Bothers me the most
- Thread starter JackCyclone
- Start date
Yeah, wtf is Tork talking about? In my program if you left it was because you weren't getting tenure at ISU and you weren't going to be missed. I guess UI is a revolving door of hack professors...
True, that includes the opportunity to walk into a good coaching situation in the NBA.
Johnny was 53 when he took the ISU job, and was 57-58 before we first got any post-season play. Fred was only 38-39 when he got us back into the NCAAs. And the longest of the longevity coaches, Coach K, Izzo and Bob Knight, all started very young (younger than Fred) and had a combined 0 years of NBA experience. Compare that to most of the great NBA coaches, who were almost all NBA players for several years before getting into coaching. And remember why Johnny came here in the first place - $$$$. He heard what we were going to pay one of his assistants and decided he'd rather make that salary because he wasn't getting it at Michigan, even though he'd been very successful there.
Hell, it seems like you could argue that Fred WAS like Johnny, except that now we're playing Michigan's role and the Bulls are playing ours...
Johnny was here for 14 years and retired a Cyclone. It was really that simple a point. That we would have a long term coach.
Disappointed about how this whole thing has hurt recruiting the past few years. If Fred would have been committed to ISU CD may be on his way to campus. We may be set next year but after that the cupboard is bare.
What bothers me most is when people say he doesn't owe anything to ISU or the fans.
He would still be an assistant somewhere if Jamie hadn't taken a chance on him. The "love affair" with the fans is a big reason he was written about so much. The atmosphere (fans) are what brought all the prime time games to Hilton and a big reason they were unbeatable at home.
He did his part by winning. But without ISU and the fans none of that would have been possible. I'm not saying he needed to stay here his entire career. He just needed to accomplish ONE of the team goals before moving onto his own.
He would still be an assistant somewhere if Jamie hadn't taken a chance on him. The "love affair" with the fans is a big reason he was written about so much. The atmosphere (fans) are what brought all the prime time games to Hilton and a big reason they were unbeatable at home.
He did his part by winning. But without ISU and the fans none of that would have been possible. I'm not saying he needed to stay here his entire career. He just needed to accomplish ONE of the team goals before moving onto his own.
Ya I'd hate to see that MT, MM, DB, HC axis it would get torn apart. The cupboard is only bare if you assume MM leaves early, which I haven't really seen anyone mention as a done deal. He played pretty well last year and still wasn't cracking any big boards.
I said it elsewhere, but he talked with NBA teams last year so yes he was looking for that opportunity. Knew he needed surgery again this year and had a really good team. Probably thought he could put a bow on this year with a deep run. No turning back after UAB but definitely NOT how he wanted to leave.
I've told myself time and time again he's making a mistake. How can he not understand he's as unfireable as Coach K already. All the things you mention. Family in Ames, grew up there. He'll win 700 more games. Potentially coaching his own kids. He's making a mistake! But you know what I've come to realize over the past week. This narrative of Fred being at Iowa State for 35 years, Final Fours, titles - that was my storybook tale of how it would happen. Not his. He was happy to be in Ames but he wanted to be an NBA coach. Always has. The Bulls job came open. Storybook closed.
It was gut wrenching to lose Cael as he was lifting the program, but I'm sure he looked at the commitment to wrestling at Iowa and then at Penn State, and may not have felt he was getting the same commitment here. There may have been other reasons only Cael knows, but I don't know any other reason why he would have left. Penn State made the commitment and they got our legend and the national championships.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
What bothers me most is something that Fred said a few years back about a piece of advice he received from another coach (I forget whom) - "Don't mess with happy."
I totally get that coaching in the NBA is his dream, and after two heart surgeries in as many years his outlook on life has probably changed, maybe perhaps this is his last shot at coaching in the NBA if that's what doctors are advising him. I just can't help but think that he's messed with happy. The Bulls are an overrated team Thibodeau milked everything from (with great resentment) because they're not that great of a team, and the front office is notorious to chewing up and spitting out coaches that don't get it done, a lot of times in unrealistic time frames. Not to mention this is a fan base that is still 100% blinded by Jordan's shadow, ironically someone that wants to have nothing to do with the Bulls because of the ownership group.
Like I said, he has always wanted to coach in the NBA, and the Bulls are probably his dream team, but I can't help but think this whole thing is just a gigantic piece of cheese sitting on top of a mousetrap just waiting to kill or maim his coaching career.
I totally get that coaching in the NBA is his dream, and after two heart surgeries in as many years his outlook on life has probably changed, maybe perhaps this is his last shot at coaching in the NBA if that's what doctors are advising him. I just can't help but think that he's messed with happy. The Bulls are an overrated team Thibodeau milked everything from (with great resentment) because they're not that great of a team, and the front office is notorious to chewing up and spitting out coaches that don't get it done, a lot of times in unrealistic time frames. Not to mention this is a fan base that is still 100% blinded by Jordan's shadow, ironically someone that wants to have nothing to do with the Bulls because of the ownership group.
Like I said, he has always wanted to coach in the NBA, and the Bulls are probably his dream team, but I can't help but think this whole thing is just a gigantic piece of cheese sitting on top of a mousetrap just waiting to kill or maim his coaching career.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
Sometimes. It's not altogether uncommon in a really tight job market. You pretty much have to present the job you're applying for as your dream job and/or dream location.
You make good points but I hope your wrong on his success with the Bulls, as his success there could only help ISU in publicity and recruiting.
What bothers me most is that we are out of Eggs and I forgot to get some at the store.
As for Fred, it is time to move on.
As for Fred, it is time to move on.
What bothers me most - is I had a dog named Hoiberg! I had to go buy him a new collar and officially change his name to Baxter.
I'm done naming my animals after coaches. Went with an Anchorman character instead for longterm security.
