Gary Barta Attempts To Be Pollardesque

Jeremy · 04-02-2007, 11:09 AM

Gary Barta Attempts To Be Pollardesque
CycloneFanatic.com
Jeremy Lind

(Editorial based on a combination of rumors and facts)

While this is a Cyclone site, it's always fun to take a look at what pain is being inflicted on our little brothers out East...

While Iowa State fans have unfortunately become experts on sitting and waiting for a new coach to be named, it's not something that Iowa fans feel they should be subject to. We all know most Iowa fans have ego problems but their latest coaching search is turning out to be a text-book example of mediocre and ego-killing.

When Iowa State's Jamie Pollard was searching for coaching candidates, he did it without ANYBODY knowing ANYTHING about the search or who Iowa State was interested in. On the surface it appears Iowa's Gary Barta is attempting to do the same thing, but fortunately for us, he's just not quite up to the task. So far it's been painfully obvious to Hawk fans that Iowa might just not be that "Duke of the Midwest" that they all like to believe. Oh the shock that must have been:)

Regardless of how the Hawk fans or the local media may attempt to spin all of the rumors, it's clear that Iowa has contacted several coaches and has been turned down by at least three candidates.

No Longer Options:

Bruce Pearl - Was contacted - turned down Hawks.
Dana Altman - Was contacted - turned down Hawks.
Rick Majerus - Was contacted but didn't have interest after all.
Chris Lowery - Was contacted - no interest in Iowa right now.
Greg McDermott - Not interested (rumor of "feeler" having been sent but unconfirmed).
Lon Kruger - Not interested - unknown if contacted.
Mike Montgomery - Not interested - unknown if contacted.

Possibilities ?:

Kurt Speraw
Lorenzo Romar
Ernie Kent
Mike Dunlap
Reggie Theus

Iowa Fan Favorites:

John Wooden
Coach K
Roy Williams
Rick Pitino
Lute Olson :)
Greg McDermott, oh wait...

ISUFan22 · 04-02-2007, 11:13 AM

How do we or anyone else for that matter know who was and wasn't contacted by Iowa?

herbicide · 04-02-2007, 11:14 AM

Good times, good times!

CyinCo · 04-02-2007, 11:31 AM

I believe Altman is still in the mix. Keelor had an article this morning saying how Altman has remained quite about the job (which Sean interprets as being good news).

Edit: Oops, just saw this link indicating Altman to Arkansas.. Wow.

http://www.cyclonefanatic.com/forum/...ead.php?t=8147 (Altman to Arkansas)

The_Architect · 04-02-2007, 11:33 AM

Altman is going to Arkansas.

clone52 · 04-02-2007, 11:36 AM

Well, do we know for sure that Lowry, Altman and Majerus were contacted and turned Iowa down. You fail to remember that during Pollards hiring process, it appeared as though multiple coaches that we contacted had turned us down. Harbaugh, Norvell, Brewster. We know now that this was not the case. It was more of a case of those coaches saving face.

I'm all for watching Iowa flop around in their coaching search and it does look bad so far, but I wouldn't jump the gun quite yet. They could very possibly make a hiring coup. Right now, Pearl is the only coach that Iowa is known to have been interested in that turned them down. The rest of them could be guys Iowa decided against and went on their own to turn Iowa down.

I believe Pearl was purposely put out their to let some fans know that they tried to get him. It is very possible that Barta has a few names in his hat that no one is mentioning (a la Chizik) and he is just letting these internet rumors run their coarse.

ISUFan22 · 04-02-2007, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by clone52

Well, do we know for sure that Lowry, Altman and Majerus were contacted and turned Iowa down. You fail to remember that during Pollards hiring process, it appeared as though multiple coaches that we contacted had turned us down. Harbaugh, Norvell, Brewster. We know now that this was not the case. It was more of a case of those coaches saving face.

Right, that's my point. After the fact we learned that Pollard didn't contact some of the coaches we thought turned us down. Then again, who knows if that's even true.

About the only thing fans will know during the search is the end result. All that other stuff is just mush, some true and some not.

I can't wait until Iowa hires their coach so the Cyclone boards won't be filled with discussing who the next victim of Iowa basketball will be. And yes, I do think the next guy will be a victim.

isuno1fan · 04-02-2007, 11:41 AM

I think either it will still be Majerus or Stallings is in the mix.

ColoradoClone · 04-02-2007, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by clone52

Well, do we know for sure that Lowry, Altman and Majerus were contacted and turned Iowa down. You fail to remember that during Pollards hiring process, it appeared as though multiple coaches that we contacted had turned us down. Harbaugh, Norvell, Brewster. We know now that this was not the case. It was more of a case of those coaches saving face.

I think Brewster is the only one that pulled his name from contention, and was never a confirmed interview. Remember, Pollard was smart enough to publicly turn down Harbaugh and Norvell (who I believe were the only ones that were confirmed interviews) before they could even try and save face.

Jeremy · 04-02-2007, 11:46 AM

I put up a tagline that says it's based on a combination of rumors and facts. Obviously not everything is going to get confirmed, much like anything these days, but some of the info is hard evidence as well. When you put those two things together you get a clear picture of Iowa attempting to have a silent search like ISU had but it's not nearly to the standard that JP has shown can be achieved.

travman23 · 04-02-2007, 11:48 AM

Anybody see SoundOff last night? They were giving "updates" throughout the show on a new candidate. They said Red Auerbach and Gene Hackman as 2 of them. Was some funny stuff!

isuno1fan · 04-02-2007, 11:54 AM

I truly hope Barta is as "inept" as some would like to think, but I'm guessing he has his ducks in a row and will surprise ala JP.

Hope I'm wrong, but I just have a guy feeling they will get a good hire.

clone52 · 04-02-2007, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by ISUFan22

Right, that's my point. After the fact we learned that Pollard didn't contact some of the coaches we thought turned us down. Then again, who knows if that's even true.

About the only thing fans will know during the search is the end result. All that other stuff is just mush, some true and some not.

I can't wait until Iowa hires their coach so the Cyclone boards won't be filled with discussing who the next victim of Iowa basketball will be. And yes, I do think the next guy will be a victim.

Well, not much else to talk about this time of year. Chizik is really tight-lipped, so there is not much football to talk about until the spring game.

Wasn't the problem during Morgan's hiring is that we actually came out a said we offered the job to the Wyoming guy and the tennessee guy and they said no? Iowa certainly hasn't gotten to that point. Offering it to Pearl and being turned down is not a big deal. At least he listened. We have no idea if any of the other candidates are really candidates in Barta's mind, the man who really knows.

Also, if he was trying to be like Pollard (which Jeremy implies), he wouldn't have a search committee or hired a search firm. I don't think Pollard did either of those.

clone52 · 04-02-2007, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by ColoradoClone

I think Brewster is the only one that pulled his name from contention, and was never a confirmed interview. Remember, Pollard was smart enough to publicly turn down Harbaugh and Norvell (who I believe were the only ones that were confirmed interviews) before they could even try and save face.

Ok, I forgot exactly how Norvell and Harbaugh worked out. Thanks for the clarification.

G-Rock · 04-02-2007, 12:11 PM

After reading an article on the search firm they're using, I think they know what they're doing.

Link: http://www.sportsline.com/collegebas...ory/10100443/1