least 2014....until then?
If Barta gave that reason one ounce of cred...mistake...by 2014 Iowa bb could be buried for good.
2. I suppose this is true...and welcome,but playing fast with slow players does not work either.
3. If this is a big factor, then yes, it is good. If he recruits strictly in eastern iowa, we will also graduate most of our players also. Or just stays in johnson county...great.
4. You are not serious with this,right? Lick was COY,remember? Toast of the town. So what?
5. Another...what?

Unless he brings in a staff full of midwest super-recruiters...this makes no sense.
Click to expand...


Just to be clear, I think those were the reasons but not necessarily the best reasons for hiring the coach.

Again, I don't see why Iowa need limit itself to Midwest recruiting. Outside of its best player (Fuller), everyone on Iowa's roster is from a town less than a half-day's drive of Iowa City.

How is that working for us?
 
I doubt that bringing east coast kids to Iowa is a big part of the master plan. Tough sell, imho. I assume he has more midwestern ties as well.
 
Well.. Another coach from a low-level mid-major conference. Not surprising in the least.

At least he was able to win the conference the past 3 years.

See you guys in November..
 
CubHawk1237 said:
He better have good assitant coaches, and preferrably somebody on staff that played for the Hawkeyes.
Click to expand...
Agreed. If BJ Armstrong is serious about wanting to get into coaching than this would be a good opportunity if Fran was to give him the chance. BJ would be the Chicago connection that FM could desperately use.
 
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