My Name is WinOneThisCentury, and I'm a...

[HaydenHawk56]

Smart play. Your opponent might flop a set. It's smarter to wait and hope they bluff off all their chips on the river when you have the nuts. More than likely you will get blinded out before that happens but hey... that's poker.

LOL!

Could you imagine Kirk playing in the World Series of Poker. He wouldn't make it to the money rounds because the early rounds....like September games....typically would be a struggle and he would not have the chance to get stronger as the tourney went along.

Then again, he has been going for it on 4th down as of late, but he also does not like his kicker.

 

[HomerChampless]

Crazy that is. Koehn hooked one FG wide and now Ferentz doesn't trust him at all? KF better get a robot FG kicker. One word comes to mind: neurotic.

 

[Motigerhawk]

I remember when I started that FIRE FERENTZ thread. It was like I got a load off my shoulders. I feel free now. It is a burden to want to keep KF around.
Welcome. It is enlightening to be on this side.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

I think at a point, a coach's rhetoric and demeanor start to weigh on the media, the fans, and the direction of the program. KF literally disdains the press conferences, that he's questioned about his strategy and mistakes, and that people sit in judgment of his program. Usually this stuff is masked wholeheartedly, or the coach is genuinely defiant, which I can respect. He's got that Bill Belichek mentality that is veiled so slightly that you still get his disdain for the process he HAS to go through.

This is like the last stage of a tenure in my opinion. I certainly hope we turn it around and win 4 of 5 down the stretch, but if we lose to NW, I think it creates a spiral and even Illinois becomes a battle for us. KF won't be able to take the scrutiny if we take the downward spiral route. He will be hammered over GD, the QB situation, and the inevitable game management issues. I honestly hope it doesn't go this way, but we may be seeing the beginning of the end here...or the end of the end depending on where you are as a fan.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

I think KF should be pushed upstairs to the AD Position. Barta has created a nice bottom in Iowa athletics where someone like KF would be able to make some real progress in the overall administration. He would actually be able to stay on as an ambassador of the University...he would be lauded as a respected, winning coach for the rest of his days here...and for the good of all, he negotiates down the buyout.

Out of the Barry Alvarez scenario has come great consistency at Wisky. It was a great move there.

Oh god, let me think about this, KF's initial football hire would probably be someone running the wing T.

 

[knighthawk13]

I think KF should be pushed upstairs to the AD Position. Barta has created a nice bottom in Iowa athletics where someone like KF would be able to make some real progress in the overall administration. He would actually be able to stay on as an ambassador of the University...he would be lauded as a respected, winning coach for the rest of his days here...and for the good of all, he negotiates down the buyout.

Out of the Barry Alvarez scenario has come great consistency at Wisky. It was a great move there.

Oh god, let me think about this, KF's initial football hire would probably be someone running the wing T.

What makes you think he would be a good AD? He is responsible for the the Greg Davis hire.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Let me start by saying this: I appreciate KF for all he has done at Iowa. He pulled the program out of the gutter and made it into a great program. 2002-04 was incredible, and he has had some good moments after that as well. 2 Big Ten titles, 2 BCS Bowls (and one win), and several other bowl games. Many thanks to KF for that.

That said...

I've come to the point where I think that something simply isn't working anymore. 2005 was a decent (not great) season, and after the disappointment of 2006 & 07, things appeared to be back on track after 2008/09. So I figured 06/07 were just one of those valleys in between the peaks.

But since 2009, Iowa is yet to finish a season ranked, and it doesn't look overly promising that it will end up ranked in 2014, either. If that ends up the case, that makes 5 straight seasons. That's not a "valley" anymore - it's just a once stout program that simply isn't what it used to be. How long does it take to rebuild, anyway? I can handle a couple of off years, but 5+? No.

I've never once called for KF's firing, but I'm at the point where I think Iowa needs new blood. The coaching I saw yesterday was absolutely mind boggling. Fire him? Well, I'm not sure I've quite hit that point yet, but assuming things don't get turned around this year (I'm having trouble seeing why they would) and the team doesn't win at least 8-9 regular season games (remember, this is a joke of a schedule, 7-5 will not do) then I'll officially be on board with putting KF on the hot seat, with 2015 being the "do or die" season.

For all those "Remember Tom Davis" guys that are sure to chime in, I would argue that I don't think that KF is even producing Tom Davis like results anymore. It's hard to compare football to hoops in terms of "results", but a few points:

1) College football has about third as many teams to compete with. Should technically be easier to be ranked in the Top 25.
2) Big Ten football in 2014 is a lot weaker than Big Ten hoops was in most of Tom Davis's days.
3) I don't believe Tom Davis ever went 5+ years without having a team finishing the season ranked, like KF appears primed to do.
4) Tom Davis was never being paid anywhere near what KF is making.

Although KF produced better results than Davis early on (Davis never won a conference title), IMO the football program has slipped to below Tom Davis levels the past 5 years. I'm not asking for national titles and winning 11 games every year, just get me a Top 25 program. Just be ranked more often than not. Is that too much to ask?

Bottom line: I wouldn't be heartbroken if/when a change is made - unless things ramp up in a hurry.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

What makes you think he would be a good AD? He is responsible for the the Greg Davis hire.

Think I'd rather see someone like Dan Gable, or Hayden Fry if he was younger.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Personally, I feel that Ferentz needs to find a way to bring in some good assistants... I seem to remember something about how little Iowa's assistants are paid relative to other programs, even within the conference. Iowa has the resources - spend some money on the best assistants you can get!

Not that I know anything about being a head coach, but IMO you need to surround yourself with great football minds, and good teachers. Simply being a good coach yourself probably only takes you so far if your assistants are mediocre. Promoting from within, shuffling around coaches already in the program and moving them to different units, and hiring also-rans who are fired from other programs doesn't seem like the way to go.

Has KF ever fired anyone from his staff?

 

[uihawk82]

I think new blood is needed. I also have never asked for a KF firing but if the hawks finish 7-5 that will be a huge letdown.

Losing in the same way to a bad ISU team is once again a sign that KF cant analyze and scheme to beat inferior opponents. Phil Parker admitted they played incorrectly on defense against ISU.

KF's teams are not clicking and not executing and that is KF's main responsibilty.

New blood is needed just because of the length of KF's tenure and his inability to change and mix things up. Although I will say he is letting PParker run his defense, blitz a little more, etc.

KF is like the city manager or school superintendent who has been there too long and has stale ideas.

KF has not really embraced melding in zone read concepts and other quick attack concepts even though he has the athletes.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

What makes you think he would be a good AD? He is responsible for the the Greg Davis hire.

And what's the downside with what we have now? The point was that it only has one way to go at this point...and you save money by kicking Barta to the curb.

 

[greenhawk]

Never easy I'm 45 and have gone through this twice now with Hayden and KF. It's tough especially when you like them so much, which I still do. I'm hoping KF can have another magical run, but think the odds of that happening are low. Sadly!

I agree and interesting enough, I think it was 1997 when Iowa was like preseason 10th or something like that? Or they may have been in the top 10 when they were detesticled by Ohio st. That year they had major expectations, much like 2010 and this year. Maybe this is the end like frys last gasp that year?

 

[ColoradoHAWKEYE]

I think KF should be pushed upstairs to the AD Position. Barta has created a nice bottom in Iowa athletics where someone like KF would be able to make some real progress in the overall administration. He would actually be able to stay on as an ambassador of the University...he would be lauded as a respected, winning coach for the rest of his days here...and for the good of all, he negotiates down the buyout.

Out of the Barry Alvarez scenario has come great consistency at Wisky. It was a great move there.

Oh god, let me think about this, KF's initial football hire would probably be someone running the wing T.

The reasons and rationale you state for your new found disdain are all valid.....Everyone has their turning point, that is how change actually occurs over time. I myself had held KF in high regard for many of the small things, and out of respect for his stature. His coaching and in game decisions has baffled and frustrated me for many years, but many of his good points still balanced the scale.

Not now though, not after seeing the stubbornness carry through on the qb situation this year, not after finally getting to see CJB firsthand during Pitt game.

Heck, my son had his picture in the paper with KF, and therefore my son was smitten. How can you point out the negative attributes to a young boy of someone who is held in such high esteem by so many others? I bit my tounge. However, now as this season has played out, that has been impossible to do (on Saturdays especially).

As pointed out, the coaching hires have been a downgrade. Our OL is no where near what they were/are capable of. The Offense is not using the talents they strived to recruit. Etc, etc.

Bottom line...you can't candy coat the bad coaching and stubbornness and wish KF to an AD position..like a bad divorce, the pain will linger, and all ties must be cut. IMO, KF has worn out his welcome at Iowa now, and as revered as he has rightfully been, his continued association with our program would only weigh it down further than it is now.

 

[RocknRollface]

LOL.....too sexy to play that Monster hand! Rockets are a gimmick hand only played by long hair quarterback with a big arm.

Kirk's favorite staring hand would obviously by a JACK 3 off suit......simply because he likes QBs that start with the letter J, can't throw Jack squat downfield (hence not suited with play-making receivers that can go down field), but love the 3 yard out pass to the RB that gets blown up.

Ya, "you might not go broke putting money in the bank," but you also can't win what you are afraid to risk to put in the middle Kirk and Company.

It doesn't take any guts to play AA.

Kirk would do a modest raise preflop and everyone else at the table would read it a mile away because it would be one of the two or three he raised all day.

Hed collect the blinds and be quite pleased with himself.

He would then continue to get blinded out while he waits for another obvious had to play.

 

[RocknRollface]

This is a good way of looking at it. It's all just stale now. Kirk is not going to take us back to '02-'04. Just ain't gonna happen. Not the way he recruits and not the way he coaches.

02-04 was the perfect storm.

Bunch of true diamonds in the ruff, really good assistants, a new style that opponents hadn't seen and most of the other coaches in the league were just as conservative.

09 was a very abnormal amount of talent with allot of flat out luck. He had just as much if not more talent in 08 &10 and lost 4 or 5 games both years.

 

[RocknRollface]

I think at a point, a coach's rhetoric and demeanor start to weigh on the media, the fans, and the direction of the program. KF literally disdains the press conferences, that he's questioned about his strategy and mistakes, and that people sit in judgment of his program. Usually this stuff is masked wholeheartedly, or the coach is genuinely defiant, which I can respect. He's got that Bill Belichek mentality that is veiled so slightly that you still get his disdain for the process he HAS to go through.

This is like the last stage of a tenure in my opinion. I certainly hope we turn it around and win 4 of 5 down the stretch, but if we lose to NW, I think it creates a spiral and even Illinois becomes a battle for us. KF won't be able to take the scrutiny if we take the downward spiral route. He will be hammered over GD, the QB situation, and the inevitable game management issues. I honestly hope it doesn't go this way, but we may be seeing the beginning of the end here...or the end of the end depending on where you are as a fan.

2010 was the beginning of the end.

 

[Bigtenchamp]

Kirk would fold AA

He wouldn't fold them right away... but if the board came up empty.

He'd punt and write on his notepad.

 

[Bigtenchamp]

02-04 was the perfect storm.

Bunch of true diamonds in the ruff, really good assistants, a new style that opponents hadn't seen and most of the other coaches in the league were just as conservative.

09 was a very abnormal amount of talent with allot of flat out luck. He had just as much if not more talent in 08 &10 and lost 4 or 5 games both years.

I never thought of it that way but that's amazingly true.

Ferentz only managed to get one good year out of that group.

If you look at the body of work for that group its more like a C....

 

[RocknRollface]

What makes you think he would be a good AD? He is responsible for the the Greg Davis hire.

KF would NEVER be forced to do anything or go along with anything like this.

While I know he would be a good administrator no way do we want him making football hires, the whole staff would be his sons and or people who believe like him that football reached its zenith in the mid 90s.

No way he hires the type of personality and ideas that are need to breath life into this situation.

 

[PCHawk]

02-04 was the perfect storm.

Bunch of true diamonds in the ruff, really good assistants, a new style that opponents hadn't seen and most of the other coaches in the league were just as conservative.

09 was a very abnormal amount of talent with allot of flat out luck. He had just as much if not more talent in 08 &10 and lost 4 or 5 games both years.

In '03 we went 5-3 in the Big 10. The only reason it is remembered as an awesome year is because we finished in the top 10 due to an extremely strange year in college football. I guess that and we actually went undefeated against the non cons for one of the few times ever.

'04 was a year we won because we were forced to do what Kirk doesn't want to do in games. That year shouldn't be used for an example of how good of a coach he is for 2 reasons.

1. If all of our runningbacks didn't get hurt we would have continued to do what Kirk does and we would have had a 7-5ish type year. If he would have looked at the team's makeup that year with the 1st string RB and decided being a throwing team was in our best interest, it would be different. That's simply not the case. He fell into that season when all our backs went down.

2. It was a decade ago.