What's Frans contract situation?

[mopkins]

Wrong.

Ralph left after some promises were broken re facilities, I believe. Someone with more knowledge of that time could clarify, as I was born in 1965 but do recall hearing that.

Lute left because of the micro attention he received in the fishbowl that is Iowa sports and not to use Arizona, a lesser program at the time, as a stepping stone. However, he knew he would be able to make them a power, as there was a vacuum at UCLA at that point in time and recruiting on the entire west coast was wide open, as Ralph Miller wasn't going to pull too many Cali kids up to OSU. Recruiting there would be much easier for getting high end talent than at Iowa, where he was competing with IU, Illinois, Purdue, etc. One could make the case that Arizona was a stepping stone for Lute. I think really he looked at it as a literal move for a better lifestyle for his family in terms of the climate, media scrutiny, etc.

I thought there was something about how Lute's wife hated Iowa winters and wanted to live somewhere warm? Maybe I just made that up, but thats the main thing I remember about him leaving.

 

[mopkins]

As far as the Big 10 not being a stepping stone, there's no way Richard "Dick" Pitino considers Minnesota his final stop.

 

[BrueCrew3]

As far as the Big 10 not being a stepping stone, there's no way Richard "Dick" Pitino considers Minnesota his final stop.

The way Minny is playing right now? He may be moving on sooner than expected and not have another "stop" for quite a while .. and then it probably will be a mid-major.

GO HAWKS!!!

 

[mopkins]

The way Minny is playing right now? He may be moving on sooner than expected and not have another "stop" for quite a while .. and then it probably will be a mid-major.

GO HAWKS!!!

I read an article about UNLV possibly looking to pull Rick Pitino (Daddy Pitino) away from Louisville in the very near future. Rick has always had a soft spot for UNLV, maybe its all the strippers. Anyway, the article also mentioned that Rick would take his son Richard with him to UNLV with the promise that he would be the coach at UNLV after Rick retired.

It was interesting to say the least, but it would be pretty funny if Richard left minnesota to be an assistant coach at UNLV. However, probably the ONLY reason Richard hasn't already been fired is his last name.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

I thought there was something about how Lute's wife hated Iowa winters and wanted to live somewhere warm? Maybe I just made that up, but thats the main thing I remember about him leaving.

Pretty sure I remember hearing something about this too - that Lute and Mrs. Olson wanted to move somewhere with palm trees outside their windows, or something to that effect. Not so much that AZ was a more prestigious gig (at that time).

Regarding Fran, I'm not too worried about him leaving unless it's ND (like someone said) but ND seems to be doing well, so don't think Mike Brey's job is in much jeopardy. Unless he leaves. Still have to pay Fran, though. I'd say he's earning a raise...

 

[ibahawkeye]

I don't think he would move to LA, but the UCLA job will be open in the next year or two. They are regressing each year under SA.

Agree... not sure West Coast is where Fran would be looking to go but yes, UCLA would be a job of similar caliber to the ones I listed.

I know it's talked more about in football... what about the Big Ten Network?? Obviously it provides revenue to schools and I'm assuming the men's basketball team would get the 2nd largest chunk of revenue that comes from the BTN. Having this revenue stream may help in terms of ensuring Fran's contract is lucrative enough to entice him to stay as well as perhaps contribute to any facility upgrades and such in the future. I'm sure if Fran continues to produce results, more tickets will get sold as well and thus Gary Barta would be more apt to meet any requests/demands that Fran may have. Also, the BTN offers a nice recruiting tool in terms of a recruits family and friends being able to watch the games on television that aren't nationally televised.

Bringing this up because of the Ralph/Lute reference and the advantages of the BTN certainly weren't available at that time.