The Journey features Matt

J

JHHawk

Well-Known Member
Gatens along with other seniors like Robbie Hummel,William Buford,Zach Novak and Stu Douglas in their latest episode.

Nicely done piece on all the above's Senior Day and their careers at their respective schools. Senior Day itself was bittersweet with Michigan,OSU and Iowa all losing,but still worth a watch. Matt and his family are Black and Gold,thru and thru...and it shows.

Go out with a bang,Matty Fresh....Go Hawks!!
 




One thing that struck me was when Mike Gatens said how fabulous a job that Fran had done,doubling the Big Ten wins to 8 this year and how great he has been for Matt.

This made me think back two years ago at this time,and how all the rumors were flying that Mike Gatens was somehow orchestrating the ouster of Lick. He took quite a bit of criticism for being a little league dad. I have no idea if any of that was true,but if it was, I have to think he is sitting there today feeling somewhat vindicated for any part he might have had in getting Fran in place.

I doubt he had much to do with it,but if he did, I offer my gratitude to him.
If he was looking out for his son's best interest,he made the right call.
The whole outlook of the Iowa Hawkeye bb fanbase is 180 degrees turned from this week two years ago,as we were sitting here with the bleakness of 4 more years of lick....then,we lost to Michigan in the BTT,and a miracle started to happen. And the rest will be history...as they say...
 


RE: Gatens ousting Lickliter.

Let's say it's true. Fans/recruits/players had a right to be a little upset at the time, if that's how it went down. However (again hypothetically saying that it's true), if that happened, Gatens might have save Iowa Basketball. And those same people should be glad it did.
 


storminspank said:
RE: Gatens ousting Lickliter.

Let's say it's true. Fans/recruits/players had a right to be a little upset at the time, if that's how it went down. However (again hypothetically saying that it's true), if that happened, Gatens might have save Iowa Basketball. And those same people should be glad it did.
Click to expand...

Only speaking for myself here...I was never upset...I was incredulous.
For me, it was a dream come true. For me, the Lick express started coming off the tracks when he sent Tony Freeman(the last Iowa player to made an all-conference team before Matt) packing after his first year.

By the end of the 2010 season, I was despondent about the prospect of 4 more years of Lick. But, I never thought Barta would have the nerve to do the right thing. Hence the incredulity. When it came out of left field and happened, for me,it was a dream come true. Prison break. Free again from the tryanny that was lick-ball.

I have never once had those thoughts since Fran was hired. He demonstrated that he ''got it'' from day 1. Lick never did,for me.

I do believe that the day that Fran was hired will mark the revival of Iowa bb from a dark period when history is written. And those who made that happen,whether it was Aaron Fuller,Matt Gatens,Mike Gatens,or just Gary Barta, will go down as anonymous heroes.
 






HawkeyeHypnosis said:
Hummel was the only one to win on senior night, out of the people on the show.
Click to expand...

They got to play PSU, I think every senior was hoping they played PSU on their Senior night.

A lot of Seniors went out losers...MSU/Illinois also lost,but I think MN lost as well...pretty sure Nebby lost...PSU as well (they can't play themselves)
 




If I have this correct, Iowa, MSU, Nebraska, Illinois, OSU, Michigan, Penn St, Northwestern, all lost their last home game.

While Wisconsin, Minnesota, Purdue, Indiana won on their Senior night.

Does this seem strange to anyone else? Especially as how it seemed to be so tough to win on the road all year long? Just curious.
 


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