Also Beathard didn't say he left because of playing time. He said he thinks he wasn't happy with the reps he was getting, but that's just one thing of a bunch of reasons. Or something along those lines. Sounds like he left because he wasn't happy at iowa for a lot of reasons, and he also talked to his friend about wanting more playtime. I'm sure every non starter in the history of sports talked to their friends about wanting more playtime.
Derrick Willies
- Thread starter tksirius
- Start date
BillSPrestonEsq
Well-Known Member
I think you'll recall CJB more or less pressing Ferentz to name him the starter. That worked well. Now, I obviously don't think the players should be setting the depth chart, but it appeared to me and most, that DW was a special player and it was unfortunate he left. It's unfair to say he had no heart, because in the grand scheme of things, he has to have heart for himself and take care of his business #1, which he appeared to do by transferring and tearing it up last season and giving himself 2 years in a pass first offense where he'll shine. It's obvious he has discipline as he looks like an athletic freak. Things happen but I think in this situation KF was doing what he thought was best for the Hawks, DW did what he felt was best for him. Things happen, that's football.
DP5555
Well-Known Member
At the time Beathard's Dad made the comments that caused a stir that's all anyone had to go off of, and it sounded like he was giving an ultimatum. Once he explained things in greater detail it was obvious that wasn't his intention. It's not revisionist history for Dean to have changed his mind. It's common sense. He got the full story and better understood what happened just like most other Hawk fans did. At that point there was no "ultimatum" situation to debate anymore because that wasn't his intention. It's strange you're still trying to pretend like it's a thing.
Besides the fact it has absolutely nothing in common with the Willies situation which is what this thread is about.
Tate4Heisman
Well-Known Member
So DP in your opinion do you think that CJ would have returned to Iowa if Ferentz had named JR the starter? It is my opinion that CJ would have transferred. And I would have understood that like I did when JR and Willies moved on.
And even if he didn't intend to give an ultimatum (wink wink), an ultimatum was given. I do see a podcast that his dad did eight months after CJ was named the starter. Seriously what was he supposed to say at that point in time? I know this is coming off as my having an axe to grind with the Beathard's, but I really don't. It is more about how all of us here (me included) can be hypocrites.
And even if he didn't intend to give an ultimatum (wink wink), an ultimatum was given. I do see a podcast that his dad did eight months after CJ was named the starter. Seriously what was he supposed to say at that point in time? I know this is coming off as my having an axe to grind with the Beathard's, but I really don't. It is more about how all of us here (me included) can be hypocrites.
DP5555
Well-Known Member
I don't know what CJ would have decided to do, and frankly I don't see the point in hypothetically discussing it. I'm guessing he would have transferred, but I don't know. Even if he had transferred that would have been an entirely different scenario than the Willies situation. Beathard would have been jerked around for 2 years all the while sitting behind Rudock. He would have put in his time and effort and he wouldn't have been rewarded with a chance. Willies didn't do any of that. He bailed early on in his career because he wasn't patient enough to put in the time. It's totally different. Yes, I would have been okay with CJ deciding to transfer if that situation had played out. Willies though... he bailed out. He didn't want to earn it. I have a problem with that.
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
Great. And the horse? Still dead. Of course.
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
Revisionist history? JFC man this is about Wilies quitting, it was Willies decision. 100% of that lies on him, not KF, not others who might have told him to quit. I'm sure he has owned his decision and move on, why can't you. If you wanna keep talking about CJ's Dad, then start a thread about him already.
Not sure if the horse is dead. But a horse is definitely a horse... of course... of course.
Tate4Heisman
Well-Known Member
Dean did you reread your posts from 12/14. Your tune has certainly changed since then.
Very good post. Most people just throw out the quitting mid season vs quitting end of season. Like that's the difference between a stand up guy and a punk. Your post brings up a very valid difference between the 2 situations. It's been said on hear, but never so clearly.
I still wish I could trust Kirk to play the best players so we didn't have to worry about kids being babies and leaving tho. We almost lost CJ for peats sake.
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
Listen to the podcast, maybe you will understand why.
BTW, what is your take on Willies?
Tate4Heisman
Well-Known Member
I think Willies is a young kid that made a mistake like we all did at that age. Fortunately for me my mistakes weren't as public. I wish he would had finished the year at Iowa, but I don't know what all going on so who am I to say if he was right or wrong. As a football player, I think he is going to be a stud at TT and light it up this year if healthy.
ArvadaHawk
Well-Known Member
It is also always a personal choice for a person to take that last step off a plank into a sea of sharks or be tortured by the pirates.
Willies should be history as it doesn't do any good to rehash. But this thread proves that Willies was a monumental event that polarized the fan base.
deanvogs
Well-Known Member
It is also always a personal choice for a person to take that last step off a plank into a sea of sharks or be tortured by the pirates.
Willies should be history as it doesn't do any good to rehash. But this thread proves that Willies was a monumental event that polarized the fan base.
I know you are kidding Arvada, but this is what I just don't understand. Willies was playing, Willies was getting just as many reps as MVB, Powell, and Hillyer. The only WR he was behind was KMM and Smith. It isn't like he was languishing on the scout team.
If he wasn't happy here, I get moving on, heck even moving on during the season, whatever. What I don't get is why fans think KF forced this move? He was playing. If you think KF force Willies out, then you gotta think Jay Scheel is being forced to transfer, or Jerminic Smith, or Falconer, or basically any WR ever at Iowa. He was a RS FR just a few games into his career, there is 0.0% blame to lay at KF feet.
The only reason it was monumental, is because people were frustrated with KF and losing. If this exact same thing would have happened during the 12-0 season this year, people would have overwhelmingly said, see ya, don't let the door hit ya on the way out, and that would have been the end of it.
Tate4Heisman
Well-Known Member
Dean I actually agree with some of your post! The reason it was such a big deal was the timing of a quarterback controversy going at the same time. Fans thought that Willies, like CJ, was very talented and should have been playing more. Not sure about how many game snaps he was getting compared to MVB, Powell, and Hillyer. I do remember thinking at the time that he needed to be on the field more. We can't really say if KF shares in any of the blame or not since we don't know what goes behind closed doors. Not saying it was KF's fault but not ready to say that he had 0% responsibility.
You are right that if it had been during a 12-0 season it wouldn't have been a big deal.
ArvadaHawk
Well-Known Member
2014 should probably have been a 10 win season. We had a very favorable schedule that season, also. The team was divided and that came out during this past off season and throughout last season. You can make your own decisions on what % of blame goes where. But everything, in every single organization there is, starts at the top. So, I don't think anyone was blameless in 2014 for a divided team.
The fact that DW was getting as many plays as MVB, Powell and Hillyer was part of the problem, for many. In fact, T. Smith was getting 2nd most I believe. What became so frustrating is thinking about a lineup of CJ, T. Smith, DW and Powell. MVB and Hillyer are/were possession receivers and so was KMM.
