Patrick Mc

Iowa fans don’t like Fran or his family, it’s a shame because they’re good people. He could probably do more from a PR standpoint, but it’s not like Iowa gives him the support and backing other programs give to begin with. So why should he? If you saw how actual real basketball programs ran their live events it would make you faint compared to going to an Iowa game. If I were Fran I’d get the F out of here as fast as I can, I just think he likes his team and he likes coaching at this level and he’s already in a major conference.
 
Music up to tip, someone’s “MCing” the night. contest every time out, t-shirt cannons, video board crowd shots and interaction, mobile vendors, ice cream, cotton candy, beer, bathrooms, high end booze, suites, flame throwers, dance teams, band, students. Bars with TV’s and other games, easy access Hawk Shop, sometimes live jazz bands playing. Just outside, is tons of parking and quick access to the interstate. Your stadium spills out to bars and some of the best restaurants your area has to offer.

Sounds just like Iowa City. Fran has it so good here and he’s the problem
 
I’m not going to shit on Pmac because he dealt with injuries and illness last year. That said, when he was on the court, he wasn’t very good. Obviously, the injuries/ illnesses were a factor, but my man looked disengaged when he was on the court.

He needed a clean start and the family hub in Indianapolis is good for him and where he needs to be.
 
InGoodCo said:
Iowa fans don’t like Fran or his family, it’s a shame because they’re good people. He could probably do more from a PR standpoint, but it’s not like Iowa gives him the support and backing other programs give to begin with. So why should he? If you saw how actual real basketball programs ran their live events it would make you faint compared to going to an Iowa game. If I were Fran I’d get the F out of here as fast as I can, I just think he likes his team and he likes coaching at this level and he’s already in a major conference.
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They are good people. But Frans personality and lack of integrating himself more is a choice he's done to himself. That's as big a difference between why Mr. Davis is still revered and Fran isn't. I find Fran interesting and I think he'd be fun to have a 30 min convo with him at an airport bar or whatever. I just don't think he puts himself out there like that at all. Not sure why it's just not him.

His wife I can't really speak about. I've heard the 'she doesn't want to be here' stuff before but I haven't a clue why or what that's from. I'm guessing she takes the stuff she sees on socials about his boys and Fran pretty hard cause lets face it all 3 of her boys have felt the wrath of dipshits online. It's tougher for some then others to ignore that. But it goes with the territory. Had they been anywhere else the same sort of stuff woulda been happening. Any higher profile place at all woulda had only a bigger microscope on em not less.
 
I think a clearly stated but not official “rule” was broken by some on HN. The position has long been that individual players are not to be targets of personal attacks. It is fine to comment that a player needs to improve, play better D, etc. But personal attacks? No. A warning or two, then no more HN membership. Just MHO.
 
Hawkfnntn said:
They are good people. But Frans personality and lack of integrating himself more is a choice he's done to himself. That's as big a difference between why Mr. Davis is still revered and Fran isn't. I find Fran interesting and I think he'd be fun to have a 30 min convo with him at an airport bar or whatever. I just don't think he puts himself out there like that at all. Not sure why it's just not him.

His wife I can't really speak about. I've heard the 'she doesn't want to be here' stuff before but I haven't a clue why or what that's from. I'm guessing she takes the stuff she sees on socials about his boys and Fran pretty hard cause lets face it all 3 of her boys have felt the wrath of dipshits online. It's tougher for some then others to ignore that. But it goes with the territory. Had they been anywhere else the same sort of stuff woulda been happening. Any higher profile place at all woulda had only a bigger microscope on em not less.
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I like your analysis. I would add that if Mom decides to unload on social media or elsewhere, I am just fine with that. And, I am highly supportive of Fran’s treatment of his players. That is the main thing.
 
HuckFinn said:
I like your analysis. I would add that if Mom decides to unload on social media or elsewhere, I am just fine with that. And, I am highly supportive of Fran’s treatment of his players. That is the main thing.
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Yeah Moms will be Moms even if it's not a great look they can stand up for their family like anyone else. It makes me wonder how things woulda went had neither of the boys have played for him at all. I mean those two played for damn near half as long as he's been here.

Frans always been a players coach I've never heard whispers about players complaining about where they stand with him. Probably the best thing about Fran is how he treats players right from the stud of all studs like Garza and the Murrays to the walk ons.
 
Hawkfnntn said:
Yeah Moms will be Moms even if it's not a great look they can stand up for their family like anyone else. It makes me wonder how things woulda went had neither of the boys have played for him at all. I mean those two played for damn near half as long as he's been here.

Frans always been a players coach I've never heard whispers about players complaining about where they stand with him. Probably the best thing about Fran is how he treats players right from the stud of all studs like Garza and the Murrays to the walk ons.
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There is a reason that Patrick left, and Jack decided to Not Play for the Hawks

Patrick was unmercifully criticized, even Connor had to deal with the harsh criticism

Despite being one of the better point guards we have had, not LesterLike but an excellent passer
and he was a master getting into the heads of the opponents, used to infuriate them and got quite
a few free throws when they responded to his taunts, psychological warfare at its best, and he made
almost every free throw

Connor and Bohannon were a very good combo on the court, playing in the opponents' heads BigTime
 
thedukeofearl said:
There is a reason that Patrick left, and Jack decided to Not Play for the Hawks

Patrick was unmercifully criticized, even Connor had to deal with the harsh criticism

Despite being one of the better point guards we have had, not LesterLike but an excellent passer
and he was a master getting into the heads of the opponents, used to infuriate them and got quite
a few free throws when they responded to his taunts, psychological warfare at its best, and he made
almost every free throw

Connor and Bohannon were a very good combo on the court, playing in the opponents' heads BigTime
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And being the types of players they were that was always going to be the case be it here or anywhere. Neither of them were like Doug McDermott good. The flaws in their games lent to having them pointed out all the time especially in losses. Both of them were active on social media I don't think anything got past them be it stuff about them or Fran. And they can act like it didn't affect them or whatever but they are human like the rest of us nobody can blame em for it doing so. It'd be tough growing up in that fishbowl as kids like that. And Mom is as helpless as can be.

None of what anybody has said or done is wrong at all. I don't blame PM and Jack for going to Butler not one bit. Hell this is like yr 6 for PM anyway none of his classmates are still Hawks anyway. It woulda been like if Caitlin had came back all her main friends were gone too. Just woulda had a way different feel about it all.
 
Butler is a way better place to play college basketball. It's not even close, Iowa sucks. Who could blame anyone for going anywhere that isn't Iowa basketball? Who wants to play to no one, where even if you are good no one cares. Where even if you have all conference players and All Americans, no one really cares. It's sad and I hate it.

Fran has not connected with the fans. So, while I don't think results or play or players are the issue, it must be that people just don't like him or his kids. Which again, is sad, because good coach and good kids.

It's a big eye opener watching that Patrick highlight for me, it's astonishing how much better things look for him now. The fact Fran has any retention at all is kind of astonishing.
 
HuckFinn said:
A lot of Iowa “fans” should be ashamed.
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I love the hawks, and love my home state (well most of it, anyway). Having said that, a lot of folks in Iowa are waaay too serious about the Hawks, and are hyper-critical about very minor issues. Iowa is really very insular and provincial, in my opinion. I think that there would be lot of advantages to coaching in Iowa, but because you're the only show in town and people reaaaaly count on it, the level of scrutiny in this little state is a bit over the top. Just my opinion. Fire away , HN.
 
There was more to it than just basketball or the fans. The fact Connor was coaching had an impact, the situation Jack was in definitely had an impact. I have never disliked any of Fran’s kids or Fran. The amount of hardship Patrick already had been through and still has to deal with today, wouldn’t be surprised if he wanted to be with his brothers.
 
HawkeyeHypnosis said:
There was more to it than just basketball or the fans. The fact Connor was coaching had an impact, the situation Jack was in definitely had an impact. I have never disliked any of Fran’s kids or Fran. The amount of hardship Patrick already had been through and still has to deal with today, wouldn’t be surprised if he wanted to be with his brothers.
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Oh for sure, but also, playing for Iowa is probably not a ton of fun when you can go somewhere else, get paid and play in front of fans every night. Not have half of the fan base believe that you aren't good enough to play at this level. No direct messages about how his brother should be in jail and that his Dad is a loser? Kind of a no brainer really, the fact that Connor was there just icing on the cake.
 
Fran is a good but not great basketball coach. We hoped he would be great, but it wasn't meant to be. If we'd been going to Sweet 16s, Elite Eights, etc., we'd be overlooking his personality traits that don't give us the warm, fuzzies we'd like. Still, he's a good person, of that I have no doubt.

Both his sons that played at Iowa were good but not great basketball players. We hoped they might be better than they were. I always felt like Fran showed them favoritism as a dad coaching his sons. Not in overt terrible ways but in small, subtle ways; starting, minutes, playing at the end of a game when there might have been better options. But I don't blame him, I might have done the same thing. By all accounts they are both great people.

I do find it interesting that the McCaffrey family is circling the family wagons around Butler and Indy. Does anyone else sense that Fran and Margaret will end up there, it's just a matter of when?

Bottom line for me is, we should shed no tears for Fran and family. The University of Iowa has put them on very solid financial footing which should hold them in good stead for years to come. Fran has been a good representative of the Black and Gold and I will always respect him for that.
 
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