Miller and Deace buried the Iowa program,

[IowaHOCKS23]

Jon - didn't you have Iowa at 5-2 at this point in your preseason predictions? Why all the hate? Is it because a redshirt freshman that had a couple nice catches in the Spring game thinks he is bigger than the program and decided to transfer mid-way through the season? Do we even want players like that on the roster (i.e., the cancers in the locker room)? Or maybe we're better off with young guys like Reese Fleming that stand by their coach and team through thick and thin and are busting their butts to get on the field and make an impact. Your boy, Rob Howe, had a nice article about how condemning the coach also indicts players (http://iowa.scout.com/story/1472062-howe-condemning-coach-also-indicts-players). Worth a read before getting your panties all up in a bunch about how the sky is falling as we are sitting a half game out of 1st place in the West Division halfway through the season. These two early bye weeks have been tough on the Iowa fans. Idle hands are the devil's workshop.

I have to ask you, did you actually listen to the podcast? It's not Willies leaving the program, it's the cumulative effect of a LOT of things.

willies gone
losing to ISU
scraping by against UNI and BSU.
seeing a flat out better QB sitting on the bench
mind boggling play calling
the way we lost to Maryland
CJB conflicting the head ball coach
a lot of chatter about a house in disarray
people who refused to recognize patterns starting to see the patterns
a contract that no coach has any business getting, especially with the results we've been given

I don't agree with Deace that KF deserved the money. He benefitted a TON from guys like Tate, Banks, Greene, DJK, Stanzi. All "Rebels" in the house of Kirk. All not the least bit afraid of making plays. As most people of us do, remember what you were doing about, 5 seconds before Tate to Holloway? I do, I was screaming at my TV, as I'm sure a lot of others were. Inability to manage a game has cost us games in almost EVERY season of 16 that KF has been here. That's unacceptable in my opinion, of a power 5 coach.

i digress though, but yeah.. Next time listen and comprehend before commenting, because its my assumption (dangerous to do) that you didn't listen, based on the comment.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

There's one thing Deace said that I agree with.....Let KF fire himself with his results on the field. There's no need to make a hasty jump. All you have to do is look at Michigan, USC, Texas, Florida, etc to see the results of hasty decisions. While we are certainly floundering somewhat, we're still certainly fairing better than the programs I just mentioned.

Yes and No. The case could be made that he's already fired himself with the results. The question is, at what point does the AD agree with that.

The "hasty firing" argument which is often tossed out, is based on several variations of a flawed premise.

1. The idea that things are cyclical. Given another year or two... things would have again gone on the up tick. (the "cyclical Ferentz theory) Not so. The past does not = the future. And the trend now...clearly looks like a downward one, much more than a temporary cycle that's on the rebound.

2. If the new guy does no better, it was a mistake to ditch KFz

a. see #1 above
b. the damage done by the fired coach may be significant enough to have lowered the foundation. (a justifiable firing offense in itself, even if the new guy doesn't have a better W-L within 3 years)
c Firing the old guy is not a given that the new hire will automatically perform better in short term. (2002-2004 and 2009 may have been a perfect storm that's hard to capture again) But you should at least give it a shot...which it seems KFz is too tired, stubborn and played out to do.

In short, and perhaps poetically appropriate to the topic....

It would seem that we're nearing the point where keeping KFz is playing "not to lose"... getting rid of him and going for it....would be playing "TO win".

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Any time you agree with Deace on anything you have to rethink your life a little bit.

I actually find myself agreeing with him and his philosophy on issues a lot. I think he is pretty level headed & realistic.

I do think he is or is slowly turning into a closet Hawkeye fan a bit. I think he really had a somewhat manufactured passion for IA State secondary to his job. I think talking about Iowa football so much with Jon as an Iowa fan has brought him this way a little bit, he just hasn't admitted it yet. I get that from listening to him during the podcasts. His true passion is for Michigan though.

 

[iowalaw]

+1

I wouldn't say buried. There are aspects and issues that are certainly troubling, but there and few, if any, that can’t be righted.

But the data that Morehouse and Dochterman brought up the other day about how many weeks it had been since Iowa was ranked in the AP Poll, and how that is approaching the longest drought since the end of the Fry era to the middle of the 2002 season.so this is the second longest drought since the 1970’s. I mean, the data sort of speaks for itself when you bring it all to light, does it not? Iowa is 17-18 in Big Ten play since the start of 2010. Since losing to Wisconsin at home in 2010, Iowa is 12-12 in Kinnick against FBS opponents. All of this with one of the Top 12 most profitable athletic departments in FBS and a football program that is among the most profitable in the land. The results have been lacking.

 

[ChosenChildren]

Another really tough, brutal podcast. I don't strongly disagree with anything being said by Mr. Miller and the always concise Mr. Deace, but why is it being said now? Why is it being put in the public domain, now???? Don't recruits listen and read this stuff?????

Can't we wait until the end of the season and THEN evaluate the Iowa coaching staff? Where is the loyalty after 16 years?

I don't understand the motivation here to just completely dump on a 5-2 team with 5 big games left. I just don't get it....

Jon, I'm glad you weren't doing podcasts doing the Revolutionary War. We would have given up and let the British win, based on the early mistakes being made by General Washington. Or the Civil War, after we lost at Chancellorsville. You would have fired Abraham Lincoln and surrendered to the South. Or World War II, after McArthur surrendered the Phillipines to the Japanese. You would have fired FDR!!!

I know Iowa football doesn't come remotely close to the importance associated with war, but to read this board the last 2 weeks, you would think the world was coming to an end.

Everyone needs to relax and let the rest of the season play out.

 

[LASBUR]

You have to understand to Jon & Steve this is economics. There a growing audience for this subject right now. I would prefer we wait and let it play out to. But cant blame them if they can capitalize on the situation. That's what the press does.

 

[JHHawk]

You have to understand to Jon & Steve this is economics. There a growing audience for this subject right now. I would prefer we wait and let it play out to. But cant blame them if they can capitalize on the situation. That's what the press does.

Correct.

It is not unlike right wing talk radio....stir the pot, get the listeners riled up, and cash in ....Deace knows that game well.

 

[HawgEyeState]

It seems like every year the knee-jerk reactions after each game or maybe even each piece of news are greater and greater and louder and louder. Not just about Iowa football but across the country and regarding the NFL as well. Whether it is on the radio, message boards or on ESPN. After every game the hyperbole's fly like crazy.

I'd call it the 'Stephen A Smith' effect. The guy is full of so much hyperbole, that there's now
a generation of sophomoric, wankers who buy into it. Total B.S.

 

[DP5555]

Asking a member of the media not to cover current events? You're basically asking them not to do their job.

This whole website is centered around the Hawkeyes, and football is by far the biggest and most controversial topic. Which means it brings in the most people and it creates the most discussion. Jon would be a moron not to cover situations like this. Clearly he isn't a moron. It's not any different than a newspaper (only newspapers are on their way out). 10 years ago would you have asked a sports columnist not to share his opinion on the team just because the season wasn't over yet? Of course not.

Today people are all about getting the latest news the fastest way possible. Providing content is a huge part of what Jon does. I'm sorry to be so direct, but asking Jon not to give his opinion on the team until the end of the season is just plain dumb.

 

[LASBUR]

There is a difference between Jon and Newspapers. Most Newspaper Reporters don't seem to know anything anymore. Jon does know Hawk Land pretty well. For that matter so does Steve

 

[vork22]

I honestly think we're a BB or BS away from being big 10 dominant like OSU and MSU. I remember a time when MSU was a "win" on the schedule at the beginning of the season. Look what a proven coach can do to a program.

bottom line, and a lot of you won't like this, but to contend in today's game, you have to, at minimum, toe the line between right and wrong. KF is so far away he can't even see the line. As long as you don't cross that line, I don't give a rats arse if other teams hate our coach, or other coaches for that matter, definitely not fans. I want wins for my team.

If you want wins then why are you fascinated with BB? The blob can't win a game at Arkansas.

 

[Rosebowler]

Comment made about WI in the podcast and the direction they have taken vs. Iowa in recent years..........I think you only have to look at their AD. He's bold, unafraid, and thinks big.

Great point. As a coach, Alvarez was the same way. Bielema, too. It's not surprising to see the success they've had at UW. Maybe too early to tell whether Andersen is going to continue that.

 

[DP5555]

There is a difference between Jon and Newspapers. Most Newspaper Reporters don't seem to know anything anymore. Jon does know Hawk Land pretty well. For that matter so does Steve

I wasn't comparing Jon's knowledge to a newspaper reporter. I was comparing the fact it's their job to cover current events. They'd be doing themselves a disservice if they didn't do so.

 

[wolfgang]

Ferentz, and Barta on the latest podcast. Whenever they do this, Iowa usually follows it with a nice win. So, jNW is in trouble tomorrow.

They didn't hold back did they

 

[LASBUR]

I wasn't comparing Jon's knowledge to a newspaper reporter. I was comparing the fact it's their job to cover current events. They'd be doing themselves a disservice if they didn't do so.

I know DP was just making a funny. Seems I never get any new news from a newspaper

 

[528646]

Correct.

It is not unlike right wing talk radio....stir the pot, get the listeners riled up, and cash in ....Deace knows that game well.

I'll agree Deace has some troll in his sports radio style, but Jon? No way. Jon is a 100% straight shooter in my experience.

 

[NCHawker]

Originally Posted by DJL

I have been guilty of thinking Iowa is in that second tier football programs for too long now. Obviously I know that outside of a good 3 year run, the Hawks were nowhere near elite status, but I still thought of them as at least a better than average program. 2012 was like a thump over the head to make me realized things were going down hill, but I thought KF had another run in him. With everything happening and you take a look at all of the data, you have to say that Iowa has been at best a very mediocre football program in recent history with a couple of outliers; 2012 which was just a horrible season, and 2009 which was a terrific season. It's a hard reality to face given all of the success Iowa has had in my lifetime. But facts are facts. Iowa needs a change.


I lumped Iowa in those 2nd tier Big Ten programs with Wisconsin and Michigan St. As Jon and several others have pointed out when everything fell into place(schedule, returning starters, etc.) they were able to take advantage of that for a nice 3 or 4 year run, Iowa really hasn't. 02-04 was a nice run, but it still doesn't quite match up with the run Wisky/MSU have recently put together.


Iowa, when good, is 2nd tier (just contending). And then they are another tier short of NC contention. As it stands right now they are 3rd or 4th tier. What else do you call a .500 program?

We are truley delusional. Most fans outside of the Iowa circle see Iowa as a perennial 7-5 team. I want to remind them that Iowa has won the conference before. And Iowa has ended up ranked in top 10. As I speak those words they sound as distant as a far away train whistle.

 

[Knight78]

I just can't comprehend this "lemming" mentality. You acknowledge the evidence but are so blinded by hope and devotion (to KirkFer? Iowa football? I have no clue), that you refuse to accept the reality of the most probable outcome. I've got to dig out my abnormal psych and sociology books because, while it sounds like a frighteningly futile state of mind, I'm both dumbfounded and fascinated by it.

We all support the players, individually and collectively, by virtue of our desire to see them perform at a respectably competitive level, on par with their abilities and talents, and, hopefully, achieve victory. It's not their fault they are
handicapped in their mission and we DO NOT blame them for it.

However, I will assure you of this, they know the truths; one of them is that, as much noise as you think they hear from us, they know that much of the legitimate reason for and source of the loudest noise is their coaches. In fact, those coaches are creating their own "noise" through their decisions and strategies. To believe otherwise is just as naive of you and, imo, even more belittling of those players' intelligence and talents.

Feel free to wait, Eda, but I will guarantee you this ... You aren't going to turn Rain Man into a rocket scientist just because the calendar turns to December. It's gonna be the same in a month as it is now. You choosing to ignore and deny it ... talk about lying to yourself.

I will join Eda and wait. After all, last year at this point we were 4-3 and ended up going 4-1 in our last five games and qualified for the Outback Bowl. Under Ferentz, Iowa has historically started slow and improved every week. If I "choose to ignore and deny" historical evidence, then I'm truly lying to myself (as you put it).

 

[LASBUR]

Do you really care what other people think ? When you tell someone in California your from Iowa they say oh yea where they raise potatoes. Just sayin.

 

[SheagleHawk]

I agree that October has been a long painful month for Iowa football, with only two games to break the non-stop negativity from some fans.

All this time to kvetch does not help the situation. Thankfully, starting tomorrow, we have 5 weeks of games to examine...good or bad.

I can only hope that all the outside noise has given the players and coaches the bunker mentality of them vs the world and they come out determined to prove noisy fans wrong and their coaches right.

Just win, Hawks, and everything will work out. Saying that a 9 win season proves nothing is difficult to hear. It makes some fans sound intractable in their non-support of KF. If we win 9, that means that we win 4 of 5...and probably tie for the Big Ten West title, but not enough?
C'mon.

With this schedule 9 win is like 6 wins with a moderately difficult schedule. So no, it's not enough. Especially when your wins are last second comebacks against an FCS school, one of the worst FBS teams in all of college football and an F'n loss to a pathetic in-state rival at home.