Transfers??

[InGoodCo]

Exaggerate much? Nobody mentioned anything of the sort. The discussion was about how Fran could leave a scholarship free by paying his kid's tuition. Then you blew it up.

Let's say I'm a multi millionaire, huge fan of a college sports program, and my kid is an elite high-schooler who is being recruited by said college. If I can help out the program by squeezing in more talent by paying pocket change for his tuition I'm all in.

i agree Fry - its within the rules and gives us an advantage so why not do it? I just don't expect it. After some research, it's a more common practice than I imagined.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

It's not like having 2 of the top players in the state on scholarship will hurt Iowa either.

I don't see the sense in trying up official scholarships on two players that will most certainly be playing for Iowa regardless, by arranging some other way for them to go to the UofI for little/no cost while being able to use those scholarships on two other additional athletes.

Scholarships don't grow on trees, so why use them if there's a way around it?

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Why would Connor have to walk on? We don't play 13 players so all you have to do is trim the fat on a couple of players and we'll have room. I'm guessing one of the redshirts will leave and either Ellingson or Fleming

I don't think he HAS to walk on, but if his way ends up being paid either way, then what difference does it make if he's officially on scholarship or not?

 

[SteveGarvey]

Maybe nobody is transferring, maybe someone is about to get "Creaned"?

Happens all the time in NCAA basketball. Fran's a good guy from what I've heard, but he's not a saint. Could see it happening here and it's "adios player so and so".

 

[Hawk5656]

Maybe nobody is transferring, maybe someone is about to get "Creaned"?

Fran really needs to Crean two players so we can get a Point Guard and get Baer on scholarship this season

 

[hawkeye23]

There are several reasons why Fran would do this:

1. It opens up a scholarship for him to go get another position of need

2. That could turn into more wins which could easily net him more than what it would cost him

3. Cost is not that high compared to his salary and like others have mentioned, they would be able to work raises into his contract to negate any outbound cost to their family

4. Will it even cost him for Connor to walk-on? I don't thing anyone has mentioned that maybe the kid is smart enough to land academic scholarships that may reduce or eliminate any cost for their family.

I think this has to be their decision as a family though. Can't expect them to do it although I think it has much more upside than it does downside. As long as the Univ is comfortable with the program/Fran offering Connor a scholarship, then they should be allowed to accept it. But if I'm in Fran's shoes, I would opt to pay for my child's schooling (or get it back in raises or academic schollies) and grab an extra player to make the team better.

 

[PCHawk]

There are several reasons why Fran would do this:

1. It opens up a scholarship for him to go get another position of need

2. That could turn into more wins which could easily net him more than what it would cost him

3. Cost is not that high compared to his salary and like others have mentioned, they would be able to work raises into his contract to negate any outbound cost to their family

4. Will it even cost him for Connor to walk-on? I don't thing anyone has mentioned that maybe the kid is smart enough to land academic scholarships that may reduce or eliminate any cost for their family.

I think this has to be their decision as a family though. Can't expect them to do it although I think it has much more upside than it does downside. As long as the Univ is comfortable with the program/Fran offering Connor a scholarship, then they should be allowed to accept it. But if I'm in Fran's shoes, I would opt to pay for my child's schooling (or get it back in raises or academic schollies) and grab an extra player to make the team better.

If I were in Fran's shoes, paying his way would be an easy decision.

 

[deanvogs]

Why wouldn't Fran's kids be on scholarship? Kids transfer right and left in todays game with a 13 player roster. What makes people think that 1) kids would want to come here, or 2) stay here if they are #14 and #15 on the roster?

 

[InGoodCo]

Why wouldn't Fran's kids be on scholarship? Kids transfer right and left in todays game with a 13 player roster. What makes people think that 1) kids would want to come here, or 2) stay here if they are #14 and #15 on the roster?

Dean brings up a hell of a point.... and one that completely throws salt on the rest. I stand by my original stance and prediction - Connor and Patrick will both be scholarship players at Iowa.

 

[Cydkar]

There are several reasons why Fran would do this:

1. It opens up a scholarship for him to go get another position of need

2. That could turn into more wins which could easily net him more than what it would cost him

3. Cost is not that high compared to his salary and like others have mentioned, they would be able to work raises into his contract to negate any outbound cost to their family

4. Will it even cost him for Connor to walk-on? I don't thing anyone has mentioned that maybe the kid is smart enough to land academic scholarships that may reduce or eliminate any cost for their family.

I think this has to be their decision as a family though. Can't expect them to do it although I think it has much more upside than it does downside. As long as the Univ is comfortable with the program/Fran offering Connor a scholarship, then they should be allowed to accept it. But if I'm in Fran's shoes, I would opt to pay for my child's schooling (or get it back in raises or academic schollies) and grab an extra player to make the team better.

An academic scholarship may change where the money comes from but it reduces the number of allotted scholarships available. If the goal is to gain a scholarship caliber athlete then walk-on status is the way to go.

You can't use an academic scholarship to increase the amount of non-paying athletes from 13 to 14.

I'd be willing to bet that MG could have gotten an academic scholarship to free up a basketball scholarship for Baer if rules allowed it. They closed that loophole a long time ago.

 

[BigD]

Exaggerate much? Nobody mentioned anything of the sort. The discussion was about how Fran could leave a scholarship free by paying his kid's tuition. Then you blew it up.

Let's say I'm a multi millionaire, huge fan of a college sports program, and my kid is an elite high-schooler who is being recruited by said college. If I can help out the program by squeezing in more talent by paying pocket change for his tuition I'm all in.

^^^^ THIS^^^^

This is an elementary principle we are talking about here. I seriously doubt Fran takes any scholarships for his sons to play basketball at Iowa. Even if they are the topped ranked recruits in all of college basketball. I wouldn't do it myself and I would be very dissapointed if Fran did it.

These boys want to play for their dad and money has nothing to do with it. I don't think they would care less if some of the top schools were recruiting them.

 

[zhawk]

^^^^ THIS^^^^

This is an elementary principle we are talking about here. I seriously doubt Fran takes any scholarships for his sons to play basketball at Iowa. Even if they are the topped ranked recruits in all of college basketball. I wouldn't do it myself and I would be very dissapointed if Fran did it.

These boys want to play for their dad and money has nothing to do with it. I don't think they would care less if some of the top schools were recruiting them.

If it's Fran's decision to do so, that's fine. It's not our job to tell him he has to, or even that he should. There's absolutely nothing wrong with giving Connor or Patrick scholarships if they are Division I-level players. Obviously, if one of his kids wasn't good enough to earn a Division I scholarship there are serious issues with giving him one.

 

[BigD]

Why wouldn't Fran's kids be on scholarship? Kids transfer right and left in todays game with a 13 player roster. What makes people think that 1) kids would want to come here, or 2) stay here if they are #14 and #15 on the roster?

If they are 14th and 15th on our roster then they probably should be starting at ISU.

 

[BigD]

It's athletics and the cream comes to the top. If they won't come because they are afraid of a little completion then good riddence.

 

[BigD]

Now if you are saying that you can only have a limited number of players on your squad then you have point. I may be wrong but I believe that there is only a limit on scholarship players.

 

[WindsorHawk]

I have no opinion on this. Fran can handle this however he chooses and I'm fine with it.

 

[Knight78]

Thanks for the correction. You are correct. They did still have to pay for books and other little costs, but still the majority of their college experience was dramatically less expensive than the average college student. I know you recognize that. I'm just saying... give Fran a little bump in pay and take care of Connor and Patrick's tuition and bam there you have it. Huge advantage for the basketball program. You get two talented recruits without having to use two scholarships. That kind of advantage is rare.

One season back when Johnny Orr was the ISU coach, the TV commentators always bought up one of the top reserves not being on a basketball scholarship because he was on a regent's scholarship. Can't remember the kid's name, but was a decent player and carried a 4.0 GPA. Not sure of his major but it wasn't some slouch subject - IIRC it was computer science.

 

[ssckelley]

I'm asking this since I truly don't know. But are there side benefits for being on scholarship that are not available to walk on's?

 

[shonblatt]

It's really easy to spend other peoples money, I know. I think Fran gives quite a bit to the University of Iowa and the Iowa City community as it is and to expect him to pay the way for his kids is ridiculous. Again from the aspect of....they could get a full ride anywhere in the country including many schools with better basketball programs and education, they earned the scholarship with play just like everyone else who did (it does still mean something) and there isn't playing time for 13 scholarships as it is. Connor Mac is not a walk on, why because of who his dad is would he do that?

Now on the flip side... if Fran sees it as an advantage (which I agree it would be) and WANTS to do it... I am ok with it. I just don't think fans or the U of I should expect it.

Agreed.

Earning a scholarship is a big deal to an athlete. Just because a kid winds up playing for his dad doesn't mean he should pass on the scholarship that he earned. This really has nothing to do with whether or not dad can afford to pay.

 

[Fryowa]

Agreed.

Earning a scholarship is a big deal to an athlete. Just because a kid winds up playing for his dad doesn't mean he should pass on the scholarship that he earned. This really has nothing to do with whether or not dad can afford to pay.

But it has everything to do with wasting a scholarship that could be used on another player who would help the team.

Are you worried about the kid being butt hurt or what's good for the team? Big picture here.