Well maybe I am misunderstanding your position. If so I am sorry. It just came off like your were one of those people whom come on here and like defending the status quo.
Obviously I am very disappointed with how things have gone this far as are a lot of people. You look at last year and what we had coming back. Plus CJ was hampered last year with an injury. It's natural to expect a healthy QB to be more affective. It's also natural to at least hope the team to be improved and better. To lose to North Dekota and Northwestern wasn't in most people's expectations. It just shouldn't have happened given the level that we should be at and the level they are at.
I really had hoped this would be the year when everything aligns with the players we have and a very favorable schedule. We all know that just doesn't happen very often so you have to make hay when the opportunity exist. It's frustrating to see a lost rare opportunity. In the back of a person minds are seasons past where expectations were high and we fall flat on our faces. You given the benefit of a doubt to the program and say these things can happen and move on and support the team. When a trend developes then you have issues and realize that it's more than just one of those things that happen.
I never thought Barta was doing the right thing and that he was over reacting to last year's performance. I thought to myself how do we know this isn't just because of an excellent QB combined with a weak schedule. I even conceded and expected this too be another great year with a 12-0, 11-1, or 10-2. I felt a prudent wise AD would grant one year extensions up past a year after CJ was gone. This lets recruits know that their coach will be there for their four years. Then if the recent recruiting success start to reflect in successful seasons after CJ is gone then be a little more generous with extensions and pay increases.
I in no way expected to see the team come out against what should have been inferior competition and get smashed in the mouth and lose two games. They have no business losing to those tow teams. No excuses at all. It should not have happened. Lose a game or two in the B1G I can deal with that. I would still be disappointed but not as upset about it.
What I am seeing this year I thought could have happened after CJ and a few of our other best players had graduated. This is shocking to watch this. It's like last year was a total fluke and the Rose Bowl was the reality of this program.
I have always like the person Kirk is. To me he has always seemed like a genuine nice person along with his family. Past that though I have to bring his coaching and his staff into question. Not individually as we know we Iowa has enough players in the NFL. Having said that it is frustrating that putting it all together as team concept and having it show up on the field of play has been a failure. It makes no sense to send as many to the NFL and not be talking about B1G Championships. Even once in a while of finishing at the end of the college football season ranked in college football rankings in the top five.
That Rose bowl was tough to watch. Wasn't even close. That was painful. I was hoping for redemption this year. Just another year of HAWKEYE football.
Yes actually you do misunderstand. We pretty much agree. My Main Points:
1. Was not happy about KFs hiring in the first place. I thought he was a boring hire. I think I'm right and then he turns in a stellar year. Sort of reminds me of Ron Turner. Guy has put together a stellar season or 2. But that's it.
2. I don't think Iowa was as bad as KFs first couple of years record indicates. Fans over and over again forget that HF had 2 nationally ranked recruiting classes his last 2 years. HFs ups and downs can be traced to lost assistants. KF, no.
3. I don't think KF is as squeaky clean as his fan reputation thinks. The rape dorm situation. The mariuana/drug things with the wr. There is more to that story.
4. I think his NFL lineman reputation is over blown. In my opinion and that is all it is, it is related to having players that listen and have become weight lifting behemoths. I have read at times where various players go into the NFL lacking fundamentals.
5. The contract handling at his start didn't make is seem he wanted to be in Iowa City. Now he makes excuses about how bad it is.
6. KF tries to make players be what he wants them to be, not what they are.
7. KR tries to run a game the way he wants it to be, not the way it is. Even when he is forced to allow that he comes right back the next year and does it again. Case in point (s) Senior QBs.
8. I don't think the Hawks are at a bottom. The talent coming in is highly questionable.
9. I think that with his philosophy of highly conservative football...that this is one of the main reasons it is hard to compete for top talent. Much more so than Iowa City location.
10. Best teams in my opinion are about getting players to step out and become leaders not followers. KF wants followers walking in unison behind him. Sometimes it works when the QB doesn't follow this.
I thought KFs comment was actually quite contrite, which is unusual for him..