What needs to happen for Ferentz to be Fired

[IndianaHawk]

Wasn't that Petrino, not Nutt?

Correct.

 

[ArvadaHawk]

Bravo to you sir. If I could give you another 10 "likes" I would.

If it is possible let me add a cherry on top of your most eloquent and delicious sundae of a post.

At the end of the day this is a friggin' game of sports played by very young adults who don't know 99.9999% of us on this forum and coached by folks who don't know 99.99999999% of us and more than likely could not care less about message board rants.

Jon nailed it when he said on a previous post that some on here are quite unbalanced. And it sure seems to be the case with their obsession of how they think things should be.

I'm wondering if some in this forum could use something bigger and more important in their lives.

You know...there's just something wrong with belittling someone else's opinion. Look, kirk will or won't get fired. Iowa will or won't win on Saturday. But for crying out loud; if you get to a point where an alternate or differing opinion is "unbalanced" then that seems unbalanced.

 

[Denverhawk1]

You know...there's just something wrong with belittling someone else's opinion. Look, kirk will or won't get fired. Iowa will or won't win on Saturday. But for crying out loud; if you get to a point where an alternate or differing opinion is "unbalanced" then that seems unbalanced.

I think this is a totally fair statement. I’ve been more vocal than usual this week due to the rather large volume of negative posts. After while I think it’s all been said. Doesn’t make me right or wrong. And people can continue to speak their mind. My points have been, and will continue to be, at what point has it been adequately discussed? At what point are there just more ways of saying the same thing? I admit I have a hard time understanding being this worked up over the game. I don’t totally get it. I have left that part of my life behind, and at times I don’t relate well to others. If the team rule is celebrate a victory for 24 hours, I figure dwell on a loss for 24 hours is fair too.

You are right. People can express their opinions as they like.

 

[HawkU]

You know...there's just something wrong with belittling someone else's opinion. Look, kirk will or won't get fired. Iowa will or won't win on Saturday. But for crying out loud; if you get to a point where an alternate or differing opinion is "unbalanced" then that seems unbalanced.

Maybe you don't have a picture of what unbalanced is.

How about the Penn State fan who tweeted this to Wilton Speight after their game against Michigan:

“Only wish PSU would have been the team to break your neck. #42-13. I think Barkley just ran past my office. Still not caught.”

Keep in mind Speight hasn't played in a month due to a vertebrae injury. If that tweet is not the definition of an unbalanced sports fan then I don't know what is.

Don't kid yourself - every team has fans just like this PSU nut job. And some are right here on this forum.

 

[thefizz]

I do not know how to get it through your thick ass feeble brains. He ain’t getting fired. It’s not gonna happen. You can not like that statement. It’s fair. It’s ok. But unless you sign the paychecks, sit on the board, or have a fatass bank account to cut a check for a buyout, it ain’t happening. It’s just not. All of your bitching, complaining, feeling sorry for yourself, whatever it is.... DOES NOT MAKE ONE DAMN DIFFERENCE.

For the record... I realize the offense sucks, there aren’t any athletes, the game plan is horrible, we don’t develop quarterbacks, nepotism, bend but don’t break is broken, Kirk is overpaid, he doesn’t win enough, he doesn’t make changes, the audibles are terrible, it’s predictable, it’s boring, our AD is terrible, our skill position players are MAC level....blah blah blah. And I actually agree with most of those points.

There’s mention above of hoping for a huge scandal to break. Are you f-in kidding me? You dislike him that much that you want the football program to go through a scandal? It’s that bad for you to watch a boring offense?!?! What realm of reality are you in that a scandal that embarrasses the university, diverts even more talent, drops us to Rutgers level is a good idea just to get rid of a boring, predictable stubborn coach.

I just don’t understand. It’s like rooting for the President to fail because you hate him. Yes, he’s a jackass. But if he fails, then the country might fail and that hits everyone.

He’s just not getting fired. End of story. You can wish in one hand and shit in the other and see which one fills up first.

The scenarios I played out are the type of things that will make a wish come true if one were to really really want Ferentz gone. I never said either scenario were likely and I didn't say I was rooting for either scenario to play out. I never said I personally wanted Ferentz gone. Actually my initial post is more to point out the fact that Ferentz being fired or stepping down is unlikely and the scenarios that would bring such a thing to happen would be bad for the program.

 

[thefizz]

Nutt got fired when he was banging his assistant, cheating on his wife and wrecked a Motor Cycle. Minnesota and Nebraska have both been cursed since they fired their winning coaches.

You're referring to Bobby Petrino, not Houston Nutt. As for Nebraska, their results for the past decade and half have been Iowa like, but they do have more historical prestige. Nebraska is or at least was the type of blue blood program that did or does fire winning coaches. Bo Pelini and Frank Solich both come to mind here although it was fair to wonder if Nebraska need to break away from option football at the time of Solich.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

OK, to bring the thread back to home base... KFz will never be fired. Nothing short of massive NCAA infractions (won't happen) or some extreme personal conduct f-up (also won't happen) will get him "fired". And Barta doesn't have the balls to encourage an early retirement.

Much as some people like to dismiss the regular discussions about "the contract"...the reality is he has IOWA by the short hairs because of it. Period. Unbelievably one-sided deal. Barta inexorably tied us to Ferentz regardless of the on field results. Barta (or someone above him) made a deal that would get most CEO's canned by the board of directors and/or shareholders. Apparently the only ones who can't see that reside in Iowa City.

 

[westender]

I'm not sure of the exact terms of Ferentz's buyout are, I just know that the buyout is substantial. It is a major obstacle when it comes to making a coaching change in the short term. So if you really want a regime change, you need to root hard for one or both of these things to happen...

1) You need to not only root for this years team to finish below .500, but your also need the 2018 season to be a dumpster fire as well. I'm not talking about 7-5 being a dumpster fire. I'm talking something along the lines of 2012 where they went 4-8. Following that sort of season, it would also have to appear with whatever returning talent from 2018 will indicate that the 2019 season will be just as bad. In this scenario, pressure from the outside could get so intense that a 64 year old Kirk Ferentz decides he doesn't have the energy to turn it around and decides to step down.

Is this likely or unlikely?

This scenario is unlikely. The team has several 1st and 2nd year players that are playing important roles on offense and
the DL and DB's will also return some experience for the 2018 and 2019 seasons as well. So it would appear to me that the Hawkeyes should only get better. How much better? I can't say. Maybe they'll end up with a pair of 9-10 win seasons. Maybe they end up with just a pair of 6-8 win seasons. Either way, I think it's a safe bet that they improve enough to not be a dumpster fire in the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Personally, I'm not rooting for the dumpster fire scenario.

2) You need to root for a big time scandal to break out that directly involves Ferentz. Maybe something like what happened at Baylor where sexual assault was being covered up. Maybe something like at Ole Miss where recruits and players are being paid. Maybe a big time scandal involving players grades comes to light. Whatever it is, it would have to be something that destroys his reputation and is something that will bring about punishment to the Iowa football program.

Is this likely or unlikely?

This scenario is unlikely, but not impossible to imagine. Kirk appears to be an honorable man and I believe he is so. But I'm also fairly cynical in regards to what may or may not be happening regarding Power 5 football programs. Whether that be players receiving $100 handshakes, "improper" benefits, legal cover ups, players being kept eligible or coaches being involved in sketchy activity. I'm not saying they happen everywhere, but these things do happen and they can happen anywhere. The NCAA doesn't exactly have the resources to catch sketchy yet not illegal activity unless it's handed to them on a silver platter so I don't think it's likely the NCAA stumbles upon something. It's always possible for legal troubles to hit the program, but I don't even want to go down that road. It should go without stating, but I'm not going to root for this scenario.

You need to walk into his office and tell him he done.

 

[InGoodCo]

You are right that was Petrino - but I still stand by my stance - how many schools out there are firing coaches that routinely have winning seasons? Not many. It takes a losing season to get fired in most cases, it's just that some places have a shorter leash with the losing seasons. Fact is Kirk has had 1 in 16 seasons. That's not gonna get you fired from many schools. So, the contract fawning is also ridiculous. He hasn't done anything to get fired.

 

[westender]

I do not know how to get it through your thick ass feeble brains. He ain’t getting fired. It’s not gonna happen. You can not like that statement. It’s fair. It’s ok. But unless you sign the paychecks, sit on the board, or have a fatass bank account to cut a check for a buyout, it ain’t happening. It’s just not. All of your bitching, complaining, feeling sorry for yourself, whatever it is.... DOES NOT MAKE ONE DAMN DIFFERENCE.

For the record... I realize the offense sucks, there aren’t any athletes, the game plan is horrible, we don’t develop quarterbacks, nepotism, bend but don’t break is broken, Kirk is overpaid, he doesn’t win enough, he doesn’t make changes, the audibles are terrible, it’s predictable, it’s boring, our AD is terrible, our skill position players are MAC level....blah blah blah. And I actually agree with most of those points.

There’s mention above of hoping for a huge scandal to break. Are you f-in kidding me? You dislike him that much that you want the football program to go through a scandal? It’s that bad for you to watch a boring offense?!?! What realm of reality are you in that a scandal that embarrasses the university, diverts even more talent, drops us to Rutgers level is a good idea just to get rid of a boring, predictable stubborn coach.

I just don’t understand. It’s like rooting for the President to fail because you hate him. Yes, he’s a jackass. But if he fails, then the country might fail and that hits everyone.

He’s just not getting fired. End of story. You can wish in one hand and shit in the other and see which one fills up first.

C'mon it makes the whiners and haters feel better to complain about it. We all know people like this. They have to complain but they still pay attention and watch. Maybe they close the curtains and turn the volume down when they are watching on tv so their neighbors don't see them watching the Hawks.

 

[HomerChampless]

You hit the nail on the head. When I realized this fact, my stress level watching Iowa football went down immensely. It's not worth pulling my hair out over a team that, while I love it dearly, I have absolutely ZERO control or say over. So, I watch the games, enjoy it when they're good, find other things to occupy time with when they're not, because at the end of the day, it's a game, meant to be played and watched for entertainment purposes.

And i realize the entertainment level of Iowa football under KF has cratered to zero. At first, it used to be real hard to put Iowa football under KF down but I've gone to rehab and feel like I'm kicking the habit. Go Hawks...KF can go.

 

[HomerChampless]

OK, to bring the thread back to home base... KFz will never be fired. Nothing short of massive NCAA infractions (won't happen) or some extreme personal conduct f-up (also won't happen) will get him "fired". And Barta doesn't have the balls to encourage an early retirement.

Much as some people like to dismiss the regular discussions about "the contract"...the reality is he has IOWA by the short hairs because of it. Period. Unbelievably one-sided deal. Barta inexorably tied us to Ferentz regardless of the on field results. Barta (or someone above him) made a deal that would get most CEO's canned by the board of directors and/or shareholders. Apparently the only ones who can't see that reside in Iowa City.

You need to point out KF will never be fired because there is a majority of the fan base (at least, the majority who donates the most or spends the most) who wishes to keep KF. Do anti-KF fans need to 'embarrass' KF to get him off the coaching field? If it works, yeah.

 

[revkev73]

Iowa is one play (vs PSU) and one loss where they were the better team (vs NW) from being one of the surprises of the college FB season... Kirk's system would be the discussion...effective...simple. Now...not. Number one on the list of bloated contracts...not worth the money...

But... High caliber coaching avoids such failures... It is how it works...

If Iowa can beat Wisconsin...it will be a good season in my book...in spite of the boredom and frustrations...

 

[Ben Rumson]

My guess would be a couple of 12-0 seasons and a National Championship! Lord knows the previous mediocre past seasons sure haven't gotten it done.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

You need to point out KF will never be fired because there is a majority of the fan base (at least, the majority who donates the most or spends the most) who wishes to keep KF. Do anti-KF fans need to 'embarrass' KF to get him off the coaching field? If it works, yeah.

Money talks, no doubt. One has to wonder about the make up of our big boosters. With most programs, winning and fielding an exciting team carries a lot of weight. I'm all for the integrity of a guy like KFz, but being a good guy isn't enough when you're working (and yes, getting paid) at that high a level.

 

[HomerChampless]

.....

But... High caliber coaching avoids such failures... It is how it works...

If Iowa can beat Wisconsin...it will be a good season in my book...in spite of the boredom and frustrations...

Spoken like a typical fan from the Iowa football fan base.

 

[revkev73]

Surrounded by obnoxious Badgers...a win in Madison precious...

 

[LicThawk]

I believe the ratio of times I'm excited to watch Iowa football compared to the total times they play on Saturdays is 100% This is my fault. The ratio of Iowa football games that are exciting to watch is 1 and 5, 20%. That is Ferentz's fault. Seems like the fans deserve to be paid by Iowa.

 

[proudhawkfan21]

Ill continue to point out that the expectations for this team preseason generally ran between 5-7 to 7-5. Fire him for what? Go find my post in a thread where i listed sub .500 marks in the past few yrs where a lot of blue blood programs show up more than we do. Lighten up you Francis', there wasnt supposed to be a rainbow at the end of this season. Young team, tough schedule.

 

[cincyhawk]

You hit the nail on the head. When I realized this fact, my stress level watching Iowa football went down immensely. It's not worth pulling my hair out over a team that, while I love it dearly, I have absolutely ZERO control or say over. So, I watch the games, enjoy it when they're good, find other things to occupy time with when they're not, because at the end of the day, it's a game, meant to be played and watched for entertainment purposes.

Apathy is a coping strategy. I just laugh and hope I live to see the day when Iowa doesn't miss every play 10 yards or more down the field or has that one o-lineman that misses every block.