Willies Status?

[Knight78]

Why not let him come back for bowl prep and sit him for the game? Willies has been a great student-athlete and is one of your best young players. Why not allow him this valuable practice time?

As has been said before, DW is the one who quit. Kirk didn't dismiss him from the team, DW chose to leave and in a very public way. He can come back to the team, but not this season; and the season isn't over until the bowl game has been played.

 

[knighthawk13]

You don't think that this is a major reason why Kirk is even considering meeting with DW to discuss a future with the Hawks? And why didn't DW go to Kirk first with his reasoning instead of going to media first? He painted himself into a corner. Kirk is nice enough to at least build a door.

There are people who think he shouldn't be let back on the team because he let his team down or whatever. My point is nobody really knows what happened. If the story about his father is true, I believe some latitude is warranted. I can't imagine what that would be like now, let alone when I was a 19 year old kid. If Kirk wants to wait until the after the bowl game, fine.

 

[Knight78]

So the harm in letting our most talented freshmen WR practice with the team is what, again? What crime did he commit? Could it not benefit our team down the road to get a guy who could be our go to receiver for 3 years run routes an perfect his form? It's a no-brainer if you are a normal coach and not a control freak who would rather lose his way than win by compromise.

With a name like iowalaw, I will put it in terms a lawyer might understand (even if you're not a lawyer). Say you have a paralegal who is studying to become a lawyer, his/her hope is to one day be a partner in the law firm. Then something tragic happens in the paralegal's personal life. Next, the paralegal tells everyone else that he's leaving including but not limited to his Twitter followers, his Facebook friends, his fellow paralegals and he omits the reason he's leaving to all these interested parties. And then, he goes to the partners who most likely have already found out and lets the partners know that he/she will be leaving the firm, possibly discussing the reasons and details. Later the paralegal has circumstances change in his/her personal life. Now the paralegal wants to come back.

Do you let the paralegal come back with the exact status he/she had before? Or do you make them start from scratch and earn their status all over again? (Status being the importance of the tasks assigned, the amount of vacation accrued, etc.)

I say make them earn their status all over again.

 

[Knight78]

There are people who think he shouldn't be let back on the team because he let his team down or whatever. My point is nobody really knows what happened. If the story about his father is true, I believe some latitude is warranted. I can't imagine what that would be like now, let alone when I was a 19 year old kid. If Kirk wants to wait until the after the bowl game, fine.

I lost my father this summer to pancreatic cancer after a long battle with diabetes. I can't imagine having to go through that as a 19 year old. But I do know that if I had to I would have sought advice from my mentors (as I did now). At that time my mentors would have been the college pastor, my college basketball coach and my college academic advisor. Maybe I'm weird like that.

 

[deanvogs]

This whole thing smelled like the kid was getting really bad counsel from the beginning, and I said as much. I'm sure he was hurting from the things going on in his life, and handled things in a way that he realizes in hindsight were not beneficial to him. He has since asked for a place back on the team. I imagine KF also wishes things happened much differently, but I highly doubt that he will kick this kid to the curb if he feels Willies is sincere. One way to measure sincerity is to make Willies earn his way back, instead of just being given your exact same spot back, like he never left at all.

I don't see how some can't see this as a very common sense, practical, and smart way of both letting the kid back, and still showing him a valuable life lesson. The lesson is decisions and actions have consequence.....also that most mistakes are allowed forgiveness if one is sincere in asking for forgiveness. It actually take a big man to own up to a mistake and ask for his place back, as Willies did. I think a person who is man enough to do that is man enough to wait until the end of the season to get his place back as well.

 

[PCHawk]

This whole thing smelled like the kid was getting really bad counsel from the beginning, and I said as much. I'm sure he was hurting from the things going on in his life, and handled things in a way that he realizes in hindsight were not beneficial to him. He has since asked for a place back on the team. I imagine KF also wishes things happened much differently, but I highly doubt that he will kick this kid to the curb if he feels Willies is sincere. One way to measure sincerity is to make Willies earn his way back, instead of just being given your exact same spot back, like he never left at all.

I don't see how some can't see this as a very common sense, practical, and smart way of both letting the kid back, and still showing him a valuable life lesson. The lesson is decisions and actions have consequence.....also that most mistakes are allowed forgiveness if one is sincere in asking for forgiveness. It actually take a big man to own up to a mistake and ask for his place back, as Willies did. I think a person who is man enough to do that is man enough to wait until the end of the season to get his place back as well.

He's not coming back because he realizes he made a mistake. He's coming back because his dad is moving here so he can continue playing and be with his dad. The only "mistake" he made was taking to social media. But that's the way the world works now.

Do you think he made a mistake choosing his dying dad over his team or do you think the whole telling other people first part is the sole reason he shouldn't be let back unconditionally? I'm not attacking you I'm seriously curious.

 

[imported_ankle23]

This whole thing smelled like the kid was getting really bad counsel from the beginning, and I said as much. I'm sure he was hurting from the things going on in his life, and handled things in a way that he realizes in hindsight were not beneficial to him. He has since asked for a place back on the team. I imagine KF also wishes things happened much differently, but I highly doubt that he will kick this kid to the curb if he feels Willies is sincere. One way to measure sincerity is to make Willies earn his way back, instead of just being given your exact same spot back, like he never left at all.

I don't see how some can't see this as a very common sense, practical, and smart way of both letting the kid back, and still showing him a valuable life lesson. The lesson is decisions and actions have consequence.....also that most mistakes are allowed forgiveness if one is sincere in asking for forgiveness. It actually take a big man to own up to a mistake and ask for his place back, as Willies did. I think a person who is man enough to do that is man enough to wait until the end of the season to get his place back as well.

that phrase is why many on here don't understand so many things - they lack this.

i'd also guess the same group of guys who hate 'KFZ' as they will call him, are the same group of guys who blame Ferentz for this situation.

 

[Hunz]

I've been plenty down on Kurt the past several years for many things but on this one I'm fully behind him. In college sports, as with many things in life, you're either in or you're out. Derrick made a decision at the middle of the season that he was out, and did so rather publicly.

To have allowed him back on the team a week or two later would have been a distraction for the rest of the season. I have no problem with Kurt putting off a meeting and decision until after the bowl game. Give Derrick time to decide whether he truly wants back in, and if he does he can find out what, if any, expectations the coaching staff has of him. He can then decide whether he's prepared to make that commitment. Good lesson in life for the young man, and a chance for the coach to signal to the rest of the herd how this program operates.

Why does everyone call Kirk Kurt on here?

 

[imported_ankle23]

Why does everyone call Kirk Kurt on here?

they think they are being cute in their disdain of Ferentz.

 

[PCHawk]

that phrase is why many on here don't understand so many things - they lack this.

i'd also guess the same group of guys who hate 'KFZ' as they will call him, are the same group of guys who blame Ferentz for this situation.

Most people think the definition of common sense is having the same opinion as they do. I think it's common sense that if a player quits to go be with his dying dad, then his dad decides to move to him so he doesn't have to, you let him back on the team no questions asked.

Now like I said earlier, you would think there has to be something else to the story for him not to be let back. The only thing anyone says though is how he told people he was leaving. If it's common sense to punish a kid for how he went about leaving when his dad was dying, then I don't have common sense.

If someone knows that he told Kirk to go F himself or something then please let me know so I can stop defending him.

 

[deanvogs]

He's not coming back because he realizes he made a mistake. He's coming back because his dad is moving here so he can continue playing and be with his dad. The only "mistake" he made was taking to social media. But that's the way the world works now.

Do you think he made a mistake choosing his dying dad over his team or do you think the whole telling other people first part is the sole reason he shouldn't be let back unconditionally? I'm not attacking you I'm seriously curious.

Most people think the definition of common sense is having the same opinion as they do. I think it's common sense that if a player quits to go be with his dying dad, then his dad decides to move to him so he doesn't have to, you let him back on the team no questions asked.

Now like I said earlier, you would think there has to be something else to the story for him not to be let back. The only thing anyone says though is how he told people he was leaving. If it's common sense to punish a kid for how he went about leaving when his dad was dying, then I don't have common sense.

If someone knows that he told Kirk to go F himself or something then please let me know so I can stop defending him.

It is funny how in one post you assign a reason why he is coming back......then in another post you make it clear that nobody knows what was said, or why. The fact is you don't why Willies is coming back, or how it came to happen that his ailing father is moving to Iowa. We also don't know what was said in those meetings as well. Here is some of what we do know:

-Willies came out on social media and said he was leaving the team.
-KF issues a statement that said: Should Willies transfer — Ferentz said in a release early Tuesday morning that he will “wish Derrick well should he decide to leave” Iowa; Ferentz noted that Willies is welcome back if he has a change of heart in the future, but isn’t counting on it

Obviously I think this statement shows that on KF's end, the door wasn't closed on his end, but KF felt it was shut on DW end. I think the only reason DW even approaches KF to rejoin the team, is because obviously whatever was said behind closed doors between the two must have given the impression to DW that KF would both give him room to take care of his personal issue, and also welcome him back if he so choose to come back. I'm not sure why anyone would want to hate on KF for this? Also why do people assume that DW coming back for bowl practice is a "good thing"? As someone who watched his father battle a malignant brain tumor at a young age, the best thing for DW is to take this time and spend it with his father. I think KF also understands that it is better for DW to spend his semester break and Christmas with his ailing father instead of practice and the team.

 

[HobbieHawk]

To have allowed him back on the team a week or two later would have been a distraction for the rest of the season. I have no problem with Kurt putting off a meeting and decision until after the bowl game. Give Derrick time to decide whether he truly wants back in, and if he does he can find out what, if any, expectations the coaching staff has of him. He can then decide whether he's prepared to make that commitment. Good lesson in life for the young man, and a chance for the coach to signal to the rest of the herd how this program operates.

You're right, Tweet
If this had been allowed to distract the team down the stretch something awful may have happened,
Like losing 3 of the last four

 

[DP5555]

There was also a lot of chatter that Willies ailing father wasn't the only reason he left the team. The comments from Beathard and from Willies' own stepfather say as much. So PCHawk, I'm not sure why you're assuming the ONLY reason he left was his ailing father. I would guess that you're assuming that because that scenario makes Ferentz look the worst for not letting Willies immediately rejoin the team and maybe that fits your prerogative. I'm just saying when you look at the big picture it appears there was more to the story than simply his father being ill.

 

[PCHawk]

It is funny how in one post you assign a reason why he is coming back......then in another post you make it clear that nobody knows what was said, or why. The fact is you don't why Willies is coming back, or how it came to happen that his ailing father is moving to Iowa. We also don't know what was said in those meetings as well. Here is some of what we do know:

-Willies came out on social media and said he was leaving the team.
-KF issues a statement that said: Should Willies transfer — Ferentz said in a release early Tuesday morning that he will “wish Derrick well should he decide to leaveâ€￾ Iowa; Ferentz noted that Willies is welcome back if he has a change of heart in the future, but isn’t counting on it

Obviously I think this statement shows that on KF's end, the door wasn't closed on his end, but KF felt it was shut on DW end. I think the only reason DW even approaches KF to rejoin the team, is because obviously whatever was said behind closed doors between the two must have given the impression to DW that KF would both give him room to take care of his personal issue, and also welcome him back if he so choose to come back. I'm not sure why anyone would want to hate on KF for this? Also why do people assume that DW coming back for bowl practice is a "good thing"? As someone who watched his father battle a malignant brain tumor at a young age, the best thing for DW is to take this time and spend it with his father. I think KF also understands that it is better for DW to spend his semester break and Christmas with his ailing father instead of practice and the team.

Actually in one post I gave the only reason that is public knowledge and in tge other post I asked if someone knows something else because people act like he made the wrong choice to leave the team.

Here's the way I see it. When Willies left, I didn't believe it was for family reasons because people always use that as an excuse and it rarely seems to be true. Then it comes out that his dad is moving here to hove Willies the option of staying. To me, that removes any doubt as to why he truly left. Nothing else makes sense.

I think the problem with some people is they get one thing in their head and they have a hard time changing their mind no matter what evidience comes out later. I "knew" it was because of play time but then changed my mind once that didn't make sense anymore. You don't just leave and close the door with jo intentions of coming back because you hate the situation you're in, then want to come back to the exact situation so bad that you talk your sick dad into moving halfway across the country for you.

 

[PCHawk]

There was also a lot of chatter that Willies ailing father wasn't the only reason he left the team. The comments from Beathard and from Willies' own stepfather say as much. So PCHawk, I'm not sure why you're assuming the ONLY reason he left was his ailing father. I would guess that you're assuming that because that scenario makes Ferentz look the worst for not letting Willies immediately rejoin the team and maybe that fits your prerogative. I'm just saying when you look at the big picture it appears there was more to the story than simply his father being ill.

I'm assuming it's the only reason he left because his dad is moving back for him to stay in the exact same situation he left from. As far as Ferentz goes, I don't have a dog in that fight. For all I know Willies doesn't even want to come back this year. The only real opinion I have is based towards the people who say Willies made a mistake leaving.

 

[DP5555]

I'm assuming it's the only reason he left because his dad is moving back for him to stay in the exact same situation he left from. As far as Ferentz goes, I don't have a dog in that fight. For all I know Willies doesn't even want to come back this year. The only real opinion I have is based towards the people who say Willies made a mistake leaving.

I think the bottom line is we're all assuming things... Ferentz has a track record of being incredibly fair. There's a lot of football related things he can be fairly critiqued for. I have no qualms about that. However, I will still stick up for him in regards to his track record when dealing with player conduct related issues. I truly believe he wants what is best for his players. None of us know exactly what happened in the case with Derrick Willies, but I'm going to give Ferentz the benefit of doubt on this one.

If I had to guess, this is Ferentz teaching Willies a lesson. You chose to leave your team midseason. If you want back on it then you can earn your way back when the season is over. That's just a guess. Right or wrong? I don't know. It depends on what happened, but I think it's pretty unfair to say it's the wrong decision when none of us know the facts.

 

[PCHawk]

I think the bottom line is we're all assuming things... Ferentz has a track record of being incredibly fair. There's a lot of football related things he can be fairly critiqued for. I have no qualms about that. However, I will still stick up for him in regards to his track record when dealing with player conduct related issues. I truly believe he wants what is best for his players. None of us know exactly what happened in the case with Derrick Willies, but I'm going to give Ferentz the benefit of doubt on this one.

If I had to guess, this is Ferentz teaching Willies a lesson. You chose to leave your team midseason. If you want back on it then you can earn your way back when the season is over. That's just a guess. Right or wrong? I don't know. It depends on what happened, but I think it's pretty unfair to say it's the wrong decision when none of us know the facts.

I'll even go as far to say Ferentz might not even be teaching a lesson. For all we know they already talked and are doing exactly what Willies wants to do. I just can't believe people still assume Willies is in the wrong when all we know for sure is he left to be with his dad and came back when his dad sacrificed to make it possible.

 

[GotTimDodge]

Do you guys really think it matters at this point?
We could have Odell Beckham Jr but he would never get the ball with this O.
Sad.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

I guess the question I have is: Who is making the assumption DW even WANTS back on the team NOW?

He is probably going through the process of his father moving, finding out what is being done for his care, adjusting to school in the face of dealing with it all, etc.

To presume that he is "ready" to get back on the field is...well, presumptuous.

Let's not forget--except for the "hater" brigade--that KF lost his father during a season (2004). In fact, he and Brian missed most of the week leading up to the PSU game to attend to those matters (funeral, etc.). I'm pretty sure if DW said, "Coach, can I show up at practice and take the field in ANY capacity?", the answer would be, "Yes, if you are SURE your father will be okay and if you need to leave, that's fine". And if DW said, "Coach, I know we have a bowl game coming up, but things with my Dad are still in flux, can we talk in January?", the answer would be, "Of course, take all the time you need and you have the support of me, the staff and your teammates".

In Hater Brigade World, it plays out like this: (KF saying/doing the following)
--You let your teammates down, and you talked on social media!
--Who/what is more important, family or football?!
--What's with saying you want to stay without begging me before you make any public statements?!
--"Get into your fatigues, son!"

 

[PCHawk]

I guess the question I have is: Who is making the assumption DW even WANTS back on the team NOW?

He is probably going through the process of his father moving, finding out what is being done for his care, adjusting to school in the face of dealing with it all, etc.

To presume that he is "ready" to get back on the field is...well, presumptuous.

Let's not forget--except for the "hater" brigade--that KF lost his father during a season (2004). In fact, he and Brian missed most of the week leading up to the PSU game to attend to those matters (funeral, etc.). I'm pretty sure if DW said, "Coach, can I show up at practice and take the field in ANY capacity?", the answer would be, "Yes, if you are SURE your father will be okay and if you need to leave, that's fine". And if DW said, "Coach, I know we have a bowl game coming up, but things with my Dad are still in flux, can we talk in January?", the answer would be, "Of course, take all the time you need and you have the support of me, the staff and your teammates".

In Hater Brigade World, it plays out like this: (KF saying/doing the following)
--You let your teammates down, and you talked on social media!
--Who/what is more important, family or football?!
--What's with saying you want to stay without begging me before you make any public statements?!
--"Get into your fatigues, son!"

That's actually pretty good. Now do one for the Kirk supporters.