I've been really hard on the coaches....

[QuadCityHawkeye]

But Saturday night was masterful especially from a defensive stand-point. The offensive line asserted themselves and hopes some holes, and the defensive line got push like we haven't seen in awhile. Yes the WR's unit needs work and things were not perfect on offense, but what a job the coaches did to get these kids up for Saturday night. After hearing rumors of players giving up at Penn State, and locker room division things were set up for a bloodbath courtesy of Michigan. That didn't happen and seeing Ferentz in tears made me feel like a moron for ripping him.

Damn that was one of the most enjoyable wins I've ever seen. This certainly can be one of the "jumpstart" wins and could help put Iowa in a nice position bowl-wise if they finish strong.

 

[DBAHawkFan]

I just don't know. Happy for the players to beat #3 team, and it being Michigan.

But I feel like the coaches only coach when things are at their worst. We rarely see this effort week to week, and while that's probably asking too much, I don't get why we refuse to make any changes until it's basically too late.

We had two weeks to get ready for PSU, and we come out and get destroyed. No one gives Hawks a chance this week and they come out with fire (on defense).

The offense is still a mess. Especially the passing game. Until Davis is gone, we'll continue to play games like this. While KF will always handicap the offense, this passing scheme is just horrible. I think with a KOK type OC, we have at most 2 losses this year and are still in the hunt for the West.

Instead we are left to wonder what could have been. This win also promises KF will never, ever change his scheme. He beat Michigan by playing the equivalent of dropping all 11 guys into the box in soccer.

I just wish we could be more loose and unpredictable on offense. If the defense plays close to that level every week, that's fine.

 

[hawkeyes87]

Yeah, even if you think that was an all -time great coaching job, it's 1 game of 10 so far this year. Yes a major turn-around from PSU, but KF should get a good chunk of the blame for needing a turn-around.

Yes he cried, and we feel sympathy for him and for the players- yes they played hard and got a huge win few believed possible. But again, the reason the players needed that win was because the previous 9 games were so rough. And KF deserves blame for those games.

At the very least, let's see how the year plays out.

 

[Joshbrown]

Yeah, even if you think that was an all -time great coaching job, it's 1 game of 10 so far this year. Yes a major turn-around from PSU, but KF should get a good chunk of the blame for needing a turn-around.

Yes he cried, and we feel sympathy for him and for the players- yes they played hard and got a huge win few believed possible. But again, the reason the players needed that win was because the previous 9 games were so rough. And KF deserves blame for those games.

At the very least, let's see how the year plays out.

The true genius (and I do mean the dictionary definition of genius) of KF. Is that he has done a brilliant job of lowering expectations. The exact opposite of what an AD should expect from a 34 million $$$ coach.

 

[westender]

The true genius (and I do mean the dictionary definition of genius) of KF. Is that he has done a brilliant job of lowering expectations. The exact opposite of what an AD should expect from a 34 million $$$ coach.

He could win a national title and you will still not compliment and find 100 things to bitch about. harbaugh just went down! Fire Harbaugh!!!

 

[Joshbrown]

He could win a national title and you will still not compliment and find 100 things to bitch about. harbaugh just went down! Fire Harbaugh!!!

In your mind after 2015 it makes sense that Iowa should be a 21 point underdog at home to Michigan. Even though we had the better record last year. You just made my point about lowering expectations with 4 losses to become Vince Lombardi with a single win. Thank you.

 

[DBAHawkFan]

Harbaugh was outcoached by KF. KF does what he does, and JH tried to match up at the same game. Unless Iowa just has a real bad day, you don't try to match power with power. It's why when we play games against WI, MN and some of the more traditional offenses in our league, the scores usually are 13-10 and the commentators are like "Of course it's 13-10....it's the Big10!!!"

Teams that spread the field, have an accurate QB, and misdirection plays seem to give us the most fits. Michigan didn't seem to do any of that Saturday. I actually felt like JH treated this game as a scrimmage, arrogantly thinking he could go basic and still beat a Big10 team on the road.

Basically, JH pulled a Kirk.

Glad for the win. But our major issues still remain despite the win.

Let's see how we do against IL. Too often with this staff we blow up for one game, only to look the opposite the next game. We have a chance to turn this around a la 2008, but the team and staff have to do it.

Granted, with this schedule 8 wins still feels like a complete letdown

 

[jldhawk]

I've been critical of the coaches but Kirk and staff deserve a lot of credit. They had them ready to play and a game plan that gave them a chance to win. All you could have asked for against Meatchicken and where we are with the season. Go Kirk, Go Hawks.

 

[Mrke1]

I actually think this is a remarkable example of the Iowa players overcoming their own teams coaching deficiencies and rising up. The players get all the credit for rising up. Its like a child with mental deficient parents clawing their way out and going to college.

 

[SteveGarvey1]

Every time the Kirk-critics think they have him nailed to the hot seat, he escapes with a win like this and buys some time until the next wave of disappointing losses comes around. Kirk Houdini or something.

 

[Fryowa]

harbaugh just went down! Fire Harbaugh!!!

I'm not even a KF apologist and that's one of the dumbest analogies I've ever read.

 

[Trump]

i agree. really need to work on an extension for kirk. dont need him going anywhere!!!

 

[westender]

I'm not even a KF apologist and that's one of the dumbest analogies I've ever read.

Sorry it went over your head!!

 

[Fryowa]

Sorry it went over your head!!

It didn't.

 

[westender]

In your mind after 2015 it makes sense that Iowa should be a 21 point underdog at home to Michigan. Even though we had the better record last year. You just made my point about lowering expectations with 4 losses to become Vince Lombardi with a single win. Thank you.

I guess those odds makers were way the F off weren't they??? I didn't say he was Vince Lombardi, but one of the bigger wins in recent years and you can't pay one single complement. Because in your twisted mind they should win every single game every single year. 100 things to complain about all the time. Something is always wrong. Harbaugh lost games he should have won last year and lost to lowly Iowa this year. They better fire him! He should be going undefeated every year with the resources and tradition he has it his disposal!

 

[proudhawkfan21]

This has been argued a million times. Just one time give me a good reason why Ferentz is a bad coach.Lets list a few items.

1. Recruiting. This is Iowa. What is the attraction for a recruit? Give me a reason that a 4-5 star recruit should pick the state of Iowa over anyone else. Don't tell me Joe Coach can recruit kids to Iowa. Which leads into....

2.Tradition? Like it or not KF is 35 years of that tradition. If you want to say Iowa plays in the Big Ten so Stoops and Saban and Miles and all the recruiters want to be here, no , they don't. They would be hoping for a good year to get out quick.

3. Professional respect. You can argue this all you want but it is well known that Iowa teaches the game...develops NFL players...and do it with 2 and 3 star recruits or walk ons (see #1 if you got the urge to argue this point). Its an industry fact. You can't argue it. Its fact.

4. Consistency. We complain about the same old, same old. There is a formula for winning with lesser athletes. Train hard, be disciplined, utilize your talents. We slow the game down. We play to have a chance to win. I've seen 12-0. I've seen a couple of 11-2. I've seen many January 1 bowl games. I've seen Penn State upsets, Lsu miracles, orange bowl victories, Michigan upsets, big ten titles, I've even seen Iowa hijack and terrorize an entire nation of college football fans. Lots of smiles and cheers.

5. The Gold Standard. If Hayden Fry is the gold standard here, then you HAVE to put KF in the same category as the record is nearly identical. If national championships are the gold standard, then who? Who is your miracle worker? Bielema? He's far from the best coach in his conference. Stoops? Doesn't want us. Who will lead us magically to the pearly gates and the recruiting fields of gold? You want someone better. Who, pray you, is that?

6. Pride. I know of very few people that make me more proud to be an Iowan than Kirk Ferentz. He had opportunities to leave us (save the snarky comments for the cyclone board), but committed to Iowa. He carries himself as a gentleman, a teacher and a father figure. He gives back to his community and his university. He cares deeply about his players. See the post Michigan interview. See the Brent Greenwood stories. See how He talks about famous and not so famous former players. He doesn't make excuses. He takes blame. He is loyal to people. You can try to find a way to make that a flaw. In some ways it is. We all succumb to loyalty. At the end of the day, he does his job.

So begin your bashing of a man who will go down in history as the winningest coach in Iowa history. Wish for something better. But ask yourself, what does better look like? After listening to most on here, national championships are the only measure of success. There are tons of terrible coaches in the hall of fame if that is your measuring stick including coach Fry. You, reader/Hawkeye fan, have every right to your opinion. I only hope that you find purpose in a life well-lived instead of a life of what-its. Enjoy the Hawks. Enjoy coach Ferentz. One day you will get your wish of an opening day sunny saturday kickoff without coach Ferentz on the sideline. I hope it's worth the 20+ years of misery and that you don't regret missing some great hawkeye football.

 

[HawkGold]

This has been argued a million times. Just one time give me a good reason why Ferentz is a bad coach.Lets list a few items.

1. Recruiting. This is Iowa. What is the attraction for a recruit? Give me a reason that a 4-5 star recruit should pick the state of Iowa over anyone else. Don't tell me Joe Coach can recruit kids to Iowa. Which leads into....

2.Tradition? Like it or not KF is 35 years of that tradition. If you want to say Iowa plays in the Big Ten so Stoops and Saban and Miles and all the recruiters want to be here, no , they don't. They would be hoping for a good year to get out quick.

3. Professional respect. You can argue this all you want but it is well known that Iowa teaches the game...develops NFL players...and do it with 2 and 3 star recruits or walk ons (see #1 if you got the urge to argue this point). Its an industry fact. You can't argue it. Its fact.

4. Consistency. We complain about the same old, same old. There is a formula for winning with lesser athletes. Train hard, be disciplined, utilize your talents. We slow the game down. We play to have a chance to win. I've seen 12-0. I've seen a couple of 11-2. I've seen many January 1 bowl games. I've seen Penn State upsets, Lsu miracles, orange bowl victories, Michigan upsets, big ten titles, I've even seen Iowa hijack and terrorize an entire nation of college football fans. Lots of smiles and cheers.

5. The Gold Standard. If Hayden Fry is the gold standard here, then you HAVE to put KF in the same category as the record is nearly identical. If national championships are the gold standard, then who? Who is your miracle worker? Bielema? He's far from the best coach in his conference. Stoops? Doesn't want us. Who will lead us magically to the pearly gates and the recruiting fields of gold? You want someone better. Who, pray you, is that?

6. Pride. I know of very few people that make me more proud to be an Iowan than Kirk Ferentz. He had opportunities to leave us (save the snarky comments for the cyclone board), but committed to Iowa. He carries himself as a gentleman, a teacher and a father figure. He gives back to his community and his university. He cares deeply about his players. See the post Michigan interview. See the Brent Greenwood stories. See how He talks about famous and not so famous former players. He doesn't make excuses. He takes blame. He is loyal to people. You can try to find a way to make that a flaw. In some ways it is. We all succumb to loyalty. At the end of the day, he does his job.

So begin your bashing of a man who will go down in history as the winningest coach in Iowa history. Wish for something better. But ask yourself, what does better look like? After listening to most on here, national championships are the only measure of success. There are tons of terrible coaches in the hall of fame if that is your measuring stick including coach Fry. You, reader/Hawkeye fan, have every right to your opinion. I only hope that you find purpose in a life well-lived instead of a life of what-its. Enjoy the Hawks. Enjoy coach Ferentz. One day you will get your wish of an opening day sunny saturday kickoff without coach Ferentz on the sideline. I hope it's worth the 20+ years of misery and that you don't regret missing some great hawkeye football.

Do you change your mind if for the next 10 years he averages 7-5 records or worse? Myself, I don't know how to process KF. If I really thought he was doing his best year in and year out, I wouldn't mind. The gaping holes in some years are just so hard to process. When I get mad at him, he pulls off a win over Michigan or goes 12-0. Then I feel better and he pulls a Rose Bowl and a 2016. The win over LSU was so fun, but then when one stops to realize the last play was a total screw up. I think I'm beginning to enjoy KF, but not as a terrific coach....I'm beginning to become entertained. You mention consistency. He is anything but.

Professional respect...well he was never hired away. Good or bad? I dunno. You can hear the "respect" in the tone of the TV announcers. Take away practice squad and factor NFL playing time, is his NFL record that good? Dunno.

Tradition? You don't know if Stoops would have stayed or not. His early contract negotiations and constant NFL banter....

He is hard to rate. Illinois/Purdue would love to have him I am sure. Mich would have been ugly for him. Btw, I would be loyal to Barta as well if ....

My wife was hot when I asked her out. She's still hot and she's still with me. She gets looks and comments from way younger and richer guys. Glad I didn't marry someone who fit with a poor Iowa farm kid who drove an Allis and fed pigs with 5 gal buckets with mediocre grades. I took a chance...