The contract is the ONLY reason

[tednugentfan]

Let's face it, the contract is the only reason there is a snowball's chance in July that KF will be here next year. I said before the season that the NIU game would set the tone for the entire year. If there was real change on the field, then the fan base could at least gain some consolation knowing that some pressure was applied above for KF to get his head out. What we saw on Saturday was the same crap we have witnessed the past few seasons PLUS an obvious line in the sand from KF about who runs the show. He has been here too long, is averse to innovation and does not acknowledge that he needs some young, fiery guys around him to makeup for his apathy. It's going to come down to buying KF out, or racing to the bottom of the big ten for as long as he is here. No other team in the big ten would put up with this crap.

 

[thetrza]

Yeah, Tim Brewster or Ron Zook would never lose to a MAC team at home.

 

[tednugentfan]

Did they get 10 year contracts? Are they still employed at Illinois or Minnesota? Thanks for making my point.

 

[ssckelley]

In other threads I have been addressing this point, unfortunately the turd one. I would be greatly disappointed if the contract is the only reason they brought Ferentz back for next season. Basic economics tells you there are other revenue effects of keeping Ferentz around that could end up costing Iowa a lot more money than just KF's buyout. Unsold tickets, concessions, merchandise, parking, ad revenue, donations, ect ect will end up costing Iowa more money than KF's buyout if they continue losing and they keep him around just because of his contract. KF's contract is already an expense and Iowa will get to a point where it makes more sense to bring in a new coach for an extra 2 million + per year to recover the lost revenue from losing.

 

[bws258]

Let's face it, the contract is the only reason

I agree with this ... if not for the contract situation being so ridiculously one-sided, I think KF would be looking at a go-bowling or go-away scenario this season

instead I think that happens next year ... if we go 4-8 again (or worse) next year will be very interesting

BTW, I'm voting for Bob Diaco

 

[cf84]

In other threads I have been addressing this point, unfortunately the turd one. I would be greatly disappointed if the contract is the only reason they brought Ferentz back for next season. Basic economics tells you there are other revenue effects of keeping Ferentz around that could end up costing Iowa a lot more money than just KF's buyout. Unsold tickets, concessions, merchandise, parking, ad revenue, donations, ect ect will end up costing Iowa more money than KF's buyout if they continue losing and they keep him around just because of his contract. KF's contract is already an expense and Iowa will get to a point where it makes more sense to bring in a new coach for an extra 2 million + per year to recover the lost revenue from losing.

Exactly. If the downward trend continues, long term more money will be lost by keeping him. Donors aren't happy when tickets they paid face value plus donation for are selling on the street for $20. That will only happen for so long and then people will figure out it's cheaper just to buy tickets on the secondary market. Sure, you don't always sit in the same place but that's not always a bad thing either.

Bringing in a fresh attitude that the fans would be excited about again could retain some of those who might be lost, at least offering some hope. You certainly don't want to wait too long and end up where basketball was. I hope KF can somehow turn things around but I've seen too much over the last few years to believe he has "it" anymore. Four wins or less this year and he really needs to go.

 

[DBAHawkFan]

We need someone who's above average at recruiting. I don't care about sideline demeanor like most people. Just need a good solid staff that can bring in talent and teach it up.

It's obvious that we have neither on our current staff at the moment. Cause we keep seeing the same mistakes every game, every year. And the talent level is the lowest it's been since KF took over the program.

 

[kmurp]

I agree with this ... if not for the contract situation being so ridiculously one-sided, I think KF would be looking at a go-bowling or go-away scenario this season

instead I think that happens next year ... if we go 4-8 again (or worse) next year will be very interesting

BTW, I'm voting for Bob Diaco

I'm "voting" for someone with HC experience.

 

[ThunderHawk]

We need someone who's above average at recruiting. I don't care about sideline demeanor like most people. Just need a good solid staff that can bring in talent and teach it up.

It's obvious that we have neither on our current staff at the moment. Cause we keep seeing the same mistakes every game, every year. And the talent level is the lowest it's been since KF took over the program.

You need a head coach who can 1) recruit; and 2) hire great coordinators/assistants and delegate like hell to them.

You need a head coach who is comfortable being the charismatic figurehead/CEO who brings in the talent, and then steps back and lets the talent (coaches and players) do their thing.

Sure, he should have input on the offense, defense and special teams, but his number one job shouldn't be Xs and Os, it should be selling the program and getting the best talent.

 

[kmurp]

You need a head coach who can 1) recruit; and 2) hire great coordinators/assistants and delegate like hell to them.

You need a head coach who is comfortable being the charismatic figurehead/CEO who brings in the talent, and then steps back and lets the talent (coaches and players) do their thing.

Sure, he should have input on the offense, defense and special teams, but his number one job shouldn't be Xs and Os, it should be selling the program and getting the best talent.

Mack Brown?

 

[ssckelley]

Exactly. If the downward trend continues, long term more money will be lost by keeping him. Donors aren't happy when tickets they paid face value plus donation for are selling on the street for $20. That will only happen for so long and then people will figure out it's cheaper just to buy tickets on the secondary market. Sure, you don't always sit in the same place but that's not always a bad thing either.

Bringing in a fresh attitude that the fans would be excited about again could retain some of those who might be lost, at least offering some hope. You certainly don't want to wait too long and end up where basketball was. I hope KF can somehow turn things around but I've seen too much over the last few years to believe he has "it" anymore. Four wins or less this year and he really needs to go.

Back in 2000 the average attendance was 61,123 while last year the attendance average was 70,747. I believe the average ticket cost is $55, so just ticket sales alone is $529,320 in lost revenue per game and that adds up to $3,705,240 for 7 home games in a season. That amount of money could get Iowa a pretty good football coach. The donations, concessions, ad revenue, ect ect would be gravy. The problem is the longer they let things go the harder it will be to get those fans back (see basketball), simply hiring a new head coach will not guarantee all those season ticket holders will renew.

 

[tubahawk]

Back in 2000 the average attendance was 61,123 while last year the attendance average was 70,747. I believe the average ticket cost is $55, so just ticket sales alone is $529,320 in lost revenue per game and that adds up to $3,705,240 for 7 home games in a season.

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.

 

[kmurp]

I think he is saying we might soon be back at the 60k per game level if things don't change. Therefore, paying a buyout and new coach plus the potential $ in lost tickets sales that would be avoided is the smart financial move.

 

[imported_ankle23]

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.

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

 

[JBRTHREE]

WHen are we going to face the fact that Captain Kirk is going down with the ship...? He will stay at the helm till the end and drown on this Gridiron Titanic UNLESS we throw his butt overboard!

 

[OUTofTOWNHAWK]

Ron Zook would not have been fired if he had been at Iowa. Rose Bowl = 8 more chances.

 

[pmchawk]

I started to think about this contract. I'm wondering if Kirk didn't ask for a contract this long so he could try to "reinvent" the team knowing it can't be done overnight. In my mind next year is when we HAVE to see progress in W/L. The length of contract makes him pretty much untouchable until probably 2015. If this speculation was true he probably wanted to start the change a year sooner (remember KOK was looking at HC jobs a year before leaving). I would applaud Kirk if this was true b/c he would be looking at a bigger picture then I thought he was capable of.

 

[NCHawker]

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.

 

[cecilB]

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.

Iowa fans sound like Penn State fans did b/w 2000 and 2005

 

[doclee]

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 will indeed do so. You can take that to the bank.