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| TOPIC:
alford vs. zalesky |
By
turtlehawk
Posted
on 4/1/2006 - 8:37:32 AM
I find some irony in the fact Bowlsby fired Zalesky and kept Alford. I believe Zalesky coached Iowa to 3 national titles. He was champion wrestler for the black and gold. Alford came here as a stepping stone. He has done poorly at the NCCA tournament level. I know Zalesky had some "down" years lately, but you get my point: I think Alford should have gotten his walking papers before Zalesky, even though expectations for the wrestling program are off the charts. It also matters to me that Zalesky is a Hawk,
tried and true. Reply |
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REPLIES
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By
T-Bone
Replied on 4/1/2006 - 9:20:11 AM
Turtle,
You bring up an interesting point..loyalty and what is it really worth? There are many ex hawk athletes out there..for the most part..(if not 98% of the time) they would not make good coaches. I think there have been many athletes at this school over the last 20 yrs. who have gotten scholarhsips because of family members who donated and or were ex players themselves...I think it has hurt the program overall in terms of the overall success of the all the athletic programs..due to the nature of the Alumni money needed to fund this school's athletics..loyalties to Alumni and "I-club" members only goes so far, those kind of people tend to think a certain way..the more diverse people, kids, athletes you have the better your chances at success..suggesting that a "Non-Iowan" influence would be the best way to go to fill this position..nobody will match Gabel's success...NOBODY...and for him to think that finding "his guy" that does things the way he does will only lead to mediocrity..
BONE Reply |
By
herky-all-over
Replied on 4/1/2006 - 9:20:49 AM
yeah............what's the deal????
Money.
Bumbbling Bowlsby signed SA to that expensive extension,otherwise...........
I MUST have the faith that BB will make the right move when it's time. Reply |
By
Illini Hawk
Replied on 4/1/2006 - 10:50:54 AM
Zalesky = 1 year remaining on contract @ $100,000
Alford = 3 years remaining on contract @ $900,000
You do the math. Doesn't make it right, but take it from a banker - it's always about the money. Reply |
By
hawrestling fan
Replied on 4/1/2006 - 11:37:33 AM
If the bb program doesn't produce wins nextyear and attendance continues to drop, how much money will the University lose by not having fans in the seats?
It is sad, but the truth is college athletics (at least the revenue sports) is not about the athletes or the fans as much as it is about making money for the University. Not that the other two aren't important, but the bottom line is the almighty dollar.
That's why I like to support the wrestling and baseball programs. They have class coaches, athletes and I can still afford to take the family to the meets/games.
Good example is when ISU dropped baseball so the Athletic Dept. could use that money to pay McCarney's ass't coaches more. Now they are in the Big 12 with no baseball program. How sad is that? Reply |
By
LOKI
Replied on 4/1/2006 - 11:40:45 AM
Well, Illini it's always partly about the money--of course--but in this case, it's partly about tradition. I'm one of those who thought Z. should be given another year, and I'm not sure this was the right move, but there is a difference between basketball and wrestling at Iowa. In the past, we've had some very good basketball teams, and coaches, but nothing like Gable and his wrestlers. Just like UCLA after Wooden, or NB. after Osborne, the expectation isn't just to win, it's to be the best. I think in today's environment, that's unrealistic, but that's the standard Bowlsby decided Z. couldn't meet. All Alford has to do is surpass the record of Dr. Tom. Imo, he hasn't, but clearly, Bowlsby is willing to give him more time. Is this what purgatory is like? Reply |
By
hometownhawk
Replied on 4/1/2006 - 10:17:46 PM
Z's titles came with all gable recruits. Z hasn't done much with his own guys since. And at that time Gable was still very much an influence on the program. Reply |
By
Illini Hawk
Replied on 4/1/2006 - 11:10:09 PM
Since the advent of Title XIX, there is incredible pressure on the 'revenue sports' - football and men's bball - to carry the load. At certain schools, there is a 3rd revenue sport: ice hockey at Minnesota, women's bball at Tennessee, wrestling at Iowa, for example.
These 3rd revenue sports must help carry to financial load; thus, there is financial pressure as well as the pressure of tradition on the wrestling program at Iowa.
If Iowa can average 6,000 at home meets, that will pay for the program plus contribute to the financial coffers of the athletic dept., supporting programs like baseball, field hockey, swimming and gymnastics.
The reason Iowa is one of the few schools in the NCAA that has been able to maintain all of its sports programs, men's and women's, is because traditionally it has fielded three programs that are financially successful - football, men's bball and wrestling. Schools like ISU do not have that luxury - thus no baseball and men's swimming. Reply |
By
LOKI
Replied on 4/2/2006 - 1:22:46 PM
Points well taken, Illini. I'm curious what year it was that WI. dropped baseball. Anybody know? My impression was it was within the past 7 years, and that covers the time Alvarez and Bennett/Ryan were starting to make big $$ in fball and bball. I wonder if they ever regret it. On that same line, does WI. hockey make money?--there can't be too many schools that do. I have said before its a great credit to Iowa that we've maintained all these programs when others can't or won't. Reply |
By
LPiowa
Replied on 4/2/2006 - 2:34:58 PM
I would guess that Wisconsin hockey does OK by itself. Those folks are nuts about hockey up north. Reply |
By
LPiowa
Replied on 4/2/2006 - 2:55:31 PM
LOKI, I'm thinking that Wisconsin dropped baseball 10-15 years ago, but not certain.
Realistically, a major part of the problem is the lavishness that everyone thinks they have to put into their basketball and football programs....It is like the old cold war years...."We have to develop a new weapon or the other side will develop it first." So, we need "football players' lounges"...we need classrooms that have the most comfortable of seating and carpets....locker rooms that are fit for a king, etc...Nothing but the best will do. There is a horrible amount of unnecessary expense in running these programs. Reply |
By
Illini Hawk
Replied on 4/2/2006 - 5:43:55 PM
LOKI - I would guess the following hockey programs make money: MN, WI, MI, MSU, Michigan Tech, North Dakota, Colorado College, Denver U., BC and BU. When MSU was really strong in the 1980's, Munn Arena (9,000 seating) was regularly sold out.
LP - With no pay to give players, the 'escalation' in college football and men's bball has been in coaching salaries and facilities. It is part of the problem. Supposedly, one of IU's problem's is that its facilities are 'antiquated'. Antiquated compared to what? Conseco Fieldhouse? Reply |
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