Lickliter Handled Tucker Situation Well

[JonDMiller]

I certainly don't have all the information but to me it looks like he forced Tucker's hand by being passive-agrressive with him. Let him suit up but don't play him. Again I don't have all the information.

Perhaps he told him that he wasn't going to get to play anymore this year except mop up minutes? Perhaps he said if he was patient he would get back into games. Perhaps he didn't say anything and Tucker read stuff into it that he shouldn't have. If that is the case, that wasn't fair to Tucker.

I would hope that Lickliter layed out exactly what conditions he expected Tucker to meet before he got to play again and whether he would get to play again. If he wasn't going to get to play again, I would certainly hope that he told Tucker that or Lickliter was being very dishonest with him. In other words, if Lickliter did not lay out everything plainly in black and white and made it look like he was going to play only never played him then Lickliter was very dishonest with him.

But then I don't have all the information just like none of you do so it is all a moot point. It is just strange how everything played out with Tucker meeting all the requirements, suiting up and this happening. To me it just appears to be some passive-aggressiveness going on and Tucker basically being forced out. But that is how it appears to me...

Hello Tony Freeman...

Are you trying to say you don't have all of the information?

BUT>.........

 

[hawkeye12345]

He's saying that there is more to the story. There is always his side, my side and the right side. Somewhere in the middle you are going to find your answer. This isn't better for Iowa or better for Tucker.

If Lick didn't want Tucker on his team then he should have cut him after the arrest.

Lack of communication is as big of an issue as poor communication.

 

[HawkPrdatr40]

I will never know if this was handled fairly or not. I do know that Tucker satisfied what the University had in place to return.

I guess I'm interested on what requirements Coach Lick had in place for his return.

 

[tweeterhawk]

He's saying that there is more to the story. There is always his side, my side and the right side. Somewhere in the middle you are going to find your answer. This isn't better for Iowa or better for Tucker.

If Lick didn't want Tucker on his team then he should have cut him after the arrest.

Lack of communication is as big of an issue as poor communication.

How do you know that's the case? You don't. I'm no Lick defender and personally wanted to see Tucker back playing. But it is possible Lick saw bigger issues than anyone one of us saw and gave Anthony the time and space to work them out.

The only thing I am certain of regarding communication is that not much has been said publicly about exactly what went on between the arrests and now, and ultimately what led to Tucker's decision. That kills me, as it does you, as I'm curious and I'd really like to know. But I also realize and respect the fact that Lick really couldn't say much while it was going on, just as he can't say much now.

I posted in another thread that I truly believe Lick let Tucker make his own decision about his future, recognizing that may take a while, and he did. Tucker has hardly been disadvantaged throughout the process: he was allowed to remain on the team, keep his scholarship, attend classes and complete this academic year.

 

[DuffMan]

Can anyone point to a public comment by anyone other than internet posters that implies Todd was less than straightforward to AT or his parents? I find it redonkutarded that people try and pass as fact that Todd wasn't clear with AT based solely on the idea that he wasn't straight forward with the public.

 

[olivecourt]

I will never know if this was handled fairly or not. I do know that Tucker satisfied what the University had in place to return.

I guess I'm interested on what requirements Coach Lick had in place for his return.

does brommer know how many minutes he will get against purdue? does brennan cougill? does john lickliter? does wink?

no. so why should anthony tucker know if he will play or how many minutes? what if the real answer is that lickliter didn't tell tucker if/when he would play because he doesn't know? coaches can't see the future, and other than naming a starting lineup, they shouldn't have to tell players in advance how much they will play. i don't see why lickliter should be expected to treat tucker differently than he would treat any other bench player, which is: suit up and be ready when and if we need you.

i wouldn't be surprised if the real issue here is that tucker realized he wasn't going to be a starter in the forseeable future. eric may's emergence probably had a lot to do with that, and there is no way AT should start in front of may.

 

[GrandpaHawk]

Aren't we talking about a young man that could of died in a alley last winter that said it would never happen again.If he didn't learn from that experience then he's not going to.He has a problem and his parents need to take control of there son.

 

[ForeverHawk]

I respectfully disagree. Why suit this kid up and then not play him. I think TL was forcing his hand and is glad he is gone. I for one would have liked to see him get one more chance and use him as a backup PG and shooting guard.
For all you people who are qucik to dismiss this kid think back and think hom many dumb things you did and didn't get caught.. but for the grace of god go I...

If EVERYBODY was quick to dismiss the kid, EVERYBODY would have done so right after this last alcohol related incident.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

I personally think this is AT thinking only of himself and not the team, OR appreciating the opportunity he was given.

Many think he SHOULD have been dismissed immediately after this year's "incident". To Coach Lick's credit, he obviously thought immediate dismissal would have been potentially devastating for AT.

AT was dressed for the NW game. He didn't play, so he leaves. Yet, he should have been grateful that he was even allowed to dress. Frankly, that he was allowed to stay with the team at all should have had him counting his blessings.

For those upset about player "defections", let's review what, to this point, was the most "high-profile" defection, that of Tyler Smith.

It's particularly interesting, to me, that the recent arrest of multiple players for Tennessee was met with but ONE dismissal, Tyler Smith. THAT should give some of us an inkling of what MAY have gone on "behind the scenes" with Tyler, both at IOWA and Tennessee.

To my knowledge, Tyler had no other transgressions at Tennessee, but I haven't followed him closely since he left IOWA (there was the theft incident in Iowa City). So, he's gone after one offense? Or did I miss something at Tennessee?

My point is that players must be accountable. And if AT was willing to stick it out this far, leaving after one game of dressing without playing tells me that AT is the one with the disconnect, not Coach Lick. To complain that it hurts depth, or that Coach Lick is out of touch in any way (with regard to AT) leads me to believe, on the surface, that we only care about wins-losses, team depth and the mere "number" of defections, when we SHOULD be a little more "aware" of player/team development and improvement, team chemistry and the long-term (rather than short-term) picture.

 

[HawkFantastic]

My guess is Anthony expected to serve his punishment and jump right back onto the floor. Since that didn't happen he chose to take the path of least resistance and quit. Or Mom thought Iowa/Todd were being to hard on her 'little boy'. If I'm another school/coach I would think LONG and HARD before I tied up even 1 year of scholly money in this kid let alone 3.

I have been adamently on record as saying I didn't want to see another player leave before their eligibility expired. I might have to rethink that stance because this departure saves Todd from having to deal with another public misstep by this kid.

Think of this- Anthony probably watched from a distance how a coach to the West and slightly to the North backed down from a suspension/punishment of a player. Who knows, may Tucker may find his way to Ames. McDermott seems to like spoiled brat malcontents.