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So the gov kinda like ducked the question? Probably didn't want to tick off boosters and potential campaign donors -- or tell the University of Iowa athletics director how to do HER job.

Let me propose a fiscally responsible, cost-neutral option. Have the men's and women's basketball coaches at Iowa flip salaries. Additionally Coach McCaffery gets docked pay every time he is not able to finish a game due to an ejection, with the proceeds going to the Staed Family Children's Hospital at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

In case anyone's keeping score, the Iowa men's basketball team has not made the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA men's basketball tournament since Dr. Tom Davis's squad did it in 1998-99 -- Dr. Tom's final year. That's 35 years and three coaches ago. In contrast, the Iowa State men have made the Sweet Sixteen four of the past 11 seasons, including two of the last three.

Coach Bluder has done an outstanding job and she and her team have done our whole state proud. I wish late Iowa women's AD Dr. Christine Grant was still around. She brought the extraordinary, legendary Coach C. Vivian Stringer to Iowa and really elevated women's intercollegiate athletics. What has happened at Iowa the past two years is a quantum leap even from those halcyon days.

Meanwhile, as a proud Cyclone alum I am VERY excited about Bill Fennelly's bunch with Audi Crooks & Co. the next several years. Audi just makes me smile.

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