Let's face it - moving forward 12-0 is the only acceptable record for Iowa football

[kicker22]

I'm not. Wisconsin is probably pretty close to that as well. It's simply a function of how absolutely awful our division is. Iowa and Wisconsin could be the 35th best teams in P5, but will look top 15-ish due to records thanks to the dog crap floating around. That tailwind is going to be substantially removed going forward. The biggest change in our program the past few years is that we went from having a puncher's chance against the big boys to being absolutely outclassed by them, but we have maintained that steady "better than trash" floor that Ferentz has established for the vast majority of his tenure.

No doubt it's been against ugly competition, but can only play the games on the schedules when it comes down to conference games. My point is that as impressive as it is there is no way it's self-sustaining with this putrid of an offense. The winning percentage, regardless of who they're against, is going to start plunging.

 

[CP87]

I fully acknowledge that it's our offense, Iowa continues to win at a really high level despite it. People should be frustrated and I am too. I do get it, but Iowa is 9th.... 9th in wins out of P5 schools the last 5 years. I can live with that and in no way or fashion do I want THAT to end. People call me names over it in fact. It's great

I get that point; it is possible (probable?) that things will look a lot worse in the next phase of Iowa football, why hasten that by forcing a coaching change? But good organizations evaluate process and outcomes (outcomes are so often a lagging indicator). I think a whole lot of people have issues with the process right now.

 

[InGoodCo]

I get that point; it is possible (probable?) that things will look a lot worse in the next phase of Iowa football, why hasten that by forcing a coaching change? But good organizations evaluate process and outcomes (outcomes are so often a lagging indicator). I think a whole lot of people have issues with the process right now.

I get that

I don't think Iowa can compete for the top of the B1G in the future regardless of who is running the ship but I'd personally like our chances better with our HC that has figured out how to win 200 ball games then without him but like, this change is coming wether we want it not, Kirks turning 69 soon, I will be honestly shocked if this isn't it. It feels like the end to me personally.

 

[InGoodCo]

I tend to agree with you, but can despite KF's past history of winning despite having an offense continue. I've said it in other threads as you have the change has to come from the top. Whether I want to see him go or not as bad as our offense has gotten I don't see him sustaining the legacy that he's built if changes aren't made. I'm astonished that were 9th in wins the past 5 years, but do you honestly see that trend continuing if our offense continues to get 2 2nd half yards against defenses that are far from elite.

It's never about just one game and I'm sure my thoughts and feelings are still reeling from what I saw on Saturday, but the offense is getting worse and not better and I don't know how long our defense and special teams can continue to carry us if we maintain this course.

I don't think we will see it this year right? We had a plan coming in. That plan went straight to shit losing Cade and our two top TE's as well as our top 2 running backs in the first few weeks of the season. They were holding it together with duct tape right off the bat. Well, the dust has settled and the good ole captain knows the best way to get the most out of this season is to play football in vacuum. Limit mistakes (a reason I don't understand not giving Labas a shot at this point) and your best play is pinning teams deep in their own territory. It's not ideal, it's where we are. We can blame the coaches cause ultimately that falls on their laps but let's not act like the team currently stands with the offensive fire power they expected to develop this season.

 

[CP87]

I get that

I don't think Iowa can compete for the top of the B1G in the future regardless of who is running the ship but I'd personally like our chances better with our HC that has figured out how to win 200 ball games then without him but like, this change is coming wether we want it not, Kirks turning 69 soon, I will be honestly shocked if this isn't it. It feels like the end to me personally.

I felt that way all the way up until he didn't make a change at OC following last year. But then the transfer portal additions got me wondering, "Maybe this was all about personnel, and quadrupling down was logical?"

From the start of the season, it has been clear that was way too optimistic. I have been entertained by Iowa continuing to win these games playing one-handed, but it is no way to run a program. If this year stood alone, I could buy the injury excuse, but this is 3 years running, and things are getting worse, not better.

I think I am way more optimistic about the future of Iowa football than most. I think with the right hire, Iowa could absolutely continue to reside in the top quintile of CFB programs. I think what that means in terms of win-loss record might change as the landscape changes, but I think we can be top tier. We have strong fundamentals (fan support, money, stability), and I hope we will have a smart person making the hire.

 

[dagdaj]

I think I am way more optimistic about the future of Iowa football than most. I think with the right hire, Iowa could absolutely continue to reside in the top quintile of CFB programs. I think what that means in terms of win-loss record might change as the landscape changes, but I think we can be top tier. We have strong fundamentals (fan support, money, stability), and I hope we will have a smart person making the hire.

I'm optomistic.
1. I recognize I, along with many other fans, have a short memory.
2. It took Kirk 2 years to get some momentum. I'm embarrassed about things I said or felt during those years.
3. We have had some quite bad seasons before (though RARELY for 2+ years)....only once other than 99-00.
4. I think Kirk has a couple years of Kirkball left in him (just not with Brian or an OC that isn't given latitude)
5. If Kirk goes early, I don't know that there's a "wrong hire". I've said before if Saban really is some kind of genius, why wasn't he a genius at MSU? How many times have we seen "the next great up and coming HC" not really pan out? Is Harbaugh that good of a coach (or cheater)? Or is he just the right guy to leverage the best that a very high spending, high prestige school? I think there are a ton of available coaches....some currently on staff, some we've heard of, some we haven't thought of.....who could come to Iowa match what we've seen through Ferentz/Fry. Of course, Iowa isn't a top tier. But I would bet in the world of kids being recruited, an offer from Iowa is not laughed at. The "right guy" for Iowa doesn't need to be a genius. He just needs to understand what they need to do...keep winning the in-state battle for recruits, and tap your source....be it Florida, TX, the northeast where you still have some sway to pick up guys who are good, but either overlooked or not quite flashy enough to get a bid from a higher tier school. A guy like Levar Woods sounds pretty good in that department. There's probably dozens of others.

 

[BigD]

At this point it appears Brian is not going to get the points he needs to meet the contractual agreement.

If the new AD caves in and keep's Brian it is really going to make this AD look really weak and appear to be a puppet.

If the new AD does honor the contract and lets Brian go, there aren’t too many fans that will blame the new AD including most people associated with college football.

The B1G question is what will Kirk do? We might all be surprised and he might actually be relieved to see Brian move on or be reassigned to a different coaching position with Iowa (preferably not QB coach).

As frustrating as the offense has been still I can’t but help feel bad for a player who once wore the Iowa uniform and that many fans once cheered for. I had honestly hoped he would get his groove on and surprise us all with a turn around.

All this is bad timing with the expansion and also if the conference stays with one division. I don’t see Iowa finishing above Ohio State or Michigan. I know we can look at Oregon, Washington, and USC and be concerned. UCLA we might beat out as they have never recovered to what they onice were. Wisconsin is 50/50. So we might finish sixth to eight on a regular basis and get a late December bowl game.

Having said all of this, there were many that thought Nebraska would do better than they did so you really don’t know. The Pac 12 teams look really explosive but is this the Big 12 syndrome made up of teams that don’t play strong defenses? We can be hopeful that this is the case.

If Kirk stays around a few more years and we don’t do well that will really stain his image, as there will be detractors talking about it was a weak West division smoke and mirrors “sort of say”. Or just being one of the best in the West. A division of under achievers.

 

[eyekwah]

The title is a bit deceiving from the actual posts. I believe Fry and Ferentz have created a head coach position that will be attractive to candidates that want stability and fan support. It won't be attractive to coaches like Urban Meyer or Lou Saban chasing national championships. The introduction of NIL, new conference members, and the transfer portal will make things much more difficult for the next Iowa coach. It has to be a really, really small minority thinking 12 and 0 is possible every year and is why candidates know they have no weight in the decision making.

People scoffed at the way Bowlsby put together a team to interview candidates when Fry retired. In the end some fans were upset that Bob Stoops did not wait for Iowa to complete its process. In the end settling for Ferentz turned out OK. I'm sure that between past players they have someone in mind that would fit in at Iowa as HC. I'm sure there will be plenty of candidates once the position opens. Iowa just needs to avoid a candidate that is trying to make a name for himself only to move on to a program after 3 to 5 years. Maintaining a winning record year after year is always your hope as a fan. It is unreasonable to expect 12 and 0.

 

[trj]

I felt that way all the way up until he didn't make a change at OC following last year. But then the transfer portal additions got me wondering, "Maybe this was all about personnel, and quadrupling down was logical?"

From the start of the season, it has been clear that was way too optimistic. I have been entertained by Iowa continuing to win these games playing one-handed, but it is no way to run a program. If this year stood alone, I could buy the injury excuse, but this is 3 years running, and things are getting worse, not better.

I think I am way more optimistic about the future of Iowa football than most. I think with the right hire, Iowa could absolutely continue to reside in the top quintile of CFB programs. I think what that means in terms of win-loss record might change as the landscape changes, but I think we can be top tier. We have strong fundamentals (fan support, money, stability), and I hope we will have a smart person making the hire.

You are not alone I have the same optimism about the future of Iowa football as you do.

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

At this point it appears Brian is not going to get the points he needs to make the contractual agreement.

If the new AD caves in an dkeeps Brian it is really going to make this AD look really weak and just another puppet.

If the new AD does honor the contract and lets Brian go, there aren’t too many fans that will blame the new AD including most people associated with college football.

The B1G question is what will Kirk do? We might all be surprised and he might actually be relieved to see Brian move on or reassigned to a different coaching position with Iowa (preferably not QB coach).

Along those lines, what do you think about this?

Kirk is worn down and knows bringing Brian back will be extremely difficult.

He goes to Goetz and tells her he'd like to see LeVar get the head job, that he's earned it and is more than ready and that Kirk would like to see as much of the staff stay intact as possible. (I do think leaving his assistants in a stable position is very important to him).

And then Kirk goes to LeVar and tells him he'd like to see him become the next coach. And that he'll do everything in his power with the AD, President, donors, board of regents...to try to make it happen for him. But that he'd like one favor from LeVar - keep Brian on staff. It doesn't have to be as OC or even OL coach. But keep him on staff (and Kirk's son in law) so that Brian can keep his family in Iowa City and perhaps look to transition to another job over the next season or two. Give him a little time to be removed from being a national joke.

Maybe Goetz won't guarantee anything, but going with LeVar and presumably keeping most of the staff around would be a relatively low risk move for her. Fans and donors aren't looking to rid themselves of Kirk or his legacy, and LeVar is a pretty popular choice. If he failed, she potentially gets a bit of a mulligan, as it was seen as the natural transition. It might be riskier to go outside the family, given that hire may struggle and Parker and Woods might succeed elsewhere. Not sure she would get a mulligan in that scenario.

Would LeVar agree to it? I guess it depends on what he thinks of Brian and if he thinks Kirk's endorsement will make or break his candidacy. I tend to think Brian's involvement anywhere on staff might be problematic for a new coach, but maybe he will have been humbled enough by the situation to keep his head down. And maybe LeVar is confident enough in his ability to manage people that he thinks it could work.

 

[BigD]

Along those lines, what do you think about this?

Kirk is worn down and knows bringing Brian back will be extremely difficult.

He goes to Goetz and tells her he'd like to see LeVar get the head job, that he's earned it and is more than ready and that Kirk would like to see as much of the staff stay intact as possible. (I do think leaving his assistants in a stable position is very important to him).

And then Kirk goes to LeVar and tells him he'd like to see him become the next coach. And that he'll do everything in his power with the AD, President, donors, board of regents...to try to make it happen for him. But that he'd like one favor from LeVar - keep Brian on staff. It doesn't have to be as OC or even OL coach. But keep him on staff (and Kirk's son in law) so that Brian can keep his family in Iowa City and perhaps look to transition to another job over the next season or two. Give him a little time to be removed from being a national joke.

Maybe Goetz won't guarantee anything, but going with LeVar and presumably keeping most of the staff around would be a relatively low risk move for her. Fans and donors aren't looking to rid themselves of Kirk or his legacy, and LeVar is a pretty popular choice. If he failed, she potentially gets a bit of a mulligan, as it was seen as the natural transition. It might be riskier to go outside the family, given that hire may struggle and Parker and Woods might succeed elsewhere. Not sure she would get a mulligan in that scenario.

Would LeVar agree to it? I guess it depends on what he thinks of Brian and if he thinks Kirk's endorsement will make or break his candidacy. I tend to think Brian's involvement anywhere on staff might be problematic for a new coach, but maybe he will have been humbled enough by the situation to keep his head down. And maybe LeVar is confident enough in his ability to manage people that he thinks it could work.

All speculation on our part but interesting thoughts. That’s what sports forums are for and hoping for the best for your team.

 

[HuckFinn]

All speculation on our part but interesting thoughts. That’s what sports forums are for and hoping for the best for your team.

I have really enjoyed this thread the last couple of days. Speculation? Sure. But interesting serious takes. I have worn out my like button and I am fine with that.