Iowa State University's Special Place Basketball Place

I have written about Iowa State’s Hilton Coliseum before. “Hilton Magic” is popular term in this state coined by a former Des Moines Register sportswriter. The magic seems to propel the Cyclones to victory.

The magic is working especially well this season. Iowa State has yet to loss a game in the building.

I experienced Hilton Magic again in person last week. The mission was to watch the Baylor Bears oppose Iowa State. Baylor played with Iowa State for about 35 minutes before the Cyclones pulled away. Baylor knows too well Hilton Magic as the Bears have never won in Hilton in 10 or 11 tries.

The crowd was 14,000 plus and electric. At times, you couldn’t hear yourself think or talk to the person next to you. When Baylor shot free throws, the students waved signs and made extreme noise. When Iowa State shot a free throw, a “quiet” sign went up.

Home court is talked about all the time in college basketball. There are numerous tough places to play. But once again, I was reminded that Hilton Coliseum ranks next to the toughest in America.

Just ask Baylor.

Iowa Football Team in Funk

After Iowa lost its second consecutive game Saturday, Hawkeye Athletic Director Gary Barta made a statement. You realize things are really bad when Barta starts making statements.

In this election year, Barta is throwing his full support behind the Iowa program.

I guess Barta felt the need to express some comments after Northwestern handled the Hawkeyes 28-17 Saturday. The week before Penn State totally destroyed Iowa.

Iowa is a mediocre 4-4 and needs at least two more wins to become bowl eligible. The best chances appear Saturday at Indiana and next week hosting Purdue. The two other remaining games (Michigan and Nebraska) appear out of reach.

But this is how far the Hawkeye program has fallen this season. Iowa fans are talking about “just” winning enough to become bowl eligible.

Coach Kirk Ferentz is obviously taking lots of heat. But the veteran coach isn’t going anywhere with a long-term contact and an expensive buyout. Plus, Iowa changes head coaches about as often as The Des Moines Register newspaper endorses a Republican for President of the United States. For my international readers, that isn’t often in either case.

Senior quarterback James Vanderberg is also catching fan’s ire. But Vanderberg isn’t going anywhere either. Ferentz is loyal to players and coaches and probably won’t make a change at quarterback. The Hawkeyes will continue to lifv or die with Vanderberg.

These last four games will be interesting. Can Iowa save its season? Or will the critics grow louder?

It’s never simple with Iowa Hawkeye sports. That’s a sure vote.

Goods News in Iowa

Some days it doesn’t take much to bring happiness. The Des Moines Register’s decision to return Marc Hansen to his sports columnist role would fit that category.

Hansen was the Register’s columnist from 1981-2001. The guy can simply write. He left sports to spend more time with his family and moved to a general columnist spot

Because we don’t have major professional sports in this state, Hansen will focus his coverage on Iowa, Iowa State, Northern Iowa and Drake.

Hansen won’t have former Iowa football coach Hayden Fry to spar with anymore. The two used to battle over Hansen’s questions and words sometimes. It will be interesting to see if Hansen and present Iowa football coach Kirk Ferentz will play nice. Ferentz is much more laid back than his former boss, but he mirrors Fry in wanting to maintain control.

Hansen should receive a warm welcome at Iowa State. He should have good relationships with football coach Paul Rhoads and basketball coach Fred Hoiberg. I find it hard to believe that Hansen would ever get into it with Hoiberg. It seems everybody loves Hoiberg (nicknamed "The Mayor").

I knew Hansen a little bit in my previous life. He’s a good guy. He will do a great job in his returned role. And I look forward to reading his words.

College Basketball Transfer Challenges

Des Moines Register (Iowa) sportswriter Rick Brown wrote an interesting article Sunday on the problems of players transferring in college basketball. He talked to several college coaches particularly those in Iowa.

It’s a complex problem, but basically players want instant playing time and instant success. It’s another problem reflected on the American culture. We have microwave ovens and fast food. We are in a hurry. We don’t want to wait. We don’t read the instruction book first. We just assemble the toy.

Many college players are spoiled. They have been told their entire lives they are special. When they get to college, the competition is fierce. Often they are no longer the best player on a team. Their feelings are hurt. They demand playing time. They are down on the depth chart. It’s time to search for greener grass. Surely, another college team will treat them special.

As I started before, the other main reason players transfer is trouble at their school. Players find their way to the police station or have trouble academically.

I have a prime example of this transfer problem only 70 miles from me. The Iowa State men’s program have had its share of departures and arrivals recently.

Previous coach Greg McDermott couldn’t retain players. They were not happy campers. That’s one major reason McDermott posted a poor record and fled when he could to Creighton.

First-year coach Fred Hoiberg is in the receiving line. Hoiberg is stockpiling players for the future. He will have players available next year from Minnesota, Michigan State, Southern Illinois and Penn State. Hoiberg was an outstanding player in college and serviceable in the professional ranks. He is a former NBA executive. Those are all good reasons why Iowa State is suddenly on the receiving end. Players want success. They want the NBA.

Hopefully, Hoiberg will mold these players into a team. Players need to realize that team goals translate into individual success too.

Finding New Funding Critical for Mid-Major Athletic Programs

Mid-Major athletic programs are finding it increasingly difficult to fund their programs due to lack of state monies. And these schools are being forced to ween themselves off this type of funding.

Here in Iowa, the state legislature has basically told the University of Northern Iowa to become more self-supporting. Northern Iowa takes the most athletic money from the general fund of the state's three public universities.

Last year, Northern Iowa dropped its baseball program because of budget problems. There were also cries that the Panthers should consider dropping football too or at least play a non-scholarship brand. This about a program that is a consistent playoff team in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (former Division 1-AA).

The problem with the football program is it loses money.

But according to a study discussed in The Des Moines Register, findings suggest no real financial change if the football program switched status.

By the way, the men's basketball team is the only program that makes money at Northern Iowa. The Panthers improved their standing with a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA tournament this season.

So Northern Iowa, like many other programs in the country, will need to raise large sums of private money to keep athletic departments and sports afloat. The days of just showing up and requesting public money are history.

It's a new day for many in college athletics without the fun and games.