Why do the donors love the Ferentz family so much?

[uihawk82]

Fair point......Of KF’s 143 victories you could make the argument that there should be at least 10 to 12 more if he was just a better game manager.

I have been saying this for years, especially going back to the Michigan loss at Kinnick in 2005 I think that broke the long home winning streak, he coached not to lose with the lead and he and we lost.

I say he would have at least 15-25 more wins as we look at three last year, @MSU, @jNW, and Purdue where stupid decisions and usually very conservative offensive play calling leads to loses. We made jNW's season for them and led to their resurgence.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

Any time you have to leave out a portion of data to make your argument sound stronger, your argument looks weak.

I didn't leave out the data...I just referenced the last five years in the first post...because it was easier to remember. I had to go into Wikipedia to get the last 16...which I begrudgingly did when people thought I was cherry picking. The full specter of data simply proves the point I was trying to make. His teams play people tough...and if you beat a Kirk Ferentz coached team...it's going to be close no matter who the opponent/ranking and you are going to know you were in a game on Sunday morning. That's the only point I was trying to make...and it's one I have a lot of respect for. It also reflects the work ethic / toughness of the State of Iowa. Being from Iowa...I'm proud of that.

 

[uihawk82]

Yeah...facts are facts...it's a good point about undefeated seasons...but the game and everything associated with it has changed so much since 1960, that the comparison to that era is ridiculous. I would love to see what Iowa's offensive line averaged in 1960...225 pounds maybe.

I try to use qualifiers like 'since 2 platoon football' or 'since Hayden' when discussing records and sports history. But I wouldnt discount those two early teams led by a HOF coach who was probably the best coach Iowa ever had. I wish we had film of that game they broke Notre Dame's over 2 year unbeaten streak.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

Agreed. I'm a harsh critic of KF, at times and I don't hold him accountable for that City Boyz nonsense. He looks at hundreds of players every year. He has to rely on the words and references of high school coaches and parents. And even then, there are bound to be kids that fall through the cracks once they get to college. People have used the "investment" argument in this very thread. Occasionally, your stocks lose money. That doesn't mean that you stop investing, does it? City Boyz was obviously a "losing stock". It happens. That doesn't mean to pull your money out of the market and stuff it all in 6 month CDs.

Yep, I think Kirk's conservative nature has limited him in recruiting as well. You can't completely stop taking risks after getting burned. As you said..it happens to every coach at some point...that's part of dealing with 18-20 year old young men.
Over conservative in both recruiting and in-game coaching is the difference between him being a really good coach and a great coach. Can't fault his ethic and the way he develops his players, he's a solid man. But "Champions" .... well it's back to the old phrase we've all used "playing to win vs playing not-to-lose".

 

[lightning1]

God, I'm arguing with a Kardashian. You are completely missing the my point. His teams are always in games with a chance to win them, regardless of the opponent. In the last 16 years there have been 19 times we have been beaten by more than 14 points. That's out of roughly 205 games. Five of those games were bowl games where we were outclassed completely in a few. So, 14 times during the regular season in 16 years were we technically beaten soundly. I would also say, in a few of those 14 point games...they were close contests.

Before someone chimes in about "oh, you are happy we don't lose big, it's still losing..." I'm trying to make a point about competitiveness and the physicality of KF's teams period. Rarely does someone come in and dominate an Iowa team...that's the point. Think Nebraska the last two years...they have been beaten 7 times by more than 14 points in two years....7 times. I'm as unhappy about losses as the next guy, whether it's 15 points or 1 point.

The point is...his teams come to play no matter who the opponent is and what they are ranked...and it's going to be a dog fight.

TLDR. KF has been the coach for 19 seasons. Not 5.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

TLDR. KF has been the coach for 19 seasons. Not 5.

Is there something I should know about you lightning? Mental handicaps...drug use? I'm totally confused by your statement. Is 16 years not long enough to determine whether KF's team play opponents tough and rarely are they out of a game? You now need 19 years of data? Most people look at his first few years as a rebuilding job due to the cupboard being bare when he arrived...so the data isn't as reliable and technically you could say they weren't his recruits. Guess what, I'm not going to look at those years for you. You can though.

 

[lightning1]

Is there something I should know about you lightning? Mental handicaps...drug use? I'm totally confused by your statement. Is 16 years not long enough to determine whether KF's team play opponents tough and rarely are they out of a game? You now need 19 years of data? Most people look at his first few years as a rebuilding job due to the cupboard being bare when he arrived...so the data isn't as reliable and technically you could say they weren't his recruits. Guess what, I'm not going to look at those years for you. You can though.

If you use the "Kardashian" in the first sentence of any comment - I won't read any further. That's retard nonsense.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

no other big ten schools protect their coach with sub-par seasons as well as we do... why is that?

What's with all the "we"...?

 

[iowa57-03]

Okay, I'll bite on this one. The big donors protect Ferentz because he is "safe". Not flashy, not outspoken, he is a model of stability, and that keeps the money rolling into the big Hawkeye machine that is known as the athletic department. I'm not criticizing him because of that, I really think that he is a genuinely good guy that wants the best for his team. He has shown flashes of change, but has seemed reluctant to embrace it on a consistent basis. In reference to some of the posts above that defend his team's ability to keep almost every game close, and to the posts that lament his team's ability's to win some of those close games, I would ask all to mind the cycle of college football in general. There was a time that we won far more close games than we lost. Very few teams have remained at the top, ( or close to it ), over the 19 year period that coach Ferentz has been at Iowa. We have seen Michigan rise, then fall, then rise again....sort of. Ohio State had a couple of bad years, same with Penn State. ( Remember when we owned them? I do) I remember Iowa dominating Northwestern for a run of 3 - 4 games as well. I'm not saying I'm thrilled with everything Iowa has done, far from it! We need to be far more unpredictable on offense, to keep our defense rested so that we don't have to rely on them so much. And for Gods sake, can we please get a punter that,.....that......can we please just get a punter?!? But on the flip side, our offense looks to be strong this year, and I am willing to hope for at least one more season,.... that this is the season that coach lets loose on his grip of the play calling. (PLEASE, OH PLEASE!!) This forum is something I look forward reading, laughing at, and learning from 95% of you ( the other 5% is reading BEATHARDTEAMS and trying to figure out who he's trolling for ) Sorry for the long post, I'll hang up and listen to your response. Thanks.

 

[homes]

Okay, I'll bite on this one. The big donors protect Ferentz because he is "safe". Not flashy, not outspoken, he is a model of stability, and that keeps the money rolling into the big Hawkeye machine that is known as the athletic department. I'm not criticizing him because of that, I really think that he is a genuinely good guy that wants the best for his team. He has shown flashes of change, but has seemed reluctant to embrace it on a consistent basis. In reference to some of the posts above that defend his team's ability to keep almost every game close, and to the posts that lament his team's ability's to win some of those close games, I would ask all to mind the cycle of college football in general. There was a time that we won far more close games than we lost. Very few teams have remained at the top, ( or close to it ), over the 19 year period that coach Ferentz has been at Iowa. We have seen Michigan rise, then fall, then rise again....sort of. Ohio State had a couple of bad years, same with Penn State. ( Remember when we owned them? I do) I remember Iowa dominating Northwestern for a run of 3 - 4 games as well. I'm not saying I'm thrilled with everything Iowa has done, far from it! We need to be far more unpredictable on offense, to keep our defense rested so that we don't have to rely on them so much. And for Gods sake, can we please get a punter that,.....that......can we please just get a punter?!? But on the flip side, our offense looks to be strong this year, and I am willing to hope for at least one more season,.... that this is the season that coach lets loose on his grip of the play calling. (PLEASE, OH PLEASE!!) This forum is something I look forward reading, laughing at, and learning from 95% of you ( the other 5% is reading BEATHARDTEAMS and trying to figure out who he's trolling for ) Sorry for the long post, I'll hang up and listen to your response. Thanks.

These are all valid points expressed by many, but trolls will continue to troll. Kirk haters will continue to hate. Kirk lovers will continue to love. Things could be worse and things could be better. Right now, I think things could be worse > things could be better, so there is no serious thought of changing the head coach. I have no interest in him leaving right now. I might, but not right now.

 

[ChosenChildren]

no other big ten schools protect their coach with sub-par seasons as well as we do... why is that?

He has AVERAGED 8.17 wins per year for the past 17 years.

My question to all the posters in this thread is as follows: The man has averaged 8.17 wins per year for the past 17 years. His win percentage the past 17 years is .640 Since the general theme of this thread is that Ferentz is not good enough for you, please define the win average that would have satisfied you over the past 17 years. Is it 9? Are you saying that you won't be satisfied until Iowa football wins an average of 9 games a year over an extended period of time? That would be an annual win percentage of 70 to 75% over an extended period of time, Can you guess Ohio State's all-time win percentage? It is .725. Ferentz the past 17 years is at .640, which is only 8 percentage points below Ohio State. Does anyone sincerely believe that Iowa can do better than Ferentz; in other words, bring in a coach who can win MORE than 64% of the time? At Iowa? Going up against Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin and Nebraska? In a low population state with a donor base below all of those schools, and with a horrible climate that scares away many top prospects?

Bill Snyder, generally recognized as the greatest turnaround college coach of all time, has won 65% of his games at Kansas State since 1989, one percentage point higher than the Ferentz record over the past 17 years. Kansas State and Iowa are comparable schools: State schools sharing the limelight with another state school in a low population state.

The two best coaches in Iowa history have been Fry and Ferentz. Fry had a few great seasons, mixed in with several good ones and some mediocre years. The great ones can be defined by BCS caliber games or Big Ten titles or Division titles. Fry had 3 Big Ten titles and 3 Rose Bowls in 20 seasons. Ferentz has 2 Big Ten titles, a West Division title and 3 BCS games in 19 seasons. I just don't think you can do better. Is Ferentz boring? Yes, but he wins at a school where the cards are stacked against any coach.

 

[SteveGarvey1]

He has AVERAGED 8.17 wins per year for the past 17 years.

My question to all the posters in this thread is as follows: The man has averaged 8.17 wins per year for the past 17 years. His win percentage the past 17 years is .640 Since the general theme of this thread is that Ferentz is not good enough for you, please define the win average that would have satisfied you over the past 17 years. Is it 9? Are you saying that you won't be satisfied until Iowa football wins an average of 9 games a year over an extended period of time? That would be an annual win percentage of 70 to 75% over an extended period of time, Can you guess Ohio State's all-time win percentage? It is .725. Ferentz the past 17 years is at .640, which is only 8 percentage points below Ohio State. Does anyone sincerely believe that Iowa can do better than Ferentz; in other words, bring in a coach who can win MORE than 64% of the time? At Iowa? Going up against Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin and Nebraska? In a low population state with a donor base below all of those schools, and with a horrible climate that scares away many top prospects?

Bill Snyder, generally recognized as the greatest turnaround college coach of all time, has won 65% of his games at Kansas State since 1989, one percentage point higher than the Ferentz record over the past 17 years. Kansas State and Iowa are comparable schools: State schools sharing the limelight with another state school in a low population state.

The two best coaches in Iowa history have been Fry and Ferentz. Fry had a few great seasons, mixed in with several good ones and some mediocre years. The great ones can be defined by BCS caliber games or Big Ten titles or Division titles. Fry had 3 Big Ten titles and 3 Rose Bowls in 20 seasons. Ferentz has 2 Big Ten titles, a West Division title and 3 BCS games in 19 seasons. I just don't think you can do better. Is Ferentz boring? Yes, but he wins at a school where the cards are stacked against any coach.

It's because when you taste some success, you always want more. It's human nature. Focus on the negative aspects and ignore the positive ones, even if they outnumber the negative ones.

Kirk has made mistakes and he's not perfect but he's pretty solid and we could do a lot worse.

 

[westender]

It's because when you taste some success, you always want more. It's human nature. Focus on the negative aspects and ignore the positive ones, even if they outnumber the negative ones.

Kirk has made mistakes and he's not perfect but he's pretty solid and we could do a lot worse.

Just look at Illinois!!! Bet they would have loved to have had Kirk there since late 1990s!

 

[Thawki]

He has AVERAGED 8.17 wins per year for the past 17 years.

My question to all the posters in this thread is as follows: The man has averaged 8.17 wins per year for the past 17 years. His win percentage the past 17 years is .640 Since the general theme of this thread is that Ferentz is not good enough for you, please define the win average that would have satisfied you over the past 17 years. Is it 9? Are you saying that you won't be satisfied until Iowa football wins an average of 9 games a year over an extended period of time? That would be an annual win percentage of 70 to 75% over an extended period of time, Can you guess Ohio State's all-time win percentage? It is .725. Ferentz the past 17 years is at .640, which is only 8 percentage points below Ohio State. Does anyone sincerely believe that Iowa can do better than Ferentz; in other words, bring in a coach who can win MORE than 64% of the time? At Iowa? Going up against Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin and Nebraska? In a low population state with a donor base below all of those schools, and with a horrible climate that scares away many top prospects?

Bill Snyder, generally recognized as the greatest turnaround college coach of all time, has won 65% of his games at Kansas State since 1989, one percentage point higher than the Ferentz record over the past 17 years. Kansas State and Iowa are comparable schools: State schools sharing the limelight with another state school in a low population state.

The two best coaches in Iowa history have been Fry and Ferentz. Fry had a few great seasons, mixed in with several good ones and some mediocre years. The great ones can be defined by BCS caliber games or Big Ten titles or Division titles. Fry had 3 Big Ten titles and 3 Rose Bowls in 20 seasons. Ferentz has 2 Big Ten titles, a West Division title and 3 BCS games in 19 seasons. I just don't think you can do better. Is Ferentz boring? Yes, but he wins at a school where the cards are stacked against any coach.

THIS!!!!

I think I have seen all but a handful of Iowa football games that have been televised, since Hayden arrived. I have listened to the others, like the last second OSU win on the Hartlieb TD pass, on radio.

If I had taken the time to respond, as a third generation Iowa grad, starting with my grandparents in the 1920s, your post is what I would have said.

 

[SmokeTownHawk]

Just look at Illinois!!! Bet they would have loved to have had Kirk there since late 1990s!

And we could easily be Illinois were it not for KF. Look at the trouble Michigan found itself in. A blueblood with fertile recruiting territory. But even now the jury's out on Harbaugh. When Kirk does hang it up and we find ourselves in a coaching search hopefully we have an AD who can hire well. But until that time KF represents consistency, just like a CD in a bank. It's not going to give you the highest returns in the market but you also won't lose your shirt either.