Column: Iowa Football in Strange Place

[RobHowe]

I disagree. There's a difference between adding contract clauses that don't terminate a contract anyway and telling the school's all-time winningest coach to fire his son or else, if it came down to that.

Hearing it might not come down to that. Stay tuned.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I disagree. There's a difference between adding contract clauses that don't terminate a contract anyway and telling the school's all-time winningest coach to fire his son or else, if it came down to that.

Hearing it might not come down to that. Stay tuned.

For sure there's a huge difference between those things. I just think the power to do so is there.

And if BF is stepping down voluntarily instead then praise the Lord almighty.

 

[HuckFinn]

Agreed. I believe the terms were that the automatic renewal provision would no longer be triggered, but I don't remember any provision saying that the AD has the right to unilaterally fire someone on KF's staff. BF reported to the AD for HR purposes, but staffing decisions are almost always left to the HC at Iowa and any other university. KF's 24 years gives him even more leeway than most.

The AD will not fire Brian. KF will not fire Brian. Assuming KF decides to come back, there will be a mutual and professional parting of the ways where BF leaves for another lateral coaching opportunity.

That said, if KF digs in his heals and says BF returns, what really would anyone do? Grumble. That's it. This is KF's world and we are all just living in it, especially if he wins a few more games.

I would agree that the current wording would not automatically trigger a firing of BF. It would mean that his current contract would be terminated and negotiations would re-open. That would open the door to a number of options. Telling him he is no longer the OC is not out of the question. Just my take.

 

[HuckFinn]

Is that true? I would think the AD would have that power. Even regardless of the nepotism angle of all this. But especially so in this case. That's the whole point of BF having to 'report' to the AD instead of his Dad to begin with isn't it? It's probably extremely rare that it's ever done but I would think if KF dug his heels in the ADs power would win out. Could the AD cave to KF? Sure that's possible but I don't think she'd have to.

The AD could, without question, fire BF.

 

[HuckFinn]

What you're saying here is that the AD has more power than KF. Do you believe that?

Legally, yup.

 

[HuckFinn]

I disagree. There's a difference between adding contract clauses that don't terminate a contract anyway and telling the school's all-time winningest coach to fire his son or else, if it came down to that.

Hearing it might not come down to that. Stay tuned.

I hope you are right.

 

[Fryowa]

The AD could, without question, fire BF.

The Iowa AD--whoever it happens to be--is a paper tiger as long as KF remains the head coach.

KF's biggest, staunchest supporters are the program's biggest donors. Any AD "firing" BF without donor backing knows he or she would be run out of town on a rail. Because of that, no AD is ever going to fire BF without donor blessing.

There are lot's of things that could on paper technically happen, but never will. Your statement that an AD could fire Brian is less likely than pigs flying out of your ass.

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

The Iowa AD--whoever it happens to be--is a paper tiger as long as KF remains the head coach.

KF's biggest, staunchest supporters are the program's biggest donors. Any AD "firing" BF without donor backing knows he or she would be run out of town on a rail. Because of that, no AD is ever going to fire BF without Kirk's blessing.

There are lot's of things that could on paper technically happen, but never will. Your statement that an AD could fire Brian is less likely than pigs flying out of your ass.

Some smoke that this was Goetz's call and Kirk is not on board with it. Who knows yet...

 

[Fryowa]

Some smoke that this was Goetz's call and Kirk is not on board with it. Who knows yet...

If BF is out, it is because of donors.

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

Right, but that's a bit different than saying no AD will ever fire Brian without Kirk's blessing.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Is that true? I would think the AD would have that power. Even regardless of the nepotism angle of all this. But especially so in this case. That's the whole point of BF having to 'report' to the AD instead of his Dad to begin with isn't it? It's probably extremely rare that it's ever done but I would think if KF dug his heels in the ADs power would win out. Could the AD cave to KF? Sure that's possible but I don't think she'd have to.

Technically, the AD has the power to fire anyone in the athletic department, including BF or KF. But, we all know how life really works. It would be beyond ballsy for the new AD to fire BF against KF's approval, and you not only risk alienating your most valuable commodity in the department (outside of Clark right now), but you send a message to future coaches that the AD at Iowa won't let the chef pick his own ingredients. Just not the way it will work.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Right, but that's a bit different than saying no AD will ever fire Brian without Kirk's blessing.

However you want to parse it, I am confident in saying that "no AD will ever fire Brian without Kirk's blessing."

It makes no sense for anyone to fire Brian. He will just leave for better opportunities. These things just get worked out behind closed doors.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

If BF is out, it is because of donors.

Well.... Mr. Eickholt is reporting he isn't coming back next yr he's done after this yr. Part of me thinks it's the pressure having finally gotten to Brian. He's had enough. That dude has been taking it nonstop for a couple yrs now and this yr has certainly reached a fevers pitch. It's just too bad he didn't see the writing on the wall after last yr and left. He just thought he got Cade, All, most of the Oline returning with a couple new pieces so that lead him to having hope I suppose. That's what you get when you live in the bubble they do I suppose... I don't think many of us thought it was likely the O would improve all that much if at all. We just looked at the schedule and thought hey 9 or 10 wins is possible despite it. (and it still is)

 

[Fryowa]

However you want to parse it, I am confident in saying that "no AD will ever fire Brian without Kirk's blessing."

It makes no sense for anyone to fire Brian. He will just leave for better opportunities. These things just get worked out behind closed doors.

I seriously question whether there will be better opportunities. His career at any coordinator level in P5 or higher football is over. He could be a low-level NFL assistant but he's branded as a cartoon character now and will never get the level of pay or responsibility he has here.

Kirk's nepotism actually hurt his kid, it didn't help him. Except for, you kno0w, making millions of dollars over the years to suck at your job.

 

[Fryowa]

This will also put things in a really shitty position if they go out and light up their next 5 opponents. It's not likely, but when was the last time the Hawks did something that was likely?

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I seriously question whether there will be better opportunities. His career at any coordinator level in P5 or higher football is over. He could be a low-level NFL assistant but he's branded as a cartoon character now and will never get the level of pay or responsibility he has here.

Kirk's nepotism actually hurt his kid, it didn't help him. Except for, you kno0w, making millions of dollars over the years to suck at your job.

I think when he wrote better what he meant by that was 'better' in that it'll be a better job then what being unemployed would be. That said announcing all this now is good for him and Iowa both. They can put their hats in the ring for being first in line. Not sure how many OCs out there are jumping up and down to work for KF but we'll find out. Same for BF he's not going to get an OC gig right away (if ever). I could see him taking a yr off to figure out what he wants to do too.

Worst case scenario Belicheat up in New England will have some kind of low level assistant job he can have.

 

[InGoodCo]

Well written and your points were all on target. I think your points would agree with most level headed people.

We have a few apologists on this forum and that’s fine as opinions are like assholes in that everyone has one.

Even those apologists admit the offense sucks, but they aren’t coining out and demanding a new offensive coordinator no matter how bad it gets.

iIt would be different if this was just Brian’s second or third year. You might say give the guy time to get his type of players in here. The sad truth is these are his players. He recruited them and is responsible for their development.

I’m not an apologist, I just think it’s Kirk’s offense and getting rid of BF won’t do a lot. People wanted the last 2 OC’s fired too. Until there is a decision at the top to change scheme and modernization, you could hire a donkey to send in the plays

 

[NorthKCHawk]

I think when he wrote better what he meant by that was 'better' in that it'll be a better job then what being unemployed would be. That said announcing all this now is good for him and Iowa both. They can put their hats in the ring for being first in line. Not sure how many OCs out there are jumping up and down to work for KF but we'll find out. Same for BF he's not going to get an OC gig right away (if ever). I could see him taking a yr off to figure out what he wants to do too.

Worst case scenario Belicheat up in New England will have some kind of low level assistant job he can have.

Exactly. I don't know if he can get a better job or not right now, but that is how they can spin it. I agree with Fry that he is damaged goods and that is no one's fault but him and his Dad's, so I don't have a lot of sympathy (especially given that he pulls down a mill a year to do his job attrociously). That said, Scott Frost has had other options, Terry Allen got job after job, everyone on Belichec's tree sucks as a HC and gets more jobs, Saban's coaching rehabilitation center is always open, Mike Riley, etc. Coaches get recycled and hired.

BF's days as an OC are likely over, but position coach in the NFL for a few years and then maybe a Division II head coach somewhere? He has decades to wash away this stain.

 

[CP87]

What you're saying here is that the AD has more power than KF. Do you believe that?

I have no idea if that is true or not, and I appreciate the reality that in some situations coaches might have more power than the ADs above them, but I think that situation (i.e. a coach having more power than the AD) is a recipe for dysfunction.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Well, the press release would suggest that some of us, including me, need to eat our words a bit. Technically, she did not fire Brian today, but basically she said he was done at the end of the year. I did not see this playing out this way. The AD has removed BF from the program starting in January, and it sure does not appear that KF was on board with that. Wowza.