Theo Epstein, Bill Walsh and Kirk Ferentz

BSpringsteen

BSpringsteen

Well-Known Member
This quote from Theo Epstein's Boston Globe farewell editorial to Boston has been floating through my head a lot lately as it relates to Iowa football.

Football legend Bill Walsh used to say that coaches and executives should seek change after 10 years with the same team. The theory is that both the individual and the organization benefit from a change after so much time together. The executive gets rebirth and the energy that comes with a new challenge; the organization gets a fresh perspective, and the chance for true change that comes with new leadership.
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Yeah. People rag on Saban for leaving [I realize he's never come close to ten years at a school], but it's hard to be in the same position for fourteen years and not feel at least somewhat uninspired/fatigued/stuck in a rut.
 
Cover3 said:
Yeah. People rag on Saban for leaving [I realize he's never come close to ten years at a school], but it's hard to be in the same position for fourteen years and not feel at least somewhat uninspired/fatigued/stuck in a rut.
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While I agree completely with the quote from the original post, Saban is a different animal all together. He's basically a highly skilled mercenary, available to the highest bidder. He'd turn on Alabama for Auburn without a second's hesitation if they offered him more money than he is currently making.
 
Xerxes said:
While I agree completely with the quote from the original post, Saban is a different animal all together. He's basically a highly skilled mercenary, available to the highest bidder. He'd turn on Alabama for Auburn without a second's hesitation if they offered him more money than he is currently making.
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Saban isn't much different than ferentz when it comes to scheme and discipline and football philosophy. Saban is different than KF because he puts himself in position to recruit best available players - any way he can - by schools he works for and (I assume) methods employed once there. That is where they are different.
 
No, I agree that it's not necessarily about 'the next challenge' for Saban (more so than $), but my point was that people move on. Loyalty is good, but moving on down the road doesn't make some of these guys bad people. Saban at least builds places up and leaves them in good shape. Can't say the same for Cheezdik.
 
NCHawker said:
Saban isn't much different than ferentz when it comes to scheme and discipline and football philosophy. Saban is different than KF because he puts himself in position to recruit best available players - any way he can - by schools he works for and (I assume) methods employed once there. That is where they are different.
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In some ways they probably are similar. Both run prostyle, traditional offenses.

Defensively you can't find two coaches who are more opposite. Kirk's approach is simple, conservative, easy to prepare for, keep everything in front of you, don't make mistakes, and wait for the offense to make errors.

Saban is NFL style blitzing & coverages, confuse the QB, extremely difficult to prepare for, impose your will on your opponents.

Obviously the talent Saban has gives him more freedom but Kirk has had a lot of defensive talent at Iowa yet he still runs a pretty conservative scheme, Saban has run an aggressive defense all the way back to his MSU days.
 
Rhoads basically said the same thing in the radio interview he did with Murph and Andy over the summer. Said he can't see himself a lifer at Ames because he thinks people should move on after about 10 years.
 
Walsh probably learned this lesson from George Halas, who famously had four Bears head coaching stints of exactly 10 years before removing himself from the position.

George Halas - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

As coach:
Decatur Staleys/Chicago Staleys/Chicago Bears (1920-1929)
Chicago Bears (1933-1942)
Chicago Bears (1946-1955)
Chicago Bears (1958-1967)
 
iahawks912 said:
In his first year with a team he did not assemble. But good try.
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Because if there's one thing we've learned from the Cubs, there's always next year. Wait, the Astros are out of the division, making the Cubs the worst team in the Central so maybe not. Go Cards.
 
rhoffs8 said:
Because if there's one thing we've learned from the Cubs, there's always next year. Wait, the Astros are out of the division, making the Cubs the worst team in the Central so maybe not. Go Cards.
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If there is one thing I really have learned to enjoy while being a Cubs fan it is that no matter how the Cubs do during the season the cards fans will always be butthurt.
 
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