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Friday, June 27, 2008 8:19 AM CDT
UNI track coach Bucknam headed to Arkansas
Iowa parks hit hard by floods
UNI track coach Bucknam headed to Arkansas
Roberts guilty of lesser charges
DISCLAIMER: The Courier provides our story commenting feature in order to solicit feedback, debate and discussion on topics of local interest. Please keep in mind that civility is a necessary component of productive conversation. All blatantly inflammatory or otherwise inappropriate comments (i.e. vulgarity, marketing, etc.) are subject to rejection and/or removal. Comments will appear if and when they are approved. For a more in-depth explanation of our policy, please see our Rules of the Road. Thanks for reading, and thanks for participating.
UNI track coach Bucknam headed to Arkansas
By DOUG NEWHOFF, Sports Editor
CEDAR FALLS --- University of Northern Iowa director of running programs Chris Bucknam has accepted an offer to become head men’s track and cross country coach at the University of Arkansas, The Courier learned this morning.
Unconfirmed reports of the move began circulating in UNI and Arkansas circles Thursday night when attempts to reach Bucknam and new Arkansas director of athletics Jeff Long were unsuccessful.
This morning, The Courier received a copy of an e-mail sent to student-athletes in the Panther track and field program.
"The reason I’m writing is to inform you that I am resigning as the UNI head coach and accepting the men’s head coaching position at the University of Arkansas," Bucknam wrote in the e-mail. "I interviewed on Monday and was offered and accepted the position (Thursday) at noon."
Bucknam went on to say a press conference is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. today when the official announcement will be made. During 26 seasons as UNI’s head coach, Bucknam has helped the Panther men’s track program become one of the nation’s best. UNI swept this season’s Missouri Valley Conference men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor titles, then finished ninth at the 2008 NCAA men’s indoor and 11th at the recent NCAA men’s outdoor championships.
A native of Beverly, Mass., Bucknam has won 29 coach of the year honors. His UNI men’s and women’s teams have won 23 conference track and field titles and another five league cross country titles.
Bucknam will replace legendary Arkansas coach John McDonnell, who resigned after the recent NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Contact Doug Newhoff at (319) 291-1467 or doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com
Unconfirmed reports of the move began circulating in UNI and Arkansas circles Thursday night when attempts to reach Bucknam and new Arkansas director of athletics Jeff Long were unsuccessful.
This morning, The Courier received a copy of an e-mail sent to student-athletes in the Panther track and field program.
"The reason I’m writing is to inform you that I am resigning as the UNI head coach and accepting the men’s head coaching position at the University of Arkansas," Bucknam wrote in the e-mail. "I interviewed on Monday and was offered and accepted the position (Thursday) at noon."
Bucknam went on to say a press conference is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. today when the official announcement will be made. During 26 seasons as UNI’s head coach, Bucknam has helped the Panther men’s track program become one of the nation’s best. UNI swept this season’s Missouri Valley Conference men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor titles, then finished ninth at the 2008 NCAA men’s indoor and 11th at the recent NCAA men’s outdoor championships.
A native of Beverly, Mass., Bucknam has won 29 coach of the year honors. His UNI men’s and women’s teams have won 23 conference track and field titles and another five league cross country titles.
Bucknam will replace legendary Arkansas coach John McDonnell, who resigned after the recent NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Contact Doug Newhoff at (319) 291-1467 or doug.newhoff@wcfcourier.com
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Iowa parks hit hard by floodsUNI track coach Bucknam headed to ArkansasRoberts guilty of lesser charges
BenMinders wrote on Jun 27, 2008 9:51 AM:
" Thanks for everything Bucky!! This would be like Farley taking over USC. "
waterloo reader wrote on Jun 27, 2008 10:17 AM:
" Anything that involves relocating to Arkansas is not a promotion. "
leftthevalley wrote on Jun 27, 2008 11:44 AM:
" I never ran for Bucky, but knew people who did and I took a class he taught when I was a freshman in the early '80s. Great person, wonderful part of UNI and the community. Thanks for everything, Bucky - you will be missed greatly. "
stenny1963 wrote on Jun 27, 2008 11:46 AM:
" from one Beverly boy to another Congrats Bucky.I'll tell everyone when i get to Beverly for the Turkey Day game what a great job you did for UNI.You will be missed "
allen wrote on Jun 27, 2008 11:49 AM:
" Despite "waterloo reader" ignorance, this is a HUGE promotion and a credit to Bucky and the program he developed at UNI. Good luck as a Razorback!!! "
team2win247 wrote on Jun 27, 2008 12:55 PM:
" Congrats to Bucky. This will be the first new hiring for Dannen. "
waterloo reader wrote on Jun 27, 2008 1:47 PM:
" not ignorant, I lived there and know of what I speak. I'm sure Bucky will do well with the Razorback Nation but I will never, ever return to Arkansas....especially if I had children that needed an education. These are not my opinions on Arkansas, read any stats and you'll see Arkansas ends up too close to the bottom on the things we Iowans consider important. "
class of 93 wrote on Jun 27, 2008 1:57 PM:
" Knowing Waterloo Reader and the fact that he lived in Arkansas for quite awhile I am fairly sure this is sarcasm. I dont see anything in his post about this not being a great promotion or a great opportunity for Bucky as it is a great move for him and an honor. So if you would please step outside your literal world and try to buy sense of humor. I hear they are on sale at Dollar General. "
Texas Twister wrote on Jun 27, 2008 2:53 PM:
" I guess Waterloo Reader does have a sense of humor. Questioning whether a move to the top track program in the nation at a school located in a city that is consistently rated among the top 5 to 7 places to live in the country constitutes a promotion certainly displays it.
What do Iowans consider important? Corn? Madison County Bridges? Flooding? "
What do Iowans consider important? Corn? Madison County Bridges? Flooding? "
jimbo wrote on Jun 27, 2008 9:23 PM:
" To "waterloo reader":
... We retired from Waterloo to NW Arkansas; it is truly paradise on Earth. It is the best kept secret... except for the dozens of studies that show it to be one of the best places to live ON EARTH.
The University of Arkansas is at the southern end of a metropolitan strip which starts at the Missouri border and is 12 miles wide and 35 miles long. This metropolitan area has the restaurants, arts, schools, sports, recreation, entertainment and natural beauty that Iowans can only dream about, especially people in Waterloo.
Coach Bucknam will do well at the U of A; he is a winner. He will be filling the shoes of a living legend. Coach John McDonnell has won more NCAA national championships than ANY coach in ANY sport, EVER. The Arkansas Track and Field program has been #1 forever. I dearly love UNI, but to ask if this is a promotion; good grief... DUH! "
... We retired from Waterloo to NW Arkansas; it is truly paradise on Earth. It is the best kept secret... except for the dozens of studies that show it to be one of the best places to live ON EARTH.
The University of Arkansas is at the southern end of a metropolitan strip which starts at the Missouri border and is 12 miles wide and 35 miles long. This metropolitan area has the restaurants, arts, schools, sports, recreation, entertainment and natural beauty that Iowans can only dream about, especially people in Waterloo.
Coach Bucknam will do well at the U of A; he is a winner. He will be filling the shoes of a living legend. Coach John McDonnell has won more NCAA national championships than ANY coach in ANY sport, EVER. The Arkansas Track and Field program has been #1 forever. I dearly love UNI, but to ask if this is a promotion; good grief... DUH! "
waterloo reader wrote on Jun 27, 2008 10:59 PM:
" I do have a sense of humor and I'll go ahead and be the humor police for you...the floods aren't funny. In fact, the floods won't be funny until all of our fellow Iowans are back in their homes and we've had a chance to mourn our friends that have died as a result of the flooding. We're fine with the corn jokes, the pig jokes, the John Deere jokes and all the versions of the backward, hick state jokes you can come up with. I've spent a ton of time in Texas (if that's your current state) and I've got more Texas jokes than you have Iowa jokes. We are not fine with making fun of the flooding tragedy, especially at a time when our friends are still hurting. Little bit of class Texas Twister, a little bit. "
pagpride wrote on Jun 28, 2008 2:40 AM:
" Spending a majority of my younger years in Arkansas as well, I would have to agree about the education. I would also have to say it is not only the state's fault, parents are far more responsible for educating their children than the state. Too bad too many parents are uneducated as well...Good Luck to Coach Bucknam...Go Hogs! Seewwwwiiiee! "
waterloo reader wrote on Jun 29, 2008 10:41 AM:
" Jimbo; let me guess, you live in one of the "golfing communities" in NW Arkansas. If you moved to Arkansas after you earned all your wages in Iowa, educated your kids here in Iowa and don't rely on Arkansas for anything, you're probably doing OK. That doesn't mean that you don't need to look outside your enclave and see what is going on to the people that have to work and raise a family in Arkansas. You know that the University and Walmart shade the NW corner of Arkansas from most the problems the rest of the state is faced with. Have you ever talked with a Tyson chicken plant employee in your area? You should Drive all the way down Hwy 71 to Texarkana and back and then tell me about how great the state is. Have you ever picked up the Little Rock paper and even read the headlines about the challenges that North Little Rock is faced with? I refuse to use the Track Program and the U of A as a bell-weather for the entire state of affairs in Arkansas. "
Texas Twister wrote on Jun 30, 2008 2:48 PM:
" What fantasy land do you live in? I'm a proud Texas native and, as properous as my city is (Dallas), we have many problems. Many parts of Texas are horribly impoverished and incredibly challenged. California has similar problems. My point is that every state has its share of problems.
I travel to the Fayetteville area for business and sports - its only 350 miles from Dallas - quite often and continue to be highly impressed with the area in terms of beauty, economic activity, level of development, etc. The U of Arkansas is an excellent school with incredible levels of academic endowment, and a beautiful campus. More to the point of this thread, the U of A has the best athletic facilities (men and women, every sport) of any university in the USA. Believe me on this - I have been around. Coach Bucknam will have resources unlike anything he has ever experienced and should be able to have (better have) a high level of success. "
I travel to the Fayetteville area for business and sports - its only 350 miles from Dallas - quite often and continue to be highly impressed with the area in terms of beauty, economic activity, level of development, etc. The U of Arkansas is an excellent school with incredible levels of academic endowment, and a beautiful campus. More to the point of this thread, the U of A has the best athletic facilities (men and women, every sport) of any university in the USA. Believe me on this - I have been around. Coach Bucknam will have resources unlike anything he has ever experienced and should be able to have (better have) a high level of success. "
waterloo reader wrote on Jul 2, 2008 11:27 PM:
" I think the statement "the U of A has the best athletic facilities (men and women, every sport) of any university in the USA" is an outright fabrication. I think a Texan would know what UT has in the way of facilities. What about Oregon's new athletic facilities? While Arkansas might have nice stuff, stay away from the hyperbole. "
Texas Twister wrote on Jul 3, 2008 11:53 AM:
" Waterloo - Obviously, the University of Texas is a school I'm very familiar with and I'm well aware of UT's facilities. (Many of my relatives went to school there - I didn't, I went to SMU.) My statement about the quality of Arkansas' facilities is not hyperbolic in the least.
If you are involved in college athletics - I take it you are not - the quality of Arkansas' venues are well known. The nation's best on campus basketball arena, the country's top collegiate baseball stadium, one of the two best indoor track arenas in the world, an outdoor track stadium that is the equal, if not better, than Hayward Field (they are probably the top 2 in the nation), a beautiful football stadium (an absolute necessity in the SEC), etc. What further sets Arkansas apart from other schools is that they don't share facilities. Texas, and others, for example, combine their track with soccer. Arkansas does not.
Other than Hayward, Oregon cannot be included in the conversation.
You must be upset about losing Coach Bucknam but, believe me, he'll be fine (if he has success). "
If you are involved in college athletics - I take it you are not - the quality of Arkansas' venues are well known. The nation's best on campus basketball arena, the country's top collegiate baseball stadium, one of the two best indoor track arenas in the world, an outdoor track stadium that is the equal, if not better, than Hayward Field (they are probably the top 2 in the nation), a beautiful football stadium (an absolute necessity in the SEC), etc. What further sets Arkansas apart from other schools is that they don't share facilities. Texas, and others, for example, combine their track with soccer. Arkansas does not.
Other than Hayward, Oregon cannot be included in the conversation.
You must be upset about losing Coach Bucknam but, believe me, he'll be fine (if he has success). "
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DISCLAIMER: The Courier provides our story commenting feature in order to solicit feedback, debate and discussion on topics of local interest. Please keep in mind that civility is a necessary component of productive conversation. All blatantly inflammatory or otherwise inappropriate comments (i.e. vulgarity, marketing, etc.) are subject to rejection and/or removal. Comments will appear if and when they are approved. For a more in-depth explanation of our policy, please see our Rules of the Road. Thanks for reading, and thanks for participating.
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unionlabel wrote on Jun 27, 2008 7:49 AM: