Records for the Fry-Ferentz Era at Iowa

[ssckelley]

Again, I am not buying that academic responsibilities part, at all.

Logistical preparations for bowl games would not be a consideration if THESE WEREN'T BOWL GAMES. The higher seed should be hosting! For the lower-seed, it is just like any other road game.

Physically heal and practice new strategies? Maybe if you have earned a bye. But otherwise, when is that ever a thing that exists between the regular season and a post-season?

I think the whole delay is so that they can tie these playoffs into this legacy notion of New Years Day bowl games.

And for teams like Iowa that aren't part of the CFP, I just don't know why bowls still exist. I suggested last year that they replace bowls with an exhibition game at the end of spring ball. I think that makes a lot more sense, and it would allow teams to showcase their rising underclassmen and portal acquisitions.

I just knew you would pick on that part, it's how I did my google search so feel free to do your own. To say academics plays no part in the scheduling for post season (CFP & Bowls) is silly, at most only 2% of of D1 football players go pro so for many that college degree is important. Finals week is crazy for student athletes and keep in mind this also impacts the HMB and Cheer/Dance squads, who also attend these post season games.

I doubt Bowl games has any impact on the how they are scheduling the CFP. Don't like Bowl games then don't go or don't watch them. I'll be in Florida (hopefully) enjoying the warm weather.

 

[dagdaj]

Hayden built a winner and hired wonderful young coaches, including Bill Snyder, Dan McCarney, Barry Alvaraz, and the great Kirk Ferentz. Here is a summary:

1.Winning percentage at Iowa from 1961 through 1978: 34%. Zero bowls, zero winning seasons, zero championships.
...
13. Overall bowl record: 16-18-1

I hope it continues.

14. Record against Urban Meyer: 1-0

20% of the time a Kirk Ferentz football team finishes in the top 10.
There's 3 other teams in the Big 10 that can boast better performance in that statistic. Again, we're not the bridesmaid. That's Michigan and PSU. But we are the guestbook attendant. We're listed in the program and are invited to the rehearsal dinner and in most cases, at the head table for dinner.

If the current playoff system was in place, Kirk Ferentz football teams would have made the playoffs 20% of the time. Yes a bunch came in a 3 year stretch. And it's been awhile. But you don't have to go that far back at all to get to a season or two where they came awfully close.

Go to school there for four years and something big will happen. And in the middle of the worst of it, you'll get Caitlin Clark. Sometimes during a lull, you'll cheer a guy for intentionally missing a free throw. Or someone comes up with an idea to wave at the kids in the hospital. Or at least a #3 Iowa beating #4 PSU. Or sometimes you'll just have to settle with running up the score on OSU. Rare. But it has happened. Or a guy named Dwight. Or Wetjen who steals the show. Or even, dammit...a punter. It could even be cheering for kid wearing ISU gear in Kinnick because he asked to be Venmo'd some money for beer and then got cancelled by a reporter who then got cancelled himself. And all along the way there will be satisfying drubbings of Minnesota. And ownership of Nebraska. Occasionally, you get those Rose/BCS/etcs. Or even in your lifetime you get a legit Heisman contender. Or two.

I can live with it. I can live with it all.

 

[thedukeofearl]

I know, but they still won't go away! And, people use their existence as justification for non-sensical playoff formats. Why are there 3 weeks between the conference championship games and the start of the CFP?!?!?

Lotta money being grabbed all the way around

Lotta advertising moola

 

[HuckFinn]

Again, I am not buying that academic responsibilities part, at all.

Logistical preparations for bowl games would not be a consideration if THESE WEREN'T BOWL GAMES. The higher seed should be hosting! For the lower-seed, it is just like any other road game.

Physically heal and practice new strategies? Maybe if you have earned a bye. But otherwise, when is that ever a thing that exists between the regular season and a post-season?

I think the whole delay is so that they can tie these playoffs into this legacy notion of New Years Day bowl games.

And for teams like Iowa that aren't part of the CFP, I just don't know why bowls still exist. I suggested last year that they replace bowls with an exhibition game at the end of spring ball. I think that makes a lot more sense, and it would allow teams to showcase their rising underclassmen and portal acquisitions.

Strongly disagree.

 

[HuckFinn]

14. Record against Urban Meyer: 1-0

20% of the time a Kirk Ferentz football team finishes in the top 10.
There's 3 other teams in the Big 10 that can boast better performance in that statistic. Again, we're not the bridesmaid. That's Michigan and PSU. But we are the guestbook attendant. We're listed in the program and are invited to the rehearsal dinner and in most cases, at the head table for dinner.

If the current playoff system was in place, Kirk Ferentz football teams would have made the playoffs 20% of the time. Yes a bunch came in a 3 year stretch. And it's been awhile. But you don't have to go that far back at all to get to a season or two where they came awfully close.

Go to school there for four years and something big will happen. And in the middle of the worst of it, you'll get Caitlin Clark. Sometimes during a lull, you'll cheer a guy for intentionally missing a free throw. Or someone comes up with an idea to wave at the kids in the hospital. Or at least a #3 Iowa beating #4 PSU. Or sometimes you'll just have to settle with running up the score on OSU. Rare. But it has happened. Or a guy named Dwight. Or Wetjen who steals the show. Or even, dammit...a punter. It could even be cheering for kid wearing ISU gear in Kinnick because he asked to be Venmo'd some money for beer and then got cancelled by a reporter who then got cancelled himself. And all along the way there will be satisfying drubbings of Minnesota. And ownership of Nebraska. Occasionally, you get those Rose/BCS/etcs. Or even in your lifetime you get a legit Heisman contender. Or two.

I can live with it. I can live with it all.

Nice post. Thanks!

 

[CP87]

I just knew you would pick on that part, it's how I did my google search so feel free to do your own. To say academics plays no part in the scheduling for post season (CFP & Bowls) is silly, at most only 2% of of D1 football players go pro so for many that college degree is important. Finals week is crazy for student athletes and keep in mind this also impacts the HMB and Cheer/Dance squads, who also attend these post season games.

I doubt Bowl games has any impact on the how they are scheduling the CFP. Don't like Bowl games then don't go or don't watch them. I'll be in Florida (hopefully) enjoying the warm weather.

I teach in college, I know that academics is important (for those not going pro, and for those that do). I just don't think the multi-billion $ industry that is college athletics does any more than pay it lip-service. If academics was so important to the NCAA, we would not have conferences that stretch coast to coast, 12-game regular seasons with multiple byes, and football and basketball game days/times that are dictated by networks and streaming services rather than what makes sense from a scheduling standpoint.

We will have to disagree on this, but I do think the inertia and legacy of bowls has a big influence on each iteration of how the champion of DI college football is decided. I am looking forward to a day when we can get away from that, and instead just have a normal looking playoffs that starts immediately after the regular season, allows higher seeds to host (at least up until semis), and in general looks a lot more like how every other football league from high school, all other levels of college, and the pros do it.

 

[dagdaj]

I teach in college, I know that academics is important (for those not going pro, and for those that do). I just don't think the multi-billion $ industry that is college athletics does any more than pay it lip-service. If academics was so important to the NCAA, we would not have conferences that stretch coast to coast, 12-game regular seasons with multiple byes, and football and basketball game days/times that are dictated by networks and streaming services rather than what makes sense from a scheduling standpoint.

We will have to disagree on this, but I do think the inertia and legacy of bowls has a big influence on each iteration of how the champion of DI college football is decided. I am looking forward to a day when we can get away from that, and instead just have a normal looking playoffs that starts immediately after the regular season, allows higher seeds to host (at least up until semis), and in general looks a lot more like how every other football league from high school, all other levels of college, and the pros do it.

I think you're right. But, I also think we underestimate the number of people on a football team that actually do care inherently and individually on the academics. My kid is friends with a defensive player who is now technically a junior in terms of sports, but after this semester he will technically be a senior. He gets some special teams play and has had some blow-out 4th quarter action. Only makes the depth chart if someone's injured. We're guessing next season he'll be a regular fairly far down the chart. Basically one semester behind on path to a 4 year degree. I think he's studying sports management, something along those lines. He's most definitely a normal kid and absolutely participates in some academic related clubs/activities.

As far as I know, Iowa's overall rate of graduation for all athletes is 88-89%
Specifically for football, that rate is 88-89% (I can only specifically find this with AI and it might be making some assumptions, but I do not find it hard to believe)
The graduation rate for non students is 75%.

Not saying the NCAA isn't paying lip service, etc. Just I know I tend to underestimate a lot of these kids. There's a 105 guys on a roster each year, and some of them are walk-ons who are 'paying' tuition to play. I'm sure in this world of college pricing (it's more like shopping at Kohl's these days) and loosened NCAA rules, they can get access to room and board and not be on scholarship and tuition can be greatly monkeyed with. But still. Of those 105 guys, some of them outright KNOW they aren't going to make the NFL, even if they dream about it and work for it. Some don't want to. Some want a college education. Some used sports specifically for it. Some will take it because it's there. Some know it's a backup and a great opportunity. Even if they only get so far with it. Of course, some don't too.

So, yeah. The NCAA deserves no credit. But, I think we should give more credit to the kids who see it and take advantage of it. Even if, in some cases, it's literally a paper tiger of a degree.