Hayden knew when to retire; Norm, it is time

ChosenChildren

ChosenChildren

Well-Known Member
The stress of coaching 90 hour weeks is killing Coach Parker. I hope he retires for his own sake and for the sake of his family.
 
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Hayden left the cupboard bare, Norm has not. But if he can not make a full season, then yes it is time to retire.
 
Actually Hayden didn't. He stayed two years too long. He's even said himself, he should have probably left after the 1996 team. The program slid significantly in 1997 and 1998.
 
I remember the Hayden days very well and the sentiment back then was he stayed to long..

Hayden was great, but it could be argued that he wasn't giving it 100% in those final years.
 
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ChosenChildren said:
Hayden encountered some serious health problems and was classy enough to know that he couldn't give the program 100%. So, he retired.

Coach Parker has to know that he is in exactly the same spot. For the good of the program, he must retire. He should be a part of the effort to identify his successor. He should then focus on his health.

Coach, it is time. The Iowa program needs a full-time defensive coordinator. You are a hall of fame coach and we love you. But, it is time.
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Goodness Child. No one...and I mean no one in Hawkeye Nation was anything but elated following the Orange Bowl about Norm Parker and his defense and no one...and I mean no one...wanted anything but for a return of Norm.

So the guy has a health issue that kept him away from this team for a significant period of time this year...and suddenly he's not fit to lead our defense any more...according to you.

Norm may not have it in him to do it another year...but I'll let him and Kirk Ferentz make that call and not you big guy.
 
HawKCP said:
Goodness Child. No one...and I mean no one in Hawkeye Nation was anything but elated following the Orange Bowl about Norm Parker and his defense and no one...and I mean no one...wanted anything but for a return of Norm.

So the guy has a health issue that kept him away from this team for a significant period of time this year...and suddenly he's not fit to lead our defense any more...according to you.

Norm may not have it in him to do it another year...but I'll let him and Kirk Ferentz make that call and not you big guy.
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I applaud your loyalty to these coaches. Not an easy thing to do at a time like this. But I think that it is time for Norm to move on from his DC position. I think he was and still is an excellent coach. But his health problems are too many. Iowa (and any team for that matter) needs to have a DC present fulltime. And Norm can't do that anymore.
 
I can assure you it is not my call and I don't presume that I have a twit of authority on this subject.

If Norm can come back and even be 80-90% of what he was, hell yes come back.

But you have to be full-time. I'm rooting for him, believe me. He is a great coach.

I'll be surprised if he comes back.
 
Norm will go down as the best defensive coordinator in Hawkeye history,actually one of the best hawkeye coaches in any sport, regardless of coaching next year I hope and prayer he has some quality years left, when he does officially retire we have no idea how much he will be missed.
 
I agree with this 100%. I don't want him to retire! But if he can't come back and be the full-time on-field d coordinator, then we must have someone on the field who can do the job.

I'm concerned that he won't be able to go next year. I guess only the coaching staff really knows how he is doing. It had a big impact on the team this year
 
Actually Bowlsby's hand was on Hayden's back pushing him out the door, however it was ultimately Hayden's decision.

I do think Norm is done after this year.
 
HawKCP said:
Goodness Child. No one...and I mean no one in Hawkeye Nation was anything but elated following the Orange Bowl about Norm Parker and his defense and no one...and I mean no one...wanted anything but for a return of Norm.

So the guy has a health issue that kept him away from this team for a significant period of time this year...and suddenly he's not fit to lead our defense any more...according to you.

Norm may not have it in him to do it another year...but I'll let him and Kirk Ferentz make that call and not you big guy.
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I don't think he wants him to retire only stating that if he can't give a full season next year then he should retire, and frankly I have to agree. He isn't a good D coordinator, but a great one, on the other hand Iowa doesn't need a part time D coordinator they need someone full time.
 
ChosenChildren said:
Hayden encountered some serious health problems and was classy enough to know that he couldn't give the program 100%. So, he retired.

Coach Parker has to know that he is in exactly the same spot. For the good of the program, he must retire. He should be a part of the effort to identify his successor. He should then focus on his health.

Coach, it is time. The Iowa program needs a full-time defensive coordinator. You are a hall of fame coach and we love you. But, it is time.
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Be classy enough to stop posting such rubbish. You know it is time.
 
At the end of Hayden's career here he was calling for players who hadn't played in years. It was well past his time to leave.
 
InNormwetrust said:
We don't need Norm to retire, we just need him to get healthy.
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I think that is the problem though... If he comes back, the position would put too much strain on him again and he cannot afford letting his health to take a back seat like it has the past few years. He has done us all proud and it would be nice to see the guy walking around the stadium getting us fired up and them for him to go up to his suite to watch the game.
 
I want Coach Parker to live a long life and to enjoy a retirement. I can't live his life for him; I'm sure Coach Ferentz will want him back if Coach Parker wants to come back.

I think the stress of coaching at this level (90 hour workweeks) is killing him.

In fact, the stress on this staff this year has been tremendous. No one is feeling the stress of this season more than KF.

I'm not trying to force Coach Parker out; I'm asking him to retire for his own good and for the good of his family and the people who really care about him.
 
He is pushing 70 and has had a leg amputated due to diabetes. He is not a great candidate for a prosthetic because of his and advanced age. He isn't going to be strong enough to get around quickly on crutches. Accordingly, the best you could hope for is a situation where he could observe practice from an elevated platform and communicate via the other coaches. Same thing goes for games. You can't have him on the sidelines in a chair. There is just too much risk.

Really is pretty funny how people keep talking about this situation like he has a torn ACL. He is a senior citizen diabetic who is losing limbs. I think it would be pretty unprecedented for someone in that condition to be an active coordinator.
 
Well, you said it better than I could.

Maybe my post is insensitive and lacks class (I sure didn't mean it that way), but sometimes people around an important person who really care for him need to take charge and do what is right for that person. I think Coach Parker and his family will make the right decision.

There are actually issues much more important than football. A person's health and well-being takes precedence over a job.
 
ChosenChildren said:
I want Coach Parker to live a long life and to enjoy a retirement. I can't live his life for him; I'm sure Coach Ferentz will want him back if Coach Parker wants to come back.

I think the stress of coaching at this level (90 hour workweeks) is killing him.

In fact, the stress on this staff this year has been tremendous. No one is feeling the stress of this season more than KF.

I'm not trying to force Coach Parker out; I'm asking him to retire for his own good and for the good of his family and the people who really care about him.
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Agreed ... Exactly!
 
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