Former Players On Ferentz’s Impact

[HawkeyeHypnosis]

This is an excellent read.

Playing the Long Game: Kirk Ferentz's Enduring Impact

As college footballs longest-tenured coach nears the Big Ten wins record, former Hawkeyes reflect on how Ferentz transformed their lives.

magazine.foriowa.org

 

[Hay Man]

Yes it was. Loved all of the stories from the former players. Outstanding

 

[HawkPowerlifter]

Pure class. I think Greenway's quote is very fitting about "missing the forest for the trees," says a lot about KF.

 

[HawkeyeHypnosis]

Bowens comments made me choke up a bit.

 

[HuckFinn]

Wow. I get the Iowa magazine. This one will be saved.

 

[HawkPowerlifter]

As also mentioned by Pat Angerer, he doesn't chase the spotlight. So many things he does behind closed doors that we will never hear about. Showing up to funerals, words of encouragement well after their time was finished at Iowa, even Petras being welcomed back to rehab when he had moved on to Utah State.

I have argued with a fellow Hawkeye fan that is critical of KF as a coach. I always bring up how so many of his former players staunchly back him and show the utmost respect for him. He always argues that other coaches have the same thing happen to them.

I disagree. Sure there are always going to be feel good stories about coaches and their players. But I would argue that what KF does as a coach and as a person transcends beyond that. Stories upon stories could fill a book on what KF has meant to so many of his players.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

As also mentioned by Pat Angerer, he doesn't chase the spotlight. So many things he does behind closed doors that we will never hear about. Showing up to funerals, words of encouragement well after their time was finished at Iowa, even Petras being welcomed back to rehab when he had moved on to Utah State.

I have argued with a fellow Hawkeye fan that is critical of KF as a coach. I always bring up how so many of his former players staunchly back him and show the utmost respect for him. He always argues that other coaches have the same thing happen to them.

I disagree. Sure there are always going to be feel good stories about coaches and their players. But I would argue that what KF does as a coach and as a person transcends beyond that. Stories upon stories could fill a book on what KF has meant to so many of his players.

I think most coaches genuinely care about their kids and would do most anything to help them grow into men and be successful. There are exceptions, but I think most college football coaches are there because they love the sport and they love their kids.

Do I think KF is more special than most in this regard? Yes, I do. I am biased, but when you see that guy tear up in nearly every damn post game interview, you know he gives a shit about his kids and the program. He also is nothing but class to the media, refs, fans, etc. He is just a real dude.

The only real mark against him in his 25+ years is the racial stuff that came out involving Doyle and perhaps his dopey son. There were some former black players that spoke out against the culture of the program in that regard. But, in a very KF fashion, he showed humility, apologized, and made meaningful changes to his program. He is a good man. Period.

 

[Fryowa]

I think most coaches genuinely care about their kids and would do most anything to help them grow into men and be successful. There are exceptions, but I think most college football coaches are there because they love the sport and they love their kids.

Do I think KF is more special than most in this regard? Yes, I do. I am biased, but when you see that guy tear up in nearly every damn post game interview, you know he gives a shit about his kids and the program. He also is nothing but class to the media, refs, fans, etc. He is just a real dude.

The only real mark against him in his 25+ years is the racial stuff that came out involving Doyle and perhaps his dopey son. There were some former black players that spoke out against the culture of the program in that regard. But, in a very KF fashion, he showed humility, apologized, and made meaningful changes to his program. He is a good man. Period.

I also don't think coaches always consciously realize the effect they have on their guys.

My son's best friend and teammate graduated with him this year and is going on to play college ball. I like him a lot and have known him since he was barely walking. When I went to his grad party he gave me a huge hug and he and his mom said how much baseball had a positive impact on him and said I was a big influence on him in general. Totally caught me off guard because in no way am I Norman Dale. Not at all.

I will be the first one to say I don't have any special skills, I'm no Kirk Ferentz...not even in the same solar system...and I didn't do anything that I didn't learn myself from my own playing experience. I was just a youth and HS baseball coach and not a standout one at that if I'm honest with myself. Never treated him different or anything like that. But baseball was his thing and I think he liked having the same coach for 13 or whatever years. Something about it was a bright spot for him. He didn't have a dad growing up and maybe it was just me being the guy who showed him how to catch a ball and swing a bat who knows? Bottom line is as adults we get oblivious to the fact that these are young guys that are being shaped to whatever degree by the people in their lives. It can either be a good experience or a bad one, myself I was lucky to have coaches growing up I loved playing for. My HS coach I'd take a bullet for right this minute and I'm not exaggerating.

Also in full disclosure there are a couple kids I know who didn't like me as a coach and their parents didn't either. It happens. As long as you do everything the same for every kid and hold every kid to the same standards that's all you can do. Luckily I feel there's way more good experiences than those few less-good ones.

KF is obviously a great guy to have in your corner and whatever he's doing with these guys he's damn good at it. That's awesome.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

This is an excellent read.

Playing the Long Game: Kirk Ferentz's Enduring Impact

As college footballs longest-tenured coach nears the Big Ten wins record, former Hawkeyes reflect on how Ferentz transformed their lives.

magazine.foriowa.org

Thanks for posting this!!! Hell of an article. I admire writers that are story tellers and that can put something together like that. The going back in time and contextualizing everything is so needed when talking about someone like KF. So well done and we should be thanking our lucky stars that he's been our coach all this time. I know I do

 

[HawkPowerlifter]

I also don't think coaches always consciously realize the effect they have on their guys.

My son's best friend and teammate graduated with him this year and is going on to play college ball. I like him a lot and have known him since he was barely walking. When I went to his grad party he gave me a huge hug and he and his mom said how much baseball had a positive impact on him and said I was a big influence on him in general. Totally caught me off guard because in no way am I Norman Dale. Not at all.

I will be the first one to say I don't have any special skills, I'm no Kirk Ferentz...not even in the same solar system...and I didn't do anything that I didn't learn myself from my own playing experience. I was just a youth and HS baseball coach and not a standout one at that if I'm honest with myself. Never treated him different or anything like that. But baseball was his thing and I think he liked having the same coach for 13 or whatever years. Something about it was a bright spot for him. He didn't have a dad growing up and maybe it was just me being the guy who showed him how to catch a ball and swing a bat who knows? Bottom line is as adults we get oblivious to the fact that these are young guys that are being shaped to whatever degree by the people in their lives. It can either be a good experience or a bad one, myself I was lucky to have coaches growing up I loved playing for. My HS coach I'd take a bullet for right this minute and I'm not exaggerating.

Also in full disclosure there are a couple kids I know who didn't like me as a coach and their parents didn't either. It happens. As long as you do everything the same for every kid and hold every kid to the same standards that's all you can do. Luckily I feel there's way more good experiences than those few less-good ones.

KF is obviously a great guy to have in your corner and whatever he's doing with these guys he's damn good at it. That's awesome.

Nailed it! I look back at my high school coaches and have to say that their impact on me was huge. Specifically my baseball coach. The life lessons I learned along with the game itself were things I carry and passed on to my own kids. In a day where wins and losses are prioritized over character building, many don't value having a quality human being coaching or teaching our young people.

It's real easy to get caught up in the love for KF, and let's be honest, if he did not have some measured success in the wins and losses, he would be a "great guy but bad coach". We all want our Hawkeyes to win, and I take losses just as hard as anyone, but I try to take a step back knowing KF wants to win and see his guys succeed worse than anyone. Each kid that straps it on for the black and gold does as well.

There comes that day when our sports career ends. As does every player that plays under KF. I always know that most of these guys are going to move forward and become a great father, person and etc. Again, I am biased, but knowing KF has built a darn good program and building even better young men, I know I've been blessed to watch it the last 27 years. Respect. Gratitude. And pure class.

 

[Hay Man]

Nailed it! I look back at my high school coaches and have to say that their impact on me was huge. Specifically my baseball coach. The life lessons I learned along with the game itself were things I carry and passed on to my own kids. In a day where wins and losses are prioritized over character building, many don't value having a quality human being coaching or teaching our young people.

Be grateful you had good coaches and mentors, because not everyone on here has had that experience. My coaches in high school were horrible, self-centered and one very abusive. Our football/basketball coach (since retired) has been arrested multiple times (drugs and drinking) recently and we all knew the kind of shit he was into over the last 30-40 years. Sleeping with female students as well... That S.O.B. was inducted into the Iowa Coaches Hall of Fame too. Makes my blood boil.

I know some of us older guys grew up in a time where coaches were allowed a lot more leeway and in turn got away with it easier than coaches can now, but I'm somewhat happy to see his life fall apart after what he's done.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Be grateful you had good coaches and mentors, because not everyone on here has had that experience. My coaches in high school were horrible, self-centered and one very abusive. Our football/basketball coach (since retired) has been arrested multiple times (drugs and drinking) recently and we all knew the kind of shit he was into over the last 30-40 years. Sleeping with female students as well... That S.O.B. was inducted into the Iowa Coaches Hall of Fame too. Makes my blood boil.

I know some of us older guys grew up in a time where coaches were allowed a lot more leeway and in turn got away with it easier than coaches can now, but I'm somewhat happy to see his life fall apart after what he's done.

This is a fair point. I had a couple asshole assistant coaches in football. I remember one ego maniac picked up a kid and threw him to the ground because the kid questioned the coach. What was the kid supposed to do, fight his coach. Think how guys like Bob Knight and Bear Bryant were celebrated? They were assholes who sometimes physically endangered their players.

Things have changed a lot and that shit doesn't fly anymore.

With an exception or two, every coach I had in high school and college was a good person and was genuinely interested in their players becoming better people. There are assholes in every profession. Coaching is no different.