Mac's Maniacs at UNI
GERALDINE WAGNER
CEDAR FALLS --- I read the article by Doug Newhoff about Mac's Maniacs (Courier, March 1). Home-court advantage used to mean playing better because friends and relatives were cheering. Kids won competitions with talent, determination, sportsmanship and good coaching, and maybe some good luck. If the other team was down, that helped. Isn't that good enough? Do we need a group like the Maniacs to heckle and torment other players until they don't pay attention to coaching or concentrate on their game. College basketball at its best?
Greg McDermott got the Maniacs organized after similar groups added to the atmosphere during his previous coaching stops, the article states. Was this on his resume --- coaching a group like the Maniacs? It's bad enough that kids act like this, but the coach started and encourages it.
Scott Connolly says they do research and have scouting reports on other teams' players: miscellaneous stats, middle names, high schools. In a case like Pierre Pierce, they dig up trouble the kids have had that they are trying to overcome. Connolly says they have class; they don't promote swearing. They might be nasty and hurting, but clean!
I have been proud when the University of Northern Iowa defeated previously undefeated teams. I thought the kids played exceptionally well with great coaching. Does it take a bunch of kids in the stands yelling insults and distracting the other players so they can't hear their coaches? Can't our players win if the other teams aren't distracted?
Special note to Greg McDermott: Dan Gable grew up in our area and developed into one of the most outstanding coaches in college athletics and built the best record in wrestling at the University of Iowa. Everyone talks about the great fans at Iowa. I'll bet no one praises the Mac's Maniacs except McDermott and the Maniacs.
GERALDINE WAGNER
CEDAR FALLS --- I read the article by Doug Newhoff about Mac's Maniacs (Courier, March 1). Home-court advantage used to mean playing better because friends and relatives were cheering. Kids won competitions with talent, determination, sportsmanship and good coaching, and maybe some good luck. If the other team was down, that helped. Isn't that good enough? Do we need a group like the Maniacs to heckle and torment other players until they don't pay attention to coaching or concentrate on their game. College basketball at its best?
Greg McDermott got the Maniacs organized after similar groups added to the atmosphere during his previous coaching stops, the article states. Was this on his resume --- coaching a group like the Maniacs? It's bad enough that kids act like this, but the coach started and encourages it.
Scott Connolly says they do research and have scouting reports on other teams' players: miscellaneous stats, middle names, high schools. In a case like Pierre Pierce, they dig up trouble the kids have had that they are trying to overcome. Connolly says they have class; they don't promote swearing. They might be nasty and hurting, but clean!
I have been proud when the University of Northern Iowa defeated previously undefeated teams. I thought the kids played exceptionally well with great coaching. Does it take a bunch of kids in the stands yelling insults and distracting the other players so they can't hear their coaches? Can't our players win if the other teams aren't distracted?
Special note to Greg McDermott: Dan Gable grew up in our area and developed into one of the most outstanding coaches in college athletics and built the best record in wrestling at the University of Iowa. Everyone talks about the great fans at Iowa. I'll bet no one praises the Mac's Maniacs except McDermott and the Maniacs.
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