Fant's Tweet

[HawkleberryFinn]

I think Schwartz missed the point of Fant's tweet. He wasn't just "cheering on his teammates." He was rightfully taking a shot at Ferentz for not playing his talent (Epenesa in this case). The "he should be out there every play" comment wasn't about Epenesa--it was Fant commenting on his own playing time and Ferentz's pattern of not putting talent on the field.

Let's not sugar coat this. Fant's pissed at the Ferentz's. Epenesa will have a decision to make next year too, if Iowa makes a bowl game. Aside from that, will Ferentz even allow the 5-star talent to start in his last year as a Hawkeye, or is there a hard-working Iowa kid with more union card stock?

 

[JG10Hawk]

 

[NikeHawk21]

I think Schwartz missed the point of Fant's tweet. He wasn't just "cheering on his teammates." He was rightfully taking a shot at Ferentz for not playing his talent (Epenesa in this case). The "he should be out there every play" comment wasn't about Epenesa--it was Fant commenting on his own playing time and Ferentz's pattern of not putting talent on the field.

Let's not sugar coat this. Fant's pissed at the Ferentz's. Epenesa will have a decision to make next year too, if Iowa makes a bowl game. Aside from that, will Ferentz even allow the 5-star talent to start in his last year as a Hawkeye, or is there a hard-working Iowa kid with more union card stock?

 

[NikeHawk21]

Nice beat me to it by a minute haha.

 

[lightning1]

Those comments don't make sense. If AJ needs to be out there every play, it is a coaching thing to Fant. The coach is who decides that he isn't out there every play. He tried to walk his first comment back. I don't care one way or the other because AJ seems perfectly content to substitute in the rotation. I don't agree with it but it's his PT. Not mine. I also don't have a problem with Fant taking shots at KF/BF, as I feel they deserve it when it comes to certain decisions. We all know there is a KF Union Card. Some don't want to admit it but it absolutely exists. If KF doesn't like to deal with the perceptions of his decisions, he's more than welcome to address them openly, with the media. He chooses not to.

 

[InGoodCo]

Why is KF such a dummy? I mean, he's proven over and over and over that he doesn't know how to manage a young mans career. I wonder why parents even send kids to Iowa.

 

[TritonHawkeye]

If you are going to skip a game to protect your draft stock perhaps he should stay off twitter. I am sure NFL organizations love it when players call out programs/coaches.

He can walk it back all he wants but I am sure this is now in his file and will be used to evaluate him against others quality TE's.

 

[HawkleberryFinn]

Fant's trying to cover now. His two comments don't jive. He just remembered he's going to have to deal with the ferentz loving NFL.

 

[judzeehawk]

His brother knows how to use twitter so I'm sure he'll pick up where Noah left off. Noah quit on his team to be a big shot so he just needs to move onto the NFL and enjoy it. No need to burn bridges. He could of gone to the fuskers and never caught a pass in his career.

 

[BVHawk95]

Guy leads the Big Ten in sacks and is a first team all-conference pick.

"Hurr durr KF doesn't want to play AJ because some walk on lunchpail kid".

 

[InGoodCo]

I have no problem with Noah leaving the team early for the NFL. None whatsoever, but he's totally biting the hand that fed him and that's pretty shitty in all walks of life. Publicly doing it is even worse. It's a bad look and he knows it, so he's walking it back.

 

[lightning1]

If you are going to skip a game to protect your draft stock perhaps he should stay off twitter. I am sure NFL organizations love it when players call out programs/coaches.

He can walk it back all he wants but I am sure this is now in his file and will be used to evaluate him against others quality TE's.

I think that's why he walked it back. I don't have a problem if Fant chooses to air grievances but some GMs/HCs might hold it against him on draft day. You've got to live with the choices you make.

 

[InGoodCo]

Guy leads the Big Ten in sacks and is a first team all-conference pick.

"Hurr durr KF doesn't want to play AJ because some walk on lunchpail kid".

yeah, they really screwed the pooch on AJ haven't they? He barely made an impact on the Outback. Good thing Hesse didn't make any plays on that goal line stand.

 

[tksirius]

I have no problem with Noah leaving the team early for the NFL. None whatsoever, but he's totally biting the hand that fed him and that's pretty shitty in all walks of life. Publicly doing it even worse. It's a bad look and he knows it, so he's walking it back.

Yeah, Kirk handed it to him. Fant didn't earn the opportunity to play at Iowa and score all those touchdowns or earn the 1st round NFL draft predictions.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

I started a thread right after the game about things I won't miss about the 2018 team. One of those things was Parker starting ahead of AJ and getting more snaps. It's nothing against Parker Hesse. Parker is a great football player and an even better leader and Hawkeye. I get why he started and why he deserved to play...it's all warranted and understandable.

That being said...I think AJ should have been getting more of the snaps...especially late in the game. You have to have a playmaker on the field in those situations. One great play in many of our losses may have changed the outcome. The guys that can make great plays need to be on the field.

I love me some Parker Hesse...he was a warrior. He also made alot of important plays himself. Interception TD at Nebraska in 2015...interception against Iowa State in a big moment late in that game. it's not like he wasn't delivering...he just has a super freak needing more snaps behind him at DE.

 

[PCHawk]

Every single coach in the world starts their 2 best Dends. That means Kirk thinks AJ is the 3rd best one on the team.

 

[lightning1]

It's double edged sword when you show loyalty to upperclassmen. I get why KF does it but there is a downside. The better 4 and 5* prospects won't choose to play for a coach that does this. Unless you live and breath Iowa football like AJ does. They feel like they have the talent to play right away and they might feel like they won't get that opportunity at Iowa. Right or wrong, I think that's a point of negative recruiting on KF.

 

[lightning1]

Every single coach in the world starts their 2 best Dends. That means Kirk thinks AJ is the 3rd best one on the team.

Kirk is wrong.

 

[dirtwrap]

To the people that think that Ferentz is holding AJ or any other young player back, have you thought that maybe AJ has been successful in part due to his selective usage instead of in spite of it? People are so stat driven sometimes that they can't see things for what they really are. AJ had 10.5 sacks, which is great, but the play by a defensive end is much much much more than just that number. However, Hesse is a great player too. He may not have the stats, but he has made some great plays over the years including this one, along with AJ, and I think they can do that when they are fresh. How many times have we seen a lack of defensive line depth kill us at the end of games because our guys are gassed? And now we have competent depth that people are complaining about one guy not playing all the time?

The way I see it, AJ is our best past rusher, and one of the best ever to wear this uniform. And so I would want that guy fresh, like really fresh, so that when we can get to 3rd and obvious passing situations, I am putting that guy in to make an impact on the game. If there was a problem getting to that 3rd and long, sure, then maybe you have to use him more, but there is no way you can expect him to have the impact on 3rd down or in the 4th quarter if you stack 25 more run plays on him.

 

[HawkleberryFinn]

Kirk is wrong.

Often.