Dahm's Contract Expires - Extend or Fire Him?

[ssckelley]

Good post ssckelley. I went to a the Iowa @ MN game a couple weeks ago in the Dome. My kids had a great time. I tend to agree with your observation that with just one D1 program in Iowa we should be able to feed Iowa enough players to compete in top half or third of B1G regularly but as Duff said the best will get pro contracts, although I think if Iowa were elite in B1G many of the kids who may otherwise go south or west to play college may choose Iowa.
One counterpoint, the Bucks sell beer at their games which really helps draw fans IMO.

I admit, I enjoy a cold one when going to a Bucks game. But the main reason for going is to watch baseball, and take the kids out to see a live game. All of us tend to cheer a little louder when a player from the U of I gets announced. But since baseball has been on the BTN my kids have been asking me when are we going to go watch an Iowa Hawkeye baseball game. Now that it is getting warm enough to go to a game, guess what, season is over. I do not have to drink a beer to enjoy a baseball game. I love baseball, I love the Hawks, I would have a good time taking in a Hawkeye baseball game in the summer time.

To the other poster that responded, I really could care less if Iowa cannot compete with the south. I want to see Iowa compete in the Big Ten, that 2010 season started getting my interest in Hawkeye baseball when they made it to the championship game. These games are being televised, and when enough kids like mine start watching these games they are going to get interested. Even Big Ten softball is picking up interest as I found my 6th grade daughter taking in a softball game that was being televised on the BTN.

Bottom line is this, there are enough baseball fans around that if the Hawkeyes were to put a quality product on the field people would go to the games. Especially if they were to push more of these games into the summer.

[eyekwah]

I really could care less if Iowa cannot compete with the south. I want to see Iowa compete in the Big Ten.

I agree with your comment. I also think it would allow multi-sport athletes to be able to jump over from BBall or FB and play baseball. Danann Hughes would be a good example. Played football but was able to play on the baseball team as well. With spring football practice over, good athletes would be able to compete in baseball easier. It might actually be a recruiting advantage.

[bogeyman]

I agree with your comment. I also think it would allow multi-sport athletes to be able to jump over from BBall or FB and play baseball. Danann Hughes would be a good example. Played football but was able to play on the baseball team as well. With spring football practice over, good athletes would be able to compete in baseball easier. It might actually be a recruiting advantage.

See another thread about all this summer baseball stuff, but cliff notes version -as someone who played in college the players wouldn't go for this. The program would actually have a tougher time recruiting. The players want more reps and playing time. Playing conference baseball in the summer would not allow the players to play in the various summer leagues they play in to get more exposure and hone their game. And... obviously they would miss the spring season 50+ games. So basically they would get X amount of conference games in the summer against the same 10 teams and that is all. That isn't enough games and experience for the serious ones to get better. The conference wouldn't be getting Div. 1 caliber players.

The state has decent HS talent and there are several of the top players signed with Iowa right now. A few might get drafted in June though and decide to go pro. Austin Christiansen from Kennedy signed with Nebby last year, so that isn't a southern school and we still lost him.

And for what its worth, the HS coaches in the state really don't seem to be that intrigued with Dahm and staff.
Just my two cents

[nationalchamps]

Respect from in state hs programs will not help iowa baseball.

You are an idiot

Ummm yeah. It's not that I don't like baseball, or even college baseball. Hell I go to the college world series about every other year or so. What I don't like is BAD baseball, and that is what Iowa, as well as most of the rest of the B10 is. It will continue to be bad unless baseball is changed from a spring to a summer sport. No college prospect with options is going to chose to play ball in Iowa in March and April. Like most other sports Iowa doesn't produce enough quality players to support a team, and the best of the rest (the best sign pro contracts almost exclusively) are never going to chose Iowa over some SEC or West Coast power. Be happy our revenue generating sports (football) does well enough for Iowa to continue to fund a team (see ISU and UNI).But yes, I'm the idiot..

So you agree with my first post.

[hoffahawk]

See another thread about all this summer baseball stuff, but cliff notes version -as someone who played in college the players wouldn't go for this. The program would actually have a tougher time recruiting. The players want more reps and playing time. Playing conference baseball in the summer would not allow the players to play in the various summer leagues they play in to get more exposure and hone their game. And... obviously they would miss the spring season 50+ games. So basically they would get X amount of conference games in the summer against the same 10 teams and that is all. That isn't enough games and experience for the serious ones to get better. The conference wouldn't be getting Div. 1 caliber players.

The state has decent HS talent and there are several of the top players signed with Iowa right now. A few might get drafted in June though and decide to go pro. Austin Christiansen from Kennedy signed with Nebby last year, so that isn't a southern school and we still lost him.

And for what its worth, the HS coaches in the state really don't seem to be that intrigued with Dahm and staff.
Just my two cents

Agree, it would be idiotic for the Big ten to go to summer baseball.