So, what happens when Iowa beats Penn State this Saturday?

[deanvogs]

My best guess is the opposite of what happened on here after this Saturday. It's pretty predictable. But thanks to everyone for playing.

Yep, fans just don't know how to take the ups and downs of football. Iowa played shitty, they lost. OSU played shitty vs Iowa a couple years ago and got taken to the woodshed. Was Iowa a better team than OSU in '17? Nope. Was Iowa the better team that day? Yep.

 

[InGoodCo]

Barta getting the contract extension was the nail in the coffin. Kirk is the only one who can sway donors and Harreld has no choice once the Pachas, Tippies, Uncle Brucie, and others give Kirk their support. Rastetter's on the BOR and Harreld wouldn't have gotten hired if it weren't for him.

Barta's extension is Kirk's easy peasy way for Brian to slide in with no ojection or fanfare. If Barta had gotten let go after one of his colossal F ups I might have said you had a chance of being right, but getting a raise and just long enough of a contract extension to get Brian hired is too much.

I think you are right if they have success - which means double digit wins, a division title and a NY6 or above bowl game. Without it, I don't. IMO you won't have 1 without the other. If they reach one of those plateau's then I think BF is probably your next Iowa HC. If they don't, he won't be. It's kind of a simple caveat. Without it they won't be able to just slide him in without objection or fanfare. You don't give much credit to this fan base (neither do I really) but Iowa fans are loud. When they see something that doesn't past the mustard, they are vocal. Iowa as a program, imo, and especially as of late is really conscious of what their fans "want" and say. Almost to a fault.

 

[InGoodCo]

Yep, fans just don't know how to take the ups and downs of football. Iowa played shitty, they lost. OSU played shitty vs Iowa a couple years ago and got taken to the woodshed. Was Iowa a better team than OSU in '17? Nope. Was Iowa the better team that day? Yep.

Losing is part of football...every team does it frequently except like 1 or 2 a season and most times not even that. Iowa fans had to of known a loss was coming. I did, I've been watching this program for 30 years. In the grand scheme of things, this was not a bad loss. A road loss to a ranked Michigan team? There are worse things. Our offense looked inept and unfortunately it appears to be a trend when Iowa plays better competition on the road. That's kind of how it works for most programs. It still sucks. It doesn't make it easier/ I still thought Iowa was going to win. I mean, the whole game, I thought... this is how Iowa does it and I wasn't actually worried or it didn't actually settle in until the clock hit 0. Like I've stated a few times in other posts, it was almost a calendar year since Iowa lost a game. When you have that, and lose as rarely as IA does, losses are really gonna hurt.

 

[revkev73]

Is it, where was that last week? Or, last week was an anomaly? Or, they only play well at home, wait to the Hawks go to NW or Wisconsin? Or, the Hawks have righted the ship, they're in control of their destiny again? All of the above?

Iowa will win this week. I've been watching them long enough to know this will happen. So, you might want to start drafting your responses now.

Iowa plays better at home vs better opponents, tend to implode on the road vs them.

Time for raises so the staff doesn't get gutted.

Kirk is a Hall of Fame coach, this proves it.

See, Brian was a great hire.

Is that enough?

 

[revkev73]

Losing is part of football...every team does it frequently except like 1 or 2 a season and most times not even that. Iowa fans had to of known a loss was coming. I did, I've been watching this program for 30 years. In the grand scheme of things, this was not a bad loss. A road loss to a ranked Michigan team? There are worse things. Our offense looked inept and unfortunately it appears to be a trend when Iowa plays better competition on the road. That's kind of how it works for most programs. It still sucks. It doesn't make it easier/ I still thought Iowa was going to win. I mean, the whole game, I thought... this is how Iowa does it and I wasn't actually worried or it didn't actually settle in until the clock hit 0. Like I've stated a few times in other posts, it was almost a calendar year since Iowa lost a game. When you have that, and lose as rarely as IA does, losses are really gonna hurt.

True...and vs Stanford in the bowl game...it really helped remind me that Iowa doesn't have the top level skill position players to overcome equal or better talent or equal or better coaching, or often first year coaching. Top level talent often exposes Iowa for what it is, a second tier team, who makes a lot of bowl games and racks up winning seasons with the ability to beat teams they most often should beat. It is Hall of Fame Kirk winning. Plus, creative and risk taking coaches often leave Iowa stuck in the mud, like a Python wrapped around the Iowa game plan for 3 hours, as life and hope fade away until the final buzzer. As you say, Iowa is what it is.

 

[HaydenHawk56]

This is what is going to happen:

 

[hawkeyes87]

Call me an idiot,

Since I never do this, I can't pass up this opportunity.

You're an idiot !

 

[Fryowa]

...Iowa fans are loud. When they see something that doesn't past the mustard, they are vocal. Iowa as a program, imo, and especially as of late is really conscious of what their fans "want" and say. Almost to a fault.

That's where I think the caveat is though. Fans who are critical of the Ferentzes are few and far between. Ridiculous people like us who hang out on message boards and could rattle off the depth charts three spots deep are probably half a percent of the Iowa fans out there, and that 99.5% LOVE Kirk Ferentz win or lose because he's such a gee golly aww shucks kinda guy. Unfortunately most fans out there who are buying tickets, tuning into broadcasts, buying gear, and most importantly donating six and seven figures every year would stick with Kirk (and by default Brian) no matter what. They get off more on having announcers say we have the "Dean of college coaches" and the hospital wave than they do paying attention to Xs and Os & trying to win 10 every year.

Go to any little town in Iowa and ask 50 people if they like Kirk Ferentz, and then ask those same 50 what the Hawks' current record is. Guarantee you less than 5 get the record correct.

 

[InGoodCo]

Since I never do this, I can't pass up this opportunity.

You're an idiot !

Thanks I guess? I left the door open and I knew there were plenty thinking it.

 

[HuckFinn]

I would say Brian has about a 10% chance to become the next Iowa head coach. There will be some very good coaches apply for the Iowa job. I am not even sure that Brian views himself as the head man at Iowa. He will have other opportunities and may think it would better for him not to follow Dad. He may go to the MAC, get HC experience, then move up. KF and Barta may move on at the same time, at which point the job would be wide open. However, even if Barta is still around, the assumption that he would hire Brian is no more than idle speculation. Why would he feel any obligation? And, what other unknown “powers that be” might rule the day.

I will spend my time worrying about whether or not KF can lead Iowa on a run that garners higher respectability.

 

[revkev73]

My guess that Brian is the next Ferentz in, according to the play book, 90%

 

[revkev73]

Yep, fans just don't know how to take the ups and downs of football. Iowa played shitty, they lost. OSU played shitty vs Iowa a couple years ago and got taken to the woodshed. Was Iowa a better team than OSU in '17? Nope. Was Iowa the better team that day? Yep.

How would you explain the string of "downs" vs Northwestern and Wisconsin?

That's football? The cycle of life?

 

[InGoodCo]

That's where I think the caveat is though. Fans who are critical of the Ferentzes are few and far between. Ridiculous people like us who hang out on message boards and could rattle off the depth charts three spots deep are probably half a percent of the Iowa fans out there, and that 99.5% LOVE Kirk Ferentz win or lose because he's such a gee golly aww shucks kinda guy. Unfortunately most fans out there who are buying tickets, tuning into broadcasts, buying gear, and most importantly donating six and seven figures every year would stick with Kirk (and by default Brian) no matter what. They get off more on having announcers say we have the "Dean of college coaches" and the hospital wave than they do paying attention to Xs and Os & trying to win 10 every year.

Go to any little town in Iowa and ask 50 people if they like Kirk Ferentz, and then ask those same 50 what the Hawks' current record is. Guarantee you less than 5 get the record correct.

I don't disagree with you at all. Especially about your run of the mill Iowa fan. But IMO, the Iowa program is very "woke" the last several seasons. It's like the fans want the water tower painted. Painted. The fans want a tiger hawk at midfield. You bet your ass. The fans wanted CJ in 14. You got it. Fans were loud about Noah Fant. Tyler Goodson. etc etc etc. They seem as concerned about what the fans want more than ever. That's just my opinion. But it feels that way to me and just "sliding" in Kirk's son aint happening without some sort of bench mark.

oh and you can put me on the side of "like and support" Kirk Ferentz as our coach even after losing on the road to a top 25 team. I will always remain in that side in that scenario. It sucks to lose, but I don't typically get that fired up over a loss that IMO, is at the very least explainable. They were better than us on Saturday and had a better scheme and shut us down. They were the favorite, they had 15 4 or 5 star players starting and Iowa wasn't ready for it. Losing is part of football, ya either know how to take it or you don't.

 

[hawkeyes87]

Those who are sure BF won't just slide into the HC position, please remind me what kind of extensive search there was before BF became OC?

Or are we assuming that the guy w/ ZERO coordinator experience was the most qualified candidate after a wide-open search intent on improving a glaring program weakness, ?

 

[InGoodCo]

How would you explain the string of "downs" vs Northwestern and Wisconsin?

That's football? The cycle of life?

I would explain that it's not been nearly good enough. Those programs have been better. How do you explain the ups against ISU, MN and NE? Because Iowa is a better program then those. That's how it is explained.

 

[Fryowa]

oh and you can put me on the side of "like and support" Kirk Ferentz as our coach even after losing on the road to a top 25 team.

I always support the Hawkeyes, I wouldn't go so far as to say I like Ferentz, though. It's not hate, either...just indifference. I don't think there's anybody out there right now who's going to go from 8 wins to 10 wins and stability is the better part of valor.

My huge beef comes when and if BF is the HC (I threw the "if" in there for ya because I'm a pretty diplomatic guy). He's done exactly zero to this point to show that he's capable of it, and this program is bigger than the Ferentz name. I wouldn't even mind Kirk in an AD role with a Parker/Les Miles type guy (Kansas won the fucking lottery there) as HC getting to choose their own staff. Kirk would raise fucking money for the athletic department that would make Jeff Bezos choke on his coffee, and I guarantee you there's no Tracey Greasbomb fiascoes going on under his watch. People worship that dude.

 

[InGoodCo]

I always support the Hawkeyes, I wouldn't go so far as to say I like Ferentz, though. It's not hate, either...just indifference. I don't think there's anybody out there right now who's going to go from 8 wins to 10 wins and stability is the better part of valor.

My huge beef comes when and if BF is the HC (I threw the "if" in there for ya because I'm a pretty diplomatic guy). He's done exactly zero to this point to show that he's capable of it, and this program is bigger than the Ferentz name. I wouldn't even mind Kirk in an AD role with a Parker/Les Miles type guy (Kansas won the fucking lottery there) as HC getting to choose their own staff. Kirk would raise fucking money for the athletic department that would make Jeff Bezos choke on his coffee, and I guarantee you there's no Tracy Greasbomb fiascoes going on under his watch. People worship that dude.

I have no issues with your huge beef and 100% agree with it. He's not done enough to warrant getting the keys...which is my whole argument from the top. He's not just getting handed this thing (IMO) - Iowa needs something tangible in order for that to happen. Right now, they don't have that feather in the cap and Iowa fans wouldn't just sit back and take it.... it will be uproar without some sort of "ultimate" success first.

 

[NikeHawk21]

Yep, fans just don't know how to take the ups and downs of football. Iowa played shitty, they lost. OSU played shitty vs Iowa a couple years ago and got taken to the woodshed. Was Iowa a better team than OSU in '17? Nope. Was Iowa the better team that day? Yep.

It’s funny how all the negative guys come out of the woodworks after losing on the road to a top 20 team. I also find it funny that they can pick and choose after the fact which games were important or not. The Ohio State win apparently wasn’t an important game now I’m being told.

Iowa’s goal should be to win the west. Before the season most probably thought best case was 1-1 during this stretch. Iowa looks to be about a 3 point dog in both contests but any betting man would tell you they have a better chance at home.

Look Saturday sucked and Penn State is looking very tough right now so who knows. Honestly 0-2 doesn’t eliminate us in the west it just leaves no room for error.

Big game Saturday for Iowa. If they falter things are looking fairly dire. Does that mean this is an all out dumpster fire? No not really it just means we lost two games to formidable opponents. Does it mean we will never be good again? No. I personally still think the talent level is trending up now we just need it to materialize to more success on the field, which I believe it can.

 

[okeefe4prez]

The Ohio State win apparently wasn’t an important game now I’m being told.

The Ohio State game was biggest win at Kinnick in the Ferentz era. Maybe the biggest win. It was important.

No not really it just means we lost two games to formidable opponents.

No. Michigan is not a formidable opponent. They're not that good. They are ranked because of their name brand.

 

[NikeHawk21]

The Ohio State game was biggest win at Kinnick in the Ferentz era. Maybe the biggest win. It was important.



No. Michigan is not a formidable opponent. They're not that good. They are ranked because of their name brand.

You’re basing your view of Michigan on a the fact that they will likely lose of few more games and a rough day at UW. Having a tough schedule doesn’t mean they aren’t a formidable team.

Almost every metric objective or subjective, ranks Michigan as a top 20 team nationally. You know how when Iowa gets a 4* recruit and we are gushing over their talent and athleticism... Michigan has a team full of those guys.

I’ll ask you this. Where do you rank Michigan? Are they not a top 25 level team? Are they not a top 30 level team? Where do you have them? I don’t want to hear about how they will lose a few more games to Ohio State and Notre Dame. Playing a tough schedule doesn’t make them a weak team.

Here’s what the computers say:
Massey: 14
Sagarin: 13
Team Rankings: 13