Give Coach McCaffery, and all of us, a break

I wrote this letter probably 20 years ago, and I write it once again.

Some basketball fans are rarely, if ever, happy. Current bellyache deals with unfortunate comments made by an announcer, calling out the coaching and a specific player on the University of Iowa men's basketball team.

Looking back, ne'er-do-wells led to the dismissal of Dr. Tom Davis, winningest basketball coach in Iowa history, after a season in which he led the Hawks to the Sweet Sixteen.

We followed with Steve Alford and Todd Lickleiter. Alford walked out on the job, and Lickleiter had a regrettably tough time. George Raveling was here a paltry three years, and walked out on one of the best recruiting classes we ever had.

Lute Olson stayed nine years and then walked, going to Arizona, where he stayed for something along the lines of 24 years. They named buildings after the guy.

Who can forget Ralph Miller? Here six years and then abruptly leaves for Oregon State where he coaches for something like 19 years. Again, they name arenas after the guy.

Coach Fran McCaffery is doing a good job - basketball is exciting again, and the team is off to a good start. The Big Ten is a slaughterhouse to play in (seven teams in the top 25) and, be real, how many world class attractions are there to draw blue chippers to Iowa? If you're not born into it, it is sometimes hard to see yourself in that spot.

I guess my biggest regret is the ne'er-do-well group, shooting their mouths off about what they know little about, belittling those working so hard to please everyone.

Steve Camp

Fairfax