LawVHawk
Well-Known Member
This has been sticking in my craw for the past 18 hours and I've finally decided to throw it out there.
There were times last night that the TV camera caught Fran, Sherm and Kirk (Speraw) sitting together on the bench looking bored, staring at the floor or straight ahead, not talking with each other, not really even following the action, not taking notes. Granted, this mostly was during the second half when the bench players were getting quality minutes against MES and the play at times was pretty sloppy. The game, well in hand, WAS boring and the relatively small number of people who turned out for the game were filing out of the arena.
Two things about it bothered me. First, whether you are 2 points ahead or 40, and playing your younger guys, it seems to me you're still coaching. The reserves were making plenty of goofs last night, and while I'm sure they appreciated the playing time and exposure, I also have to think as a player you want your coaches looking on, paying attention, caring about what you are doing. They could have used some instruction and some chewing out just as much as the starters. That attention to detail up and down the lineup will only make the team better, not only this year but for future seasons.
Second, the shots seemed to occur just as the TV guys were talking about how much the players liked each other and the coaches were like family. Really? You wouldn't have known it from those shots. I guess when I get together with my brother and sister and my parents or relatives, we talk. Seems to me those three could have been talking about what they were seeing on the floor, what they needed to work on with individual players -- especially the reserves -- in future practices.
Maybe I'm still sensitive to the shots of Lackluster sitting there head in hands, or leaning back in his chair, not really giving a damn about the way his Iowa teams were tossing the game away. I know we have a much more passionate, more skilled coach now and I should be beyond it. But still.
Anyone else have a similar reaction last night?
There were times last night that the TV camera caught Fran, Sherm and Kirk (Speraw) sitting together on the bench looking bored, staring at the floor or straight ahead, not talking with each other, not really even following the action, not taking notes. Granted, this mostly was during the second half when the bench players were getting quality minutes against MES and the play at times was pretty sloppy. The game, well in hand, WAS boring and the relatively small number of people who turned out for the game were filing out of the arena.
Two things about it bothered me. First, whether you are 2 points ahead or 40, and playing your younger guys, it seems to me you're still coaching. The reserves were making plenty of goofs last night, and while I'm sure they appreciated the playing time and exposure, I also have to think as a player you want your coaches looking on, paying attention, caring about what you are doing. They could have used some instruction and some chewing out just as much as the starters. That attention to detail up and down the lineup will only make the team better, not only this year but for future seasons.
Second, the shots seemed to occur just as the TV guys were talking about how much the players liked each other and the coaches were like family. Really? You wouldn't have known it from those shots. I guess when I get together with my brother and sister and my parents or relatives, we talk. Seems to me those three could have been talking about what they were seeing on the floor, what they needed to work on with individual players -- especially the reserves -- in future practices.
Maybe I'm still sensitive to the shots of Lackluster sitting there head in hands, or leaning back in his chair, not really giving a damn about the way his Iowa teams were tossing the game away. I know we have a much more passionate, more skilled coach now and I should be beyond it. But still.
Anyone else have a similar reaction last night?
