A theory: It was Norm Parker all along

hawkdrummer1

hawkdrummer1

Well-Known Member
We all know that Norm was a great DC. But I think he had a much bigger role than that.

How many guys have we heard talk about great it was playing under him. I think he had more of a leadership role, than perhaps we knew. KFz was always the HC, but it's not too far-fetched to think that he may have gotten plenty of quiet advice from Norm. Parker had a way of being both in charge of his troops, but also very accessible.

Since Parker left, Ferentz has looked more lost than ever...not much like a 15 yr veteran.

Is it possible that Norm really functioned as an "Associate Head Coach"... and we miss him more than expected?
 
well, consider also that Bielema was on staff, as was Ron Aiken, during those awesome early days. but, yes, Norm was pretty special. we had great defenses for a long stretch there.
 
That is the truth. I still have no idea how a head coach can lack such skills as clock management. KF is basically a line coach with the proper image, behavior to be named head coach. I thought last year was a blip in the radar... but yet again poor clock management/play calling beat the Hawkeyes again. RUN, RUN, WASTE CLOCK, FG, and game is over... Iowa wins. Just unbelievable to throw a pass out to the flat like that... I mean... just sick.
 
hawkdrummer1 said:
We all know that Norm was a great DC. But I think he had a much bigger role than that.

How many guys have we heard talk about great it was playing under him. I think he had more of a leadership role, than perhaps we knew. KFz was always the HC, but it's not too far-fetched to think that he may have gotten plenty of quiet advice from Norm. Parker had a way of being both in charge of his troops, but also very accessible.

Since Parker left, Ferentz has looked more lost than ever...not much like a 15 yr veteran.

Is it possible that Norm really functioned as an "Associate Head Coach"... and we miss him more than expected?
Click to expand...

There is something to that in my opinion. It became first evident to me late in the game at Ames when KF didn't have a good D but his philosophy to punt seemed to assume that he did have a good defense. He would rather punt and Play D wait for the other team to self destruct. He should have leaned on the O to get a 1st and ulitmately score.
 
We are devoid of D1 talent. We can't recruit good players besides the OL. That is the issue and we either get somebody who bends the rules and gets 4 star guys or we keep falling farther back.
 
hawkinn3 said:
We are devoid of D1 talent. We can't recruit good players besides the OL. That is the issue and we either get somebody who bends the rules and gets 4 star guys or we keep falling farther back.
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to a degree I agree. I'd say we have some but not enough. I think its trending better after the terrible attrition over previous years that Jon documented. Iowa should not be out recruited by a MAC team period. And I hope that the program could recruit as a top 25 program should.
 
Not a theory. Norm was great. But the hiring of Rick K was a big mistake in hindaight and not canning him after two years a huge mistakes. The DL attrition due to his style is still playing out this year. Next year, the group should be good again.
 
JonDMiller said:
Not a theory. Norm was great. But the hiring of Rick K was a big mistake in hindaight and not canning him after two years a huge mistakes. The DL attrition due to his style is still playing out this year. Next year, the group should be good again.
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Yep, more than any play call, clock management, or recruiting miss, this is the biggest mistake CF has made. Kaz is to Ferentz what Verducci was to Fry.
 
MeatMan said:
well, consider also that Bielema was on staff, as was Ron Aiken, during those awesome early days. but, yes, Norm was pretty special. we had great defenses for a long stretch there.
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Some guy named Philbin too. Not sure where he ended up.
 
hawkdrummer1 said:
Bielema was only on staff 99,00 and 01.
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Correct, but Bielema could recruit, and when we finished #8 in the country 3 years in a row, Bielema was a big reason why.

Brad Banks
Fred Barr
George Lewis
Addul Hodge
Colin Cole
Mo Brown
CJ Jones

These are just a few of the studs Bielema was responsible for bringing in. Once he left ,our recruitung suffered, and KF has not brought in someone who could recruit like he could.
 
smbhawk1 said:
Correct, but Bielema could recruit, and when we finished #8 in the country 3 years in a row, Bielema was a big reason why.

Brad Banks
Fred Barr
George Lewis
Addul Hodge
Colin Cole
Mo Brown
CJ Jones

These are just a few of the studs Bielema was responsible for bringing in. Once he left ,our recruitung suffered, and KF has not brought in someone who could recruit like he could.
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especially recruiting Florida.
 
Norm was pretty special. Even more important at this point, though, is that Phil doesn't seem to be. Your coordinators have to be leaders.
 
hawkinn3 said:
We are devoid of D1 talent. We can't recruit good players besides the OL. That is the issue and we either get somebody who bends the rules and gets 4 star guys or we keep falling farther back.
Click to expand...

Thats not the really the problem.


Iowa hasn't faced but a handful of decent teams in the last 13 games, most of the losses are coming to teams with even less talent.
 
hawkdrummer1 said:
We all know that Norm was a great DC. But I think he had a much bigger role than that.

How many guys have we heard talk about great it was playing under him. I think he had more of a leadership role, than perhaps we knew. KFz was always the HC, but it's not too far-fetched to think that he may have gotten plenty of quiet advice from Norm. Parker had a way of being both in charge of his troops, but also very accessible.

Since Parker left, Ferentz has looked more lost than ever...not much like a 15 yr veteran.

Is it possible that Norm really functioned as an "Associate Head Coach"... and we miss him more than expected?
Click to expand...

i honestly hear players talk about how great Ferentz is as a coach, and never hear what you are saying.

And to the person who said that Biels brought in all the players - you fail to mention all the players from the 2009 team that won the orange bowl. real disservice to biels.
 
smbhawk1 said:
Correct, but Bielema could recruit, and when we finished #8 in the country 3 years in a row, Bielema was a big reason why.

Brad Banks
Fred Barr
George Lewis
Addul Hodge
Colin Cole
Mo Brown
CJ Jones

These are just a few of the studs Bielema was responsible for bringing in. Once he left ,our recruitung suffered, and KF has not brought in someone who could recruit like he could.
Click to expand...

That's some talent...
 
smbhawk1 said:
Correct, but Bielema could recruit, and when we finished #8 in the country 3 years in a row, Bielema was a big reason why.

Brad Banks
Fred Barr
George Lewis
Addul Hodge
Colin Cole
Mo Brown
CJ Jones

These are just a few of the studs Bielema was responsible for bringing in. Once he left ,our recruitung suffered, and KF has not brought in someone who could recruit like he could.
Click to expand...

Where would one find information like that?
 
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