Chizik vs. Ferentz...discipline comparison

ketelmeister · 04-08-2008, 10:02 PM

Whether our Hawk friends will admit it or not,the comparison between how player problems have been handled at Iowa State vs. Iowa is as different as night and day.
First, when problems occur, KF is the first to make excuses, take the players side or sidestep the issue completely.
Chizik simply takes actiion and doesn't talk about it
Secondly, Iowa looks to stall the situation with a suspension, hoping everyone will forget what happened, so the player can be reinstated
Chizik simply takes action and doesn't talk about it
Finally, Iowa has taken back players that committed major infractions, who were basically felons and forgave them.
Chizik makes a decision and moves on.
I have to admit, as a fan it certainly is easier to let good players off the hook so they can play. But what is the long term consequence of doing that?
Is it any wonder that Iowa has had all of the problems reported in the news?

crash_zone · 04-08-2008, 10:13 PM

I wouldn't make any judgments on this one yet. Chizik still hasn't had that many infractions to deal with - and wait till it happens to one of star players, then we'll have a better idea. To this point, I like Chizik, just not ready to say something like that

ISUAlum2002 · 04-08-2008, 10:16 PM

Yeah, Chizik hasn't had enough adversity to truly show a pattern of discipline technique. I think we need to hold off on comparisons like this until he gets at least another couple of years under his belt.

Clones85' · 04-08-2008, 10:46 PM

The post is dead on. Ferentz has a pattern thats shows he dances around his players troubles. He has done it for years and it is beginning to catch up with him.

Chizik, while it may be a short time, is the complete opposite. He is quick to pull the trigger. To quick if you ask me. He probably needs to take it down a notch, given the fact we don't have the depth to make up for a player getting the boot

CycloneWanderer · 04-08-2008, 10:49 PM

Another question for consideration: Will we, under Chizik, ever have the amount of legal problems that EUI has had at the rate they have had them?

SouthernHawk · 04-08-2008, 11:05 PM

Right, because these are very fair comparisons after only 1 year with Chizik at the helm.

And let the Bowman thing go already. He was kicked off the team again, because he was on a very short leash. It was credit card fraud - which is very serious - but to compare it to assault/rape is ridiculous. Huh, I wonder what happened to those guys allegedly accused of those crimes?

Oh right, they were kicked off. They won't be back.

While it was a very bad year in terms of issues (and results on the field), it's hardly a fair comparison just one year in.

intrepid27 · 04-09-2008, 06:35 AM

I would say the summary of Ferentz is dead on. He sits back to see how big of an issue the public makes of it and then beats the player severly about th head and shoulders with wet noodle. That is of coarse after he checks to see if the arresting officer may be taking a vacation until the season is over.

I would also remind everyone that Gene has not had to make any tough decision in this arena yet.

JHpsyclonz · 04-09-2008, 06:57 AM

I totally agree tha GC has not had a major issue to deal with yet so it is too early to tell. We must ot forget that just a couple of seasons ago we had a convicted felon starting for us albeit under a different coach.

Kyle · 04-09-2008, 07:00 AM

Originally Posted by Clones85'

The post is dead on. Ferentz has a pattern thats shows he dances around his players troubles. He has done it for years and it is beginning to catch up with him.

Chizik, while it may be a short time, is the complete opposite. He is quick to pull the trigger. To quick if you ask me. He probably needs to take it down a notch, given the fact we don't have the depth to make up for a player getting the boot

I've heard at least one credible report that would suggest this. My hope is that Chizik stays tough but refines his approach to make sure he has his facts straight before acting. And no, I won't go into any more detail than that.

cyclonenum1 · 04-09-2008, 07:22 AM

Originally Posted by crash_zone

I wouldn't make any judgments on this one yet. Chizik still hasn't had that many infractions to deal with - and wait till it happens to one of star players, then we'll have a better idea. To this point, I like Chizik, just not ready to say something like that

I agree it is pretty early to judge and sooner or later he will have some "tough decisions" but I ask you to ponder this...

...maybe, just maybe, these kids are a little less apt to push the envelope with a guy like Chizik because they know he means business.

bfross · 04-09-2008, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by JHpsyclonz

I totally agree tha GC has not had a major issue to deal with yet so it is too early to tell. We must ot forget that just a couple of seasons ago we had a convicted felon starting for us albeit under a different coach.

Of course he has. He had 3 players take a purse off a bus that didn't belong to them and took the contents and all three players got kicked off the team within the day (Vargas, McDowell, and I forget who the other one was - although McDowell was let back on the team). Then he only has 4 scholarship corners on the team and decides to kick Drenard Williams off the team who started almost his whole true freshman year under McCarney, leaving only 3 CB for half the season. Then he kicks off Josh Johnson who McCarney didn't even redshirt (although he played sparingly two seasons ago) - we could have used his depth. He has also sent legal drinking age recruits packing early on official visits because he caught them partying instead of focusing on recruits. He also has not allowed himself to get jerked around by committed prospects. Seems to me he has laid down the discipline gauntlet early and hard. When Gene says "it's my way or the highway", he effing means it.

Cyclonesrule91 · 04-09-2008, 08:01 AM

Originally Posted by Kyle

I've heard at least one credible report that would suggest this. My hope is that Chizik stays tough but refines his approach to make sure he has his facts straight before acting. And no, I won't go into any more detail than that.

I would much rather he have the reputation of reacting too quick then what is going on to the east. Ya, somebody might get the boot for something minor but it is pounded in the players heads that they better tow the line or their out of the program. If Ferentz did that kind of discipline, he wouldn't have the issues he is having right now since the players are quite confident that they can get in trouble and stay on the field as long as they are important to the hawks winning more games.

Indyclone · 04-09-2008, 09:14 AM

I think you are trying to compare apples to oranges here. I wasn't aware we have had all the problems EIU has had and GC has taken a different approach to all these actions. God forbid we have their problems but until something does happen I really don't see how you can compare the discipline actions of GC to those of KF.

Now you may have an agrument that GC runs a tighter ship because of less off the field issues, but that is a whole different topic.

Gary_ISU · 04-09-2008, 12:41 PM

I think it is a little to early to judge Chizik. There have been a few minor incidents with marginal players. It will be interesting to see how he handles a situation when a starter gets in trouble. I am very confident that he will not allow legal problems and discpline issues to take his team down.

As for Ferentz, I think his problem is deeper than just not being able to keep his football team out of trouble. I think he has some character flaws that transcend football. Case in point is how he handled the housing issue and especially his son living in government assisted housing. It is appalling that he allowed his son to live in those apartments. He brushed it off as no big deal like he has every other incident. Either he is too nice of a guy, wants to avoid conflict or just simply does not care. I think the biggest difference between Chizik and Ferentz is there character off the field.

Rogue52 · 04-09-2008, 03:47 PM

I've never played college football, but in high school, I wished our coaching staff had been a little quicker to react to off-the-field issues. Those of us who stayed out of trouble felt like we were being spit in the face, while the coaches turned the other cheak.

I honestly think the problems that have occured with Chizik at the helm were a direct result of strong loyalty to Coach Mac.