Before speaking at Wednesday’s I-Club banquet hosted by the North Scott and Quad-Cities I-Clubs, Lickliter found the words and emotions difficult to describe when talking about the death of the mother of Hawkeyes guard Jake Kelly in an airplane crash last weekend.
“What can I say? We’re all so shocked and so saddened,’’ Lickliter said. “It was so unexpected. About the only thing we can say to Jake is how sorry we are and reassure him that we will all be here for him and that we will be ready to support him the best we can.”
Lickliter said a number of Iowa coaches and Kelly’s teammates plan to attend funeral services for Julia Kelly this weekend in Indiana.
Mostly though, he expects all of those same coaches and teammates to be there for Kelly once he returns to campus.
“That is what is important. When Jake gets back we’ll be there to support him,’’ Lickliter said. “We all will be there for him.”
The hope is that Kelly will find strength from the support he has around him, something Lickliter has come to appreciate more than ever as he works toward the start of his second season on the Hawkeyes bench.
He mentioned the work being done by volunteers filling sandbags to protect homes and the campus where he works in Iowa City and how a neighbor has offered Lickliter the use of his driveway because his own is impassable.
“I know they would open up their home if that would be necessary,’’ Lickliter said. “That’s Iowa. That’s something I’ve been able to see and appreciate first hand as I’ve watched people rally around each other and deal with adversity. It’s amazing, but not surprising given what I’ve learned about people in this state.”
Wednesday’s dinner at the Davenport Country Club not only marked his first Quad-Cities appearance at an I-Club event, it also completed Lickliter’s first two-year rotation through Iowa’s extensive I-Club circuit.
At each stop along the way, he has found encouragement from fans.
“Especially following a year when it was tough to find many positives — and there weren’t enough positives — it’s good to hear people say that they believe in what you are doing. I’m so thankful for the reception I’ve gotten as I’ve traveled around the state,” Lickliter said. “It’s a great motivator as we move forward.”
Lickliter told the audience that he believes the Hawkeyes will move forward from last season’s 13-19 record.
With six newcomers joining the program for the 2008-09 season, there will be only three players on the Iowa roster who have been coached by anybody other than Lickliter and his staff at the collegiate level.
“The guys we have returning worked diligently last spring and although we cannot be there to monitor them, I suspect that will continue into the summer. They weren’t satisfied with last season, either,” Lickliter said.
“Now, everyone will know what the expectations are. I was very patient at times last season. I had to be. That probably won’t be the case as often this season.”
Steve Batterson can be contacted at (563) 383-2290 or sbatterson@qctimes.com.
Comments
Mick wrote on Jun 29, 2008 2:32 PM:
" Anyone know who the National Coach of the Year was before Keno Davis was even a head coach? Oh yeah...Todd Lickliter "
Al Love wrote on Jun 27, 2008 4:18 PM:
" Hey guys!!! Give Lickliter a chance. Hes got some good recruits and he needs a little time to develop them. I see good things coming. "
Jim wrote on Jun 24, 2008 7:24 AM:
" Iowa's offense is not competitive. Any Big Ten team that plans an offense around scoring 50 points is doomed to failure. I vote to call Keno. "
cahawkfan wrote on Jun 22, 2008 9:14 AM:
" At the time Iowa was hiring a basketball coach no one knew who Keno Davis was. He had not yet won a game at Drake. He had been as assistant under his dad. We will see how he can do now. Also, lets see how Drake does. I think Iowa hired the best coach they could at the time and he will be sucessful. "
rclop wrote on Jun 19, 2008 3:59 PM:
" Ill. will destroy the hawks...They should of hired Keno Davis...no loyalty..
Your Daddy Rclop "
Your Daddy Rclop "
