Jon: How can someone be held accountable for this season if KF can't?

[gringo24wxc]

We've now gone from 11 wins to 8 to 7 to 4 in four years, and I agree this is the worst offense/defense combo since 1999 or 2000, with not a lot to look forward to next year.

So if the $20 million price tag that comes with firing Kirk Ferentz takes that off the table, then what's left? If it's left to Ferentz, he's obviously not going to dismantle his coaching staff.

Who will be held accountable?

 

[ForeverHawk]

The answer to that is the program. The program will be held accountable and will suffer because of it!

 

[JonDMiller]

We've now gone from 11 wins to 8 to 7 to 4 in four years, and I agree this is the worst offense/defense combo since 1999 or 2000, with not a lot to look forward to next year.

So if the $20 million price tag that comes with firing Kirk Ferentz takes that off the table, then what's left? If it's left to Ferentz, he's obviously not going to dismantle his coaching staff.

Who will be held accountable?

They aren't going to sacrifice someone at the 50. If you are looking for a pound of flesh, you may be disappointed.

 

[hawkeyeguy85]

In theory, I would assume the AD could terminate coordinators and other coaches without KF's blessing.

Obviously you wouldn't have wanted to do that in good times or after a momentary blip, but staring at the possibility of nuclear winter, what's Ferentz going to do? Walk away?

It's not going to happen, but in theory, that is the recourse.

(See the Minnesota Twins offseason this year. GM fired most of coaching staff, except manager.)

 

[Billso]

In theory, I would assume the AD could terminate coordinators and other coaches without KF's blessing.

I just LOL when I see idiocy like this. No D1 coach in America with a shred of self-respect would give up the right to hire and fire his own staff. Nor should he. If you don't like the coach's hiring decisions, you fire the coach. Period.

The fact the Twins GM did it doesn't make it less idiotic. It's the Twins, after all.

 

[hawkeyeguy85]

I just LOL when I see idiocy like this. No D1 coach in America with a shred of self-respect would give up the right to hire and fire his own staff. Nor should he. If you don't like the coach's hiring decisions, you fire the coach. Period.

The fact the Twins GM did it doesn't make it less idiotic. It's the Twins, after all.

Reading comprehension pal. It's your friend.

I said "in theory" two or three times. I also said "it won't happen."

And you are wrong if you're arguing that isn't technically possible. ADs force coordinator changes behind the scenes all the time. Sometimes it works, sometimes its a voluntary sacrifice by the coach to get out in front of the pitchfork posse, sometimes it leads to negotiated "retirements" or "exits" by the head coach.

But if you don't think ADs have ever leaned on coaches to effect change, I don't know what to tell you. Enjoy the alternate reality I guess.

 

[SpiderRico]

They aren't going to sacrifice someone at the 50. If you are looking for a pound of flesh, you may be disappointed.

I just love when Jon gets a reasonable, legitimate question and he goes all "teenage girl" on us by throwing out the most drama-filled, worst case answer imaginable.

No one is looking for a virgin sacrifice, but it is legitimate to ask where the heck the accountability train stops when your head coach has an untouchable contract and the AD works for a university that cant even fire a sexual predator, but instead lets him resign. The first time the U of I holds any of their administration accountable will be the first time.

 

[Billso]

Reading comprehension pal. It's your friend.

I said "in theory" two or three times. I also said it won't happen.

And you are wrong if you're arguing that isn't technically possible. ADs force coordinator changes behind the scenes all the time. Sometimes it works, sometimes its a voluntary sacrifice by the coach to get out in front of the pitchfork posse, sometimes it leads to negotiated "retirements" or "exits" by the head coach.

But if you don't think ADs have ever leaned on coaches to effect change, I don't know what to tell you. Enjoy the alternate reality I guess.

Never said it wasn't technically possible. Never said ADs haven't leaned on coaches to effect change. But doing so without the coach's blessing is management idiocy - you've completely neutered your coach. Reading comprehension is your friend, pal.

 

[aaronzuriel]

OK I agree with every one... it's time to fir Ferentz now. Because it won't happen ket Barry Garta come out to the public and tell Coach Ferentz he has one more year. If Ferentz doesn't produce he is gone..

So what production, or lack of, gets Iowa a new head coach?

 

[hawkeyeguy85]

Never said it wasn't technically possible. Never said ADs haven't leaned on coaches to effect change. Reading comprehension is your friend, pal.

You said it was "idiocy" and quoted the section of my post that said the AD *could* fire parts of the coaching staff.

So I'm an idiot for thinking the AD could fire other coaches. But you're not saying that doesn't/hasn't happened before. In fact you're saying that is an option that has occurred other places, but -- as I said in the rest of my post -- won't happen at Iowa.

Whatever. I'll cede whatever semantics argument you're trying to get into.

But that is about the only recourse that Barta has after terrible seasons with a head coach with an untouchable contract.

If you would care to offer up an alternative suggestion for accountability/consequences that would be nice, but I suppose you could just carry on with the drive-bys without actually addressing the actual OP/question.

In theory, I would assume the AD could terminate coordinators and other coaches without KF's blessing.

I just LOL when I see idiocy like this. No D1 coach in America with a shred of self-respect would give up the right to hire and fire his own staff. Nor should he. If you don't like the coach's hiring decisions, you fire the coach. Period.

The fact the Twins GM did it doesn't make it less idiotic. It's the Twins, after all.

 

[SpiderRico]

You said it was "idiocy" and quoted the section of my post that said the AD *could* fire parts of the coaching staff.

So I'm an idiot for thinking the AD could fire other coaches. But you're not saying that doesn't hasn't happened before. In fact you're saying that is an option that has occurred other places, but -- as I said in the rest of my post -- won't happen at Iowa.

Whatever. I'll cede whatever semantics argument you're trying to get into.

But that is about the only recourse that Barta has after terrible seasons with a head coach with an untouchable contract.

If you would care to offer up an alternative suggestion for accountability/consequences that would be nice, but I suppose you could just carry on with the drive-bys without actually addressing the actual OP/question.

Drive bys are his MO....I wouldnt take it personally...

 

[Billso]

You said it was "idiocy" and quoted the section of my post that said the AD *could* fire parts of the coaching staff.

So I'm an idiot for thinking the AD could fire other coaches.

No. I never called you an idiot, nor do I think you are one. You chose to personalize this.

But you're not saying that doesn't/hasn't happened before. In fact you're saying that is an option that has occurred other places, but -- as I said in the rest of my post -- won't happen at Iowa.

Correct. I said taking that step is idiocy, and GMs and ADs who have done it are idiots, IMHO.

Whatever. I'll cede whatever semantics argument you're trying to get into.

But that is about the only recourse that Barta has after terrible seasons with a head coach with an untouchable contract.

If you would care to offer up an alternative suggestion for accountability/consequences that would be nice, but I suppose you could just carry on with the drive-bys without actually addressing the actual OP/question.

There isn't one that doesn't cost $20 million. If he genuinely grows tired of coaching, you might try to appeal to his pride and attempt to negotiate a somewhat smaller settlement, but you have no leverage. There are no good options for Barta beyond sticking it out and letting Kirk know he expects improvement. You could fire Barta, but does anyone actually think that would improve the football product?

The answer to the OP is: we're stuck.