Miller & Deace on Wisconsin Loss, Where Program is Heading

[1977Hawkeye]

I am ready for a new coach. Is there a risk? Yes. Just look a what Notre Dame has gone through even with elite status. Nebraska and Michigan have also struggled. USC and Alabama were down for years until they found the right coach. So yes there is a high chance of falling flat on our faces with a new coach, but I am ok with that just as long as we try to get a successful coach. I have never believed in statis quo in my entire life. So I am ready for a change. I love being a hawkeye and always will come hell or high water, but I am always hoping for the best. That Lickliter thing was a bit much though.

Yeah, I agree with your basic philosophy here.. I'm not yet shouting "Fire Ferentz!" mainly because if Iowa beats Nebraska and wins its bowl game, that would make a 9-4 season, which is hardly a fireable offense. But lose to Nebby and go 7-5 with that schedule, and I will view it as yet another disappointing season (given the extremely favorable schedule) regardless of what happens in the bowl game.

So what I'm saying is yeah, the way I view this season is ultimately going to come down to the Nebraska game. Beat them, which would be the first win over a team with a pulse all year long, and go 8-4.. I can live with that. I've said a million times that 8-4 is my minimum goal for each season, and Iowa would meet that with a win tomorrow. Not a great season by any stretch, but acceptable. But lose and go 7-5, especially with NO good wins, and that is unacceptable to me.

But back on point, I've felt that things have gotten extremely stale with the Ferentz era and I would not be heartbroken at all with a change. If Iowa goes 7-5 this year, then I view next year as "do or die" with yet another easy schedule, where Iowa had better not be going 7-5 or worse again, or I think I WILL officially be in the camp actively calling for a change to be made. I personally think it's time for fresh blood, but am not going to call for that while there's still a shot at a 9-4 season.

There is certainly risk with switching coaches. Let's face it, there is never a guarantee things will work out unless we hire a coach who is a proven winner in a BCS level conference, which leads me to my next point.. I'm less than sold, to say the least, on the UofI administration's ability (or desire) to go after a name coach that isn't afraid to do what it takes to recruit the best talent possible. My prediction is that we'd end up with a MAC-level type coach that can't recruit. That's what scares the bejeezus out of me.

 

[BigD]

Yeah, I agree with your basic philosophy here.. I'm not yet shouting "Fire Ferentz!" mainly because if Iowa beats Nebraska and wins its bowl game, that would make a 9-4 season, which is hardly a fireable offense. But lose to Nebby and go 7-5 with that schedule, and I will view it as yet another disappointing season (given the extremely favorable schedule) regardless of what happens in the bowl game.

So what I'm saying is yeah, the way I view this season is ultimately going to come down to the Nebraska game. Beat them, which would be the first win over a team with a pulse all year long, and go 8-4.. I can live with that. I've said a million times that 8-4 is my minimum goal for each season, and Iowa would meet that with a win tomorrow. Not a great season by any stretch, but acceptable. But lose and go 7-5, especially with NO good wins, and that is unacceptable to me.

But back on point, I've felt that things have gotten extremely stale with the Ferentz era and I would not be heartbroken at all with a change. If Iowa goes 7-5 this year, then I view next year as "do or die" with yet another easy schedule, where Iowa had better not be going 7-5 or worse again, or I think I WILL officially be in the camp actively calling for a change to be made. I personally think it's time for fresh blood, but am not going to call for that while there's still a shot at a 9-4 season.

There is certainly risk with switching coaches. Let's face it, there is never a guarantee things will work out unless we hire a coach who is a proven winner in a BCS level conference, which leads me to my next point.. I'm less than sold, to say the least, on the UofI administration's ability (or desire) to go after a name coach that isn't afraid to do what it takes to recruit the best talent possible. My prediction is that we'd end up with a MAC-level type coach that can't recruit. That's what scares the bejeezus out of me.

Your response seems reasonable to me. Beat Nebraska and then beat a respectable team in a bowl game and my impatience could be tempered some what for another year. Ironically at the beginning of this season I too stated that a 7-5 regular season would be grounds for termination with the schedule we had.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Your response seems reasonable to me. Beat Nebraska and then beat a respectable team in a bowl game and my impatience could be tempered some what for another year. Ironically at the beginning of this season I too stated that a 7-5 regular season would be grounds for termination with the schedule we had.

Yeah, that's basically where I'm at. 8-4 regular season, especially with a bowl win to make it 9, is good enough for me to stay patient a little longer. Otherwise, I'm of the mindset that we'd better see a step forward in 2015, otherwise I'll be at the point where I'm ready to conclude that the program is doing nothing more than treading water. Even IF Iowa ends up winning 9 games this year, I still expect better than 7-5 next year.