I agree with the first post, that Iowa has much more to lose than to gain by continuing this rivalry, especially if in some years it would "cost" them a 7th home game. College football is first and foremost about tradition and rivalries, but the infrastructure is so costly that you can't ignore the almighty dollar, even when thinking about continuing a game that's important to Iowans. The reality is that Iowa State is less and less relevant on a national level and came within a hair of joining a much less prestigious conference than the Big 12. At some point in the not too distant future this game may become a luxury that UI cannot afford on a yearly basis.

Great topic. I've been to my share of events as well, including many wonderful afternoons at Churchill Downs (but not for the Derby), a smattering of live major professional sports (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL), lots of Big Ten college football and basketball, but no golf or foreign venues.

My list includes unique events where I might get close to the action and where the venue has some historic significance, e.g. the aura of the place adds to the spectating experience.

5. PGA at Whistling Straits in Kohler, WI in which Zach Johnson is in contention for the title.
4. Belmont Stakes in which my horse is running for the triple crown and I'm there to place a bet and enjoy the festivities.
3. Detroit Lions (my childhood hometown team) finally making it to the Super Bowl and I'm there with my hometown buddies, with good seats to boot!
2. Hawkeye basketball team playing in the Final Four/National Championship game.
1. Hawkeye football team playing for the National Championship at the Rose Bowl against a traditional power, e.g. USC, Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma (vs. Bob Stoops!) with whom they match up well.

Austin City Gimmicks

I've been to Boise St. and it's really quite small compared to what we're used to in Big Ten country, although the enthusiasm of their fans and the recent quality of their teams is impressive.

How about Iowa vs. Rutgers (new Big Ten team?) at the new Giants' Stadium in NJ? Or better yet at the new Yankee Stadium in NYC?

I am a lifelong Big Ten fan, area resident, and alumnus/staff member at several conference institutions. I for one am ready to embrace expansion and welcome the newcomers, and it won't benefit me one dime. Of course this move by Jim Delaney is all about money and power, but for us fans, it's about staying relevant on the college athletics (read: football) landscape well into the future. Our signature football programs, Ohio State and Michigan, have not exactly made us proud in recent years. OSU had lost several high profile inter-conference and bowl games until this past January, and Michigan (my alma mater) has Rich Rod. Enough said about that. Meanwhile, the SEC has the last four National Champions and most of the prestige. Time to respond.

Well, the article about Alford rings absolutely true to me. I've lived in Iowa City since before Alford arrived in 1999, much heralded as an upgrade from the stale Tom Davis regime that produced 2nd round NCAA success but no better than that. Now, in hindsight, the upgrade that seemed so promising and on target has left Iowa looking far WORSE for wear, while Alford recovered and is either building a successful kingdom in the southwest or will be annointed king elsewhere, perhaps in Eugene.

What happened? Could Alford have succeeded in Iowa City, or is there something about the Iowa basketball program and situation that is particularly challenging to overcome? I for one believe that Alford and Iowa were a deceptively poor fit for each other. Alford's self-centered personality demands that he not be questioned in public, not unlike Bob Knight. Early in Alford's tenure, during the Luke Recker/Reggie Evans days, he was asked on his radio program about integrating Recker, a newcomer to the program, with Evans, a veteran, and young incoming freshman. Alford bristled and stated that what he DIDN'T need was a psychologist questioning his management of team chemistry. Of course, team chemistry was EXACTLY what those teams lacked, and Alford proved to be to stubborn to realize it or admit any fault on his part. He blamed the players. Then came the Pierre Pierce saga, the public rebuke of Alford's unyielding support for Pierce, and that was the beginning of the end.

Congrats to Alford and New Mexico for finding each other. I wish them success, and I believe that Iowans should hold no ill will against them at this point in time. What Hawkeye fans and athletic department officials should do now is focus on how they themselves contributed to Alford's failure at Iowa, Todd Lickliter's failure at Iowa, and a deteriorating situation where many feel it would be difficult for almost any coach to succeed quickly.

Perhaps Alford's points about Iowa being a "football school," whose basketball program lacks attractive enough facilities to be competitive for high quality recruits as well as other supporting resources, are not just another measure of his "me first" attitude. It's probably time to hire a coach who is a better fit for a Big 10 program that sits in a state with limited in-state high school talent on a yearly basis, but also to make a clear commitment of resources to its basketball program in general. Otherwise, Alford's likely continued success will continue to poke Hawkeyes from afar, as if sour grapes are their instinctive reaction to complex events. We can do better than that.

Oregon is an excellent job in a place where they are set to open a state of the art basketball arena and are generally backed by Nike in a concerted effort to maintain a top flight athletic program. Take a look at their football success; they are likey to support the new coach in any way possible to create a winner, and chances are they will succeed. The Pac 10 is a bit of an oddball conference in that most of its schools lack basketball tradition, at least by Big 10 standards. UCLA is the flagship program in that conference, and when they have a bad year or few, like this year, there's often no other team with a strong identity. Lute Olson's retirement from Arizona left a big void, and I think Oregon is well positioned to fill that void with the right hire. Iowa is clearly the best of the remaining opportunities on the list. Auburn is absolutely a football school where basketball is an afterthought, with little tradition, and very strong competition within the conference. It's a setup for failure in several important ways. Seton Hall is a blacksheep in the Big East, with limited resources and no football identity to camouflage it, and St. John's has lost its way. New York area fans are very opinionated and demanding, and so both of those jobs require rapid proof of success in order for fans to get behind them. Iowa has an incredible chance to put the last decade in the rear view mirror with the right hire. The practice facility is under construction, renovation of Carver Hawkeye arena will follow soon after the program shows signs of life, and the fans are always ready to support the team if they show potential. I for one believe that Barta will succeed in getting the right guy.

I have lived in Iowa City for 16 years but am not a born or bred Hawkeye. I have watched the basketball program from a neutral vantage point over the course of that time. It is hindsight to say that Tom Davis should not have been fired or that Steve Alford or Todd Lickliter should not have been hired. At each of those moments in time, each move by the Iowa AD seemed on target.

So what now? Lickliter is a good guy with a good coaching track record before he came to Iowa, and he's only had three years to change the program's culture and establish his own. On the other hand, Iowa fans have clearly seen enough to judge him a poor fit and are voicing their displeasure in a powerful way: not showing up for the games.

If he's given another year (or even two), he might very well start winning more games. On the other hand, he might not, and even if he does win, the program may suffer financially due to the lack of fan support. He therefore faces an uphill battle because the economy is bad, fans are more selective than ever with their entertainment dollars, and the program is desperate for improved facilities.

I personally was extremely pleased to see Alford leave the building because even though he brought some talented players into the program, he was an insufferable jerk who also happened to have a poor Big Ten conference record and almost no postseason record at all. So from my point of view, Lickliter's relatively bland personality and seemingly heartfelt appreciation for the opportunity to coach at Iowa were a welcome change.

But at this point, three years in, whether or not that's long enough to really prove himself in a tough situation, the cons strongly outweigh the pros on his Iowa resume. Even if this decent guy could win at Iowa he's unlikely to be the right man for the long term financial health of the program. If he's lucky, he'll land a job that's a better fit for his coaching and recruiting style and then he'll be able to win and be appreciated by the fan base. Good luck to him.

As for the Hawks, it's time to find someone who can thread the needle through the magic keyhole of current program "must-haves: instant credibility and ability to generate excitement, potential to bring big city players to Iowa City, and solid citizen. In my opinion, former ties to the state of Iowa or the Hawkeye program may be desirable but not necessary.