Nepotism Run Amok?

by Hawkeye State Sun May 04, 2008 at 12:54:44 PM EDT

As you all well know, James Ferentz - son of Kirk Ferentz - is an incoming freshman center.  He enters Iowa stuck well behind honorable mention all-Big Ten center Rafael Eubanks and senior Rob Bruggeman.  Odds are he will redshirt and compete for the starting position in two years.

But what if he doesn't?  What if Ferentz decides instead to move Bruggeman to guard and politely asks Eubanks to transfer, clearing the way for his son to start as a freshman?  We would cry nepotism and let slip the dogs of war, right?

I only mention this hypothetical scenario because Tony Freeman - an honorable mention all-Big Ten point guard - was told to hit the bricks this week, despite the fact he averaged 14 points per game on a team that couldn't score, and the fact there is not a returning point guard with the same level of experience (not to mention the sole returning point, Jeff Peterson, spent the past year driving baseline, getting trapped, and throwing the ball into the stands).  Todd Lickliter is a system coach, and we've been told he wants a point guard who better "fits his system".  I'm not going to claim Lickliter doesn't know what he's doing, or that his position is unreasonable.  Of course, nobody better fits his system than...

...his son John, who is walking on this year to play the point.  I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin'.

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  • Since when did he "tell" Freeman to leave? (none / 0)

    I was under the impression that HE asked to be released and the University granted it.

    by Adam on Sun May 04, 2008 at 01:14:19 PM EDT

    • "Forced to resign" is closer to the truth (none / 0)

      Lickliter passed him over for a captainship in favor of Jarryd Cole (a sophomore), then asked him if he ever thought about transferring.  Freeman was a scholarship player to begin with, so they couldn't simply show him the door in the same way they did Bohall, but it was a close as you can get.  Sure, Tony could have stayed, but it was made abundantly clear he wasn't wanted.

      by Hawkeye State on Sun May 04, 2008 at 01:43:04 PM EDT

      [ Parent ]

  • About the Freeman Issue (none / 0)

    I think what people are overlooking is that when Lickli

    EXCUSE ME, IF I MAY HAVE A WORD

    Why uh, sure, Mr. Paterno. We didn't expect you to

    WHEN I ASK FOR A WORD THAT DOES NOT MEAN YOU CONTINUE SPEAKING

    Yes sir.

    MISTER LICKLITER, I HAVE BEEN A COACH FOR LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF YEARS, AND I HAVE MADE MORE MISTAKES IN THAT TIME FRAME THAN I CARE TO ADMIT

    I ONCE RECRUITED A YOUNG PROSPECT BY THE NAME OF JOHNNY FIVE TO PLAY RUNNING BACK, UNAWARE THAT HE WAS A HOLLYWOOD CREATION AND NOT ABLE TO SHOOT LASERS OR ANYTHING THAT THE HIGHLIGHT REEL HAD INSINUATED. THE NCAA WAS FURIOUS AND MANY NEW RULES CAME FROM THE DEBACLE, INCLUDING THE ONE WHERE I AM NOT ALLOWED TO WATCH THE MATINEES IN THE MOVIE THEATER ON ACCOUNT OF MY POOR EYESIGHT AND ALL. I MUST TELL YOU THAT THE RULING WAS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE, AS I WAS ABLE TO RESCIND MY SCHOLARSHIP OFFER TO STEVE GUTTENBERG AS A RESULT

    What does this story have to do with

    THAT IS ENOUGH TALKING FROM YOU, YOU GREASER

    I HAVE A RIGHT MIND TO PADDLE THE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF YOU

    WHERE WAS I

    OH YES, MISTER LICKLITER. AS SUPREMELY CONFIDENT AS YOU MUST BE IN YOUR PROGENY, AS IT IS GENETICALLY HALF YOUR WORK, YOU MUST NOT BECOME BLIND TO CERTAIN REALITIES AND SHORTCOMINGS THAT YOUR CHILDREN MAY HAVE

    Dad! Dad! I just figured it out! We give the quarterbacks a shield, just like Captain America! Someone tries to sack him, and CLANG! He blocks them with his shield! I think that would be easier than finding radioactive spiders to bite them all and make them all Spidermans!

    NO, NOT SPIDERMANS. USE YOUR WORDS

    S... s...spidermen?

    CORRECT, BUT STILL AN UNHOLY BAD IDEA. I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO BURN THOSE INFERNAL COMIC BOOKS ANYWAY

    I did! I just got that idea by using my brain and thinking! You can't make me burn my memories! (runs off crying)

    AGAIN, YOU SHOULD NOT MIX FAMILY AND SPORTS. PLEASE TRUST ME ON THIS ONE

    by Oops Pow Surprise on Sun May 04, 2008 at 02:05:08 PM EDT

  • Little Lickliter (none / 0)

    I got to watch him all last year. He's very fast and quick, none of the teams he faced had anyone that he couldn't lose. Passed well, can hit open shots. The thing that would worry me if he was getting PT is that he's not a big guy. 5'8" give or take an inch. He didn't take contested shots in high school so I can't see him scoring at the college level anytime soon.

    by jb on Sun May 04, 2008 at 03:17:28 PM EDT

  • Freeman (none / 0)

    Only two people know how that conversation really went.  One isn't talking, and the one that is  talking has hurt feelings and will most likely regret some comments that were made.  I was looking forward to watching Tony's senior year at Iowa, and wish him nothing but the best.  

    by Anonymous Hero on Sun May 04, 2008 at 03:58:29 PM EDT

  • Oh, please (none / 0)

    Did you even watch him last year?  What about during the primetime league where you got that photo from?  He was timid at best.

    All these people on the Register and elsewhere that think John Lickliter is going to pick up and replace Freeman's production are ignorant and foolish.

    by Anonymous Hero on Sun May 04, 2008 at 05:48:42 PM EDT

    • Ignorant and foolish? (none / 0)

      Nobody here is saying he's going to replace Freeman's production, but that doesn't stop Lickliter from trying.

      All these people without commenting accounts that think John Lickliter isn't going to play are ignorant and foolish.

      by Hawkeye State on Mon May 05, 2008 at 09:22:08 AM EDT

      [ Parent ]

  • very strange post (none / 0)

    If we have a 135 lb point guard from any family, let alone one whose mom is married to the coach, we're all going to have to take up different time-consuming, pointless hobbies.  

    I can't really figure out what HS is saying, or "just sayin'" or what, but I certainly can no more disavow him than I might my own grandma.

    Until he says it again.  Then I drop him like a rock.  C'mon big guy, you think we got a coach this unhinged?

    by Bellanca on Mon May 05, 2008 at 11:55:54 AM EDT

  • I find it curious (none / 0)

    Freeman never should have been the PG at Iowa, even next year when he was the most experienced one returning.  The man can't pass.  He can create, via dribble, which isn't suited for the new O under TL.  I don't see why this is so surprising or anything.  TL is slowly making that team into his own image, which is fine by me.  Whether it be his son, who will only have to hit open shots (via ball movement) or the next guy, the fact remains that Freeman wasn't a good fit.

    And while I won't comment on how the situation was handled, I won't hold TL out to dry for telling a guy that is the most selfish and basketball-IQ-retarded I've ever seen, that he isn't wanted.  I love Freeman for what he did on the court last year, but he's been a  TO waiting to happen since he stepped on campus.  We're better off w/o him, but I sincerely wish him luck at his next stop.

    by iamadirtyoldman on Mon May 05, 2008 at 01:31:52 PM EDT

    • No doubt about it (none / 0)

      Freeman was a shooting guard stuck at the point, and you're right his drive-and-dish method isn't particularly suited to Lickliter basketball.  That being said, the kid has one year of eligibility left, and while he could have transferred out when Alford left or mailed in this past year, he instead played his ass off and occasionally put this team on his back.

      He's the most exasperating player I've ever seen at Iowa (including Greg Brunner, who regularly drove me to drink), but Tony was pretty damn good in a year when he had every right to be shitty.  I'm not jumping at the opportunity to throw him under the proverbial bus.

      If Lickliter wants to clean house, go ahead.  If Lickliter wants to get more PT for Peterson/Tucker/Lickliter in the hopes of finding a long-term solution at the point, be my guest.  But when you tell the guy who salvaged your first season he's being passed over as a captain for a SOPHOMORE, then ask him if he's considered transferring (basically amouting to a demotion and forced retirement), and then refuse to comment on your actions, you make me nervous.  It seems so slimy.  It seems so underhanded.  It seems so...Alford-like.

      by Hawkeye State on Mon May 05, 2008 at 02:03:15 PM EDT

      [ Parent ]

  • You don't see exposé pieces like this in th (none / 0)

    But you do on the Internet.

    Excellent work. Nepotism= bad.

    by Frank Grimes on Mon May 05, 2008 at 02:25:50 PM EDT

  • The Long and Winding Road (none / 0)

    Wow, bring back Troy Skinner, anyone, I hope TL has some sort of vision of the future as all I can see is desolation, destruction, bottom feeding in an already bad Medium 11. Next year they mat be the fifth or even sixth best team in Iowa behind Kirkwood and Buena Vista. When does College Football start?

    by The Holy Grail on Mon May 05, 2008 at 04:45:06 PM EDT

  • I agree whole heartedly Hawkeye State (none / 0)

    T Free was kneecapped in a classless fashion. There is no way else to spin this story. I have already heard a whisper smear campaign that Freeman did not run the coach's plays and this is why they pushed him out.

    If he was such a crappy player and uncoachable, why did he play? how did he make 3rd team all Big 10?

    Fans scream about players not playing hard and complain about athletes getting in trouble. Freeman played his ASS off and through an injury. He kept his nose clean, which it seems in IC these days needs commended.  

    Most importantly, T Free was loyal to the Hawkeye basketball program. Alfraud jumped ship and so did Craig Neal. Tyler Smith bolted. Freeman stuck around and provided key points on the most inept hawkeye offensive basketball that I have seen in my 30 years of following Hawk hoops.

    Iowa will still suck with or without Freeman and his game did piss me off at times.

    Cutting a player going into his senior season, one who played his ass for you so you could earn your million dollar salary and keep your team afloat during your first Big 10 season is a total dick head move. There are no ways around this fact.

    Coach Lick may be right in the long run and he might  get some other kid to play the way he wants but Hawkeye pride took a major hit with Freeman's forced  exit.  

    Good Luck T Free. I hope you graduate and get some PT at another school.

    I heart bobby da hitman

    by MacG on Tue May 06, 2008 at 01:34:14 AM EDT

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