Would have BF been let go this week but for the fair catch call?

[NorthKCHawk]

For those suggesting that KF will leave Iowa at the end of the season, that is saying he is going to retire. He is 68. No one is going to hire him at that age and especially given the unique and perhaps unreplicable way that he wins games. What AD/fan base would want to hire a 68 year old guy who tries to win every game 10-7?

In my view, its stay the course at Iowa or retire for KF. Personally, I don't think he is done. I see him coming back.

 

[Hawkboys]

If Kirk left and voided the rest of his contract and it was because of Beth we should build her a statue.

Iowa has maybe a 33% chance of finding a replacement that wins as much as Kirk. If this happens, it will be a negative to Beth's legacy. I'm not saying Brian should have returned, and I do think Kirk/GB missed it by not firing at the end of last season. But to think IA is better without Kirk than with is foolish.

 

[hawkinn3]

Iowa has maybe a 33% chance of finding a replacement that wins as much as Kirk. If this happens, it will be a negative to Beth's legacy. I'm not saying Brian should have returned, and I do think Kirk/GB missed it by not firing at the end of last season. But to think IA is better without Kirk than with is foolish.

Can I please see the math where this 33% came from?

 

[BigD]

Correct me if I'm wrong - been so much chatter - but didn't you post you thought KF would leave at end of season, anyway?

I've been of the opinion the KF / BF package would stay together ... If BF had to go - contractually or otherwise - after this 3rd strike of a season, KF would too. For all his football warts, KF is class and integrity and it was always hard for me to see him 1) throw his kid under the bus and 2) stick around if his kid got run over by a bus he wasn't driving.

Obvious to me, Pops was fuming inside during that presser. Understandable. However, the reckoning has been forced upon him and I think he'll hang it up too.

I actually see it as a positive for KF.
- Pressure's off (which may have been a distraction?).
- He didn't "have to" fire his kid (and in doing so, "admit" the huge mistake he made promoting him).
- He can go out on a typical KF positive note:
-- A 2nd West title in 3 years. (And the final one!) Sorry, no way they upset the East ;-)
-- Another in a long line of upper tier bowl games. Very possibly a win.
-- He leaves a remarkable legacy, which, in the long-run, is what he'll be revered for.
-- His successor inherits a very solid program with huge support (and patience), abundant resources and a very long leash.

I also revert back to KF's indisputable class and integrity. While he (and the fam) might feel a little jilted, now, they are also wired with accountability and character. They would NEVER burn it down.

Finally, I simply refuse to buy the "get ready for losing seasons if KF leaves" mindset. I haven't for most of the last decade during which I've wanted KF to move on. See all the foundational reasons noted above. It truly surprises me to hear so many of the Pollyanna types on the board suddenly go as fetal as a Kirk Ferentz 2-minute drive with a 7 point lead at the thought of him leaving ... change ... EEEEK, Iowa football Armageddon!

Sure, it will be some transition, but I've never been able to fathom that, in the entirety of college football, there is not another soul who could come to Iowa and continue this 40-year run??

I am sure you know I was just throwing that out there in jest. At this point us winning a conference title would truly be so miraculous that the pope would want to invite Kirk, Ciaches, and Team to Rome. I really don’t think it really matters who we get as an offensive coordinator. The last three coordinators all looked the same with the same boring conservative play calling. Brian just to it to an all time low. We haven’t look this bad on offense since Hayden took over. I even think Bob C’s offense was better when he was the Iowa coach.

There still is a chance that we win the West, but regardless of whether we play Michigan, Ohio State or Penn State, by the third quarter it will be embarrassing and ugly. Can you ever imagine a schedule that includes those three teams and Oregon, USC, and Washington all in the same year??? With our offense, God help us.

Is money, money??? Will Kirk’s heart really be in it after Brian is given the boot? If he stays and hires a competent OC it will just look that much worse on Brian. Most fans would welcome a positive change but at the same time cringe that three year went by that didn’t need to happen. I hope I get to cringe as that would mean the offense is back. I will be surprised if Kirk stays and if he does I don’t think he will stay more than two years. Is money, money? Is money thinker than blood? Not to me. Family First, always for me!

 

[Gibsonian]

Iowa has maybe a 33% chance of finding a replacement that wins as much as Kirk. If this happens, it will be a negative to Beth's legacy. I'm not saying Brian should have returned, and I do think Kirk/GB missed it by not firing at the end of last season. But to think IA is better without Kirk than with is foolish.

Someday we have to move on from Kirk. He won't live forever. As was said, gonna retire or trudge on son-less. It's his own fault for not addressing. If you had a leaking roof 3 years in a row and never once acted and never planned to, don't blame the wife for calling in a roofer.

If we had won against Minni the announcement would've waited until the end of the season. No big deal.

 

[BigD]

Correct me if I'm wrong - been so much chatter - but didn't you post you thought KF would leave at end of season, anyway?

I've been of the opinion the KF / BF package would stay together ... If BF had to go - contractually or otherwise - after this 3rd strike of a season, KF would too. For all his football warts, KF is class and integrity and it was always hard for me to see him 1) throw his kid under the bus and 2) stick around if his kid got run over by a bus he wasn't driving.

Obvious to me, Pops was fuming inside during that presser. Understandable. However, the reckoning has been forced upon him and I think he'll hang it up too.

I actually see it as a positive for KF.
- Pressure's off (which may have been a distraction?).
- He didn't "have to" fire his kid (and in doing so, "admit" the huge mistake he made promoting him).
- He can go out on a typical KF positive note:
-- A 2nd West title in 3 years. (And the final one!) Sorry, no way they upset the East ;-)
-- Another in a long line of upper tier bowl games. Very possibly a win.
-- He leaves a remarkable legacy, which, in the long-run, is what he'll be revered for.
-- His successor inherits a very solid program with huge support (and patience), abundant resources and a very long leash.

I also revert back to KF's indisputable class and integrity. While he (and the fam) might feel a little jilted, now, they are also wired with accountability and character. They would NEVER burn it down.

Finally, I simply refuse to buy the "get ready for losing seasons if KF leaves" mindset. I haven't for most of the last decade during which I've wanted KF to move on. See all the foundational reasons noted above. It truly surprises me to hear so many of the Pollyanna types on the board suddenly go as fetal as a Kirk Ferentz 2-minute drive with a 7 point lead at the thought of him leaving ... change ... EEEEK, Iowa football Armageddon!

Sure, it will be some transition, but I've never been able to fathom that, in the entirety of college football, there is not another soul who could come to Iowa and continue this 40-year run??

Don’t you mean 25 year run? Forty years would include Hayden and you used the word SOUL which is singular.

 

[STILLBUSTER]

I am sure you know I was just throwing that out there in jest. At this point us winning a conference title would truly be so miraculous that the pope would want to invite Kirk, Ciaches, and Team to Rome. I really don’t think it really matters who we get as an offensive coordinator. The last three coordinators all looked the same with the same boring conservative play calling. Brian just to it to an all time low. We haven’t look this bad on offense since Hayden took over. I even think Bob C’s offense was better when he was the Iowa coach.

There still is a chance that we win the West, but regardless of whether we play Michigan, Ohio State or Penn State, by the third quarter it will be embarrassing and ugly. Can you ever imagine a schedule that includes those three teams and Oregon, USC, and Washington all in the same year??? With our offense, God help us.

Is money, money??? Will Kirk’s heart really be in it after Brian is given the boot? If he stays and hires a competent OC it will just look that much worse on Brian. Most fans would welcome a positive change but at the same time cringe that three year went by that didn’t need to happen. I hope I get to cringe as that would mean the offense is back. I will be surprised if Kirk stays and if he does I don’t think he will stay more than two years. Is money, money? Is money thinker than blood? Not to me. Family First, always for me!

Didn't mean it as a dig at you, BigD. Just saying I think (and have thought all along) this would be KF's last season. Seems you might too, considering Kirk's "heart".

KF is an emotionally connected guy. It's another in a long list of attributes that makes him such a respected coach (deserved!!) He's old, has looked worn - not that he would in any way "feel" some pressure to resign based on that, alone - but it would certainly make sense under the circumstances.

I'm thinking he, in a classic, cryptic KirkFer way of avoiding those speculative / second-guess scenarios, decide he's going to hang it up while he's on a relatively high note. Just a sense that his integrity and accountability, along with his emotional loyalty to both his son and Iowa football, will carry a lot more weight now than his ego / pride / drive, etc.

 

[STILLBUSTER]

Don’t you mean 25 year run? Forty years would include Hayden and you used the word SOUL which is singular.

Soul - as in, another individual.
I believe, given the solid foundation of Iowa football right now, KirkFer's replacement would be capable of continuing the overall success of the Hayden - Kirk run of the last 40 years.

 

[Fryowa]

No one here has to believe this, so don't come at me. It's worth what you paid for it.

I spoke to one of my tailgate neighbors this morning (who happens to be employed at the U), and he told me there were two extremely large donors who are close associates, who after the Minnesota game threatened to pull their future money, and they did it "very dramatically." One of them is a big benefactor to the Swarm as well and also threatened to discontinue that giving, which would impact current players' contracts negatively. I was told these two (one is a family and one is an individual) have been anti-Brian but pro Kirk, but "had enough."

According to what I was told the individual donor said in jest that if there wasn't something done he'd start making the checks out to ISU because at least then he'd know "people weren't lighting my money on fire purposely. They suck but at least they try to win"

Of course I have no proof, but this guy has always been right about what he's shared with me. His position leads me to believe he knows what he's talking about. None of this means Beth Goetz fired BF because of it, but if this is even part of the sentiment out there you can imagine what likely happened after that game and leading up to it. The richest folks doing the giving have apparently hit the tipping point where they feel their money is being squandered and are losing faith in Kirk.

 

[okeefe4prez]

No one here has to believe this, so don't come at me. It's worth what you paid for it.

I spoke to one of my tailgate neighbors this morning (who happens to be employed at the U), and he told me there were two extremely large donors who are close associates, who after the Minnesota game threatened to pull their future money, and they did it "very dramatically." One of them is a big benefactor to the Swarm as well and also threatened to discontinue that giving, which would impact current players' contracts negatively. I was told these two (one is a family and one is an individual) have been anti-Brian but pro Kirk, but "had enough."

According to what I was told the individual donor said in jest that if there wasn't something done he'd start making the checks out to ISU because at least then he'd know "people weren't lighting my money on fire purposely. They suck but at least they try to win"

Of course I have no proof, but this guy has always been right about what he's shared with me. His position leads me to believe he knows what he's talking about. None of this means Beth Goetz fired BF because of it, but if this is even part of the sentiment out there you can imagine what likely happened after that game and leading up to it. The richest folks doing the giving have apparently hit the tipping point where they feel their money is being squandered and are losing faith in Kirk.

My buddy donates what I consider to be a socially irresponsible amount of money to the athletic department and he got a call from his rep on the day they fired Brian that was basically a "look, see, we listen to the donors..." type of call.

Even if I hit the billion dollar powerball I just don't know if I could ever bring myself to donate an appreciable amount of money to any collegiate athletic department.

 

[Fryowa]

My buddy donates what I consider to be a socially irresponsible amount of money to the athletic department and he got a call from his rep on the day they fired Brian that was basically a "look, see, we listen to the donors..." type of call.

Even if I hit the billion dollar powerball I just don't know if I could ever bring myself to donate an appreciable amount of money to any collegiate athletic department.

It's crazy to me that anyone thinks AD's are making these decisions. As far as P5 football and (sometimes basketball in the BE/ACC), the AD is nothing more than a liaison between big donors and the programs.

Don't get me wrong, I think Goetz has ice in her veins and is orders of magnitude smarter than Gary Farta, but she didn't decide to fire anyone. She just passed the message along.

I'm not being sarcastic when I say it's no different than the mafia.

Kirk is a high-level made man, who's always had the favor of the dons back in the city. His downfall was that he only had a Fredo and never a Michael to take over the business. Well, like we all know, our version of Fredo got sloppy and started exposing the family to trouble and Kirk was too soft on him to take care of it, so Beth is just a soldier sent to whack Brian and give Kirk a message that the family isn't happy.

Beth did not friggin make that decision.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

No one here has to believe this, so don't come at me. It's worth what you paid for it.

I spoke to one of my tailgate neighbors this morning (who happens to be employed at the U), and he told me there were two extremely large donors who are close associates, who after the Minnesota game threatened to pull their future money, and they did it "very dramatically." One of them is a big benefactor to the Swarm as well and also threatened to discontinue that giving, which would impact current players' contracts negatively. I was told these two (one is a family and one is an individual) have been anti-Brian but pro Kirk, but "had enough."

According to what I was told the individual donor said in jest that if there wasn't something done he'd start making the checks out to ISU because at least then he'd know "people weren't lighting my money on fire purposely. They suck but at least they try to win"

Of course I have no proof, but this guy has always been right about what he's shared with me. His position leads me to believe he knows what he's talking about. None of this means Beth Goetz fired BF because of it, but if this is even part of the sentiment out there you can imagine what likely happened after that game and leading up to it. The richest folks doing the giving have apparently hit the tipping point where they feel their money is being squandered and are losing faith in Kirk.

Interesting... I guess my only thoughts on these big wigs tossing around that kind of $ is what the hell took em so long to turn on BF? Must've been the end of the day records they cared about. But this season has just made Iowa a laughing stock and $ or no $ Goetz about had to do something. Maybe not right now but BF couldn't go into this off season with any delusions of grandeur that he was coming back. She just wanted that to be public and on the record now. And maybe those big $$ donors gave her the incentive to just do it too

 

[InGoodCo]

I doubt it, I'm shocked it happened at 6-2 honestly. This is the first time in a long time someone not named Kirk Ferentz is calling the shots in Iowa City.

It will take time to see if this pans out and Iowa made the right call or if the decision Beth just made turns us into IL or what Nebraska has become for the last decade. I have doubts where things are heading but we're gonna find out quicker than later now I'd say.

 

[InGoodCo]

It's crazy to me that anyone thinks AD's are making these decisions. As far as P5 football and (sometimes basketball in the BE/ACC), the AD is nothing more than a liaison between big donors and the programs.

Don't get me wrong, I think Goetz has ice in her veins and is orders of magnitude smarter than Gary Farta, but she didn't decide to fire anyone. She just passed the message along.

I'm not being sarcastic when I say it's no different than the mafia.

Kirk is a high-level made man, who's always had the favor of the dons back in the city. His downfall was that he only had a Fredo and never a Michael to take over the business. Well, like we all know, our version of Fredo got sloppy and started exposing the family to trouble and Kirk was too soft on him to take care of it, so Beth is just a soldier sent to whack Brian and give Kirk a message that the family isn't happy.

Beth did not friggin make that decision.

No she didn't but you have to imagine she was brought in to deliver the message.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

For those suggesting that KF will leave Iowa at the end of the season, that is saying he is going to retire. He is 68. No one is going to hire him at that age and especially given the unique and perhaps unreplicable way that he wins games. What AD/fan base would want to hire a 68 year old guy who tries to win every game 10-7?

In my view, its stay the course at Iowa or retire for KF. Personally, I don't think he is done. I see him coming back.

I don't think anybody really thinks he's going to go somewhere else and coach after Iowa. I always thought this would be his one and only P5 coaching job.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

No one here has to believe this, so don't come at me. It's worth what you paid for it.

I spoke to one of my tailgate neighbors this morning (who happens to be employed at the U), and he told me there were two extremely large donors who are close associates, who after the Minnesota game threatened to pull their future money, and they did it "very dramatically." One of them is a big benefactor to the Swarm as well and also threatened to discontinue that giving, which would impact current players' contracts negatively. I was told these two (one is a family and one is an individual) have been anti-Brian but pro Kirk, but "had enough."

According to what I was told the individual donor said in jest that if there wasn't something done he'd start making the checks out to ISU because at least then he'd know "people weren't lighting my money on fire purposely. They suck but at least they try to win"

Of course I have no proof, but this guy has always been right about what he's shared with me. His position leads me to believe he knows what he's talking about. None of this means Beth Goetz fired BF because of it, but if this is even part of the sentiment out there you can imagine what likely happened after that game and leading up to it. The richest folks doing the giving have apparently hit the tipping point where they feel their money is being squandered and are losing faith in Kirk.

It's even more amazing that Kirk has been able to do this, this many seasons to be honest. Appeasing the donors is definitely a huge deal. I can completely believe what you state happened. It's to that point and a point where the university can't really take the chance of staying the course. Makes complete sense.

Money talks.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

It's crazy to me that anyone thinks AD's are making these decisions. As far as P5 football and (sometimes basketball in the BE/ACC), the AD is nothing more than a liaison between big donors and the programs.

Don't get me wrong, I think Goetz has ice in her veins and is orders of magnitude smarter than Gary Farta, but she didn't decide to fire anyone. She just passed the message along.

I'm not being sarcastic when I say it's no different than the mafia.

Kirk is a high-level made man, who's always had the favor of the dons back in the city. His downfall was that he only had a Fredo and never a Michael to take over the business. Well, like we all know, our version of Fredo got sloppy and started exposing the family to trouble and Kirk was too soft on him to take care of it, so Beth is just a soldier sent to whack Brian and give Kirk a message that the family isn't happy.

Beth did not friggin make that decision.

That is a great and spot on comparison, to be honest.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

It's even more amazing that Kirk has been able to do this, this many seasons to be honest. Appeasing the donors is definitely a huge deal. I can completely believe what you state happened. It's to that point and a point where the university can't really take the chance of staying the course. Makes complete sense.

Money talks.

Money talks for sure, but so does winning. For those asking why it took so long, even during BF's suck, KF has kept putting Ws up. We have all discussed how he has done that, with smoke, mirrors and spells, but he has done it. But, at the risk of mixing analogies, someone finally screamed that the Emperor was not wearing any clothes......

 

[Hawkboys]

It's crazy to me that anyone thinks AD's are making these decisions. As far as P5 football and (sometimes basketball in the BE/ACC), the AD is nothing more than a liaison between big donors and the programs.

Don't get me wrong, I think Goetz has ice in her veins and is orders of magnitude smarter than Gary Farta, but she didn't decide to fire anyone. She just passed the message along.

I'm not being sarcastic when I say it's no different than the mafia.

Kirk is a high-level made man, who's always had the favor of the dons back in the city. His downfall was that he only had a Fredo and never a Michael to take over the business. Well, like we all know, our version of Fredo got sloppy and started exposing the family to trouble and Kirk was too soft on him to take care of it, so Beth is just a soldier sent to whack Brian and give Kirk a message that the family isn't happy.

Beth did not friggin make that decision.

I really wish this wasn't a good and accurate allegory!!

 

[CP87]

It's crazy to me that anyone thinks AD's are making these decisions. As far as P5 football and (sometimes basketball in the BE/ACC), the AD is nothing more than a liaison between big donors and the programs.

Don't get me wrong, I think Goetz has ice in her veins and is orders of magnitude smarter than Gary Farta, but she didn't decide to fire anyone. She just passed the message along.

I'm not being sarcastic when I say it's no different than the mafia.

Kirk is a high-level made man, who's always had the favor of the dons back in the city. His downfall was that he only had a Fredo and never a Michael to take over the business. Well, like we all know, our version of Fredo got sloppy and started exposing the family to trouble and Kirk was too soft on him to take care of it, so Beth is just a soldier sent to whack Brian and give Kirk a message that the family isn't happy.

Beth did not friggin make that decision.

Would it be fair to say that the AD aggregates info from many sources, but is ultimately responsible for making the decision? I would totally buy that megadonors are the most important piece of information, but they can't be the only piece of information. Likewise, I am sure there are situations where 2 deep-pocketed big wigs want different things from the Athletic Department...it would be the AD's job to sort that out and determine the best course of action.

It just feels too simplistic to treat this group of megadonors as a cohesive monolith with unlimited power and the AD as a puppet that follows wherever they lead.