No apologies required

[homes]

If you were one of those last fall who were questioning whether Ferentz and the staff needed to move on, or at least, implement changes in the way things were done (me included). I'm sure there was a lot of internal pressure for the staff to get things right, but the external pressure from the fans had to have played a role in the way Ferentz evaluated the state of the program, and act on it. The program was stale, that's being nice, and not going to get better on its own. Let's not forget that, and as fans, we were justified in being upset and calling for something to change. It all played a part in getting things turned around. No need to be contrite now and say we were wrong. We weren't.

 

[HawkeyeMHA]

I was one of them and am happy to say I was wrong. I'll say it all day long as long as we win and give credit where credit is due. Go Hawks

 

[ssckelley]

So are you saying that fans like you deserve part of the credit for the turn around? I commend you for your honesty but if Iowa falters down the stretch or lays another 7-5 season next year most of those fans calling for his head will be back. There are people in the fan base that thinks Iowa should be doing what they are doing this year every year. Some of us (myself included) understands Iowa's place in the college football world, we are a middle of the pack team who will occasionally surprise everyone. The recruiting struggles will not disappear over night, this level of success is not sustainable over a long period of time. Ferentz has maintained a level of success at Iowa that even Hayden Fry could not sustain and there were people calling for his head after every down year as well.

 

[HawkeyeDenis]

I'll say it I posted I was at the breaking point, losing faith in the program. Still was with the Hawks but it was tough watching every week. Very glad to say I was wrong.

 

[homes]

So are you saying that fans like you deserve part of the credit for the turn around? I commend you for your honesty but if Iowa falters down the stretch or lays another 7-5 season next year most of those fans calling for his head will be back. There are people in the fan base that thinks Iowa should be doing what they are doing this year every year. Some of us (myself included) understands Iowa's place in the college football world, we are a middle of the pack team who will occasionally surprise everyone. The recruiting struggles will not disappear over night, this level of success is not sustainable over a long period of time. Ferentz has maintained a level of success at Iowa that even Hayden Fry could not sustain and there were people calling for his head after every down year as well.

Not taking any singular credit for what's happening this year. While wins and losses are the ultimate measure of success in athletics, to me, last year was more about the culmination of how the losses were happening. The fans' level of dissatisfaction with the how was noticed, I'm sure. Jon has said that even if the Hawks stumble the rest of the year (which I don't see happening), this year has been/will be more satisfying because of how the team has been coached and played this year, compared to the past few years. I would put myself in that camp. Ferentz and his staff and the team should get full credit for what's happening. Us fans are just along for the ride, but it doesn't mean we need to apologize for being disenchanted last year.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

I was one of them and am happy to say I was wrong. I'll say it all day long as long as we win and give credit where credit is due. Go Hawks

+1000 to that. Ditto for myself.

I thought KF was about done. I was wrong, and never been so happy to be wrong.

I'll give KF full kudos for getting things turned around. Well done, Kirk.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

If you were one of those last fall who were questioning whether Ferentz and the staff needed to move on, or at least, implement changes in the way things were done (me included). I'm sure there was a lot of internal pressure for the staff to get things right, but the external pressure from the fans had to have played a role in the way Ferentz evaluated the state of the program, and act on it. The program was stale, that's being nice, and not going to get better on its own. Let's not forget that, and as fans, we were justified in being upset and calling for something to change. It all played a part in getting things turned around. No need to be contrite now and say we were wrong. We weren't.

So glad KF has folks like you to tell him "what-fer". Being a Hawkeye fan would be awful without you folks. Dern-tootin'.

 

[ssckelley]

I'm not meaning to turn this into a basketball discussion but I remember a number of years ago people were unhappy with multiple NCAA post season appearances and chased Tom Davis out of town because it wasn't good enough. It took years to bring the program back to that level. This is what makes me nervous chasing off Ferentz, even after Fry retired it took him a few years to bring Iowa back. Part of our problem as fans is he brought us to a level we have never experienced before with 3 straight 10 win seasons, so he raised the bar. I'm cautious as a Iowa fan as I believe the margin for error is quite small and it wouldn't take much to put this program back into the tank like it was in the 70s.

 

[alexzelada]

So glad KF has folks like you to tell him "what-fer". Being a Hawkeye fan would be awful without you folks. Dern-tootin'.

There's a word for people who never question authority: Nazis.

 

[ColumbusHawk]

If you were one of those last fall who were questioning whether Ferentz and the staff needed to move on, or at least, implement changes in the way things were done (me included). I'm sure there was a lot of internal pressure for the staff to get things right, but the external pressure from the fans had to have played a role in the way Ferentz evaluated the state of the program, and act on it. The program was stale, that's being nice, and not going to get better on its own. Let's not forget that, and as fans, we were justified in being upset and calling for something to change. It all played a part in getting things turned around. No need to be contrite now and say we were wrong. We weren't.

If you think posters on this or any other board had an effect on Ferentz, you are delusional! You are giving yourself way too much credit. Kirk probably was more upset than you over the end of last season.

 

[IOWuh]

I'm with you. I was beyond frustrated last year and felt we needed a change of the guard. Ferentz, his staff, and the players deserve 100% of their due credit and I'd be the first in line to shake their hands. All of that said, I absolutely believe the changes we've seen are, in part, due to fan frustration.

 

[ssckelley]

There's a word for people who don't question authority: Nazis.

That might be a little over the top.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

There's a word for people who don't question authority: Nazis.

Nope. THAT's a word for people who don't ALLOW the questioning of authority.

But when I DO want to question authority, trust me, I don't go looking for advice or fellow questioners on a message board loaded with the ravings of semi-literate, self-absorbed, "Occupy" wonks.

 

[ColumbusHawk]

Nope. THAT's a word for people who don't ALLOW the questioning of authority.

But when I DO want to question authority, trust me, I don't go looking for advice or fellow questioners on a message board loaded with the ravings of semi-literate, self-absorbed, "Occupy" wonks.

Semi-literate is being kind.

 

[HawkeyeMHA]

And I'm here to kill nazis!

 

[homes]

So glad KF has folks like you to tell him "what-fer". Being a Hawkeye fan would be awful without you folks. Dern-tootin'.

I do detect a sense of sanctimony in your post. Bully for you for your fealty. It's only aspirational for some of us.

 

[HawkU]

... Ferentz has maintained a level of success at Iowa that even Hayden Fry could not sustain and there were people calling for his head after every down year as well.

Another example of perception not always being reality. Since you mentioned a "down year" I'll assume in this case you are measuring success by a won-loss record. Statistically speaking Fry is the more "successful" coach at Iowa.

Fry's overall win % - .616
KF's overall win % - .589

Fry's B10 win % - .611
KF's B10 win % - .542

 

[alexzelada]

Another example of perception not always being reality. Since you mentioned a "down year" I'll assume in this case you are measuring success by a won-loss record. Statistically speaking Fry is the more "successful" coach at Iowa.

Fry's overall win % - .616
KF's overall win % - .589

Fry's B10 win % - .611
KF's B10 win % - .542

Also, Hayden had a much bigger mountain to climb.

 

[HawkU]

Also, Hayden had a much bigger mountain to climb.

So true. Thanks for adding that.

 

[trj]

I'm not meaning to turn this into a basketball discussion but I remember a number of years ago people were unhappy with multiple NCAA post season appearances and chased Tom Davis out of town because it wasn't good enough. It took years to bring the program back to that level. This is what makes me nervous chasing off Ferentz, even after Fry retired it took him a few years to bring Iowa back. Part of our problem as fans is he brought us to a level we have never experienced before with 3 straight 10 win seasons, so he raised the bar. I'm cautious as a Iowa fan as I believe the margin for error is quite small and it wouldn't take much to put this program back into the tank like it was in the 70s.

Good gawd, not the Tom Davis comparison AGAIN. Not even going to re-hash it because we all know what happened. Bottom line, the program had become very stale with a very manageable schedule the last 5 years. The ISU loss last year at home was inexcusable. At this point i do not care what the impetus was to re-invent himself and the program, he did it and it looks like it is working. He has acknowledged that at a lot of other places he would have been canned by now.


I swear if I hear the "careful what you wish for" argument with regards to Iowa athletics one more time my head will explode. It is such a defeatist attitude.