Ferentz in Close Games

JonDMiller

JonDMiller

Publisher/Founder
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/writer/jon-solomon/25268219

Worst: Kirk Ferentz, Iowa (20-30, .400). Among active Power Five coaches, Ferentz has the worst close-game record given his large sample size. During Iowa's four 10-win seasons (2002-04 and 2009), Ferentz went 9-1 in games decided by four points or less. He's 11-29 (.275) in those games for the rest of his FBS career -- a remarkably poor record. Ferentz is very fortunate he landed his big contract when he did.

Wow
 
That's why a number of us fans are begging to score more points to put someone away because we know what happens when the game is close. We typically lose.
 
I knew it was bad but didnt know it was that bad.

Several years ago I started a new post looking at how many games KF could have tied or won by scoring an extra 3 pts or 7 pts. IIRC he would have about 20 more wins or chances for wins in OT. If he could have just goosed that offense to perform a little better or took a chance here or there. If he could have won most of those 20 games his legacy would be totally solid.

This is why I say his coaching is worth 1-2 losses a year starting in 2005.

I think a more thorough analysis is to compare wins or losses in close games vs if the hawks were favored or underdogs. I have a sneaking suspicion that KF loses a high % of games when the hawks are favored.
 
Hawknick said:
That sports writer is way off base. He must have missed seeing a lot of games. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ9JYkAKAjg
Click to expand...

This video kinda got me pumped for football this year!

however, "missed seeing a lot of games"... That was 1, of 11 games that he actually said exist. "A lot" would be 29 games, in which the result is different.

minus one miraculous game where UNI missed a few chances to win, our coach is usually the one that puts us in a bad, bad spot. He doesn't have the guts to put away the teams he's supposed to put away, and we end up with losses instead of wins to teams like ISU. Unacceptable. Simply unacceptable.

I'm not buying season tickets this year, or any year in the future that enlists KF as our head ball coach. I'll scalp some for the night game against Pitt, I've got friends that are die hard ISU fans so I'll be going there for that game, and I do LOVE the kinnick experience.. But I'm displeased with the product KF puts on the field and my only voice of discontent is my wallet.
 
What is even more alarming is that stat that came out a couple years ago concerning Iowa's W-L record in games where they were a double digit favorite....it was ALARMING how many games they had Lost versus the rest of the league...they were rock bottom by miles!!!
 
Even more...KFz has created some of his close games. Some of the ones we've "won close" against lesser opponents shouldn't have been that close.
 
Wow. Yeah, as mentioned above, I figured KF's record in close games probably wasn't the best, but didn't realize it was THAT bad. You'd think the "you win some, you lose some" thing would apply in close games, so you'd probably win roughly half of them, but Iowa comes in well below that. I hate to say it, but that smacks of poor coaching. You would think luck by itself, or players just making plays, would allow the team to win roughly half of close games, so there must be another factor... How can a close game so routinely go to the other team?
 
It's better to be a Ferentz than good. If he had taken the Jacksonville job he'd be an assistant somewhere and have about $20 million less in the bank. That's why the Ferentz legacy at Iowa cannot be distinguished from the Cornrich legacy. KF should never be put on the same level as Fry
 
And that's why he should be gone. Loses more games as a double digit favorite. Loses more close games than any other P5 coach.
 
I see no surprise in those stats. It shows that KF's style hurts more often then helps because it goes against normal statistics.
 
Nick - The article didn't say KF was winless in close games. You've pointed out a couple close games that KF won. But it's not a matter of "credibility" - the record is what it is. But I guess you think W/L record is rubbish and don't take it seriously? To each their own, but it must be nice having your head buried in the sand...

KF sucks in close games, and against teams that he SHOULD beat. His record as a double-digit favorite is unforgivable.
 
-------To me this article has no credibility whatsoever. I don't take rubbish like that seriously. Seeing this is what I believe.

That would be like me trying to convince myself that I believe in the Dodgers bullpen.
 
The poor quality of the officiating since 2005 was not mentioned either. A number of those games would have been wins if the officiating had been at the same quality level as it had been prior to 2005. In the past few years I have pointed out many bogus calls that if they had not been made Iowa would have been in better position to win. There are more factors to a close "loss" than just the head coach and officiating is one of them.
 
So Iowa is the only team being impacted negatively by poor officiating since 2005? Interesting. Guess they got tired of Iowa finishing Top 10 in the country from 2002-04 and decided to do something about it.

Or, you could play better, and the officiating won't matter.

I, for one, am not a "blame the refs" kind of guy, except in extreme cases (1/1/2006 for example). For every bad call that goes against the Hawks, I'm sure we could also point out several missed opportunities in those games as well - dropped passes, inability to run the ball, giving up 3rd and long on D, throwing short of the sticks on 3rd down, poor special teams play and clock management, etc.
 
Playmaker said:
Just for fun, we all need to start a "nic" type thread....hilarity will ensue.
Click to expand...

Pretty funny idea. I gave up replying to that loser troll.

His stuff is almost funny it is so over the top.

I will be happy with 8-4 this year, I expect 7-5 from what I have heard about the two Off Tackles and receivers, and no proof that our up the gut defense will be improved (although I think the Dee Tackles and Lbkrs will be ok).
 
I'll jump in with my opinion, then go back to see if others already said what I'm about to say.

We have seen Ferentz pull the dogs off, time and time again. He seems to become uncomfortable scoring points - especially when up by two or more scores. We saw it against Nebraska and other teams. The offense goes conservative, and worse than that, the offense becomes predicable. The other team sees it, stuffs it and then they get the ball back. In time the D gets tiered and the other team catches up and takes the lead.

What is maddening is you can't melt the clock with 3 and outs. But that is what they seemed content to do. You can't rest your D with 3 and outs either.
 
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