Ferentz is Hot Seat #3

[ISU4ME]

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

Like I said, it's an important game. But after 3 years of less than good results, every game on the schedule is equally important. These are teams that Iowa can beat, and the tough games (other than the Pitt game) are at home.

However, the ISU game is not "pivotal" to the season, or to KF's career. It's important that Iowa doesn't lose it, but there are more important games (against Big Ten opponents, for example) on the schedule. A loss would stink, but assuming Iowa is going to pick up a loss somewhere in the season, they can't afford to let it send them into a tail spin.

The almighty hawk fans would have a complete meltdown if they lose to their "lil bro (dellusional hawk fans opinion)" in Iowa City. I for one cannot wait to watch the meltdown. As dellusional as the hawk fan base is, in reality, they would rather lose to Western Michigan than lose to Iowa State. You can tell me I am wrong but us Cyclone fans know you hawk fans live in a fantasy world.

I for one hope you keep Ferentz and pay him $2.7 million a year for 6 wins. That is $2.7 million thrown out the window. Money better spent on lawyers/bail money for the hawk football team.

[iowast8fan]

Originally Posted by Benny34

4.5 Million buyout after this coming season...Ouch.

If the time ever comes when Iowa wants to get rid of Ferentz, I'm sure he will get an offer somewhere else and they won't have to buy out his contract. Iowa seems to get the financially lucky breaks.....*cough* Alford *cough*

[jumbopackage]

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

Like I said, it's an important game. But after 3 years of less than good results, every game on the schedule is equally important. These are teams that Iowa can beat, and the tough games (other than the Pitt game) are at home.

However, the ISU game is not "pivotal" to the season, or to KF's career. It's important that Iowa doesn't lose it, but there are more important games (against Big Ten opponents, for example) on the schedule. A loss would stink, but assuming Iowa is going to pick up a loss somewhere in the season, they can't afford to let it send them into a tail spin.

It's by far the biggest game of any sort in the state of Iowa every year. It's bigger than any single game against anyone else on the schedule this year, IMO. You can't tell me that losing at home to ISU and walking into the Big 10 season 2-2 vs 3-1 or 4-0 isn't a huge swing one way or the other.

On top of that, teams that Iowa has struggled with in recent years (Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota) are on the road, as well as is Illinois, who is likely going to be good again this year. Even if Iowa wins all it's home games in conference (doubtful, considering Wisconsin and Penn State are on that list), they would not be guaranteed a bowl game unless they beat ISU or Pitt. If they don't beat ISU, they are going to have to eek a road win out (and likely 2 or 3) to get to a bowl game.

Maine: W
FIU: W
ISU: W
@Pitt: L
Northwestern: W
@Michigan State: L
@Indiana: L
Wisconsin: L
@Illinois: L
Penn State: L
Purdue: W
@Minnesota: W

According to the guys at Coacheshotseat.com (which I think is not an altogether unlikely scenario), the win over ISU keeps Iowa from having to win on the road at either Pitt, Michigan State, Indiana, or Illinois, or pull out a home win over Wisconsin or Penn State just to become bowl eligible. They would need TWO wins to be pretty much assured of a bowl game.

I think it's a pretty pivotal game.

[ISUChippewa]

KF is definitely on the hot seat....GC shouldn't be, at least not in just his 2nd year.

On a different note, I was really shocked to see the disparity in salaries between the BCS and non-BCS programs. I knew that obviously coaches at football factories get paid a lot of money, and I personally think anything in the six figures isn't bad, but there were some huge differences in there.

[SouthernHawk]

Originally Posted by jumbopackage

It's by far the biggest game of any sort in the state of Iowa every year. It's bigger than any single game against anyone else on the schedule this year, IMO. You can't tell me that losing at home to ISU and walking into the Big 10 season 2-2 vs 3-1 or 4-0 isn't a huge swing one way or the other.

On top of that, teams that Iowa has struggled with in recent years (Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota) are on the road, as well as is Illinois, who is likely going to be good again this year. Even if Iowa wins all it's home games in conference (doubtful, considering Wisconsin and Penn State are on that list), they would not be guaranteed a bowl game unless they beat ISU or Pitt. If they don't beat ISU, they are going to have to eek a road win out (and likely 2 or 3) to get to a bowl game.

Maine: W
FIU: W
ISU: W
@Pitt: L
Northwestern: W
@Michigan State: L
@Indiana: L
Wisconsin: L
@Illinois: L
Penn State: L
Purdue: W
@Minnesota: W

According to the guys at Coacheshotseat.com (which I think is not an altogether unlikely scenario), the win over ISU keeps Iowa from having to win on the road at either Pitt, Michigan State, Indiana, or Illinois, or pull out a home win over Wisconsin or Penn State just to become bowl eligible. They would need TWO wins to be pretty much assured of a bowl game.

I think it's a pretty pivotal game.

Right, well, I'd still consider games against UW or PSU far more important than the game against ISU. If (and that's a big if) Iowa starts the season 2-2, a winning conference record would make them bowl eligible.


I'm sorry, but I just don't think the ISU game is the most important game on the schedule. I would rather Iowa not lose to the Clones, but I'd rather them beat a few good teams and lose to an unproven team, than beat an unproven team and lose to a few good teams.

Honestly though, I know ISU fans seem to think that ISU has had Iowa's number the past few years, but that winning streak ended in 2002. Since then, the teams have been dead even. Going 3-3 is not "owning old Kirkie boy", especially when those 5 losses were arguably some of ISU's best teams against some of Iowa's worst teams.

The only upset in the series was the 2002 game.

[MontyBurns]

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

Going 3-3 is not "owning old Kirkie boy", especially when those 5 losses were arguably some of ISU's best teams against some of Iowa's worst teams.

3-3 with 5 losses??? Spin it however you want. Kirkie-boy is 3-6 against ISU in his career and no amount of spin can change that fact. But maybe it will cheer you up to realize that his 3-6 record against ISU is better than his 0-2 record against Western Michigan.

[ajk4st8]

Originally Posted by MontyBurns

3-3 with 5 losses??? Spin it however you want. Kirkie-boy is 3-6 against ISU in his career and no amount of spin can change that fact. But maybe it will cheer you up to realize that his 3-6 record against ISU is better than his 0-2 record against Western Michigan.

I heard Western was trying to get out of a game with a 1-AA so they could schedule Iowa again.

[cyclonenum1]

Originally Posted by cgwarrior33

Phillip Fulmer goes 10-4 and is on the hot seat at #25?? Saban not too far down the list....I think this guy is a little ambitious with some of his hot seats...

Dude, you obviously are not all that familiar with the status of FB in the SEC...it IS religion. I didn't look at the list but I can assure you that even Les Miles at LSU will feel the heat from fans (if not the administration) if he loses 4 games or so this year. Why do you think he is hanging on to Ryan Perrilloux even though the kid is a problem...because he needs him to be at QB to win enough games to keep the heat off.

I have always said that Ferentz is a mediocre coach that had a 2-3 very good seasons. But if you look at his full track record you can see that, clearly, those 2-3 very good seasons were the aberrations.

[ISUAlum2002]

Jon Miller talked about this yesterday on his show, and I had to call in about it. He was talking about how he didn't think that Iowa would write a $4.5 million check for a buyout of KF, but in reality, if they ever DO want to get rid of him, they'll either have to write that check or hope that he takes a job somewhere else. Bowlsby put them into this quandry with that huge contract. With the standard of adding a year on to the contract each year to make sure he has recruiting power, the buyout amount is going to theoretically stay the same.

They won't have a choice soon but to write that check. How many more .500 seasons will $2.7 million a year buy you?

[jumbopackage]

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

Right, well, I'd still consider games against UW or PSU far more important than the game against ISU. If (and that's a big if) Iowa starts the season 2-2, a winning conference record would make them bowl eligible.


I'm sorry, but I just don't think the ISU game is the most important game on the schedule. I would rather Iowa not lose to the Clones, but I'd rather them beat a few good teams and lose to an unproven team, than beat an unproven team and lose to a few good teams.

Honestly though, I know ISU fans seem to think that ISU has had Iowa's number the past few years, but that winning streak ended in 2002. Since then, the teams have been dead even. Going 3-3 is not "owning old Kirkie boy", especially when those 5 losses were arguably some of ISU's best teams against some of Iowa's worst teams.

The only upset in the series was the 2002 game.

It's not that it's ISU, so much that it's a winnable home game against a BCS school at a pivotal time in the season. Swap ISU with Kansas State or Colorado or Stanford and, other than the fact that ISU-Iowa is a rivalry game, it still means mostly the same.

Heck, move the Western Michigan loss to earlier in the season last year, right before the ISU loss, and you don't think that would have any impact on the rest of the season?

a winning conference record would make them bowl eligible

That's the problem. Iowa hasn't had one of those since 2005 (5-3), and there haven't been wholesale improvements on a team that NEEDS wholesale improvements this year while most of their competition is moving forward.

ISU HAS had Iowa's number the last few years. In '02 the loss to ISU was the ONLY loss Iowa had on it's schedule until it got destroyed in the BCS. The loss last year cost Iowa a trip to a bowl game. In '05, Iowa went to a New Year's Day bowl and lost to Florida, after losing to ISU earlier in the year.

It's not like ISU has ONLY been beating Iowa when Iowa was down, they've been beating them when they're "good" (though it's hard to judge, really, since they play in the Big 10, which has been pretty miserable over the last 5 years). ISU has been beating Iowa when they are "going to January bowl games". ISU has NOT been going to "January bowl games". Either you have to admit that ISU has been good enough to "go to January Bowl games" or that they've had Iowa's number OR admit that Iowa hasn't deserved the games they've gone to.

None of those are very palatable options to an Iowa fan, but that's pretty much how it is.

[SouthernHawk]

Originally Posted by jumbopackage

It's not that it's ISU, so much that it's a winnable home game against a BCS school at a pivotal time in the season. Swap ISU with Kansas State or Colorado or Stanford and, other than the fact that ISU-Iowa is a rivalry game, it still means mostly the same.

Heck, move the Western Michigan loss to earlier in the season last year, right before the ISU loss, and you don't think that would have any impact on the rest of the season?

a winning conference record would make them bowl eligible

That's the problem. Iowa hasn't had one of those since 2005 (5-3), and there haven't been wholesale improvements on a team that NEEDS wholesale improvements this year while most of their competition is moving forward.

ISU HAS had Iowa's number the last few years. In '02 the loss to ISU was the ONLY loss Iowa had on it's schedule until it got destroyed in the BCS. The loss last year cost Iowa a trip to a bowl game. In '05, Iowa went to a New Year's Day bowl and lost to Florida, after losing to ISU earlier in the year.

It's not like ISU has ONLY been beating Iowa when Iowa was down, they've been beating them when they're "good" (though it's hard to judge, really, since they play in the Big 10, which has been pretty miserable over the last 5 years). ISU has been beating Iowa when they are "going to January bowl games". ISU has NOT been going to "January bowl games". Either you have to admit that ISU has been good enough to "go to January Bowl games" or that they've had Iowa's number OR admit that Iowa hasn't deserved the games they've gone to.

None of those are very palatable options to an Iowa fan, but that's pretty much how it is.

I guess it's just differing opinions, and that's cool. I just view the conference games as the most important, and the OOC games as practice. I'd rather Iowa go 4-0 into the Big Ten season, but that, at this point in time, is asking too much.

I do like the minor improvements in the team that I've been hearing about. I'm also excited about the return of some key players, and some of the incoming talent. I really think this will be a new Iowa team (at least I hope). We'll have to see, but this year there seems to be a different feeling on the team.

[besserheimerphat]

This is college football. There are only 12 games, and if you want to be a serious player, you can only loose 1 - 2 games. There are no scrimmages. There are no exhibitions. Once past those "OOC practice games," the competition gets much tougher whether or not OSU or Michigan is on the schedule. Loosing more than one "OOC practice game" does not bode well for any BCS team who hopes to have a serious shot at a decent bowl game. If going 4-0 in "OOC practice games" is asking too much, than how can you think it's plausible to win more than half of your conference games?

[SouthernHawk]

Originally Posted by besserheimerphat

This is college football. There are only 12 games, and if you want to be a serious player, you can only loose 1 - 2 games. There are no scrimmages. There are no exhibitions. Once past those "OOC practice games," the competition gets much tougher whether or not OSU or Michigan is on the schedule. Loosing more than one "OOC practice game" does not bode well for any BCS team who hopes to have a serious shot at a decent bowl game. If going 4-0 in "OOC practice games" is asking too much, than how can you think it's plausible to win more than half of your conference games?

It all goes back to those realistic expectations that ISU fans don't think Iowa fans have. The point is, Iowa fans are being cautiously optimistic. Is it possible to go 4-0 in the OOC? Sure is. but, based on recent results, it's not a good idea to plan anything.

[jumbopackage]

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

I guess it's just differing opinions, and that's cool. I just view the conference games as the most important, and the OOC games as practice. I'd rather Iowa go 4-0 into the Big Ten season, but that, at this point in time, is asking too much.

I do like the minor improvements in the team that I've been hearing about. I'm also excited about the return of some key players, and some of the incoming talent. I really think this will be a new Iowa team (at least I hope). We'll have to see, but this year there seems to be a different feeling on the team.

The point is, it's HIGHLY unlikely that Iowa goes 7-1 or better in the Big 10 to get to a bowl game. Might it happen? Sure. Is it at all probable? No. More realistic is a 3 or 4 win season in the Big 10. That puts a LOT of emphasis on winning those non-conference games, practice or not.

If Iowa wants to get to a bowl game, and, IMO they NEED to get to one this year or else KF is going to ascend that hot list in a hurry, they need to be at least 3-1 coming into the conference season.

So, if you're happier going 5-7 with 5 Big 10 wins than you would be going to a bowl game with 3 Big 10 wins, that's awesome. The reality is that nobody is going to consider that a successful season when you're paying your coach that kind of money.

Originally Posted by SouthernHawk

It all goes back to those realistic expectations that ISU fans don't think Iowa fans have. The point is, Iowa fans are being cautiously optimistic. Is it possible to go 4-0 in the OOC? Sure is. but, based on recent results, it's not a good idea to plan anything.

What, exactly, are the expectations for Iowa this year? I would say anything LESS than last year is wholly unacceptable. That pretty much implies them going to a bowl game, and 6 or 7 wins. And, like it's been beat to death before, that puts a LOT of emphasis on winning those OOC games.

Which of these games would be easier for Iowa to win:
@Pitt
@Michigan State
@Indiana
@Illinois
Wisconsin at home
Penn State at home
ISU at home

Assuming Iowa wins all the rest of their games (which, IMO, is a bit of a stretch), you're going to have to win one of those to be bowl eligible. Two of them to pretty much be assured of a lock.
Looking at them objectively, I'd say ISU is probably your best shot, followed, probably, by Pitt or Michigan State, but neither of those are gimmes. Don't beat ISU, and you've got to win one or two of those games, and I just don't see that happening.

If you're expecting NOT to go to a bowl game this year, you really ought to reconsider the investment of 3 million dollars a year in a head coach.

[SouthernHawk]

Expecations most certainly are a bowl game. In fact, I expect at least 8 wins. Why? Because I think Iowa can realistically go 3-1 in the OOC (hopefully 4-0), and wins against NU, at IU, UW, Purdue, and PSU, and a surprise win at either MSU or IU. With PSU losing a lot of talent and 6 players being kicked off the team, they'll struggle. UW has been getting worse and worse, and Iowa has been close in every game they've played against them.

Anything less than 8 wins, I'll be relatively dissapointed, and anything less than 7 would be unacceptable.