I have no problems with people criticizing what I say or write. Goes with the territory. But the door swings in both directions, and I seriously question your reading comprehension skills. To wit...
My criticisms have everything to do with Iowa choosing to hold a press conference at a time when Kirk Ferentz was en route back to Iowa City. I have no problem with him recruiting the last two days. Biff Poggi said he had spoken with Ferentz at least 4 or 5 times on the phone. I said repeatedly that Kirk cares a great deal for his players, and that it's a family over there.
THEY are the ones that said, at the beginning of the press conference, that Kirk was on his way back to Iowa City. We learned after the presser from Rob Howe that Kirk was in Ohio today. That's no more than a 2 hour plane ride. Hold the presser at 6, or 7 or wait until 10am the next morning, just make sure that Kirk is there, or Gary Barta.
As per your point by point:
1. Per numerous quotes from past Hawkeye football players, this workout has been routine for years, yet this is the only time these hospitalizations have occurred. Sounds like an anomaly to me. JDM: 13 players is not an anomaly. 1 or 2 is. 13 is not. When I wrote what I wrote last night, I certainly felt like these workouts were not out of the ordinary based on the former players I spoke with. However, I did say that the number of players begs a few questions, and still does. 13 is not an anomaly; it's damn near an entire men's basketball roster.
2. The hospitalized players have expressed their desires to get back to the Hawkeye winter practice session as soon as possible and none of them have expressed a desire to get rid of the squats. JDM: No where in anything have I written or said Iowa needs to make big changes to what they are doing. They might make tweaks, but they always are doing things like this. Not sure to whom you are replying here.
3. You, and many of the others on this forum and nationwide have, for years, praised Doyle and the exact same system you are criticizing him for today. JDM: No where have I criticized Chris Doyle for anything, other than wondering why he wasn't there today as well, since he is the face of the S&C program. I have not question his methods, and until there are facts produced that support those changes, I will not.
4. You have also shown no hesitation in criticizing Barta and KF for not being in town today when you have absolutely no idea where they are or what they are doing.....even though they may very well be working hard to resolve this issue from other directions. JDM: Did you even read it? Kirk was in Ohio talking with Tedd Ginn Jr about Class of 12 prospects. As it relates to Barta, I don't know where he is. I know they have jobs to do. But Kirk was on his freaking way back to Iowa City. Postpone the damn press conference until he can be there. Its more symbolic than anything, so that the national talking heads can't rip the program more than what they were going to anyway. Kirk not being there makes it more of a national thing now. That is the crux of the entire piece; you don't hold that presser without Kirk being there, especially when he was en route to Iowa City when you were holding it. That is a PR failure, IMO, by Iowa. One that could sting and one that was self inflicted.
Lastly: They deserve the benefit of the doubt until the full story has been heard. You have chosen not to give them that JDM: I am not convinced you read what I wrote. Because your replies are going in all sorts of directions I didn't even go.
