Fran will be 68 when his contract runs out, he's not a spring chicken, but he seems like he has a lot of years left in the tank. I am very hopeful he remains through Jack, and if that means we lock him up beyond the 27/28 year, fine by me.
His demeanor has definitely changed as he's aged.
I do think Fran is very loyal to IC and that plays a big part in it. I've heard him talk about the support he got from the community and state during Patrick's ordeal and the experience they had with the children's hospital being right there, and I can tell he doesn't think of Iowa City as just a job until the next one comes. Which is lucky for us.
My hope is Connor comes on as a GA and Fran can last long enough to get him on staff as a jumping point to somewhere. I'm not saying he's going to jump to P6 basketball right away, but Connor is going to be a hell of a basketball coach at some point and I wouldn't be mad to see it be here. Obviously I'm not in his head and don't know what he wants out of life, but if I had to judge by what I've seen (escpecially in person during timeouts and warmups at the Minnesota game where he was hurt) and what people say, he's got the genes in his blood.
My guess is that's how it'll play out. I mean unless something terrible happens with the program and we tank Licklighter style the next couple yrs. To me that's impossible without a wave of injuries to the best players. But never know.
I've always loved Fran's smugness and and DGAF attitude. A lot of people have used that to hang him but IMO, that's the kind of coach I want. The bigger whiner and cry baby he is, the better. I want a coach that is pissed when we lose, I want a coach that gets fired up...that sticks up for his kids. I love that he's a poor sport. I love that. I like that tells the refs what's up. I'll take that every day.
Good take.
I have a boy that got an "and one" on him in 3rd grade. Fran was sitting on the end of the basket it happened witnessing. LOL.
You're higher up than me. My kid hit a double off Zach Lutmer last summer (stud Iowa football commit from CL-GLR) and he thought it was the most badass thing ever.
Not sure higher, but it was really cool. I presume the football player committed to Iowa was prob a pretty good pitcher. Those players are at a more developed age than 3rd grade. Good for him.
Some tickets had "RV" on them....Restricted Vision due to the old girdors in use.
Quite frankly, the old field house was awful. Loud, yes. Today fans would not sit in that antiquainted venue.
Oh, I'm not denying the place was antiquated and needed to be retired, but, we didn't really know any better. We enjoyed what we had.
No argument there whatsoever, but that hasn't necessarily held ground for non-conference schedule in the past. I'm glad that we're playing who we are this year, but Fran has a history building experience for his players rather then building a decent resume before Christmas break.
I think you may have nailed it on both points. I'm sure for some economics play a part, but great point about youth sports. I made that initial comment coming from a parent/coach perspective. After you replied though it got me thinking about how many games I'd go to as a kid, while in college, or before I had kids and it got me thinking that one of the reasons I went to so many games (not just basketball) was because I didn't have all the other commitments and schedules that my kids do today and had more free time to just drop everything and head to Iowa City at the spur of the moment to catch a spontaneous game on a weeknight.
Watching Iowa basketball (offense, action, and a coach like Fran) are palate cleansing for hawk fans who sit through the football season and then transition to basketball.
Seems like a lot of Iowa fans move away from Iowa.
