Altman to Iowa?

[UNIAlum95]

The difference is that Altman has been in a major conference before. Mac was also making peanuts compared to what ISU was offering. Even if Iowa were to offer $1M, CU could probably make a decent counter offer to that.

You are right, you don't know what drives him. If he feels he has hit the top of where he can take CU, he could leave. However, there aren't too many jobs in DI where you can get consistent 20 win seasons and not have to deal with problem child athletes.

[panther2317]

Altman makes $750,000/year plus incentives at Creighton, they play in a brand new 17,500 seat arena, they have a major metropolitan area to recruit to and they are a better program than Iowa...why would he leave? Before anyone who is also an Iowa fan freaks out...Creighton is a better program...has been for the last ten years. They've been to 7 NCAA's in the last 9 seasons. They have more wins, they have more NCAA wins...they are a better program today. Why would he leave? His parents are from about an hour west of Omaha and they can attend every home game. Again...he's in the perfect situation.

[Matt Trump]

Don't be so quick to question this rumor. Alford has been on the outs with alot of Iowa fans since the day he got there, for one simple reason HE'S A HOOSIER. I remember when Dr. Tom left and the two names Buzzing around were Alford and B.J. Armstrong, Now I'm not saying they should have went with Armstrong, because I don't know that he even has any coaching experience or would make a good coach. I'm just saying alot of people in this state still don't like Alford because of his past...

Alford rubs alot of people in IA City and the state the wrong way, I wouldn't put it past anyone at U of I to get rid of him.

If ADs made decisions based on what the fans wanted, KF wouldn't be the football coach and it wouldn't be where it is today. Iowa fans wanted Alford and only disliked him when his teams underachieved and he called out players. Not before. They wanted a change from Dr. Tom to get to the "next level". Once, they figured out Alford iwasn't the person to do it they hated him.

[BCPanther]

Your right, Matt..

When KF was hired all we heard for two years was "If we only had Bobby Stoops..." Then KF became a legend who can do no wrong, even a 6-7 record gets ignored, because they have Alford to beat on...

[Matt Trump]

Altman makes $750,000/year plus incentives at Creighton, they play in a brand new 17,500 seat arena, they have a major metropolitan area to recruit to and they are a better program than Iowa...why would he leave? Before anyone who is also an Iowa fan freaks out...Creighton is a better program...has been for the last ten years. They've been to 7 NCAA's in the last 9 seasons. They have more wins, they have more NCAA wins...they are a better program today. Why would he leave? His parents are from about an hour west of Omaha and they can attend every home game. Again...he's in the perfect situation.

Very true. Not to mention that academically, Creighton and Iowa are on a similar level and Creighton has a lot different persective to offer. A private, prestigious Jesuit institution with small class sizes can go a long way to sway a kid.

Creighton is a better program on the court and News is correct about the difference in conferences. BUT, that gap is closing every year. Not to mention the fact that Altman chose to stay at Creighton and go to better programs before when the Valley wasn't as good. Why would he leave now????????

[Newsbreaker]

Altman makes $750,000/year plus incentives at Creighton, they play in a brand new 17,500 seat arena, they have a major metropolitan area to recruit to and they are a better program than Iowa...why would he leave? Before anyone who is also an Iowa fan freaks out...Creighton is a better program...has been for the last ten years. They've been to 7 NCAA's in the last 9 seasons. They have more wins, they have more NCAA wins...they are a better program today. Why would he leave? His parents are from about an hour west of Omaha and they can attend every home game. Again...he's in the perfect situation.

Like I said earlier, you just don't know what interests/drives a person. He might feel that he's built CU to the best it can be, and to go further, he needs to move elsewhere. Iowa, where he could still recruit the Omaha area, make equal or slightly better money, have a higher profile, and compete in a league where "respect" comes a bit easier might be that sort of opportunity.

Or not. Blankly dismissing the idea, however, dismisses a very possible reality.

[Purple Reign]

Dana Delivers Donor Dollars

If it's money, Creighton will double what Iowa would offer. They have the resources, the facility, the tradition, the fan base, and family close by. Why would he leave? He saw the "Big Time" and got out. He has created his own form of "Big Time" and he would be nuts to leave. I think this discussion has been held every year since Alford came to Iowa.

PR

[Newsbreaker]

..and the discussion will continue for as long as Alford is at Iowa, there is nothing (short of the Final Four, and even then) that Steve could do to stop it at this point.

All I'm saying is that pretending to know a man's motivations, and therefore accurately predict his future decisions, is at BEST impossible.

[UNIAlum95]

All I'm saying is that pretending to know a man's motivations, and therefore accurately predict his future decisions, is at BEST impossible.

All Panther fans should be keenly aware of this or have we already forgotten last year...

[Matt Trump]

If it's money, Creighton will double what Iowa would offer. They have the resources, the facility, the tradition, the fan base, and family close by. Why would he leave? He saw the "Big Time" and got out. He has created his own form of "Big Time" and he would be nuts to leave. I think this discussion has been held every year since Alford came to Iowa.

PR

Exactly. Creighton alums are a very proud group and will do anything to keep their school on top.

[General_Panther]

Okay let me rephrase a few things, first off I meant to say that Dr. Tom was the best coach Iowa has ever seen IN MY OPINION, mostly because I met the man and he always was respectful and treated me well and when you're a kid you tend gain a lot of respect for people in a High Profile Position that treat you that way.

I think that ULTIMATELY Lute Olsen was the best coach in Iowa history for what he did. I forgot all about the Final Four appearance in, I think it was 1980 or 81, he did put the program on the map at that time and Dr. Tom did inherit some great athletes, but during his time at Iowa he also had some great athletes recruited by himself and his staff.

With that said, maybe Altman feels that he's done everything he can at Creighton, I mean they've been to the NCAA Tournament 7 of the last 9 years or something like that. Who's to know what's on Mr. Altman's mind I for one don't, but I do know that if Iowa gets him, they'll get a GREAT Coach who could take their program a heck of a long way.

And just for the record this does NOT mean that I'm a Blue Jay backer. I'm just expressing my opinion.

[Coachdags]

Dr. Tom was the best coach in school history?

Have you ever heard the name Lute Olson?

The guy who resurrected the program and took them to the Final Four with his own players, and came darn close to winning a National Title if not for his All-American point guard tearing up his knee?

Just a little trivia for you guys.....

Where was Lute born and raised...?

Answer:

Same as current UNI Head Coach Ben Jacobson, Mayville, North Dakota
Jake was accutally born in a Fargo, Hospital, raised in Mayville until he Graduated and received a BasketBall Scholarship to UND in Grand Forks.

Lute Olson..
Olson was born on a farm just outside Mayville, N.D., on Sept. 22, 1934, and would go on to attend high school in Grand Forks, N.D., for the 1951-52 season, where he led the team to the 1952 state basketball championship.

[UNI05Alum]

Altman will eventually leave Creighton. If it's to Iowa or another "power conference team", he WILL eventually leave. At Creighton he will NEVER threaten to play for a National Championship, have a Nationally televised game or two every week, battle for THE top recruit(s), etc. Throw in a little extra money to boot. While he might "have it made", that isn't what always keeps a person at a job. He might just flat out get tired of doing the same old thing season after season. A school like Iowa could contend for a National Championship within 2-4 years with a coach like Altman; Creighton CAN NOT. He's had the glory in Omaha, but he will move on. Winning 20 games and then making the tournament knowing you can't contend for a Championship only can keep a man in town so long... See SIU....

[BCPanther]

I don't know. Dana does have two top 150 recruits coming in next year. He has had opportunities to jump before and he hasn't done it. It would take the most ideal situation imaginable for Dana to go anywhere, and Iowa isn't that situation...

[TravelingPanther]

Why is everyone so convinced that a Valley team can't take a shot at a championship? 2 sweet 16 teams last year, SIU and Creighton should perform well this year, and look at George Mason's run last year.

The landscape of college basketball is leveling out.