Thursday, February 4, 2010

Thoughts on Iowa basketball coach Todd Lickliter and the next two seasons for the Hawkeye program


I have been an Iowa football and basketball fan, since 1974. I am a football first guy and I follow other basketball programs, such as my alma mater, in basketball, but I am a Hawkeye fan.

The past three years have certainly proved the Good, the Bad and the Ugly in Iowa basketball.

Like in football, all we can wish for is a competitive program in the Big Ten. Our demographics clearly suggest that.

From 1981-2009, Iowa Football has become a program to be proud of. As the Wall Street Journal pointed out after Iowa was 10-1, the Iowa program is good for College Football. Coach J. Hayden Fry and Coach Kirk Ferentz have both been a great source of pride for the University, the State and the sport.

The Evy era was great on the field, but his time as a AD was some of the lowest points in our history. The term Ugly is appropriate.

Iowa Basketball has three great seasons, two back to back in the 1950s and the 1980 season.

Lute Olson brought in one point guard and rode him to the top and his next job. Ralph Miller was good too, but his top team at Iowa couldn't play defense, as a recent story by a friend pointed out, but they were able to out score most opponents in a super season.

Coach Todd Lickliter appears to be a great fit for Iowa. The Iowa program has had a poor decade, since the 2001 season, which was the last time Iowa won a first round game in the NCAAs. Heck, look at the University of Michigan in basketball. They went from NCAA Champs to a decade of decay.

Personally, I believe Iowa is in a better position to succeed in basketball than Michigan. Iowa has a long climb to make, but let's be patient, and like the ride in 1999-2001 in football; the next two seasons (2010-11 and 2011-12) should be worthy to let unfold.

If Coach Lickliter and his staff can take five new parts and develop them as we are seeing with May, Cougil and Payne ... the future should be bright for Iowa.
The product has declined. We saw that during the Dr. Tom Davis era, we saw that throughout the Steve Alford era and the Lickliter nearly three seasons reminds people of the three awful years under Dick Schultz.

Life often is the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. I am looking forward to some better fruit and better dividends over the next two seasons. Has Iowa ever had a coach who hates losing at the level our current coach does?

Lickliter appears to be a good person, a competitive coach, a solid X and O guy, a teacher and a stand up guy. I wish Todd Lickliter good health and look forward to the next couple of years ...

peace

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

The Eve of LOI day in College Football has arrived!


Wednesday, February 3, 2010 is national letter of intent day in College Football. The 120 FBS programs, as well as FCS and other NCAA divisions, will be allowed to sign players to national letter of intents for the 2010-11 football season.

The Iowa Hawkeyes look to sign 21 players to the 2010 recruiting class.

Iowa football: Hawkeyes to sign 21 Wednesday - DesMoinesRegister.com
It's not quite the same splash as February 2005, when Iowa followed a 10-2 season with a No. 8 recruiting class, but there is reason for optimism. ...
Big back ala Greene headed to Iowa - Gazette Online

National Signing Day 2010: Don't Rush to Rank CJ Fiedorowicz and Iowa Class - Bleacher Report
Yes, in case you haven't heard, National Signing Day is Feb. 3. National Signing Day presents another opportunity for every expert under the sun to offer ...

National Signing Day preview: Big Ten - National Football Post
National Signing Day is Wednesday, February 3. As of now, these are verbal commitments, which are non-binding. The order of the teams reflects the strength ...
Rodriguez: Expect position changes on defense in spring - The Detroit News

Signing Day 2010 live blog - SI.com
Unlike the top-ranked players in the past two classes (Terrelle Pryor and Bryce Brown), Henderson doesn't plan to drag his recruitment past signing day. ...
Ohio State hoping for a big gift when football signing day wraps up on Wednesday - Plain Dealer
2010 National Signing Day Guide: What to Watch For - Bleacher Report
Free Press Best of the Midwest 2010 - Detroit Free Press

peace