Ferentz fatigue?

#1DieHardHawk

#1DieHardHawk

Well-Known Member
It's hard to put a finger on it, but there is something different in the air early this season.

Throughout his head coaching career, Kirk has taken us on numerous roller coaster rides, whether it be within seasons - inexplicably losing to an obscure lesser opponent followed by a dramatic upset over a top five team- or between seasons - where the program appears to be circling the drain, then, just when all seems lost, rebounds with 10 wins and a major bowl appearance the following season.

During the bad times, fans collectively threw their hands in the air and vented with emotional (albeit often irrational) outbursts on message boards. During the good times, fans would praise his steady leadership and strict adherence to "complimentary football." Good or bad, there was a passion.

This season feels different.

Instead of throwing hands in the air and screaming expletives, Iowa football fans seem uncharacteristically muted in their disgust. Kind of like when someone gives you that dismissive downward hand gesture as they turn and walk away. It kind of reminds me of when couples finally realize that the relationship is over - no more yelling and heated arguments, just a deflated acceptance of the reality of the situation.

I've always been a Kirk supporter, and still predict that in 20 years we will be longing to return to the Ferentz years, but my gut says that this season is his swan song. I could very well be wrong. Perhaps he'll keep plugging along, begrudgingly trying to adapt to the dramatically changing college football landscape, but I get the feeling he won't.
 












“Defeated acceptance” well put.

I want to believe in a steady turnaround. I want to believe in a dramatic upset of a high ranking opponent

This year will be very bitter I fear
 




#1DieHardHawk said:
It's hard to put a finger on it, but there is something different in the air early this season.

Throughout his head coaching career, Kirk has taken us on numerous roller coaster rides, whether it be within seasons - inexplicably losing to an obscure lesser opponent followed by a dramatic upset over a top five team- or between seasons - where the program appears to be circling the drain, then, just when all seems lost, rebounds with 10 wins and a major bowl appearance the following season.

During the bad times, fans collectively threw their hands in the air and vented with emotional (albeit often irrational) outbursts on message boards. During the good times, fans would praise his steady leadership and strict adherence to "complimentary football." Good or bad, there was a passion.

This season feels different.

Instead of throwing hands in the air and screaming expletives, Iowa football fans seem uncharacteristically muted in their disgust. Kind of like when someone gives you that dismissive downward hand gesture as they turn and walk away. It kind of reminds me of when couples finally realize that the relationship is over - no more yelling and heated arguments, just a deflated acceptance of the reality of the situation.

I've always been a Kirk supporter, and still predict that in 20 years we will be longing to return to the Ferentz years, but my gut says that this season is his swan song. I could very well be wrong. Perhaps he'll keep plugging along, begrudgingly trying to adapt to the dramatically changing college football landscape, but I get the feeling he won't.
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Kirk is 70. SEVENTY. He’s out of gas. You can see it in his face. Exhausted. Let Phil or someone else take the reins. It’s time.

This team has Zero weapons on offense. Zilch. Nada. And now injuries to some of the best players.

Will they move on if he goes 5-7? Because I think it’s gonna happen.

If you think I’m nuts, if you are defending Iowa, who do you fear? ISU had 8 in the box the entire game.

Am I nuts?
 


HawkeyeHypnosis said:
I’ve said it a few times. Oregon and PSU could get brutal. Our D has pulled things out their backsides before and I would gladly eat crow on this.
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The Oregon game they can get, no matter how the season plays out. November 8th at Kinnick, it doesn’t matter if kickoff is at 11 or 7… I am going to say they win this.
 


I have a lot of time on my hands since I am retired, so I watch a lot for YouTube videos. After the first game it look like Iowa YouTube views just vacated away from most of the Iowa sports news. Then came the Iowa State loss and it's like many, many Iowa fans are so done with Kirk (at this point in time), but one big upset and a could of wins and some will jump back on board. It's like being in an effing cult. You brain tells you the whole Iowa thing with Kirk has been exhaustive. Yes, 9-3 and 8-4 seasons are good to experience until you take a closer look at how good the teams you beat really are. It's not very impressive.

I remember one day sitting down and thinking about Kirk setting the record for most wins, but one question I had was "ok I wonder where he ranks in losses and low and behold one of our posters looked up that info and pointed out that Kirk has lost more games as a Big Ten coach than anyone else. I even mentioned it on another thread.

One day will this be a Jeopardy question??? Which college football head coach broke the records for most wins and also holds the record for most losses???

WHY????? It only proves that he lost most games against quality programs and beat most really weak teams, while on occasion beating a top team. The way he closed out the West Division by getting his ass absolutely handed to him two years in a row in both BIG conference title games. It really, really exposed the pathetic West Division for what it was. Too add fuel to the fire I think (off the top of my head without looking it up) that he only won the division three times in eleven years. That wouldn't sound too bad if we were playing in the BIG TEN EAST division.
 


If Kirk is going to ride into the sunset after this year, it will have to be his decision to do so. Because with a $30 million buyout, Iowa doesn't have that kind of coin lying around. (It may be al little less after this season but my point still stands). I don't know one way or the other if he would be willing to do that.
 


I feel like the product on the field has become expected now. When you expect things to happen and they do, people don't get riled up. Fans expect to have the worst offense in FBS now so there's no surprise. Ten years ago people didn't expect to have the worst offense in FBS so they got a lot louder and more fired up.
 




Fryowa said:
The funny thing is, Saturday Iowa plays the worst team it's ever played against and when they win 57-3 people are going to come on here and say how things are turning around, just to get pissed off again after the Indiana game :)
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While how were playing is nothing to get excited about, I would bet if the score was the same but we played Oregon last week the mentality would be slightly different. People are pissed because at the end of the day, regardless of where how they see Iowa, it's a loss to ISU. It's a rivalry game no one wants to lose and another week in which our offense rolled over and played dead. There will be more wins and more losses and the rollercoaster will continue to have its ups and downs and we'll all buckle up for the ride like we do every season. The preseason excitement peaked and now were in another valley things will return to how they've always been and that's somewhere in between.
 


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