SIAR: Ferentz on the "hot seat"?

[HawkAttack]

My opinion is rock solid, but just for the sake of discussion, what is it about brian ferentz's resume that you find so impressive?
Are you really giving him credit for Rob Gronkowski's performance last season (and the previous seasons)? Do you think Gronk will slump this coming season, without brian ferentz there to 'coach him up'?

He worked his way up from Scouting Assistant to Tight Ends coach in 3 years for the most successful NFL franchise over the last 10 or so years. When he did make it to position coach his players broke NFL records. Of course they didn't do all that because of him but it's just as silly to assume he had nothing to do with it. If that were the case, then why have a TE coach at all? Just have a vast horde of scouts who can correctly identify talent and two coordinators to draw up game plans. Pretty silly reasoning when you think about it.

Apparently some people noticed he was doing a good job with the Patriot TEs before the 2011-12 season even started: LINK

"If you were grading on a youth-to-performance scale, then perhaps the valedictorian of what the late David Halberstam called, "Belichick U," would be precocious Brian Ferentz, son of former Belichick assistant and current University of Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz. The 27-year-old Ferentz is listed as an offensive assistant coach, but he's the tight ends coach.
Ferentz, aided by tight end/team sage Alge Crumpler, who is six years his senior, has done a remarkable job with rookie tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, two crucial components of the Patriots offense. Gronk set the franchise record for touchdown receptions by a tight end with 10 and has been a bulldozer in the running game. Hernandez, who caught a Patriots rookie tight end record 45 balls this season and added six touchdowns, has improved at reading zone defenses and running precise routes as the season has progressed."
-Boston Globe January, 2011



Don't get me wrong, I'm not guaranteeing success. I'm just saying a guy with this type of career track to this point coming to Iowa to coach would be hailed as a coup if not for the fact he's the HC's son.


Now that I answered your question let me ask you this: other than his last name, what do you not like about the hire?

 

[Section136]

I know what you meant, Mose, but I think it is a thin defense of nepotism.
Brian Ferentz should rightfully be under intense scrutiny since daddy hired him to coach. The kid is making a ton of money and has relatively little experience.

Ah, I'm only trying to fool myself. The truth is, Brian could screw up royally, burn down Kinnick, and wear a Wisconsin hat to Thanksgiving dinner, and daddy would never fire him.

How the fk did the football program of my Alma Mater turn in to Ferentz & Sons, LLC???

Your dislike of KF is clouding your judgement on this subject.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

There's a poster here, who's tagline sums it up well. "Iowa is paying 10-2 money for a 7-5 coach."

There are very few coaches better at developing talent and running a practice. But on the sidelines, KFz is like a deer in the headlights.

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Last year's football team had a better winning percentage than the basketball team, yet people are dogging the football coach and want to build temples in praise of the basketball coach.

18-17 = .514
7-6 = .538

53% or 51%.. The difference is pretty negligible.

I think the difference in attitude is a matter of perspective considering where each program has been in recent years. Both programs currently have the feel of being headed in opposite directions (or the football program at least feels stagnated), and this is exhibit A for the psychology of the sports fan.

It's kind of like how people were probably pretty excited about the Alamo Bowl and going 7-5 in 2001, after the previous few years being pretty lousy. It's all a matter of perspective.

I for one do not think Ferentz is on the hot seat, nor should he be at this point, but a couple more 6 or 7 win seasons in a row and that could start to change a little bit IMO. That said, I've reached the point where KF has to win me back a little bit, and to do that, his teams have to start doing better than 7-6.. The free pass for 2002-04 has expired. The 2009 Orange Bowl season was fantastic, but that season has unfortunately been the exception to the rule since the '05 Capital One Bowl.

 

[daverhawk]

I know this opinion will be in the minority but I believe the AD asked Ferentz to shake up the staff. As much power as Ferentz has, that huge salary burdens him with some decent expectations, even at a mid level football school like Iowa.
As for this season, I really think all the changes will result in a feast or famine record - we either have an unexpectedly good or unexpectedly bad season resulting in a losing record. I don't think it will be a typical 7-5 or 8-4 record.
Ferentz needs to show he is still that highly regarded coach of several years ago. If Snyder can do what he does at K-State, Ferentz should be exceeding expectations at Iowa -alas, if he is truly a great coach.

 

[vosov]

Don't be a wiseacre. If Brian Ferentz wasn't who he is, daddy would have never hired him. But don't take my word for it; look at Kerk's hiring record.

I'm with you Scorp! On top of being a piece of crap coach, with a name that nobody can pronounce, and absolutely no pedigree or track record of coaching in the NFL, he has also proven to be worthless on the recruiting trail. His salary would be better spent on uniforms that could be seen from space. A few more years of him wiping his butt all over the Iowa program, and Iowa may end up the Rose Bowl. If you think I'm angry now...

 

[hogeye]

Dwayne is correct. Donors got one Iowa coach fired once. Or more accurately, one donor. Program hasn't started to recover until recently. KF would really need to screw up before being on any sort of a hot seat. The closest he has ever come was recently. Some timely career changes, maybe encouraged, maybe not, and it's a new day

I would argue that the closest Ferentz has ever been to the hot seat was after going 1-10 and 3-9 his first two seasons prior to getting Iowa to a winning record. Even recently he's not under remotely the same pressure he was early on when he was proving himself as a coach.

 

[Section136]

I would argue that the closest Ferentz has ever been to the hot seat was after going 1-10 and 3-9 his first two seasons prior to getting Iowa to a winning record. Even recently he's not under remotely the same pressure he was early on when he was proving himself as a coach.

I disagree. If you couldnt see the progress the team was making at the end of 2000 then you just werent paying attention. No way was KF even remotely close to the hot seat after 2 years.

I would think the closest he has been would be after the 2007 season. CityBoyz, Everson/Satterfield, plus all the other off field incidents combined with 2 straight years of 6 wins. I dont think he was all that close to being fired, but it would be the warmest his seat has ever been.

 

[TChawk]

With how good the other big ten teams are and brutal rivals like ISU, Minnesota, Indiana, and Purdue(who I hate). 5 wins is a good season. KF isnt going to be able to produce 7 wins every year and 8,9,and 10 win season only come along once in a while.

If you are a real Hawkeye fan you should know that KF is the best coach that would take on a school like Iowa. 5-6 wins a year is all you can get at Iowa(even with one of the better coaches in the nation) with how hard it is to get kids to come to the midwest. Acting like Kirk would ever get fired really makes me wonder if you are a real Hawkeye fan.

Wow 5-6 wins is NOT a good season no matter how to slice it.

 

[hogeye]

I disagree. If you couldnt see the progress the team was making at the end of 2000 then you just werent paying attention. No way was KF even remotely close to the hot seat after 2 years.

I completely agree. I just don't think he was ever close to the hot seat, period. I think the start of his career and the question of would he be able to bring success was the closest. Despite anything that has happened since.

 

[Golfer]

I respectfully disagree. There was some behind the scenes tension. Quite a lot of tension actually. A shouting match between one assistant and the administration.

It resolved itself.

Although I do agree KF has not been remotely close, he was the closest recently.

Doesn't matter. I don't care to prove what I'm saying for obvious reasons, and I wasn't directly in the room, so the argument is mostly academic.

 

[Section136]

I respectfully disagree. There was some behind the scenes tension. Quite a lot of tension actually. A shouting match between one assistant and the administration.

It resolved itself.

Although I do agree KF has not been remotely close, he was the closest recently.

Doesn't matter. I don't care to prove what I'm saying for obvious reasons, and I wasn't directly in the room, so the argument is mostly academic.

Im guessing KOK got into it with Sally or someone right underneath her regarding Coker.

What instance are you talking about when you say "he was the closest recently"?

 

[Golfer]

Im guessing KOK got into it with Sally or someone right underneath her regarding Coker.

What instance are you talking about when you say "he was the closest recently"?

There was some pressure put on about some changes at the assistant level. There was resistance to this.

I speculate, all concerned were made aware, and suddenly opportunity arose for one of our assistants.

Perfect coup d'état. It resolved itself.

By the way, I still maintain the charade of the U claiming the athletic department as a financial burden, led to the horrid treatment of Norm. He should have been given a job outside of coaching several years ago.

 

[Section136]

There was some pressure put on about some changes at the assistant level. There was resistance to this.

I speculate, all concerned were made aware, and suddenly opportunity arose for one of our assistants.

Perfect coup d'état. It resolved itself.

By the way, I still maintain the charade of the U claiming the athletic department as a financial burden, led to the horrid treatment of Norm. He should have been given a job outside of coaching several years ago.

You dont think Norm wanted to coach these last few years?

How bad was he treated?

Good stuff Golfer, keep it coming.

 

[Golfer]

You dont think Norm wanted to coach these last few years?

How bad was he treated?

Good stuff Golfer, keep it coming.

I'm not going to get into specifics. But my opinion is that Norm should have been given a job in the FB Dept. The U, quietly, keeps this charade about no money. So Norm stayed. Norm wasn't at anywhere near 100%. It is really a bunch of crap.

 

[WestCoastHawk]

Although I'd like better than 6-6 and 7-5 seasons, I fear we could do worse than that if we were to replace Kirk Ferentz, although we won't hit the ultimate highs with him, we can pretty much guarantee to put out a competitive product and not get rocked every game.

 

[Golfer]

I'd also speculate (notice how I like the word speculate on here?) that there is a reason we went outside of the program for one assistant, and not the other.

I know JD and all of the experts think this is all crap, but I don't recall any of them sitting in Sally Mason's box with me while these old guys ready to drop dead are whispering, so everyone in the box can hear, into the admin's ears.

You listen And you watch. And then all you can do is draw conclusions. Once again, I wasn't a first party to any of this. But also recall when KoK left, that when I first mentioned the rumor, it did come from large donors and professional gamblers in LV. I conclude professional gamblers have sources that I do not. Also large donors.

I'm just a guy who knows some people. My personal feelings is that they should forget the entire charade of "student athletes", and play football. Student athletes are a truism, but the way they present this is almost comical.

 

[Section136]

I'd also speculate (notice how I like the word speculate on here?) that there is a reason we went outside of the program for one assistant, and not the other.

I know JD and all of the experts think this is all crap, but I don't recall any of them sitting in Sally Mason's box with me while these old guys ready to drop dead are whispering, so everyone in the box can hear, into the admin's ears.

You listen And you watch. And then all you can do is draw conclusions. Once again, I wasn't a first party to any of this. But also recall when KoK left, that when I first mentioned the rumor, it did come from large donors and professional gamblers in LV. I conclude professional gamblers have sources that I do not. Also large donors.

I'm just a guy who knows some people. My personal feelings is that they should forget the entire charade of "student athletes", and play football. Student athletes are a truism, but the way they present this is almost comical.

Can you go into more detail here? Are you saying Greg Davis was a wanted man here by some folks or am I reading you wrong?

 

[1977Hawkeye]

Although I'd like better than 6-6 and 7-5 seasons, I fear we could do worse than that if we were to replace Kirk Ferentz, although we won't hit the ultimate highs with him, we can pretty much guarantee to put out a competitive product and not get rocked every game.

What you say is very true, but the problem I have (and this purely MY persepctive and am not telling you or anyone else to feel otherwise) is that I don't really view 6-6 as being all that "competetive". That is not even a winning record - you're losing as much as you're winning. 7-5 is just a single win removed from that. Some people may be happy with that, but I'd be lying if I said that I was.

True - you could do alot worse than 7-5 and would certainly do so if the AD makes a bad hire (see the Mr. Davis/Alford/Lickliter situation).

But hey, I'm hoping the recent staff changes will breathe some life back into the program and we'll start seeing more 8-9+ win seasons again like we used to, and this will all be moot point.

 

[dameiowa]

Yes, that is also a fact.

Actually, the entire board would not be praising the hire, but a vast majority would. And the people decrying the hire would only do so because they assume a young hot-shot coach like a guy with this resume' would not be here for the long haul and see Iowa as just a stepping stone.

Checkmate.