OT: Kirk Ferentz
I'm currently watching Iowa get bludgeoned to death by Tennessee, and I cannot help but bring up the old subject of Kirk Ferentz. How is it that this man has kept his job!? Iowa has gone 45-31 since the end of 2008, and with only one really solid season (11-2 in 2009). Is Iowa really just "comfortable" with being the most mediocre football team in the country. They're predictable, slow, undersized, and just lack a lot of athleticism. I'm sure its happening, but if I'm a Hawkeye fan I'm screaming for KF to be fired. There is no way that Iowa is going to be even close to being competitive with the way the B1G is trending.
How are they going to compete with Harbaugh, Dantonio, Meyer, Kill, Franklin? They're not, not with KF. I know that it's a tough place to recruit, but he's not helping any is he? Of course I am a Michigan fan, but I also enjoy seeing as many B1G teams in the rankings as possible, it's good for the conference, and even better for us the fans. Is there any chance that Iowa takes a look at this beat down they're getting and think its time for a change? Do you take a chance as the Iowa AD and give Kyle Whittingham a call?
Just throwing it out there guys, I'm sure the snarks are coming. Just want the B1G to be as best as it can be. Go Blue!
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:04 PM ^
$26Million buyout. Or something outrageous.
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:07 PM ^
$17M
January 2nd, 2015 at 7:42 PM ^
that is like the amount a team has to pay to leave their conference! I think Maryland was gouged by the ACC, and they were in the $20 million range
January 2nd, 2015 at 6:19 PM ^
January 2nd, 2015 at 6:26 PM ^
January 2nd, 2015 at 6:42 PM ^
January 2nd, 2015 at 7:34 PM ^
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:04 PM ^
His buyout is like half of Iowa's operating budget. I'm being sarcastic, but it's a pretty big buyout. I believe he's halfway through the 10 year extension he signed after the 2009 season. He's got at least 2-3 more years at Iowa.
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:31 PM ^
How stupid are they for having such a large buyout! It is not like he has won them that much that they needed to structure the contract as such. Iowa is a college version of dead man walking.
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:46 PM ^
There was a time when NFL teams wanted him. They locked him up with the giant buyout. At the time, their fans were ecstatic.
January 2nd, 2015 at 6:20 PM ^
football coach.
January 2nd, 2015 at 7:02 PM ^
Can you imagine he and Greg Robinson coaching together? That would be swell.
January 2nd, 2015 at 7:51 PM ^
Who is this GREG ROBINSON you speak of??? We know a GERG ROBINSON.
January 2nd, 2015 at 6:10 PM ^
10 year contract extensions (in sports) are a very bad idea. The probability of overpaying substantially in regard to performance toward the end of the contract is very high. Especially when you have a coach (or athlete for that matter) that's been around a long time like KF. Whether it's age or the Peter Principle or risk of injury, long term contracts are highly risky financially.
January 2nd, 2015 at 7:01 PM ^
Another case in point: ND and Charlie Weis, who is still being paid IIRC.
January 2nd, 2015 at 8:28 PM ^
Charlie Weis is being payed an ungodly sum by two programs not to coach their teams. That man's agent is worth his weight in gold.
January 2nd, 2015 at 11:09 PM ^
...I think the agent is worth Charlie's weight in gold, not his own.
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:04 PM ^
This was brouoght up in the Iowa game thread but Ferentz has a huge contract and lots of years still on it. Iowa is stuck with Ferentz until he gets closer to the end of the contract. The buyout right now would be enormous.
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:04 PM ^
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January 2nd, 2015 at 5:05 PM ^
carry on
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:06 PM ^
I knew he had a long contract, but wasn't aware of the buyout. Jeesh!
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:07 PM ^
When we met up with some iowa friends in November, we were complaining about the state of Michigan football, and they were like, "You guys complain too much, you'll be fine, just ride it out. Maybe Michigan will be like Iowa and give Hoke a raise." They are not happy about the situation, but realize they are stuck.
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:08 PM ^
Just in case the Raiders finally sign Harbaugh
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:36 PM ^
She's hot and I'm ready.
January 2nd, 2015 at 6:01 PM ^
you need to get out more, bro
January 2nd, 2015 at 7:24 PM ^
If that is the case, I have a question. Do you even like girls?
She' a little the other side of amazing. AFAIC
January 2nd, 2015 at 6:01 PM ^
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January 2nd, 2015 at 5:08 PM ^
He has Charlie Weiss' agent.
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:08 PM ^
Truth be told, Kill is the only guy on your list that he truly has to "compete" with.
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:08 PM ^
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:11 PM ^
sucked before Hayden Fry, time to return to their past.
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:19 PM ^
Do I remember correctly that we were close to hiring him, or was that just what some people guessed because of the Mary Sue connection?
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:36 PM ^
That rumor stems from the fact he was hired at Iowa when Mary Sue was president there.
In Three and Out, Bacon says that he was Martin's first choice before Carr retired, but MSC vetoed it once the search started, for whatever reason.
January 2nd, 2015 at 7:37 PM ^
January 2nd, 2015 at 11:11 PM ^
I remember some on this board were interested in him. "Boring but solid" were the comments, I believe.
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:20 PM ^
losing 26-24 to Wiscy and 37-34 in OT to Nebraska.
But they did lose 51-14 to Minnesota and 20-17 to lowly Iowa State, so they've showed they're capable of sucking.
Not to worry. The Hawkeyes are built to make comebacks w/ Mark Weisman up the middle.
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:22 PM ^
Iowa: The full stereotype of the B1G on display for the nation...
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:27 PM ^
Head on over to the boards at Hawkeye Report, Hawkeye Nation, or BHGP and see if you still think Iowa fans are "comfortable" with the state of the Iowa football program. I predict there are already message board meltdowns underway. As mentioned by other posters, Iowa gave Ferentz an absurd contract as part of his last extension. His buyout precludes Iowa from making any move to replace him. Iowa would have to get every major booster to sign off.
I am of the opinion that Ferentz just does things now to piss of the fanbase, knowing full well there is nothing they can do.
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:31 PM ^
Maybe Iowa is just more comfortable in their clothes from the '60s and '70s.
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:31 PM ^
Mary Sue and Lloyd wanted him here and he (thankfully) took himself out of the running. That was a chilling possibility. . .
January 2nd, 2015 at 7:02 PM ^
January 2nd, 2015 at 8:42 PM ^
Mary Sue nixed him--speculation on past issue at Iowa with him. But Lloyd was apparently a big booster--and he does seem like a Lloyd kinda of guy.
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:32 PM ^
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:36 PM ^
No snark here. I think it's valid thread and question. Iowa is consistently inconsistent and that is Ferentz's trademark these days. Mediocre recruiting, coaching and results seem to be ok with that staff.
Do what MSU started doing about 5-6 years ago which is slowly but surely develop players for 3-4 year college careers and stay close to the top of the division/conference. Slip into the championship game once in a while and sell kids on playing time. The B1G West seems wide open with UW and NU getting new coaches.
That's easier said than done but it's possible.
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:36 PM ^
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:42 PM ^
You will name your child Kirk for 2 reasons: football, and because Riverside, Iowa, the future birthplace of Captain Kirk, is just a short drive from Iowa City. You will then attend Trek Fest annually and love it!
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:53 PM ^
Hey, I liked About Schmidt.
January 2nd, 2015 at 5:39 PM ^
Ferentz has obviously taken a step back in recent years, but given Iowa's talent levels most years and the state of the conference, I'm honestly not sure how much better they'd be with someone else. Sure, there might be a few more highs if they get the right combination of offensive system and playmakers, but Iowa always fields a good defense (today not being a banner day for them, yes), and they are competitive most years. I mean, he's had 2 losing seasons in the past 13 years, and he's usually good for 8-9 wins. He's a low ceiling and high floor guy, which isn't super-exciting but again, Iowa's history before him wasn't glorious save for Fry.
Also, I'm a bit of a fan because he grew up in my hometown.