The Hlog

Some writers and fans didn't like Alford for always putting the blame on the players or in essence "throwing the players under the bus". In this situation, it appears that Lickliter is no different than Alford. In my opinion, Lickliter is not much of an individual or coach if he could not find a way to play Freeman and convince him to stay for his senior season. You can't put all the blame on Freeman for the lousy season as there were other players far worse than Freeman and who probably won't be any better as seniors. To my knowledge, Tony Freeman represented the U of I in an exemplary manner as contrasted with about fifteen members of the football team. This type of situation is exactly why players ought to be able to transfer to other schools with immediate eligibility instead of having to sit out a year before being eligible to play. It remains to be seen how good any of the six incoming recruits will be including Gatens when they go up against superior competitors.
Al Smith AKA J. Wilson, U of I Class of '61

I'm sorry, I should quit reading any letters, blogs, etc. about Hawkeye basketball. When I read somebody's fatuous rantings in the newspaper, my blood pressure goes up, while my hope for the future of humanity is tarnished yet again.

For those who dump on Lickliter because "(H)e could not find a way to play Freeman and convince him to stay for his senior season,"
let me posit an analogy that even the short-sighted might understand:

[Point - this is not directed AT anyone, but merely for you to use when explaining to "those who will not see."]

Let's suppose that there is a college football team, and that team has marginal success running a wishbone offense. Let's further suppose that the coach of said team beats the posse out of town and goes to another position (at a lesser school, in an easier conference.)

So a new coach is hired, one with a solid national reputation - and he runs a pro-set offense. Of course it's too late to recruit any players who really fit his system, so he makes do with what he has.

His junior QB, who was pretty good in the option offense, struggles with a pro-set; he makes some great plays, but he doesn't really grasp the new offense. As a result, while running around and completing a few bombs for TDs, the QB also throws a lot of picks, misses many open receivers, audibles into bad plays, forces the ball into coverage . . . and the team suffers. They get a couple of exciting, unexpected wins, but they lose a number of games that they probably should not have. The QB is trying everything he knows, but he's just not getting it.

End of the year, the Coach sits down with the QB and tells him, "It's just not working out" for him to stay at QB. The Coach offers to let him move to WR or D-back - but if he wants to play QB, he'll ride the pine or do it somewhere else.

Would anyone fault that coach? I suggest that fans would be howling if no changes were made. Yet, how is different than what Lick did with TFree?

Okay, no more venting.