I have followed Iowa football ever since I was a boy listening to the games on the radio while riding on the tractor with my Dad. Began following them closely in junior high and was a hawk crazy during my high school and college days. My respect for Hayden is immense. Even though he stayed on a bit too long, I'll always love him.
Fast forward to today. I will always be a hawk fan, but I have seen ferentz, (yes the f is not capitalized for a reason) for what he really is in the last several years. As a result of what I observed about him, I have made two observations:
1. His character. For years now he has deflected away his responsibility when anyone, and I mean anyone, is even the least bit critical of him. (think when Rob Howe questioned him that one time) The answer is usually lack of execution by the players or the other team is very good. If he ever does say he takes responsibility, you can tell that it's very, very clear he doesn't really mean it. For example, when he totally screwed away the Wisconsin game a few years back by totally letting the game clock run out. He did not take responsibility for it during the post game presser and it was like tuesday or wednesday when he finally said he took responsibility after every sportswriter in the state called him out on it. And like I said, you could tell he didn't mean it when he said it. And there are many more examples of him NOT taking responsibility when questioned on it. I think he has a bit of narcissist in him. I do not think he has good character. Men who have good character do not deflect away their responsibility.
2. His past strength, notice I said past strength, was recruiting and developing talent. His downfall as a coach has been: A) Choosing and going with offensive and defensive systems. We all know how horrible his offenses have been through his time at Iowa. While the defense has been over all good, they have consistently given up CLUTCH plays. B) He may be, and I think he is, the absolute worst game day coach in D-1 football. There are many examples, but I'll give one. Remember the Pitt game where he left Jake C. in when we all knew he was bad and that Stanzi would have done better? That decision cost us the game that day. Heck, even Jon Miller came on "Sound Off" that night and declared that Jake C. should not be the qb the rest of the season. The latest example would be today when he let the play clock run out when you are in a hurry up offense. If he was the coach of another team, I'd laugh at him for being such a pathetic game day coach. He's a horrible game day coach and has installed a very bad offensive system in his time and Iowa.
I am sure there will be some ferentz apologists that will kill me for stating what I have here today. Just remember that I never planned on ever posting here. The reason I did is because this program is in crisis. It's is in crisis directly because ferentz has been the coach too long and because he's not hungry any longer. Just look at him. And I would suppose it's human nature to lose your hunger when you are a very rich man and have had some success at your position in the last 14 years. Let me acknowledge that he had the best 10 year run of any Iowa coach, (he won 5 more games than Hayden did in the 80's, but he Iowa played one more game per season during that time too) but look at how bad he's let things get in the last few years.
In summary, this team is in trouble now. I believe it's in trouble because of ferentz' lack of leadership and ability to recruit good players. He needs to go. Yes, I know that Barta made a dumb move by giving him the contract he did. But aren't there some HUGE donors that could step in and buy him out? There are two very rich guys that I know of who are boosters, one in Des Moines and one in Ankeny. Anyway, he needs to go and if he can't be bought out, get used to Iowa getting not just getting beat but trounced like they have this year till he can be bought out.
FreedComanche
