Should Iowa fans simply accept consistent mediocracy?
- Thread starter BillSPrestonEsq
- Start date
I always enjoy the "most" of us over statements. Where do you get that?
But what if I agree? What do you say we do? Occupy kinnick? Hold our breath? Fold our arms and curse?
I say "most" of us are full of ourselves, entitled, whiny, and shallow.
My take (not "most" of us) is if we beat mn, this is all less whiny and sky is falling. If that is the case, you get over it and move on, or pout forever. your choice.
Few felt we even had any ghost of a chance against ok - particularly the " most" you refer to. Yet we had a shot late in the game, despite giving up a 2 play td drive off an int.
But what if I agree? What do you say we do? Occupy kinnick? Hold our breath? Fold our arms and curse?
I say "most" of us are full of ourselves, entitled, whiny, and shallow.
My take (not "most" of us) is if we beat mn, this is all less whiny and sky is falling. If that is the case, you get over it and move on, or pout forever. your choice.
Few felt we even had any ghost of a chance against ok - particularly the " most" you refer to. Yet we had a shot late in the game, despite giving up a 2 play td drive off an int.
GrannyHawk73
New Member
This is my first post to this website, so excuse me if I'm replying or posting incorrectly. I've been a fan of football all my life. I truly love the game. My husband played in college, all three sons played - one went on to play on scholarship. So, while I'm a woman and I'm getting on in years, I do know a little something about the game. And what I have observed this entire year has been a strange disconnect between Kirk Ferentz and his team, his players. I see other coaches at other big colleges who are involved in what happens on the field. I see coaches bending over injured players to make sure they're okay. I see coaches calling encouragement or coaching players from the sidelines, talking to them when they come off the field. I see this in head coaches all across the country. I do not see it in Ferentz. I see a gum chewing, note taking disengaged administrator who holds himself apart, and I can't help but feel that therein lies to real root to the teams less than stellar performances. To say we're average at best is one thing. To truly believe we can't be any better than that is another. I think we can. But not with Kirk Ferentz at the helm. But the problem is, we've mortgaged ourselves to the hilt with his contract. and are now upside down. We can't afford to get rid of him, and believe me, he has no reason to go anywhere -- not that there is really anywhere for him to go. But I think the real villain in all of this is Barda. What was he thinking obligating our university to a multimillion dollar contract on a coach who can't produce a top tier team? Even after 13 years? If Iowa fans are satisfied with an average team, then we should be paying our average coach an average salary. Then perhaps there wouldn't be so much frustration and outrage. Oh, and don't look for a better year next year. What possible talent does anyone see that we will be building on?
jameskalina
Well-Known Member
The answer is NO!
It's better to aim too high and miss then aim too low and hit.
As fans we need to expect our U. of Iowa teams to strive for excellence and that is to compete for and win conference championships and be in the hunt for a national title every now and then.
It's better to aim too high and miss then aim too low and hit.
As fans we need to expect our U. of Iowa teams to strive for excellence and that is to compete for and win conference championships and be in the hunt for a national title every now and then.
Montanahawk
Well-Known Member
The answer is no, but I don't think Ferentz has been mediocre. Without rehashing the challenges of being a head coach at Iowa versus that of at a number of other schools in the conference/country. Clearly, any Iowa head coach has some recruiting problems that tend to drive the program down to mediocrity or worse. KF, has the program in a "ebb-and-flow" continuity. Like Hayden before him and Alvarez at UW. There's going to be dips, there's going to be disappointments.
What concerns me is that Ferentz may not have the coaching know-how to run a more innovative offense and he won't fire KOK. I believe KOK is a competent but uninspiring, offensive coordinator in the "pro-style". I'm not sure the pro-style with limited talent at the skill positions makes sense in an era where the spread is not becoming the dominant and most effective offensive scheme. We aren't USC or Alabama that can consistently bring in 4-5 star skill position players who can "create" offensively. We need a scheme that is creative that allows more limited athletes to prosper. I see some hope in generally improved recruiting, but is it enough if the defensive coordinator isn't up to Norm's standard's? Not sure.
What concerns me is that Ferentz may not have the coaching know-how to run a more innovative offense and he won't fire KOK. I believe KOK is a competent but uninspiring, offensive coordinator in the "pro-style". I'm not sure the pro-style with limited talent at the skill positions makes sense in an era where the spread is not becoming the dominant and most effective offensive scheme. We aren't USC or Alabama that can consistently bring in 4-5 star skill position players who can "create" offensively. We need a scheme that is creative that allows more limited athletes to prosper. I see some hope in generally improved recruiting, but is it enough if the defensive coordinator isn't up to Norm's standard's? Not sure.
imported_ankle23
Well-Known Member
Granny. Obligating?
University of Iowa football program is a cash-cow and Ferentz is being rewarded as such.
If you want to cast your vote, vote with your pocket book. Stop the financial contributions to the program. Stop with the saison tacket purchases. BUT I'm going to bet that there are others waiting in line to spend their money for your saison tackets.
Ferentz loves his players, I know that for a fact. Do you think he gets emotional thinking about himself?
University of Iowa football program is a cash-cow and Ferentz is being rewarded as such.
If you want to cast your vote, vote with your pocket book. Stop the financial contributions to the program. Stop with the saison tacket purchases. BUT I'm going to bet that there are others waiting in line to spend their money for your saison tackets.
Ferentz loves his players, I know that for a fact. Do you think he gets emotional thinking about himself?
83Hawk
Banned
Easy....Forest Evashevski. 5 Top 10 finishes, 2 Rose Bowls and 1 National Championship as voted by the Football Writers of America. Kirk isn't half the coach Evy was.
ColumbusHawk
Well-Known Member
It's funny how little fans know about Iowa football history. Hayden Fry only finished in the top ten twice in his twenty seasons at Iowa. Plus, Iowa was embarrassed in three Rose Bowls.
Except for Evy's last five years, the eight seasons from 2002 to 2009 was the best run in Iowa football history. No eight year run under Hayden even comes close.
Of course, I'm not happy with the last two seasons, but I'm not calling for Ferentz's head. I know it could be a lot worse. Unfortunately, I am old enough to remember most of the 19 consecutive non-winning seasons. Games with barely 40,000 people in the stands and losing 49-7 aren't fun. Tailgating before & after the games was the most enjoyable part of game day.
People also have to realize it is Iowa. It is not an excuse. It is a fact & reality. Iowa produces very little Big Ten football talent. Here is a very interesting study performed by the Omaha World Herald about Big Ten football talent. Big Ten Turf War - Omaha.com
Over the last ten years Iowa has produced by far & away the fewest amount of Big Ten football talent of any state in the conference. Minnesota, the state that had the second fewest, produced almost sixty percent more players than Iowa. Florida produced almost four times as many Big Ten football players as Iowa. Generally, the Florida players were not recruited by Florida, Florida State or Miami.
I am not being an apologist! I am just stating some cold, hard facts. To not consider demographics is ludicrous. Considering the demographics, Iowa has had a very good run over the last thirty plus years under Hayden & Kirk.
Get over it people! It is Iowa & you cannot ignore that fact. Now if Iowa produced talent like Ohio, I'd be the first on the fire Kirk bandwagon. However, it doesn't.
Except for Evy's last five years, the eight seasons from 2002 to 2009 was the best run in Iowa football history. No eight year run under Hayden even comes close.
Of course, I'm not happy with the last two seasons, but I'm not calling for Ferentz's head. I know it could be a lot worse. Unfortunately, I am old enough to remember most of the 19 consecutive non-winning seasons. Games with barely 40,000 people in the stands and losing 49-7 aren't fun. Tailgating before & after the games was the most enjoyable part of game day.
People also have to realize it is Iowa. It is not an excuse. It is a fact & reality. Iowa produces very little Big Ten football talent. Here is a very interesting study performed by the Omaha World Herald about Big Ten football talent. Big Ten Turf War - Omaha.com
Over the last ten years Iowa has produced by far & away the fewest amount of Big Ten football talent of any state in the conference. Minnesota, the state that had the second fewest, produced almost sixty percent more players than Iowa. Florida produced almost four times as many Big Ten football players as Iowa. Generally, the Florida players were not recruited by Florida, Florida State or Miami.
I am not being an apologist! I am just stating some cold, hard facts. To not consider demographics is ludicrous. Considering the demographics, Iowa has had a very good run over the last thirty plus years under Hayden & Kirk.
Get over it people! It is Iowa & you cannot ignore that fact. Now if Iowa produced talent like Ohio, I'd be the first on the fire Kirk bandwagon. However, it doesn't.
Kirk definitely wants to win a Rose Bowl. But at this point I think he realizes its not a realistic goal for the program and also that 8/9 wins with 4 B10 wins is enough to keep the masses somewhat happy.
The media has to be careful with their questions to Kirk that is a fast way to get on his bad side. A poor relationship with the HC of state's major sports programs is not good for business. You're risking access to the program in which your newspaper and TV station needs to give fans info on their favorite team.
ColumbusHawk
Well-Known Member
Yes, but the South was lily white. All those black players on Alabama & LSU could only play football in the Big Ten & Pac 8. A bit of an exaggeration but not by much. Alabama didn't begin recruiting black players until after the 1971 season.
It is a bit like comparing apples & oranges. Unless the South reinstitutes segregation, no Iowa coach will ever do what Evy did.
83Hawk
Banned
So what if the south was lily-white? What does that have to do with final poll rankings?
As for "no Iowa coach will ever do what Evy did". Why not? Barry Alvarez won 3 Rose Bowls as Wisconsin coach. Why couldn't an Iowa coach do that?
Then again...you are in the "we're only Iowa" camp (which is B.S. and a loser mentality by the way). I hope our coaching staff doesn't really think the same as you...if they do...Iowa football is doomed.
