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Lickliter Era of Iowa Basketball Coming to a Close?

March 12th, 2010

Iowa's basketball season may have ended, but the rumors surrounding the program have just started heating up.

While most Big Ten fans watched tournament games, Iowa Hawkeye fans had their attention focused on their social media streams, waiting for any information about the future of head coach Todd Lickliter .

A murmur began to pick up steam on message boards earlier in the week, when normally supportive people behind the program began speaking their less than flattering opinions in public. That murmur grew louder, as hints of meetings between athletic director Gary Barta and Iowa players began to surface.

Then, just as Iowa's Big Ten tournament game against Michigan tipped off, KCJJ , a radio station out of Iowa City, IA, posted a message to their Facebook page claiming to have sources that said Coach Lickliter will step down following the season over concerns about his health. 

Earlier in the season, Lickliter was hospitalized for several hours on Thanksgiving due to severe migraines. Later, the University of Iowa Hospitals diagnosed Lickliter with the beginning of a tear in his carotid artery.

The internal carotid artery is a major artery in the head and neck that helps supply blood to the brain. Tears are thought to be caused by extreme stress, and have been known to lead to strokes in middle-aged men.

Lickliter has four years remaining on this contract, but the idea of him stepping down to focus on his health isn't all that far fetched due to his recent health issues. 

The radio station suggests otherwise.

KCJJ claims to have sources saying the real reason for Lickliter's possible early departure might be two more threatened player defections.

During his three years at Iowa, Lickliter has had 10 player defections. The latest, guard Anthony Tucker, opted to transfer to Division II Winona State at the end of the semester after legal issues.

A high attrition rate does nothing to help a program in the midst of rebuilding itself.

Message boards, like Hawkeye Lounge and Hawkeye Nation, have been chattering about the possibility of more transfers for awhile. All indications point to another player transfer being the breaking point for most people.

At halftime of the game against Michigan, Phil Haddy, Iowa' Sports Information Director, called the KCJJ report inaccurate. He was careful with his words, though.

"Absolutely no decisions regarding the basketball program have been made," Haddy said. "Nothing has been done, and nothing will be done within the foreseeable future. What I am saying, everything you are reading on the Internet sites is inaccurate."

By reading between the lines, it's clear something's afoot. A released statement from Iowa's athletic director after Iowa's loss to Michigan did not offer any clarity to the matter, either.

"It's been a tough season, but the future is very bright with this group," Barta said in the statement. "With the season ending today, I'll do what I do at the end of every year. I'll evaluate 2010 and make preparations for next season."

Lickliter was visibly agitated after the game when Gary Dolphin, the radio commentator for the Hawkeyes, asked him about sitting down with Barta at the end of the season.  His agitation carried over to his post game press conference, where he was asked about the rumors floating around.

"I haven't been told I'm not [the coach]," he stated. "So until I'm told I'm not, I am."

Statistically, Lickliter's three-year stretch as head coach at Iowa has been the worst three years in the history of the program. 

Iowa's 22 losses on the year is the most ever in a season. They lost 10 of their last 12 games, including a 27-point loss to Wisconsin and a 35-point loss at Minnesota. Both losses were the worst in the history of those two rivalries.

Attendance at home games has dropped off drastically. Actual attendance hovers around 5,000, one-third of the capacity seating at Carver-Hawkeye Arena .

If Lickliter doesn't step down on his own, it would cost the school $2.4 million to buyout his contract. With attendance down, a buyout might be difficult.

As of now, Todd Lickliter is still the head coach for Iowa men's basketball .  No press conferences are scheduled and no other announcements have been made.

Don't expect the rumors to die down anytime soon, though.

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Posted in Big Ten Basketball, College Basketball, Iowa Hawkeyes Basketball, NCAA, Opinion, Todd Lickliter

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Mike London is Exactly What Virginia Football Needs

March 12th, 2010

The recent hire of Mike London as the University of Virginia's new football coach was not a flashy pickup of a football guru or a nationally-known figure. Instead, it was exactly what UVA needed.

As a graduate of both Virginia and Virginia Football, I received a lot of questions from friends and family about Mike London, and knowing the program and the coach very well, I almost succumbed to the same questions about the lack of star power in the hire. But taking a step back to analyze the program's needs, it quickly becomes apparent that London is the perfect fit.

First, London is not widely renowned for his knowledge or pedigree. Al Groh returned to his alma mater with a professional background from the School of Parcells. As a result, he took a very active role in all coaching activities. The resulting micromanagement was evident in staff turnover and game management.

London has no ego and is a tireless worker who has proven himself in under-the-radar capacities in the NFL and as a FCS champion. London's experience as a successful head coach means he can manage a staff and let people do what they're good at doing. His personality is the kind Virginia needs to rebuild. 

Second, and most importantly, London is not nationally known. While in recruiting circles this might seem like a drawback, in UVA's case it's a huge asset. Groh's recruiting strategy overreached with national goals, producing results in the short term with top 10 recruiting classes in the first few years. This meant losing any foothold in the state of Virginia, which turns out individual and team talent every year (see: Percy Harvin, Virginia Tech). Until Virginia retakes some standing in its own state, it will never know ACC success.

Enter Mike London, who won the 2008 FCS Championship with a roster featuring 30 players from Virginia, and most of the rest coming from mid-Atlantic states. Granted, FCS talent is not FBS talent, but recruiting is about relationships, and having established a name for himself in recruiting hotbeds like northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, London is making the right moves to make UVA an option for in-state recruits. London is even moving the spring game outside Charlottesville, a great example of his willingness to do the work necessary for picking up big-name recruits.

Mike London's hire was not the big-name hire that automatically produces "Wows" from fans and boosters. However, Virginia's recent performances have proven that it needs more than just a big name: they need the hard work necessary to rebuild a program.

Mike London has the potential to deliver.

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Posted in ACC Football, College Football, NCAA, Opinion

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Skip Holtz Era Begins at USF

March 12th, 2010

The Skip Holtz Traveling Salvation Show has been making its way around the Tampa Bay area. The early results are in and everyone loves the new University of South Florida football coach.

Holtz won't waste any time getting a jump on the rest of the Big East football programs when his Bulls take to the field for the start of spring practice next Tuesday, March 16.

Holtz has been out and about doing some serious mending of bridges that were set on fire over the years by former coach Jim Leavitt. By all accounts, Holtz has done a good job and sees the huge potential in the Tampa area from both a recruiting and fan standpoint.

You can bet Holtz noticed that the USF fan base has a lot of room for growth and he intends to help it.

Publicity aside, it's time for work on the field and Holtz will have a lot of work to do to have his team ready for September.

First, he needs to find some quarterbacks. Starter B.J. Daniels is recovering from shoulder surgery and won't be available for any meaningful work.

Evan Landi started his progression to wide receiver last year but that may have to go on hold otherwise Holtz may look to Victor Marc or possibly Isaac Virgin. Virgin, who was being moved to tight end, is 6'4", 245 and is a size duplicate of former East Carolina great David Garrard, now quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Second, Holtz needs to find someone to run the football whose initials are NOT B.J.

With Mike Ford booted from the program, the Bulls will have Mo Plancher back after he was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, which makes him an obvious front runner at the position. Bradley Battles, Richard Kelly, and Jamar Taylor will be around but you can bet that Holtz will look for new ways to use speedster Lindsey Lamar.

Another task is to find replacements for defensive ends George Selvie and Jason Pierre Paul, who now seek employment in the NFL. Craig Marshall is back and now may be the time for Julius Forte and Ryne Giddens to step up and claim starting positions.

The Bulls have no less than seven returning offensive linemen but that is an area where improvement is needed for the program.

Defensively, USF was overrun too often last season and that needs to change if the Bulls are to mount any serious charge for the 2010 Big East title.

Yes, there's a lot of work and there are expectations.

Holtz was considered the right hire inside and outside the program.

USF wants everyone to know that and has billboards around Tampa proclaiming: "It's A Holtz New Era."

Leavitt is gone and his name is hardly mentioned these days.

It's all about Holtz now.

His time, his team.

 

Big East Spring Football Starts :

March 16:   South Florida
March 17:   Connecticut
March 19:   Pittsburgh
March 23:   Rutgers, Syracuse
March 24:   West Virginia, Louisville
March 31:   Cincinnati

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Posted in Big East Football, College Football, NCAA, Preview/Prediction, South Florida Bulls Football

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Notre Dame: Irish Independence, Jack Swarbrick Must Resist the Big Ten

March 11th, 2010

Sitting in a small restaurant alongside a few intrigued reporters, Notre Dame's athletic director was pressed with questions regarding the future of his school's football independence.

With the recent talks of conference expansion, particularly within the Big Ten and Pac-10, Notre Dame has been a popular name being brought up in these discussions.

Adding the Irish means increased income within the conference.

Increased income means more exposure, stability, and more power in both BCS and non-BCS bowl negotiations.

And because of that, along with the cries of most of Notre Dame nation to keep it's independence as one of its last saving graces, Swarbrick now finds himself in quite a dilemma.

“I believe we’re at a point right now where the changes could be relatively small or they could be seismic,” Swarbrick stated . “The landscape could look completely different. What I have to do along with Father Jenkins is try and figure out where those pieces are falling and how the landscape is changing.”

Although Swarbrick insists that anyone could "invent a scenario that would force our hand," the final decision comes down to himself and Father Jenkins.

If Notre Dame wishes to keep it's independence in football, there is no reason why they cannot do so.

Faced with a crucial decision, and one that will impact his legacy at the school, Swarbrick cannot afford to be a weak-kneed leader. He will need to take a stand to save the already delicate football program from disappearing into the boring and unattractive depths of the Big Ten.

With the recent struggles of the Irish in the last decade, giving in to the Big Ten would only steepen the rate of the decline.

Hidden within the conference, the Irish would no longer be a "national" school, but rather a Midwest program competing mainly with those already on their schedule—the same matchups that already have Irish fans complaining.

The Pac-10 is not an option due to the travel expenses and geography of South Bend. Stuck in the depth of Big Ten country, joining them would be the only logical destination for Swarbrick to choose.

Joining the Big Ten would be the worst possible outcome. At the same time, joining the Big Ten would be the easiest decision for the administration.

So Jack, the pressures rising and the spotlight is on—where is this program headed?

If the decision ends up being every dedicated Domer's worst-nightmare-turned-reality, Jack Swarbrick will go down as the biggest villain in Notre Dame history.

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Posted in Big Ten Football, College Football, Independents Football, NCAA, Notre Dame Football, Opinion

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Duke Basketball’s Success Needs a New Measuring Stick

March 10th, 2010

On the eve of the ACC Tournament I have been thinking a lot about Duke Basketball.

It is natural for any fan to ponder the strengths and weaknesses of their team before a big tournament.

In addition to this season I've been thinking about the last few years, the last decade and the nearly 30 years that I've been watching the Blue Devils.

I've weighed in the criticisms of the program especially by its fans and have come to one clear determination: It may be time to change how the Duke program's success is measured.

For years the program has used its post season success as well as the letters D-U-K-E to stand for something associated with excellence.

Most never thought an unknown coach with an unpronounceable name would transform a small private school in North Carolina with a strong basketball history into one of the four or five greatest programs in the country.

That is exactly what Mike Krzyzewski did and Duke has become one of the pillars of college basketball as a result.

With that success come the expectation for even more from both fans and the media. Often you hear that success is measured in championships and that is no different at Duke.

But is that necessarily fair?

As a younger fan, Duke beating North Carolina was the measure of success. Anything more than that was gravy. Then the ACC tournament and more importantly the NCAA tournament became the ultimate measuring stick.

Although a win over the Tar Heels never hurts.

I remember when 20 wins was an exceptional year. Now it is a mediocre year for a top tier team. Duke's worst season in the last decade was 2006-07 when they finished 22-11.

It admittedly is mediocre but considering Kentucky's recent (until this year anyway) struggles, North Carolina and UCLA's current struggles, a 22-11 season for the Blue Devils wasn't that bad.

It wasn't a great year by modern standards but not horrible either. At least it included a trip to the NCAA tournament. Unfortunately it also resulted in an uncharacteristic exit in the first round.

Duke has had so much success that anything less than a Final Four is a deemed a disappointment by the media and a failure by some fans.

Despite being the active coach with the most NCAA Division One wins, Krzyzewski still gets criticized at every turn if his teams aren't going to Final Fours and winning champions.

And for some fans ACC Championship don't count for much. Last year for example, despite UNC being clearly the best team, Duke managed to win the ACC Tournament Championship.

That was great but two weeks later when they were bounced roughly from the tournament by Villanova; all the talk was about Duke's decline.

Krzyzewski addressed the high expectations before last season and was criticized for saying that the bar for determining Duke's excellence was high, and at times depending on the team, it was not always attainable.

There are those realists who see a 30 win season and a Sweet 16 berth as a very good year.

This year the Blue Devils have exceeded my expectations and are in a good position to make a tournament run. But they seemed to be last year too.

While I was disappointed by the end result, I can still recognize it as being a good year. For some Duke fans it is the championship or nothing, and for the media it is the Final Four or nothing.

Criticism stems from Krzyzewski not recruiting well enough, or not managing his bench well enough among other things. Is he infallible or above criticism? Certainly not, but he isn't in the hall of fame for nothing.

I don't always agree with him but I am a fan and he is a coach so I'll leave it at that. I don't want to be one of these fans who feel like they know better than the coach.

I refuse to be a Little League parent.

College Basketball has evolved since Krzyzewski had Duke in seemingly every Final Four in the late 80s and early 90s. At times I'll admit he has seemed a bit slow to change with the time but he has changed especially with his recent approach to recruiting.

He also though has run a clean program that graduates player and for that reason all real fans of the university and basketball program should be proud.

I believe it is time for some Duke fans and even fans of other college power houses to gain some perspective and re-examine their definition of success.

Sure every team wants to win it all every year but that isn't going to happen. North Carolina fans would probably kill to be 22-10 heading into the NCAA Tournament. The same goes for UCLA fans.

But does one bad year or three or four good years mean your team is in decline? I'm not so sure.

No one can reasonably deny that Duke even at its lowest this decade didn’t have at the very least decent if not good seasons.

Since 2004 all that anyone seems to care about is the fact the Blue Devils haven't made a Final Four.

They aren't the only team who hasn't.

I'm confident Duke will get back to the Final Four, if not this year soon enough. I'm also willing to be patient, a virtue that is often lost among fans.

If Cubs fans can still hold out hope then so can I.

So, if Duke ends the year in the Elite Eight, Sweet 16 or worse I will be disappointed, but I'm not going to play the role of Chicken Little.

If the Blue Devils start having trouble winning 20 or more games year after year then I may start to worry, but even at their worst they haven't come close to that.

In the end it may be time for fans and media to start measuring Duke by what its done instead of what it hasn’t.

However, for some that still won't be good enough. It never is.

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Posted in College Basketball, Duke Basketball, Mike Krzyzewski, NCAA, Opinion, ncaa tournament

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