BSpringsteen
Well-Known Member
In 1998 Hayden Fry was coming off a season where he was expected to go to the Rose Bowl, and ended the season 7-4. That season saw the Hawks fall to a level that they hadn't seen in 18 years. A 3-8 finish.
What had been said quietly fot the past two seasons stopped being said so quietly. That it was time for Hayden to go. That the game was passing him by.
And he knew it. And he did.
14 years later Hayden Fry has a festival named after him to start the football season and still walks into Kinnick Stadium to huge applause and a standing ovation.
Now here we are 2 years removed from a year of huge expectations and it looks like there is a very real chance that we will finish under 500 for the first time in 12 years.
And the grumblings are the same. The program needs a change, the game is passing him by etc.. etc...
If Kirk were to retire after this season, he would be revered as a guy who took Iowa to heights not seen. Only a few will remember the disappointments. He'll be remembered as a great coach. His accumulated wealth will reach down generations. He likely could easily get a gig in a broadcast booth or studio. Steven will likely not be a major player on the team, and James is graduated.
If Kirk goes down with this ship, he might also be taking his sons career down with him. The guy who came back to Iowa from the NE Patriots only to preside over the bottoming out of the program. What's worse, no one will remember the B1G Championships, or 12 straight years of finishing .500 or better. They'll remember the horrible, disgusting end.
Those that want Ferentz gone, and I now unfortunately count myself among that group, can only hope that pride rules Kirk's ind more than his bank account does.
What had been said quietly fot the past two seasons stopped being said so quietly. That it was time for Hayden to go. That the game was passing him by.
And he knew it. And he did.
14 years later Hayden Fry has a festival named after him to start the football season and still walks into Kinnick Stadium to huge applause and a standing ovation.
Now here we are 2 years removed from a year of huge expectations and it looks like there is a very real chance that we will finish under 500 for the first time in 12 years.
And the grumblings are the same. The program needs a change, the game is passing him by etc.. etc...
If Kirk were to retire after this season, he would be revered as a guy who took Iowa to heights not seen. Only a few will remember the disappointments. He'll be remembered as a great coach. His accumulated wealth will reach down generations. He likely could easily get a gig in a broadcast booth or studio. Steven will likely not be a major player on the team, and James is graduated.
If Kirk goes down with this ship, he might also be taking his sons career down with him. The guy who came back to Iowa from the NE Patriots only to preside over the bottoming out of the program. What's worse, no one will remember the B1G Championships, or 12 straight years of finishing .500 or better. They'll remember the horrible, disgusting end.
Those that want Ferentz gone, and I now unfortunately count myself among that group, can only hope that pride rules Kirk's ind more than his bank account does.
