Reason for Holes on Roster: Tons of Unnecissary Dead Weight Scholarships

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iowalaw

Banned
A lot of us are asking ourselves why there are so many walk ons in the two deeps when each team is allotted 85 scholarship players. There are only 11 guys on offense and 11 guys on defense, so where on earth do all of the walk ons come from and how are they leaping over guys that are going to college for free due to their supposed football abilities? The fact is, just like some super star athletes squander their riches through bad money management (buying yachts and Bentlys, then going broke), Kirk Ferentz is a HORRIBLE scholarship manager. Take these examples:

1. It has been well documented that more than 50% of NCAA D1 football programs have zero fullbacks on scholarship. The position requires little developed skill, and simply needs a guy with the right attitude and a 220-240lb frame. On a typical college football roster of 100+ guys, that type is a dime a dozen. Well, the U of Iowa has TWO scholarship fullbacks on the roster. Ferentz may tout the fullback, and we may have 7 or so of them on our roster, but there is a reason fullbacks have gone the way of the dinosaur. They are obsolete. Net loss of 2 scholarships vs most schools.

2. Our punting game is a laughing stock in Big 10 football and has been for several years. Although the state of Iowa produces probably 10 high school punters each year who average 40 yards per punt and would gladly walk on at the U of Iowa, Ferentz has doubled down on his scholarships (thinking he has an unlimited amount to spend), and has TWO scholarship punters who average 37 yrds per punt. Net loss of 2 more scholarships.

3. Did everyone know that we have a backup long snapper who was beat out by a walkon who is on scholarship? Maybe Kirk owed the kid's dad a favor, or maybe he was just a bad scholarship manager, but our backup long snapper is on scholarship. Net loss of one more scholarship.

4. Many schools out there us walk on place kickers. Like punters, they are a dime a dozen coming up through the college ranks. We have a few walk on kickers on our roster who have kicked 50+ yard field goals in high school. Rather than offer stick with one kid who wants to kick for the Hawks, we have two field goal kickers on scholarship (including one who absolutely sucked in limited action last year). I get having one scholarship kicker...but two? How many schools in the nation do that and how many of them pay to redshirt kickers and keep them on scholarship at Iowa? Only us. Net loss of at least one more scholarship.

In total, we have spent 7 scholarships where most schools would have spent 2. That is like going through several seasons with Penn State/USC level sanctions on scholarships...yet we did it to ourselves! And it's not just one year of such sanctions. Each of these blown schollies takes at least 4 years to recover from. That's 4 years of sanctions.
 
I understand what you're saying. Seems like we did alright last year with Kenney moving to fullback when we needed him to. I think our fullbacks are great kids but would they come aboard as a walk-on, probably. I can see rewarding a walk-on also. More than one kicker or punter on scholarship has never made sense. Maybe one as a senior and one as a freshman is ok. If scholarships are one year agreements why do we have two punters still on scholarship when they don't live up to expectations. They should have to earn their scholarship if they don't perform.
 
I'm with you on most of that... Having 2 punters that stink and it sounds like Koehn should be punting instead of them (if that happens or not we'll see but I think he should those 2 other guys had their chance) is nuts. I didn't realize we had a long snapper on scholly that is the backup to a walkon that's pretty much laughable.

However I don't have a problem with kickers and full backs so much being on scholly. They have 2 of each right? Well with how Iowa plays style wise not having good ones would really hurt. Iowa plays close games alot win or lose and missing makeable field goals just kills you. I bet most teams have at least one kicker on scholly. You can say full backs are a dead position however Iowa uses them a lot. And yea they lucked out with Kenny being able to fill in a little. Since they use them a lot it just messes everything up if you all of a sudden try to change your O due to injuries so having 2 at least is a must. You won't see Oregon switch to the wishbone or GT to the spread anytime soon. They recruit players that fit as so SHOULD we...
 
I agree, it is very important to have a good kicker. However, what you might not realize is that our good kicker, Koehn, like many kickers, came to Iowa as a walkon willing to pay his own way to have a chance to kick for the hawks. Kicker is a position where only the very cream of the crop high school kickers are awarded scholarships...the rest walk on and happily compete for a chance to kick at college. Same goes for fullbacks. Neither of our scholarship fullbacks were superstars in high school. We have five other fullbacks who walked on this year and would love a chance to hit someone. Fullback is not a skill position or a size position. It is an effort position.


Hawkfnntn said:
I'm with you on most of that... Having 2 punters that stink and it sounds like Koehn should be punting instead of them (if that happens or not we'll see but I think he should those 2 other guys had their chance) is nuts. I didn't realize we had a long snapper on scholly that is the backup to a walkon that's pretty much laughable.

However I don't have a problem with kickers and full backs so much being on scholly. They have 2 of each right? Well with how Iowa plays style wise not having good ones would really hurt. Iowa plays close games alot win or lose and missing makeable field goals just kills you. I bet most teams have at least one kicker on scholly. You can say full backs are a dead position however Iowa uses them a lot. And yea they lucked out with Kenny being able to fill in a little. Since they use them a lot it just messes everything up if you all of a sudden try to change your O due to injuries so having 2 at least is a must. You won't see Oregon switch to the wishbone or GT to the spread anytime soon. They recruit players that fit as so SHOULD we...
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Hawkfnntn said:
I'm with you on most of that... Having 2 punters that stink and it sounds like Koehn should be punting instead of them (if that happens or not we'll see but I think he should those 2 other guys had their chance) is nuts. I didn't realize we had a long snapper on scholly that is the backup to a walkon that's pretty much laughable.

However I don't have a problem with kickers and full backs so much being on scholly. They have 2 of each right? Well with how Iowa plays style wise not having good ones would really hurt. Iowa plays close games alot win or lose and missing makeable field goals just kills you. I bet most teams have at least one kicker on scholly. You can say full backs are a dead position however Iowa uses them a lot. And yea they lucked out with Kenny being able to fill in a little. Since they use them a lot it just messes everything up if you all of a sudden try to change your O due to injuries so having 2 at least is a must. You won't see Oregon switch to the wishbone or GT to the spread anytime soon. They recruit players that fit as so SHOULD we...
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The only person who lucked out that Kenny filled in was Kenny. If it wasn't him that got picked, it would have been someone else. Like the op said, a roster is full of kids who could jump in and play fullback.
 
I cannot think of any time Iowa has offered a scholarship DURING RECRUITING to a fullback. Aren't those kids given scholarships after they have proved their value at that position, which I think is just fine. I think some of the fullbacks, at least, have been brought in as linebackers. You might want to check with John Kuhn of the Packers as to the fullback position being obsolete.

Having walk on's pass up scholarship players during recruitment, or after signing on, says one of two things: The recruitment "experts" probably miss a lot of good football players and are wrong about a lot of others who receive some stars. Or, Iowa, and probably a lot of other schools, find diamonds in the rough.

I am ok with field goal kickers who can also kick off effectively getting scholarships; that said, Iowa's track record on signing on punters recently is pretty abysmal.

It is certainly fair to point out Iowa's recruitment failures. I don't think anyone in their right mind would brag about our recent overall success in that area and that is on the coaches.
 
I can see a truly consistent placekicker being scholly worthy. Two punters is a little much. It depends on the punter. If a punter can consistently kick 40 yds plus or have the ability to kill a kick inside the 20 is scholly worthy. Some of Iowa's best years were having solid punters who could change field position. It depends on a guys skillset to be scholly worthy to me. It would be hitting different kicks and consistency.

Too bad you can't bring them in as walk-on and say if they can do it consistently, they can eventually earn a scholly. I would think you should be able to invite a solid kicker or punter to walk on with the option to earn a scholly, which would free up scholly's for other positions.
 
We have just 2 commits for next year's class. One is a 2 star fullback scholarship. In Kirk's mind, it is very very important to get in on the 2 star fullbacks early, so that they will not be snatched up by MAC schools in January.
 
iowalaw said:
I agree, it is very important to have a good kicker. However, what you might not realize is that our good kicker, Koehn, like many kickers, came to Iowa as a walkon willing to pay his own way to have a chance to kick for the hawks. Kicker is a position where only the very cream of the crop high school kickers are awarded scholarships...the rest walk on and happily compete for a chance to kick at college. Same goes for fullbacks. Neither of our scholarship fullbacks were superstars in high school. We have five other fullbacks who walked on this year and would love a chance to hit someone. Fullback is not a skill position or a size position. It is an effort position.
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I think Kaeding was given a scholly out of HS. So was Schlicker. It's nice when a kid like Koehn falls in your lap for sure. But if a kid is good and you want him you don't not give him a scholly just because. If Iowa didn't give Koehn one after he'd done as well as he has then some other school would have if he decided to leave. College is expensive. And put yourself in his shoes you'd sure as heck think you'd deserve one as much as the backup left guard who never play at all right? You really seem to be devaluing what value kickers have to a team.

I have much less of an argument in regards to FBs but yeah it's not a glamorized spot by any means yet it's pretty important for the style of play Iowa likes to run. And I think in the past they often did have walk ons and kids change positions to play it.
 
MelroseHawkins said:
I can see a truly consistent placekicker being scholly worthy. Two punters is a little much. It depends on the punter. If a punter can consistently kick 40 yds plus or have the ability to kill a kick inside the 20 is scholly worthy. Some of Iowa's best years were having solid punters who could change field position. It depends on a guys skillset to be scholly worthy to me. It would be hitting different kicks and consistency.

Too bad you can't bring them in as walk-on and say if they can do it consistently, they can eventually earn a scholly. I would think you should be able to invite a solid kicker or punter to walk on with the option to earn a scholly, which would free up scholly's for other positions.
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It's an extra kind of stupid when they are in the same class.
 
There is nothing wrong with using ONE scholarship on a talented kicker. Of course we did it on Kaeding and Schlicker. But what you are not understanding is that while Koehn was exclusively our kicker last year and will be again this year, we got a commitment from ANOTHER kicker in 2013, a 2 star named Mick Ellis. I believe he is now our 3rd string kicker. He has been soaking up one of 85 scholarships for two years cheering for Koehn to make his kicks. This scholly most definitely could have been used on a JUCO OL or LB last year or the year before who would be a starter right now making our team better. HUGE miss by the staff. We could always get a kicker when Koehn graduates and do not need to carry two on scholarship.



Hawkfnntn said:
I think Kaeding was given a scholly out of HS. So was Schlicker. It's nice when a kid like Koehn falls in your lap for sure. But if a kid is good and you want him you don't not give him a scholly just because. If Iowa didn't give Koehn one after he'd done as well as he has then some other school would have if he decided to leave. College is expensive. And put yourself in his shoes you'd sure as heck think you'd deserve one as much as the backup left guard who never play at all right? You really seem to be devaluing what value kickers have to a team.

I have much less of an argument in regards to FBs but yeah it's not a glamorized spot by any means yet it's pretty important for the style of play Iowa likes to run. And I think in the past they often did have walk ons and kids change positions to play it.
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iowalaw said:
We have just 2 commits for next year's class. One is a 2 star fullback scholarship. In Kirk's mind, it is very very important to get in on the 2 star fullbacks early, so that they will not be snatched up by MAC schools in January.
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Who is the fullback scholarship? One is a quarter back and the other is a running back, not identified as a fullback. You continue to have strong and often good points to make, then neutralize your credibility with statements like this. Yes, I read about the rb's credentials on 247 sports, just so we are clear.
 
The 2 FBs on scholly earned theirs. I can understand a FB walking on, but if you don't think he (assuming outs in the work) deserves a scholly later, I gotta ask why not? Just because you don't like the position? I'll add that the two will both graduate this year, so that'll open up the two.

The two punters; IIRC, Kidd was brought in because Kornbrath wasn't getting it done. Neither of them have developed. Blame them or blame the coaches; that's a debate that will just go in circles. As I understand it, Kornbrath has a redshirt he could use if he decided to transfer, (being buried behind two other punters may persuade him to do so) which would free up a scholly. Either way, both will be gone after this year and two more schollys opened up.

As for the backup snapper... I guess you gotta tip your hat to the walkon who passed him up.

I think one of the things that really hurts was the schollys that got used on the recieving group a couple of years ago. The jury may still be out on them a bit here, but mostly it hasn't developed; and the o-line was the area that they were borrowed from. I'm optimistic the "ol o-line ball coach" can work his mojo this year with the youngin's in the trenches.
 
iowalaw said:
There is nothing wrong with using ONE scholarship on a talented kicker. Of course we did it on Kaeding and Schlicker. But what you are not understanding is that while Koehn was exclusively our kicker last year and will be again this year, we got a commitment from ANOTHER kicker in 2013, a 2 star named Mick Ellis. I believe he is now our 3rd string kicker. He has been soaking up one of 85 scholarships for two years cheering for Koehn to make his kicks. This scholly most definitely could have been used on a JUCO OL or LB last year or the year before who would be a starter right now making our team better. HUGE miss by the staff. We could always get a kicker when Koehn graduates and do not need to carry two on scholarship.
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Well sure you can think that way I guess but good kickers don't grow on trees.. They aren't that easy to find a true freshman kicker to walk from any small HS to the BIG and nail pressure packed kicks is asking alot and that's basically what your saying is that you find one use him for 4 yrs and start over right? Well Ellis will have 2 yrs to kick after this yr and there is the walk on from Mason City on roster too. I think what hurts as much as what your saying would be when a guy like Spearman leaves after not developing worth a darn... He had some hype/potential that never panned out to say the least.
 
Can all threads be started with "KF is a moron"? It would be funny to see the entire front page of threads start with "KF is a moron."
 
This just in...our THIRD string scholarship punter is leaving the team. You would think this would free up one embarrassingly unnecessary scholarship, right? WRONG. Ferentz said that despite leaving the team, Conner Kornbrath will remain one of Iowa's 85 scholarship players.

Sure, we passed on a 4 star OL this year who WANTED to come to Iowa and settled on Notre Dame because we simply didn't have room for him. We held that scholarship for three punters, one of which doesn't play for us. Easily the stupidest decision a man being paid $4,000,000 per year ever made.

http://thegazette.com/subject/sport...back-lineman-waves-goodbye-to-punter-20150602
 
iowalaw said:
This just in...our THIRD string scholarship punter is leaving the team. You would think this would free up one embarrassingly unnecessary scholarship, right? WRONG. Ferentz said that despite leaving the team, Conner Kornbrath will remain one of Iowa's 85 scholarship players.

Sure, we passed on a 4 star OL this year who WANTED to come to Iowa and settled on Notre Dame because we simply didn't have room for him. We held that scholarship for three punters, one of which doesn't play for us. Easily the stupidest decision a man being paid $4,000,000 per year ever made.

http://thegazette.com/subject/sport...back-lineman-waves-goodbye-to-punter-20150602
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To a person on the outside it would appear that the Captain is trying to sink the ship. Not kidding either
 
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