Why is Connor taking a scholarship?
- Thread starter 1hawkeye1
- Start date
Couldn't this backfire? A recruit might be afraid of resentment for taking his scholarship?
Seems better to make him a walk-on from the outset and not "take away" the scholarship.
And use this line with every recruit. "We want you so bad, I'm not going to give a scholarship to my own kid." He could use this line dozens of times over 5 years.
WindsorHawk
Well-Known Member
If Connor was a good player from Iowa and not Fran's son some on here would want him and some would say take a pass...like pretty much every other recruit that is discussed other than the Cook caliber players. But if he was the same player he is; went to UNI; and proved to be a heck of a ball player...The outcry would be deafening. How did we let this kid get to UNI? Why would we pass on a 6'6" kid that could obviously play and sign "fill in the blank" instead? Fran will never be the coach Ben Jacobson is. You get the idea.
koralakers
Well-Known Member
Why wouldn't Fran make his son's 'walk-on'? Although both are great players and worthy of schollys, you are only give 13 bullets (schollys), why not make sons 'walk-on' and go to the gunfight with 15 bullets? What's a scholly worth over 4 years? (60-80k?). Fran's salary is WAY MORE than that. Bringing extra bullets to the gunfight could/should equal more 'W's'. More W's equal pay raises, contract incentive bonuses reached, contract extensions, etc that would WAY MORE than offset the $ the Mac's would save in tuition, wouldn't they?
I agree that it would be smart of Fran having his son walk on if it didn't hurt team chemistry. It probably would depend on who they could get. I don't know if he is capable of playing the point guard position in college, but the athletic requirements for a point guard in college are a lot different than one in the pros. He will probably bring the ball up the court at times in the least. I don't follow Marble in the pros, but I assume he isn't playing the point guard position.
WindsorHawk
Well-Known Member
Fran isn't going to play 15 guys. So it's a disservice to the guys on the roster (and potential recruits) that will never actually play. Now we get 4 guys transferring at the end of a season instead of 2. Some fans may want this or be okay with this. I understand. Personally I want to give a scholarship to guys good enough to be on scholarship.
Now I can see Connor walking on as a freshman if Fran wants to offer someone else that he's very confident will play (and stay). But when playing time is sorted out (see Baer) I prefer to give a guy that's playing a scholarship. And it's not like recruits are going to be lining up to play for a school with a 15 player roster...IMO.
koralakers
Well-Known Member
Understood, but, IAs recruiting tends to always be in the lower half of BIG (mostly 3 stars, while top half mostly 4 and 5's). So, some of those guys that are =< 3 stars may turn out to be good, others mediocre, others just plain bad. Add in injuries and transfers, and many yrs only have 6-8 scholarship players by yrs end (see many of Licklighter and Alford yrs--hence John Lick as a starting PG!). Because we don't really get 4-5 star talent much (which these players are almost guaranteed as studs), we could use a few extra 'bullets' (ie schollys)--increases chances some of these less-heralded guys turn out to be better than expected.
I see your thoughts Windsor, but b/c we mostly 'miss' on our high-end targets, need extra chances to find diamonds-in-the-rough. IMO
Who cares if he deserves a scholarship why not free one up for someone who can't afford that's just smart being able to get a good prospect without a scholarship why not?? I'm sure his feelings won't be hurt its not gonna hurt the pocketbook and if anything it would help bring in more talent...btw seen him play for a few years doesn't look like anything special to me, certainly not better than anyone we already have
1hawkeye1
Well-Known Member
You can't seriously think a man who makes 2 million a year gives a shit about a piddly college scholarship. I'll bet you this scholarship ends up being given to someone else.
The only thing more ridiculous than Connor using a scholarship would be KF putting his kid up in public housing.
BigD
Well-Known Member
It's not just about basketball. It's about opportunity for those who would not have it otherwise. Iowa is a top notch University that an education from it would be a wonderful blessing for a student and help take a load off of a parent or parents. After all very, very few go on to play in the NBA so the college education is very important. If he's a four or five star then that much better, win win for everyone.
I agree with the poster who says Fran doesn't take the scholarship. I personally think with all the players he has seen in all his years of coaching that he gets the idea behind scholarship and the blessing it is for so many great young men.
Now there may be some "born with a silver spooners" out there that wouldn't have a clue. Those poor Romney children having to watch their daddy tear down a seven million dollar home on a beach front property so they can replace it and rebuild a thirty million dollar home instead. I feel for them............... NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you think those children can relate to most of us? They wouldn't have a clue. How much easier would life be if you know that eventually you will be inheriting fifty million or more dollars each from you parent's estate. That would take a lot of stress off of me and I suppose most of you too.
The scholarships should be used to help give hope to those who might not have it otherwise.
I agree with the poster who says Fran doesn't take the scholarship. I personally think with all the players he has seen in all his years of coaching that he gets the idea behind scholarship and the blessing it is for so many great young men.
Now there may be some "born with a silver spooners" out there that wouldn't have a clue. Those poor Romney children having to watch their daddy tear down a seven million dollar home on a beach front property so they can replace it and rebuild a thirty million dollar home instead. I feel for them............... NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do you think those children can relate to most of us? They wouldn't have a clue. How much easier would life be if you know that eventually you will be inheriting fifty million or more dollars each from you parent's estate. That would take a lot of stress off of me and I suppose most of you too.
The scholarships should be used to help give hope to those who might not have it otherwise.
I agree with your logic. Even if Fran gave the scholarship to a deserving walk on it would be a good thing.
Has there ever been a coach that had his son walk on all 4 years when they were a scholarship worthy player? I know McDermott and Alford were on scholarship all but one year each but can't think of anyone else. We're not going to play more than 10 guys each year and players transfer out so I don't ever see this being an issue
WindsorHawk
Well-Known Member
Because we aren't going to play 14 guys. And it's not like that 14th guy isn't getting a scholarship. If we're offering then he has other opportunities. However, I think we will sign another player next year. Connor will then walk on (temporarily) or take the scholarship of whoever transfers at the end of next season...guessing someone will.
WindsorHawk
Well-Known Member
If he looked better than our current roster "for a few years" it means he would have been better as a freshman, sophomore and junior in high school than guys currently on Iowa's D-1 roster. That probably puts him in the top 25 nationally in his class. So this observation is really irrelevant.
SpecialKHawk
Well-Known Member
There is an honor in being a scholarship athlete and if Connor is deserving of a scholly which it appears he is that's good enough for me. He wants to be a Hawk even though that unfortunately means he'll face anonymous critics so that's no easy deal right there.
I do not want to see our program getting to the point where we ask every player about their family finances to see if they can afford to walk-on instead. That's being a cheap, carpet-bagger.
Look only at Baer who wanted desperately to be on scholly. That shows what it represents to players. No one asked about his family's finances. Fran honored his word to Baer and Baer earned it so that makes me proud of our program.
You can only play so many guys and every year guys will leave the program in search of more PT so nothing to worry about in terms of having schollies.
I do not want to see our program getting to the point where we ask every player about their family finances to see if they can afford to walk-on instead. That's being a cheap, carpet-bagger.
Look only at Baer who wanted desperately to be on scholly. That shows what it represents to players. No one asked about his family's finances. Fran honored his word to Baer and Baer earned it so that makes me proud of our program.
You can only play so many guys and every year guys will leave the program in search of more PT so nothing to worry about in terms of having schollies.
You guys talk about him like he's JJ Roddick so yeah it's pretty relevant bud
ForeverHawk
Well-Known Member
Looks like Connor could play baseball at Iowa as well. There was an article on HawkCentral and Fran is ok with it. Could he possibly be on a baseball scholarship to free up a basketball scholarship?
zhawk
Well-Known Member
I sure hope not. Baseball gets 11.7 scholarships to divide up amongst a 30-some person roster, and while they can be carved up no scholarship player can receive less than a one-quarter (25%) scholarship. If baseball isn't Connor's main sport, and it clearly isn't, he has no business taking a baseball scholarship away from up to 4 deserving players who only play baseball. He's earned a basketball scholarship, he should receive a basketball scholarship. I don't care how much money his parents have, just as I don't care about any other player's family financial situation.
JonDMiller
Publisher/Founder
He's earned a scholarship. He's good enough for a full ride, so he should get it. It's an accomplishment for the kid, then you have the training table aspects and other things like that (or at least that used to be a part of the debate). If Fran chooses to have him walk on and pay for it, fine. If he doesn't, he shouldn't be criticized for that, either.