The contract is the ONLY reason

[Hawkfromnorwalk]

Iowa has shown that they will tollerate up to about 3-4 bad seasons in a row (5 wins or less) then they act.

Apart from his getting started time, KF has 1 of those in a row.

When has Iowa shown this? Unless your counting the pre-Fry era I don't recall a stretch like this where action wasn't taken.

 

[AnyoneButYou]

Iowa has shown that they will tollerate up to about 3-4 bad seasons in a row (5 wins or less) then they act.

Apart from his getting started time, KF has 1 of those in a row.

Kirk will ride off in the sunset when he decides to. With the super soft football schedule coming in the near future he'll bump up is win total 6-7 games a year and then tell the fans it's time to go and he'll be labeled a Saint for giving up his $4m annually salary. He'll be here thru next year then hang it up.

 

[cecilB]

The thing is...this is the same old tired argument that has been repeated ad nauseum on this board. I would remind you that if the winds had gone a different direction and KF would have left Iowa for a pro team, and then the Hawks would have gone in a downward spiral, we would have heard nothing less than demands to fire GB for not keeping KF around. I would be the first to admit that the buy out clause in KF's contract is certainly favorable for him. I don't know how it compares, frankly, to other coaching contracts. If anyone has data on this subject, I would be very interested. I think that KF is under a lot of pressure right now from the big donors...I am only speculating...I have absolutely no solid information on this topic and I would guess that people on this board are in the same boat as I. I would also speculate, though I frankly have little doubt, that if we don't see a very steady swing in the proper direction for this program, KF will be gone, regardless of the difficulty presented by the contract language. The big donors involved in this program have a LOT of $. If they, coupled with the much predicted, but yet unproven, loss of income through the donors and ticket sales, decide to hire a new coach, they o so. You can take thto the nk.[
I am have cash, and interact with people that fit the pofile of 'big donors'. NOT a single one will donate to make people's Saturday less dissapointing while lining someone's pocket. If a six,seven, or eight figure gift is given to the U of I, it won't be for this. Another reason is the TV cash. It has mitigated the impact of gifts, to the point that trusts and wills are being modified daily by the savvy philanthropist.

Good for other UI programs, bad for those wanting someone else to foot the bill for their weekend happiness.

 

[ssckelley]

I'm not following you there. According to your stats there are over 9,000 more fans attending games now than when KF started. That wouldn't mean $529,320 in lost revenue it would mean more revenue.

In 2000 Iowa was coming off a 1-10 season and finished 3-9. If Iowa continues this trend 70,000+ people are not going to keep paying the $55 + donation for tickets. People are going to find something else to spend their entertainment dollars on.

some of these fans don't have to make obvious errors to prove their stupidity. but some obviously make it easy.....

I apologize, I will try to dumb up my posts so you can understand them. I thought referencing the 2000 season was a dead give away to the point I was making.

 

[ssckelley]

Iowa has shown that they will tollerate up to about 3-4 bad seasons in a row (5 wins or less) then they act.

Apart from his getting started time, KF has 1 of those in a row.

Back in 94 they were calling for Fry's head after the 3rd season of mediocrity. They were saying he was to old, could not recruit, and the game had passed him by. Ferentz will not survive 3 losing seasons in a row.

 

[DesMoinesHawki]

Kirk will get one more season ... .500 seasons this year and next = search for new coach. The wheels are already getting loose ... Unless Kirk pulls off a 7-win season this year and 7 or 8 next year ... this could very well be the beginning of the end ... If we do finish at .500 this year and next ... definitely would be time for a change ...

 

[ssckelley]

Kirk will get one more season ... .500 seasons this year and next = search for new coach. The wheels are already getting loose ... Unless Kirk pulls off a 7-win season this year and 7 or 8 next year ... this could very well be the beginning of the end ... If we do finish at .500 this year and next ... definitely would be time for a change ...

It makes me sick saying this but bowl games will save Ferentz which means .500 records over the next 2 seasons will keep him around.

 

[INTIMIDATORHawk]

The blind optimism in this thread is extremely curious to me. All of you in favor of replacing Kirk seem to automatically believe that the new coach will do better than him.

Interesting... Ask Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Purdue, USC, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Nebraska and IOWA BASKETBALL how well that philosophy can work out at times.

Sometimes a new coach isn't a cure for what is ailing the program. We know what we have with Kirk. It's completely unknown what we would have with a new coach.

 

[ssckelley]

The blind optimism in this thread is extremely curious to me. All of you in favor of replacing Kirk seem to automatically believe that the new coach will do better than him.

Interesting... Ask Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Purdue, USC, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Nebraska and IOWA BASKETBALL how well that philosophy can work out at times.

Sometimes a new coach isn't a cure for what is ailing the program. We know what we have with Kirk. It's completely unknown what we would have with a new coach.

I have used this same argument before to cool off the fans that were over demanding of this program, ie expecting Iowa to be in the BCS hunt year in and year out. But we are not talking about a Tom Davis situation here where Ferentz is getting shown the door even though he leads Iowa to bowl games year in and year out, we are talking about a team coming off a 4-8 season, has lost 7 in a row, and just lost a home opener to a MAC school. At what point is it ok for us fans to start grumbling about what we see happening on the football field?

I am still hopeful he can turn it around and I will probably back off if Iowa gets back to a bowl game this season. More than likely no matter what the results we are stuck with Ferentz at least through 2014. Hopefully Iowa has learned their lesson from paying for past performances and resigning coaches to extensions that eliminate accountability.

 

[INTIMIDATORHawk]

I just don't understand to what level Kirk is being held accountable. HF had a bunch of bad years. Are we comparing KF to HF's body of work, or something higher? Because from where I stand, what HF did in the modern era is the benchmark of success for Iowa.

Are we holding Kirk to a higher standard? If so, why? His salary?

Hold BARTA accountable for the salary.

We all agree that Iowa Football has bottomed out at this point. Losing 7 in a row is hard to deal with, but KF isn't sitting on his hands hoping for some better luck. He has significantly revamped his coaching staff and coaching philosophies, and while we all still hope he reads the book "How to Detect a Fake Punt For Dummies", he seems to be genuinely entrenched in turning things around.

Since 2012 is really the only year we can consider to be "bad", how much time does he deserve to get things fixed? I'd say longer than 1 game in 2013.

That's just my opinion.

 

[eveningnewsteam]

Gut the entire coaching staff and start over.

 

[ssckelley]

I just don't understand to what level Kirk is being held accountable. HF had a bunch of bad years. Are we comparing KF to HF's body of work, or something higher? Because from where I stand, what HF did in the modern era is the benchmark of success for Iowa.

After the 1982 Rose Bowl Hayden had 3 seasons of below .500 (non consecutive) and they were calling for his head in 1994 saying that they game had passed him by and that he was to old to recruit the top talent. I do not recall a 7 game losing streak during the Hayden years and it was not to often they lost to MAC schools on their home field. If Ferentz fails to lead Iowa to a bowl game this year I think he deserves all the negativity he has coming.

Are we holding Kirk to a higher standard? If so, why? His salary?

Hold BARTA accountable for the salary.

But I do agree with Barta sharing the blame. Never should he had extended Ferentz to that long of an extension, taking away accountability is one of the biggest mistakes you can make running any sports franchise. Even if Iowa ends up letting Ferentz go he will be laughing all the way to the bank.

Since 2012 is really the only year we can consider to be "bad", how much time does he deserve to get things fixed? I'd say longer than 1 game in 2013.

and he will, and Ferentz will probably get 2014 also to turn it around.

 

[Sooby]

Every time Iowa has a had a good season, Kirk, selfishly, uses this as an opportunity to get more money.
And every time, Iowa obliges.
Now that Iowa is having bad/disappointing seasons, where's the return in favor?

The defenders are acting like this is the 1960s and the 1970s, and if we get rid of Kirk, we'll have 19 straight losing seasons.

 

[ThunderHawk]

Every time Iowa has a had a good season, Kirk, selfishly, uses this as an opportunity to get more money.
And every time, Iowa obliges.
Now that Iowa is having bad/disappointing seasons, where's the return in favor?

The defenders are acting like this is the 1960s and the 1970s, and if we get rid of Kirk, we'll have 19 straight losing seasons.

Good point.

That's not going to happen. We have great facilities and a big athletic budget and expectations of success.

 

[Sooby]

Iowa has the 5th largest fanbase in the B1G and the 15th largest nation wide.

Sadly, Iowa football on these boards is turning into a Chicago cubs type franchise.
The social aspect of the event is more important than the event itself.
And, I'm probably one of many guilty of that.