Let it be remembered that the Clemson game...

[SteveGarvey]

was the that the fans en masse began turning on Fran. You really wonder if Fran gets more than three years now since Lickliter was only given that long. Shoot, this day and age of athletics and fandom wanting an immediate winner I'm not sure he does get more than next year to turn it around. Guess the only thing he has going for him is the highly rated upcoming class but methinks that class is a bit overrated and even if it isn't, those guys are only going to be freshmen.

We've seen how some Hawk fans want Ferentz gone (or at least some of his staff) after a 7-5 season. We see Turner Gil only given two years (two!) to turn a pathetic Kansas football program around. We see Eagles fans calling for Andy Reid's head despite all of what he's done there. Now we're witnessing perhaps an unraveling of fan support for Fran after another debacle on the court.

Hope he gets at least four years total to turn it around but it's going to get ugly if we continue to play ball like we've played the last four games.

 

[HawkForce]

He's got to show some progress....soon. I know he can't shoot the shots or rebound...but...it all goes back to the head man.

 

[acgclone]

They are going to give Fran longer than 3 years to turn it around. He's got a good class coming in next year. He didn't exactly take over a great situation. It's not like Alford taking over after Tom. You at least probably have to give him 3 more years, to see what he can do with Woodbury, Gissell, et al as JR's.

 

[HawkForce]

^but at the same point...I don't know if we can afford to allow another coach to drive it even further into the ground....at some point here in the next 1-2 years if they continue to regress....Barta has to stop the bleeding.

 

[JonDMiller]

I think people turning on Fran at this point are silly.

The guy just signed a nationally ranked recruiting class, the first time someone at Iowa has done that in about a decade...and in case you haven't looked, the last decade was the worst in Iowa history.

Yeah, this team is disappointing right now and trying to find itself. But the mentality of some fans today is more disappointing to me.

Did you miss the part where Fran was taking over a job that was in worse shape than any other job in the conference from a last 10 years production standpoint, or real close to it? Just now they have facilities in line with most of the other programs in the league.

This job was hardly a peach...and he is making some lemonade out of lemons and there is more hope for the future in Iowa City than there has been in about six years.

We know Basabe can play better. We know Cartwright can play better....its far to early to hit the eject button.

 

[CAARHawk]

The class Lick had coming in was not constructed from a TOP 50 Iowan. Fran gets next year, no matter what. But, he might want to really think about clearing more space on the roster and finding an immediate contributor.

That being said, with the lockout over, the league will drop off next year.

 

[cjhawks]

No, what fans need to do is display some degree of patience and common sense. Fran has been successful at every stop in his career. You think they were quick turnarounds? No. It took time and effort. He is still getting guys to fit his style of play.

In this day and age, fans need to realize the deep hole the program was left in under Lickliter. Fran is not a magician folks - he can't simply snap his fingers and make everything better. Anyone who says the program is on the same path it was under Lick, going into a deeper hole, is a moron. A schmuck. So spare me the "the program is regressing, we've had a horrid start to the season, oh noes!?!!!!!" routine.

The program is fine under Fran. He is absolutely the guy for the monumental task of rescuing it from the depths of the Lickliter era. Fans wanted a winner, and they got one in Fran. Look at his resume for proof. And for god's sake, take a deep breath and step away from the ledge.

 

[burky247]

This thread is stupid. I heard Barta say at an I-Club function that Caff will get as long as he needs to turn this around. Iowa can't become a revolving door for basketball coaches and he knows it. Our attendance is **** anyway and will be until we start winning so that will take care of itself.

Anyone who turns on Caff after one game isn't a Hawk fan anyway. More likely, they are one of the idiots from the football board that have migrated their way over to the basketball board.

 

[HawkForce]

I think people turning on Fran at this point are silly.

The guy just signed a nationally ranked recruiting class, the first time someone at Iowa has done that in about a decade...and in case you haven't looked, the last decade was the worst in Iowa history.

Yeah, this team is disappointing right now and trying to find itself. But the mentality of some fans today is more disappointing to me.

Did you miss the part where Fran was taking over a job that was in worse shape than any other job in the conference from a last 10 years production standpoint, or real close to it? Just now they have facilities in line with most of the other programs in the league.

This job was hardly a peach...and he is making some lemonade out of lemons and there is more hope for the future in Iowa City than there has been in about six years.

We know Basabe can play better. We know Cartwright can play better....its far to early to hit the eject button.

I just feel like this year is vital in Fran's coaching here...if he doesn't follow up and get a couple of really solid contributors in the 2013 class like a Jok and someone else....it's all for naught. He has to capitalize and the team regressing this much isn't going to help matters.

 

[SirJamaLot]

Come On Man!!!

he inherited a terrible program, he is bringing in a top 20 recruiting class, he has a new practice facility, he has no D 1 inside game, If he can continue to recruit and bring in good classes in 2013, 2014, and 2015 he will become much smarter and a better coach,

 

[olivecourt]

^but at the same point...I don't know if we can afford to allow another coach to drive it even further into the ground....at some point here in the next 1-2 years if they continue to regress....Barta has to stop the bleeding.

Is it really possible to drive things any further into the ground?

Fran is locked in for at least five years no matter what (major scandal excluded). If Barta fires Fran, he might as well submit his resignation letter as well. We aren't going to have four basketball coaches in seven years. Not going to happen. You can turn on him if you want, but he's our coach for the long haul. Personally, I'm disappointed in the last two weeks, but it's a long season. Let's have a little perspective.

 

[Gohawks123]

I don't think its silly to compare Fran and Lick. No I don't want Fran fired yet. But if one year from now this team is worse than this year and Carver has 1500 fans for every game then the administration might have no choice. People forget that Lick had a pretty good class lined up when he got canned...recruits won't always save you.

 

[cjhawks]

I just feel like this year is vital in Fran's coaching here...if he doesn't follow up and get a couple of really solid contributors in the 2013 class like a Jok and someone else....it's all for naught. He has to capitalize and the team regressing this much isn't going to help matters.

You've got to be kidding me.

 

[BSpringsteen]

For once, FOR ONCE FOR ONCE I agree 100% completely and totally with JonDMiller, publisher and founder, hawkeyenation.com

 

[JonDMiller]

I just feel like this year is vital in Fran's coaching here...if he doesn't follow up and get a couple of really solid contributors in the 2013 class like a Jok and someone else....it's all for naught. He has to capitalize and the team regressing this much isn't going to help matters.

The season is 7 games old and Basabe and Cartwright likely can't play worse than they have. Might just be a good idea to wait and see how things play out before looking for a hangin tree

 

[HawkForce]

I don't think its silly to compare Fran and Lick. No I don't want Fran fired yet. But if one year from now this team is worse than this year and Carver has 1500 fans for every game then the administration might have no choice. People forget that Lick had a pretty good class lined up when he got canned...recruits won't always save you.

Yep...I'm not for firing him at all...(other than joking about it bc of all the "fire ferentz" people)....but he's gotta get the ball rolling again...this team is not even in the same galaxy as the one that beat Purdue last year...

 

[BSpringsteen]

I don't think its silly to compare Fran and Lick. No I don't want Fran fired yet. But if one year from now this team is worse than this year and Carver has 1500 fans for every game then the administration might have no choice. People forget that Lick had a pretty good class lined up when he got canned...recruits won't always save you.

What a crock of ****.

We are the worst program with expectations in the Big 10. Penn State has no expectations so they don't count.

Lickliter was a horrendous fit in Iowa City and watching his brand of basketball was about as entertaining as watching me take a dump.

Fran needs to get a solid 5 years here. He has to have a recruiting class become juniors and continue to flush out the roster with talent.

The guy is doing something here, and if fans want to stay home, than fine stay home. I don't want to watch losing BB either. I wouldn't go.

But if you think firing Fran is suddenly going to make the stars align for Bruce Pearl to come back to coaching, then your expectations are way off.

 

[cjhawks]

I don't think its silly to compare Fran and Lick. No I don't want Fran fired yet. But if one year from now this team is worse than this year and Carver has 1500 fans for every game then the administration might have no choice. People forget that Lick had a pretty good class lined up when he got canned...recruits won't always save you.

The absolute last thing the basketball program needs is a reactionary administration.

The absolute first thing the program needs is stability.

People even thinking about supporting Fran being fired either this year or next are stupid. You don't build a brand new practice facility, make a great hire in Fran to turn the program around, and then fire the guy after 3 years before he can fully implement his style of play.

Stability. Remember that word.

 

[TChawk]

Come On Man!!!

he inherited a terrible program, he is bringing in a top 20 recruiting class, he has a new practice facility, he has no D 1 inside game, If he can continue to recruit and bring in good classes in 2013, 2014, and 2015 he will become much smarter and a better coach,

He got a terrible team, and it looks like he has made it even WORSE this year....yeah great job coaching there.

 

[Gohawks123]

What a crock of ****.

We are the worst program with expectations in the Big 10. Penn State has no expectations so they don't count.

Lickliter was a horrendous fit in Iowa City and watching his brand of basketball was about as entertaining as watching me take a dump.

Fran needs to get a solid 5 years here. He has to have a recruiting class become juniors and continue to flush out the roster with talent.

The guy is doing something here, and if fans want to stay home, than fine stay home. I don't want to watch losing BB either. I wouldn't go.

But if you think firing Fran is suddenly going to make the stars align for Bruce Pearl to come back to coaching, then your expectations are way off.

You were entertained by what you saw last night? I didn't say fire the guy...I just said its not ridiculous to compare him and Lick in 1 year if this team is worse and the interest in the program has dropped dramatically.

Believe it or not, Iowa still has a lot of season ticket holders. That could change if we throw another 10 win year on the board this year.