Hal_Victor

December 11th, 2011 at 11:15 PM ^

Not surprising, given his health problems, and it's overdue.  Iowa's defense, especially up front, is usually its strength and their D in general has been in decline.

Joined: 05/11/2009

MGoPoints: 535

MGoViso

December 12th, 2011 at 2:18 AM ^

While the OP has clearly not presented himself well, I don't get the same tone out of him as you. His point that there is a major staff change going on at a school M plays every year under a head coach our school has been interested in before is very legitimate and relevant.

Joined: 09/27/2009

MGoPoints: 1689

codeBLUE11

December 12th, 2011 at 12:17 AM ^

Now, kinny, a good next step might be to read this article and edit the thread so that there is at least some useful information contained in it. Perhaps, tell people who Norm Parker is, why this matters to us, etc. That's a slightly better choice than telling people to fuck off, and will probablly get people slightly less pissed at you.

Joined: 03/16/2011

MGoPoints: 542

PinballPete

December 11th, 2011 at 11:39 PM ^

Besides being from MI, Parker coached at St. John's catholic school in Ypsilanti (big church near campus, school now closed), EMU and MSU among other B1G schools, which I heard all about from some family members that played for him in HS. He is old school, defensive midwestern football to the core. Sorry to see him go but happy to not have to face him every year.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 1105

B-Nut-GoBlue

December 12th, 2011 at 3:47 AM ^

Being in Iowa, I can tell you the fans here would rather see Ken O'Keefe, the OC, take a hike. As hinted at already, Parker has taken a lot of below average -under the radar is probably more accurate- talent and helped craft them into starters on Sundays. He did a helluva job during his tenure at U of I. I almost feel it was his time, however. All of the above being true, the stubbornness? to change philosophy, at least ways adapt to more modern times, had probably cost them victories over the years. If the overall talent flow into Iowa was on the level of Alabama, Ohio, Michigan even, one could probably get away with never blitzing and strictly running cover 2. This is all opinion of course, but in the modern game, mixing up a bit goes a long way; 'philosophy' staying the same even. Anyway, great coach in the end. Thought I'd shed a little insight, being 30 minutes from campus and growing up following the Hawks (on the side!).

Joined: 09/30/2011

MGoPoints: 43652

lakeside

December 12th, 2011 at 8:41 AM ^

Example:

Parker's greatest defense at Iowa is up for debate -- 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 were all vintage Parker teams -- but his masterwork was probably the 2010 Orange Bowl. Iowa faced Georgia Tech's offensive juggernaut that night, a triple option scheme straight out of the 1960's. The Hawkeyes were decided underdogs, and for good reason; what do you do when your defense, predicated on stopping the run, faces the unstoppable running game?

http://www.blackheartgoldpants.com/2011/12/11/2629024/norm-parker-retiring-as-iowa-defensive-coordinator-effective-after

Joined: 12/03/2010

MGoPoints: 2315

LSAClassOf2000

December 12th, 2011 at 5:48 AM ^

....when clicking on  random Twitter links for fear of being accidentally routed to one of Ashton Kutcher's many attempts at wit, I will say that Parker had a good run at Iowa and I wish him well in retirement. As a Michigan fan, I won't miss those defenses of his. 

Joined: 01/07/2011

MGoPoints: 130561

BlueVball8

December 12th, 2011 at 9:43 AM ^

First with the complete drop off in talent, and now with the fact that their D coordinator of the last 14 years is retiring.  Well, hopefully we can continually take advantage and make everyone else the Little 10? again.  Haha, but seriosally, I really would love it to go back to the days where it was an all out battle between Michigan and O$U.  Except we should win more.

Joined: 12/13/2010

MGoPoints: 874

oriental andrew

December 12th, 2011 at 9:58 AM ^

So was his winning the AFCA Assistant Coach of the Year award really a lifetime achievement award and final sendoff for Norm Parker?  Really seems like it, now that we know he's retiring.  That's ok, Mattison can win it next year  ;)

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 55940