So Where is the Bar for Iowa Basketball

[BigD]

Putting the student section in a closet behind the baseline and not giving them free entry is pretty stupid. And they can afford 25 pizzas free to students. Get a DJ in CHA. Shoot like 5 tshirts into the crowd every game.

F the blue haired season ticket holders. Move the students court side, take out the (stupid) aisles in that section, and redistribute everyone’s seating.

What the hell do they think literally every stadium and arena in the country does when there’s a renovation? They redistribute. But there’s blue hairs who’ve been sleeping in the same CHA seats since 1983 and by god they better not mess with it!!

Could not agree more and it’s long over due. Could you be right about not giving a crap about the basketball program.

Once upon a time the football program was crap and the big ticket was the basketball program. The coach and powers that be decided to put up a new arena. Unfortunately the head coach bailed to Arizona, and no too long after Hayden Fry was hired. Who in the hell is this guy from North Texas. What the hell were they thinking when they hired this joke of a coach from no where Texas. Didn’t we just go through enough suffering???

As Gomer Pile would say; SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE!!!! From a bottom dweller program to a Rose Bowl in three years.

Basketball what???? That Damn George was quite the recruiter, but his in game coaching was lacking. Then came along that first year some coach from Boston College and he took those recruits and made the most of it. One of highest talented teams to ever wear a U of I uniform. For a while it broke records for the most players to be recruited in one year to the NBA.

George’s recruits however. I can only imagine what would have happened if ole George just hung around and just recruited for Mr. Davis.

 

[InGoodCo]

Putting the student section in a closet behind the baseline and not giving them free entry is pretty stupid. And they can afford 25 pizzas free to students. Get a DJ in CHA. Shoot like 5 tshirts into the crowd every game.

F the blue haired season ticket holders. Move the students court side, take out the (stupid) aisles in that section, and redistribute everyone’s seating.

What the hell do they think literally every stadium and arena in the country does when there’s a renovation? They redistribute. But there’s blue hairs who’ve been sleeping in the same CHA seats since 1983 and by god they better not mess with it!!

What happens at an actual college hoops game would blow people's mind who have just been to Iowa City. It's unreal what other schools put towards making the fan experience amazing, Iowa won't even buy a new ice cream machine to make it so there are 3 lines instead of 2.

Creighton gives away something for the crowd at EVERY time out. Every single one of them, there is an event happening between time outs with rocking music and they create a very open and enticing environment. Like, I get Fran hasn't won enough in March, I do and I agree with that, but it's not like Iowa gives him any sort of fuel. Any sort of ramp up but the bare minimum. Again, I personally think, Fran is way too good for Iowa. We're going to get what we deserve soon with the environment we're providing players to compete in.

 

[Fryowa]

What happens at an actual college hoops game would blow people's mind who have just been to Iowa City. It's unreal what other schools put towards making the fan experience amazing, Iowa won't even buy a new ice cream machine to make it so there are 3 lines instead of 2.

Creighton gives away something for the crowd at EVERY time out. Every single one of them, there is an event happening between time outs with rocking music and they create a very open and enticing environment. Like, I get Fran hasn't won enough in March, I do and I agree with that, but it's not like Iowa gives him any sort of fuel. Any sort of ramp up but the bare minimum. Again, I personally think, Fran is way too good for Iowa. We're going to get what we deserve soon with the environment we're providing players to compete in.

There's a few things we could do with CHA but with the bowl design and the ridiculous aisle setup there's not much. The aisles are fine at the top where because the circumference is big because they're more spread out, but simple geometry tells you that means as you get closer to the floor where you want more people, you have more aisle than people.

They just need a new, way smaller arena with super steep seating and 3 decks. We sat in the top deck of Pinnacle in Lincoln a couple years ago for like $12 and the view was great. Never felt too far away.

Let the middle deck be for the sleepy rich old money crowd, and designate the middle 2/3rds of the sideline to students. Get a DJ, a (good) hype man for any stoppages of play, t-shirt and hot dog cannons during any timeouts. Free entry and free pizza to students. Put food vendors 100% of the way around the concourse, separated only by bathrooms. And speaking of concourses, since we're talking 3 decks, there needs to be 2 concourses accessible by escalators and stairs. That cuts the congestion for food and pissers in half.

Obviously you need suites for the Brent Fellers of the world, but with a multi level design that's no problem at all.

And last of all, MAKE IT SMALL. 10,000 people for Iowa basketball is plenty. Crisler only holds 12,000 for god's sake and that's one of the bluest of the blue bloods. We average about 6-7,000 during the week if that, especially now. No reason to have a 15,000 seat arena.

I hate say this, but if they just copied the design on Pinnacle with a few tweaks to make it even better, it'd be perfect.

 

[InGoodCo]

There's a few things we could do with CHA but with the bowl design and the ridiculous aisle setup there's not much. The aisles are fine at the top where because the circumference is big because they're more spread out, but simple geometry tells you that means as you get closer to the floor where you want more people, you have more aisle than people.

They just need a new, way smaller arena with super steep seating and 3 decks. We sat in the top deck of Pinnacle in Lincoln a couple years ago for like $12 and the view was great. Never felt too far away.

Let the middle deck be for the sleepy rich old money crowd, and designate the middle 2/3rds of the sideline to students. Get a DJ, a (good) hype man for any stoppages of play, t-shirt and hot dog cannons during any timeouts. Free entry and free pizza to students. Put food vendors 100% of the way around the concourse, separated only by bathrooms. And speaking of concourses, since we're talking 3 decks, there needs to be 2 concourses accessible by escalators and stairs. That cuts the congestion for food and pissers in half.

Obviously you need suites for the Brent Fellers of the world, but with a multi level design that's no problem at all.

And last of all, MAKE IT SMALL. 10,000 people for Iowa basketball is plenty. Crisler only holds 12,000 for god's sake and that's one of the bluest of the blue bloods. We average about 6-7,000 during the week if that, especially now. No reason to have a 15,000 seat arena.

I hate say this, but if they just copied the design on Pinnacle with a few tweaks to make it even better, it'd be perfect.

Lincoln is amazing. They have a team that's NEVER won and NCAA game before and most of their games are sold out against B1G teams. I wonder why? Could it be that there's really comfy seating, amenities at every corner, no lines for food or bathroom, a couple bars, tons of suites, tons of atmosphere inside and outside of the building. It's the thing to do in Lincoln and the fans LOVE it. They've never won an NCAA game. Ever

 

[Gander Hawk]

The risk is letting Mr. Davis go and getting Alford, who protected a rapist in the name of the lord, and Lickliter, an absolute dumpster fire. Fran runs a clean, admirable program with a success rate that matches among the best stretches of consistency on program history. He revived this program from the dead.

You shouldn't fire Fran based on merit. His success is comparable to what KF has done with football (the Music City bowl is like being an 8 or 9 seed, maybe) and certainly the history of this program. So, if the argument is Fran isn't winning enough, not on board with that.

Now, if the argument is apathy and plummeting attendance, that has to be addressed yesterday. And Fran needs to be a part of it by better promoting the program. I see Payton Sandfort asking fans at the women's game the other night to come to the men's game. Other players put requests out on social media this week FOR THE IOWA STATE GAME.

Fran isn't on social media and he doesn't sell the program to the public enough. Too much competition for entertainment dollar to just be Iowa men's basketball and people show up like 30 years ago.

Believe it or not, Fran is funny and pretty easy going away from the bench. He can do it if he chooses to do it.

I think it's well within Beth Goetz's right to ask that of him. If he refuses and the attendance continues dropping, then she should consider a change because you would have a coach unwilling to help.

This might be a column idea.

If she asks him to do that he needs resources as well. You can't expect him to spend much time crafting social media entries. There needs to be more resources in promoting the program and making game days more fun.

 

[InGoodCo]

If she asks him to do that he needs resources as well. You can't expect him to spend much time crafting social media entries. There needs to be more resources in promoting the program and making game days more fun.

Iowa throws a video on Instagram and is like "this is getting it done" ....

The Iowa job will not be an enticing gig for the next hire. Even if you win, no one cares. That's a tough sell to someone who doesn't already LOVE Iowa basketball, so maybe we can get a legacy.

 

[Gander Hawk]

It’s sports and it’s suppose to be e fun.

I think many of us are suffering PTSD from the Lick years.

Personally I found the Alford years more depressing. Always throwing players under the bus, the false piety while protecting an abuser, nothing ever his fault. I'll take incompetence over that.

 

[Gander Hawk]

Personally I found the Alford years more depressing. Always throwing players under the bus, the false piety while protecting an abuser, nothing ever his fault. I'll take incompetence over that.

Not to mention that loss at the Palace in March Madness was an epic collapse.

 

[InGoodCo]

Personally I found the Alford years more depressing. Always throwing players under the bus, the false piety while protecting an abuser, nothing ever his fault. I'll take incompetence over that.

Iowa's basketball decline absolutely started the minute he took over. A lot of people left over PP and never came back. What is most astonishing to me is the lack of self awareness, the inability to act and the total lack of leadership our administration has had with Iowa basketball the last 20 years and it should make just about who follows IA sick. The sooner we all face that Iowa basketball kind of sucks, and would suck to play for and be at, the better we will all be. Iowa stinks. I don't think that's because of the coach. We have a good one and a proven winner there.... yet, that doesn't matter. We have all conference players. Doesn't matter. We have nationally ranked teams, doesn't matter. We have NPOY candidates, doesn't matter.

Time to look in the mirror Iowa administration and do something about that. If getting rid of Fran is standing in the way - move on and don't look back, but again, we really know that's not what the problem is right?

 

[InGoodCo]

I mean, if Iowa doesn't want to invest now in it's men's basketball program, that's a tough sell to the next guy. Like, maybe, I don't know, try. Try and do something to help. Try. Anything. just ... try. Like how could it hurt to try? What if they tried and nothing helped? At least we'd known they had tried. Iowa isn't trying with Men's Basketball and haven't tried in a long long time. I feel bad for the kids and our coach.

 

[Fryowa]

Iowa's basketball decline absolutely started the minute he took over. A lot of people left over PP and never came back.

That's what sucks. I'm a Fran McCaffery fanboy and not ashamed of it. If you had put that dude in charge and given him an environment like Creighton's to work with and recruit with we'd be contending.

Clean program, players all love him, and he finds gems like Garza/Murray/Murray and others...

The missing piece of the pie is the environment as a whole. Now with NIL we aren't going to get the Garzas and Murrays...we missed our chance unfortunately.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

Iowa's basketball decline absolutely started the minute he took over. A lot of people left over PP and never came back. What is most astonishing to me is the lack of self awareness, the inability to act and the total lack of leadership our administration has had with Iowa basketball the last 20 years and it should make just about who follows IA sick. The sooner we all face that Iowa basketball kind of sucks, and would suck to play for and be at, the better we will all be. Iowa stinks. I don't think that's because of the coach. We have a good one and a proven winner there.... yet, that doesn't matter. We have all conference players. Doesn't matter. We have nationally ranked teams, doesn't matter. We have NPOY candidates, doesn't matter.

Time to look in the mirror Iowa administration and do something about that. If getting rid of Fran is standing in the way - move on and don't look back, but again, we really know that's not what the problem is right?

It's a complex and multi-layered issue. I think you are right in pointing out the administrative lack of support and questionable priorities. You would think that when the program hit rock-bottom at the end of the Lickliter years, that a renewed emphasis on support would have happened, but it didn't. Having the best coach in the world isn't going to fix that.

That said, as I posted earlier, Fran hasn't done himself any favors by distancing himself from the Iowa community over the years. It's not that he's been hostile in any way, he hasn't, but he's never given off a, "It's great to be a Hawkeye!" vibe either.

Yes, he does all the things required of his position and shaken plenty of hands, but he's never come across as enthusiastic and emotionally invested. Obviously, the lack of support hasn't helped, but he's kind of been that way since day one, so it's not just administrative.

The best coaches understand that every moment facing a camera or being interviewed is an opportunity to make an impression and sell the program with recruits, parents and/or potential donors (whether you're being genuine or not...). They also get their players on-board. Just watch any interview with a PSU wrestler for example. All you hear over and over is praise for the coaches and wrestling room, and that if you want to be the best come here. I guarantee you that some if not all of that comes from the coaches. When is the last time you've heard anything similar from Fran or an Iowa player? Yes, I'm sure Luka, Keagan, etc., praised the coaches when winning awards as standard fare, but how about in the moment or during a press conference or weekly interview? If you're not truly invested, you are going to have a very hard time getting the fans to be invested.

 

[Fryowa]

Time to look in the mirror Iowa administration and do something about that. If getting rid of Fran is standing in the way - move on and don't look back, but again, we really know that's not what the problem is right?

Fran is the absolute last thing standing in the way of this program.

 

[Fryowa]

They also get their players on-board. Just watch any interview with a PSU wrestler for example. All you hear over and over is praise for the coaches and wrestling room, and that if you want to be the best come here. I guarantee you that some if not all of that comes from the coaches. When is the last time you've heard anything similar from Fran or an Iowa player? Yes, I'm sure Luka, Keagan, etc., praised the coaches when winning awards as standard fare, but how about in the moment or during a press conference or weekly interview? If you're not truly invested, you are going to have a very hard time getting the fans to be invested.

Maybe it had something to do with our shit bag so-called "fans" going on twitter and blasting players and coaches personally, bagging on the McCaffery family, always hearing nothing but negative crap on social media, etc.?

Connor, Pat, and Bohannon called it out all the time because they didn't GAF which I admire. And that's coming from me who's not a huge J-Bo fan.

You want guys to rave about the program that has such a shitty "fan" base?

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

I've shared my thoughts in the past on this, so apologies for the broken record. I was a kid growing up in Iowa City in the 1980s, when Iowa was nearing the middle end of a three to four decade run of historic coaches, entertaining teams and a beyond passionate fan base.

Fran was hired to do two things. Return to a fun style of fast paced basketball and regularly make the NCAA tourney. He's knocked the shit out of those two things. Hard stop. Yeah, maybe there are other aspects to discuss, but he's accomplished his goal. Doesn't mean he's coach for life, but let's appreciate what he's done.

What continues to chap my ass is Carver. I get that the women have had that place rocking and rolling lately. But I would not sink a single dime into that place. Now is the time, more than ever, to think about a paradigm shift and new home for Iowa basketball.

Since this is fantasy land of a message board, I say figure out how to come up with a downtown arena. The university should take on the lion share of the funding, but this could be a joint venture with the city. Let's get some investment downtown. A downtown arena could be the symbolic structure that links the university to the community. Great for both. Let the two entities find a compromise on funding/development/space.

To make it happen, go small. I'm talking like 6-7k seats. And to those pointing out NBA style arenas, I say F that. I'm going hard the other way. Design it like an old school basketball field house. Play up your history. Walk in and be welcomed to a huge tribute to Caitlin, maybe an enormous picture of her hitting that fall away three against Indiana next to a floor to ceiling pic of Time Athlete of the Year cover. Turn down the concourse and there is a huge image of Ronnie Lester leading the Hawks to the final four with a quote underneath from Magic Johnson calling him the best college player he ever saw. And it goes on, Vivian Stringer, Lute Olsen, Gustafson, Garza, lots of larger than life figures to learn about. Maybe the Iowa state champs in basketball every year get their pic added along one wall.

But mostly make it fun. I don't think people go to basketball games for all the latest bells and whistles. It should be an intimate experience. When I was living in Minneapolis, I went to a ton of St. Paul Saints games in their crappy little outdoor stadium. They were ridiculously popular because tickets and food were relatively affordable and Mike Veeck was a genius marketer. He did all kinds of quirky shit all game long. That's probably too high a bar, but turning over a lot of the marketing/in-game activities to marketing students (or other creative students) would be a great start. College kids know how to have fun. Loosen up and let 'em show the way.

Iowa City doesn't have a corporate crowd to cater to either. Make this about the fans - even more so, make this about the students. Keep the tickets relatively affordable. Isn't Iowa getting almost $100M in TV money? Where's all that money going? Go all in on making this a top 5 environment for men's and women's basketball in the country. Keep playing fun styles of basketball. Sell out every game with the students right on top of the action. That's Iowa's niche and selling point here. Come play a fun style in a super unique little arena nestled into an amazing little college town filled with passionate fans.

Beth, if you read these boards (I'm sure it is a top priority), shoot me a message. I got more ideas for ya.

 

[#1DieHardHawk]

Maybe it had something to do with our shit bag so-called "fans" going on twitter and blasting players and coaches personally, bagging on the McCaffery family, always hearing nothing but negative crap on social media, etc.?

Connor, Pat, and Bohannon called it out all the time because they did GAF which I admire. And that's coming from me who's not a huge J-Bo fan.

You want guys to rave about the program that has such a shitty "fan" base?

I'm not on social media so miss a lot of that stuff. I get the point, and, let me be clear, I've always bee a Fran supporter. He's a very good coach that runs a clean program and genuinely cares about his players.

I would assume that a lot of the blow-back from fans has been primarily after Connor was playing for at least a year, but, keeping it real, Fran has been disconnected from the Iowa community to some degree much longer than that. For whatever reason, be it personality, early perceptions, etc., Fran simply hasn't shown a propensity to display enthusiasm about Iowa and the basketball program. Obviously, he doesn't dog on it, but the vibe from him has always been kind of "ho hum."

 

[thedukeofearl]

Iowa's basketball decline absolutely started the minute he took over. A lot of people left over PP and never came back. What is most astonishing to me is the lack of self awareness, the inability to act and the total lack of leadership our administration has had with Iowa basketball the last 20 years and it should make just about who follows IA sick. The sooner we all face that Iowa basketball kind of sucks, and would suck to play for and be at, the better we will all be. Iowa stinks. I don't think that's because of the coach. We have a good one and a proven winner there.... yet, that doesn't matter. We have all conference players. Doesn't matter. We have nationally ranked teams, doesn't matter. We have NPOY candidates, doesn't matter.

Time to look in the mirror Iowa administration and do something about that. If getting rid of Fran is standing in the way - move on and don't look back, but again, we really know that's not what the problem is right?

Heard that Alford was fitted for a few high-priced suits and had them tailored

When he came to pick them up, he refused to pay for them initially saying:

I am the basketball coach at the University, why should I have to pay for the suits

Why Indeed

 

[thedukeofearl]

I've shared my thoughts in the past on this, so apologies for the broken record. I was a kid growing up in Iowa City in the 1980s, when Iowa was nearing the middle end of a three to four decade run of historic coaches, entertaining teams and a beyond passionate fan base.

Fran was hired to do two things. Return to a fun style of fast paced basketball and regularly make the NCAA tourney. He's knocked the shit out of those two things. Hard stop. Yeah, maybe there are other aspects to discuss, but he's accomplished his goal. Doesn't mean he's coach for life, but let's appreciate what he's done.

What continues to chap my ass is Carver. I get that the women have had that place rocking and rolling lately. But I would not sink a single dime into that place. Now is the time, more than ever, to think about a paradigm shift and new home for Iowa basketball.

Since this is fantasy land of a message board, I say figure out how to come up with a downtown arena. The university should take on the lion share of the funding, but this could be a joint venture with the city. Let's get some investment downtown. A downtown arena could be the symbolic structure that links the university to the community. Great for both. Let the two entities find a compromise on funding/development/space.

To make it happen, go small. I'm talking like 6-7k seats. And to those pointing out NBA style arenas, I say F that. I'm going hard the other way. Design it like an old school basketball field house. Play up your history. Walk in and be welcomed to a huge tribute to Caitlin, maybe an enormous picture of her hitting that fall away three against Indiana next to a floor to ceiling pic of Time Athlete of the Year cover. Turn down the concourse and there is a huge image of Ronnie Lester leading the Hawks to the final four with a quote underneath from Magic Johnson calling him the best college player he ever saw. And it goes on, Vivian Stringer, Lute Olsen, Gustafson, Garza, lots of larger than life figures to learn about. Maybe the Iowa state champs in basketball every year get their pic added along one wall.

But mostly make it fun. I don't think people go to basketball games for all the latest bells and whistles. It should be an intimate experience. When I was living in Minneapolis, I went to a ton of St. Paul Saints games in their crappy little outdoor stadium. They were ridiculously popular because tickets and food were relatively affordable and Mike Veeck was a genius marketer. He did all kinds of quirky shit all game long. That's probably too high a bar, but turning over a lot of the marketing/in-game activities to marketing students (or other creative students) would be a great start. College kids know how to have fun. Loosen up and let 'em show the way.

Iowa City doesn't have a corporate crowd to cater to either. Make this about the fans - even more so, make this about the students. Keep the tickets relatively affordable. Isn't Iowa getting almost $100M in TV money? Where's all that money going? Go all in on making this a top 5 environment for men's and women's basketball in the country. Keep playing fun styles of basketball. Sell out every game with the students right on top of the action. That's Iowa's niche and selling point here. Come play a fun style in a super unique little arena nestled into an amazing little college town filled with passionate fans.

Beth, if you read these boards (I'm sure it is a top priority), shoot me a message. I got more ideas for ya.

The Fieldhouse Rocked

Bobby Knight Hated the fieldhouse especially in the Winter

Mentioned it in his book

 

[Dadman]

The Fieldhouse Rocked

Bobby Knight Hated the fieldhouse especially in the Winter

Mentioned it in his book

Oh Yeah, it rocked. Could be why I am a bit hard of hearing now. Of course, it could be cause of Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple.

 

[trj]

This debate or variations of this debate have gone on for 25 years now and I can’t add anything new. The Iowa St. game was embarrassing, not the way Iowa played on the court, but the 2,000 empty seats and the way 3,000 ISU fans clowned us(pun intended) at the end of the game.

It does feel like we are coming to a crossroads with Fran. Many are using the marriage/relationship analogy of both sides deciding it is time to move on. As I have stated many times before, Goetz will have to make a men’s basketball hire, before she makes a football hire. Fran will not be forced out, but I could see a mutual parting of the ways, tho.