Barta fires warning shot to Ferentz

[greenrocket]

Good chance that GB and KF knew the program would be struggling through some tough times and wanted to ensure that KF received a quality shot at restoring the program. This is why he was given the contract extension. KF is a good coach. He has some serious wins under his belt and national pundits have discussed his teams as a national title contenders more than once. I think he deserves a chance to weather the storm, if he doesn't come through then he will part ways with some severance. You seriously can't expect a team to ALWAYS be great. Even Penn State had some 3 and 4 win seasons well into Paterno's tenure and then bounced back with 11 win seasons.

I think this is most likely the case...when you are bringing in a new offensive coordinator, had just re-tooled the defensive coordinator spot when Norm retired, and see where all the 'big-name' teams were going with spread or variations of the spread offense, it certainly makes sense to have a 5-year plan at a minimum to get all that change absorbed and molded into something that will stand on its own. I honestly think KF is trying to leave a legacy at Iowa like Fry did - he wants to 'leave his mark' and knows this is his shot to do it.

That being said, talk is cheap and sometimes even great ideas don't work with the wrong people trying to carry them out. I hope that KF has success, but I am not one that thinks it's going to happen this year or even next....I think we're talking 3-4 years down the road, right about the time that the pitchfork and torch crowd will be screaming the loudest...then we'll be in the national playoff and everyone will forget the past few years and KF will ride into the sunset a winner.

 

[NCHawker]

just because someone works in the athletic department does not mean they know the mind of the AD. And any decision would include more than the AD. I agree with what Jon said at the top anyway.

 

[theboat]

So barta wants to get rid of Ferentz so he fires the baseball coach? Is he taking cues from the NCAA infractions committee?

 

[JonDMiller]

Two questions if it wasn't for the contract do you think kf is coach today ? And money wise if we are looking three years in 8.5 million off the books that big of deal ? Or about the right amount ? Or not enough ?

If he didn't have that big of a guarantee, the seat would be warmer but I'd still wager on a 2014 Ferentz led Iowa team

 

[JonDMiller]

If they go under .500 this year and then again in '14 he'd have about a 50/50 chance of being fired at that point, depending on Barta's courage and the amount of guff received from fans and boosters.

Based on what? Indigestion? This is about finances and Iowa isn't a money printing factory. The only way I'd see that is if Kinnick were under 60k per game

 

[Section136]

Based on what? Indigestion? This is about finances and Iowa isn't a money printing factory. The only way I'd see that is if Kinnick were under 60k per game

According to some brainiacs on here this was supposed to happen last year for Purdue and the Nebby game was supposed to be 50% Husker fans.

College football games are much more of an "event" than they were 10-12 years ago. I dont think we ever see Kinnick draw the type of attendance numbers that we saw when KF took over and his first couple years.

 

[theboat]

Message board fury does not equal attendee fury.

 

[JonDMiller]

College football games are much more of an "event" than they were 10-12 years ago. I dont think we ever see Kinnick draw the type of attendance numbers that we saw when KF took over and his first couple years.

I agree with this 100%. There is a Wrigley feel to Kinnick...ppl do not want to give up that party/entertainment environment. They derive a lot of joy from it and winning, while not JUST a bonus, isn't the reason they spend the money on the periphery...some ppl I know spend as much on the party outside as the games inside.

 

[HerkeyHawk]

I can't believe this is still being debated. Unfortunately KF will be the head guy until he tells Barta he's done. Aside from the universities' contractual obligations, KF graduates players, is a dream PR wise, and stays out of the NCAA microscope. Not to mention, makes the U of I tons of money.

 

[NeilDiamond]

All these definitive statements one way or another on KF's job status are nothing but banter. Fact of the matter is the sentiment surrounding the program is decidedly negative and trending down. It has been that way since the 2010 season which does not need to be re-hashed. Would it be an absolute kick in the you know what to have to buy KF out for Iowa? Sure it would. However, if they lose every single BIG game and 2/4 non-conference games, capped off by recruit defections, fans/supporters are going to go wild for both Barta and KF's heads. You just cannot keep getting your *** kicked and making the money he is making year after year. So, it could happen if things got bad enough.

I actually am a bit of an optimist and think this team will surprise some people. However, on paper, I admit they look like a bad football team, devoid of top line talent except for along the O-Line. If that on paper team shows up to play then I would not be shocked to see a 2-3 win football team (Mizz St, W. Mich, Minn) and then we will really see what everyone's cards are.

 

[HawkeyeMHA]

I know it's a lot of money, but don't universities find a way to get it done when they get enough outside pressure?

 

[SteveGarvey]

Based on what? Indigestion? This is about finances and Iowa isn't a money printing factory. The only way I'd see that is if Kinnick were under 60k per game

I guess you could call it indigestion as it's a gut feeling. You're telling me that if we go sub .500 the next two years there won't be boosters calling Barta demanding Ferentz be gone? And it might approach sub 60k per game if they're lousy still by '14.

 

[HawkeyeMHA]

Firing the baseball coach is no warning shot to kf

 

[theboat]

Firing the baseball coach is no warning shot to kf

If it is then Barta is the worst AD in the history of sports.

 

[Eda]

GB will not be firing KirFer. GB will be fired long before KirFer is finished at Iowa (retired or fired).

 

[JonDMiller]

I guess you could call it indigestion as it's a gut feeling. You're telling me that if we go sub .500 the next two years there won't be boosters calling Barta demanding Ferentz be gone? And it might approach sub 60k per game if they're lousy still by '14.

So you're saying they will write out 13mil in dead cash? They got that money by being smart. And most all the big money guys know KF personally and wouldn't write that check.

 

[CAARHawk]

I guess you could call it indigestion as it's a gut feeling. You're telling me that if we go sub .500 the next two years there won't be boosters calling Barta demanding Ferentz be gone? And it might approach sub 60k per game if they're lousy still by '14.

If Iowa is still bad in 2014 then Ferentz would break his three years off, three years on trend. That would be news. As it stands right now, Iowa is just going into year three of the normal downturn in KF's tenure.

Actually, if he manages to get his team to 8 wins this year he would actually break the trend toward the positive.

My suspicions are the people most upset just decided to come to college during a down period.

Sucks for them, but that's just the way it goes.

 

[FreedomHawk]

That might be a bit of a stretch. Fran seems to be working out OK for the basketball program.

First of all, the jury is still out on that. The guy has zero NCAA appearances and zero instances of even competing for the conference title. That being said, he was still hired on the 2nd go-round, meaning we would still have a Lickliter/Terry Allen fill-in coach to look forward to. Yippee.

 

[FreedomHawk]

Those of you who think that Kirk is truly the class-act, morally upright paragon of virtue that many seem to think he is, surely can't believe that he would hold the UI hostage for the full $20 million, especially considering that he currently has more money than Jesus, will never have to work another day in his life, and his family now has generational wealth for at least the next 3 go-rounds of Ferentz offspring. You really think he will refuse to step aside in an amicable fashion if it's clear that things just aren't working out? How does this fit into the "KF is such a great guy" narrative that everyone uses to defend him when the on-field product turns to poop? The most likely scenario is that all parties agree to some kind of reduced, structured buyout that leaves KF with a mere $40 million of the U's money instead of the $60 million or so total that he would be actually owed (talking overall wealth here, including the 15 years that the UI has already paid more money than every single poster on this board COMBINED would ever see in 10 lifetimes).

 

[OLWPAORWWM]

Barta is telling Ferentz to watch his back? Sure...

Next you'll tell me that Rob Schenider is telling Bill Murray that he's coming for him.