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The Athletic article on Iowa

He's not an Iowa fan so I do appreciate his take. I would obviously like to win every game even if it is ugly.

But he is so right and there aren't enough of these articles. I loved the line about not considering how good this team could be. That is the full stop end of my argument.

Why is KF afraid to make changes to the offense? He has to see how good this program is in two phases of the game. We could be dangerous if we had a remotely competitive offense... but we don't and it is not a priority.
 
Okay the guy should have said , "the penalty came down from on high and there was a call that was bad " blah blah blah no flag okay we got it he accidentally said the flag was thrown.

There's a couple bigger issues here that some people are missing. Number one I don't think we deserve anything or I don't think we are owed anything. Number two Penn St loss was way worse. Number three this is KF every single year no matter what he always gets to about seven wins. Anything after that is gravy. Nobody should be shocked when you see iowa with two losses at this point.
Except there was no penalty.
 
If he meets the "amended requirements" how can she not retain him? Balls or ovaries aside.

I don't think he'll meet the points requirement but let's put that aside for a minute. Since he's a direct report she could, in theory, fire him for anything. I think her best route is to say he's too divisive, a big distraction.
 
I don't think he'll meet the points requirement but let's put that aside for a minute. Since he's a direct report she could, in theory, fire him for anything. I think her best route is to say he's too divisive, a big distraction.
Oh I agree I don't think he meets the requirements, but if he does and BG tries to fire him I bet daddy warbucks steps in.

I actually hope he just steps away at the end of the season and goes back to the NFL and has a great life.
 
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What Kirk Ferentz is doing at Iowa isn’t cute — it’s disgusting​

Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA;  Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz looks on during the second quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

By Ari Wasserman
4h ago
82

As Cooper DeJean ran toward the end zone for what would have been the go-ahead touchdown with less than 90 seconds remaining in Iowa’s game against Minnesota on Saturday, it looked like Kirk Ferentz was going to get away with it again.
It looked as though we were all going to be subjected to that patented, condescending Ferentz smirk. You know, that grin that Iowa’s coach likes to flash when his team wins another gross, sad excuse for a football game that, in a twisted way, only confirms in his mind that offense is a fruitless burden he shouldn’t have to consider.

Then, thankfully, that glorious penalty flag came.

As DeJean was running to pick up the punted ball, he flailed his left arm, and the referees, ultimately, ruled it was an invalid fair catch signal. The touchdown was negated and Iowa’s offense, predictably, failed again with the game on the line.

Ferentz was bitterly disappointed in the postgame, saying he knew he was going to be fined for his pointed comments toward the referees and hoped they’d donate the proceeds to a children’s hospital.

Here’s what Ferentz forgot to mention during his postgame rant: Iowa gained 12 — 12!!!!! — yards of offense in the entire second half. After the punt return was called back, Iowa still had plenty of time to move 30 yards down the field to attempt a game-winning field goal, but quarterback Deacon Hill threw an interception three plays later that ended the game.

Minnesota 12, Iowa 10. Final.

Ding, dong the witch is dead.

Ferentz has put me in an uncomfortable position this year. I’ve been to Iowa City many times, and Hawkeyes fans are sweet, hard-working people who love their football team. They’re nice, warm and passionate. They’re good people. Yet Ferentz has put me in a position that even some of the Hawkeyes faithful have found themselves in — rooting for Iowa to fail.

There is nothing cute about what Iowa is doing this year. More on that in a minute. But first, some background. Ferentz retained his son, Brian, as offensive coordinator after last season despite the fact the Hawkeyes had one of the worst offenses in the past few decades. Like, bad enough to make your eyeballs bleed.

Iowa kept Brian Ferentz in the fold and stipulated in his contract that the team had to score 325 points in 2023. The repercussions if it fails to do so? He won’t automatically be fired, but his contract will expire.

Guess what? Iowa’s offense has gotten worse. Through eight games, Iowa has scored 156 points and averaged 19.5 points per game (well short of the 25 it needs to average over a 13-game schedule). Sixteen of those points are defensive or special teams scores.

It’s been pitiful, disgusting and insulting to Iowa fans.

Yet before Iowa lost to Minnesota, the Hawkeyes kept winning these disgusting rugby matches: 15-6 over Wisconsin, 20-14 over Purdue, 26-16 over Michigan State. Iowa climbed into the Top 25 in the AP poll and came into the weekend as the clear-cut favorite to make it to Indianapolis for the conference title game out of the Big Ten West.

People were amused by how a program that doesn’t try to score keeps winning. We kept coming up with fake scenarios for how Iowa could fail to reach 25 points per game and still find a way to retain Brian Ferentz. It became this fun little game to see how far Iowa could push the envelope.

It’s been a national punchline. We discuss it on the podcast all the time. We laugh about how bad, yet beautiful these games are. Everyone laughs.

But Iowa fans don’t deserve to be a national punchline. And regardless of how much Ferentz has done for Iowa football in the past, he has clearly resigned himself to not caring about its offense. He is seemingly content to beat Big Ten West teams 9-6 and occasionally make it in Indianapolis, never once stopping to consider that his team could be better than 10-2 if it could score.

Iowa’s defensive coordinator, Phil Parker, continues to turn three-star prospects into NFL Draft picks and design a defense that is routinely among the best in the nation. Then his boss jokes about how his favorite victory at Iowa was a 6-4 win over Penn State in 2004.

All of this is happening during a blatant case of nepotism. While his son remains in over his head as an offensive coordinator and jokes keep pouring in, he’s lining his pockets as a government employee.

No more. I can’t take it anymore.

Thank goodness Minnesota won, and we were reminded that with an offense that poor, Iowa is susceptible to losing to anyone. Iowa is still technically alive for the Big Ten Championship Game, so I hope it loses to another bad team because it can’t get a first down. I don’t want Iowa to win another game because I can’t stand any more misguided confirmation in Kirk Ferentz’s head that he is doing right by his program, players and fans. He’s stealing money from the people booing in the stands.

When you stink at your job, you get fired. Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman fired offensive coordinator Dan Enos on Sunday after saying he was the most gifted play caller he had ever seen when he hired him. That was a relationship that ended because Enos isn’t Pittman’s son.

I understand Iowa has been dealt a tough hand with some bad injuries on offense, most notably losing starting quarterback Cade McNamara. Yes, I’m sure the Hawkeyes may be a little better than dead last in total offense in college football had they had their full roster to deal with.

But this isn’t a serious program. It won’t be until it has a serious coach who cares about putting a quality offensive product on the field. Iowa fans deserve better than this.

I’m rooting for Iowa to fail so Iowa fans can get the changes necessary for the program to actually succeed.

Ari Wasserman is a senior writer for The Athletic covering college football and recruiting nationally. He previously spent 10 years covering Ohio State for The Athletic and Cleveland.com, starting on the Buckeyes beat in 2009. Follow Ari on Twitter @AriWasserman
The writer is a moron.
 
Yes we get it, there was 1 incorrect statement in the entire article and you are running around like it negates the entire article. Enjoy your 15sec of fame. Cheers!
Actually I was addressing the jackwagon that posted
‘He isn't relaying false information’
Not looking for fame. Also not taking away from the article. It is a good take on the situation. Accuracy matters
 
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But Iowa fans don’t deserve to be a national punchline. And regardless of how much Ferentz has done for Iowa football in the past, he has clearly resigned himself to not caring about its offense. He is seemingly content to beat Big Ten West teams 9-6 and occasionally make it in Indianapolis, never once stopping to consider that his team could be better than 10-2 if it could score.


this X's 1000
It's only what many of us have said for years.
 
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Patented smirk? Kirk looked like he was about to cry per usual.
That's what got me. Talk all you want about the terrible offense and BF as OC but "smirk"? Kirk is not a smirker. This guy talks like he is feeling bad for Iowa fans--no buddy --don't believe you.
 
That's what got me. Talk all you want about the terrible offense and BF as OC but "smirk"? Kirk is not a smirker. This guy talks like he is feeling bad for Iowa fans--no buddy --don't believe you.
KF is more of a snark and snort retort type of person. I mean if Deuce Hogan has to play he might just stay in Iowa City than go play a game.
 
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Iowa fans deserve to be a national punchline. And regardless of how much Ferentz has done for Iowa football in the past, he has clearly resigned himself to not caring about its offense. He is seemingly content to beat Big Ten West teams 9-6 and occasionally make it in Indianapolis, never once stopping to consider that his team could be better than 10-2 if it could score.


this X's 1000
FIFY
 

What Kirk Ferentz is doing at Iowa isn’t cute — it’s disgusting​

Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA;  Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz looks on during the second quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

By Ari Wasserman
4h ago
82

As Cooper DeJean ran toward the end zone for what would have been the go-ahead touchdown with less than 90 seconds remaining in Iowa’s game against Minnesota on Saturday, it looked like Kirk Ferentz was going to get away with it again.
It looked as though we were all going to be subjected to that patented, condescending Ferentz smirk. You know, that grin that Iowa’s coach likes to flash when his team wins another gross, sad excuse for a football game that, in a twisted way, only confirms in his mind that offense is a fruitless burden he shouldn’t have to consider.

Then, thankfully, that glorious penalty flag came.

As DeJean was running to pick up the punted ball, he flailed his left arm, and the referees, ultimately, ruled it was an invalid fair catch signal. The touchdown was negated and Iowa’s offense, predictably, failed again with the game on the line.

Ferentz was bitterly disappointed in the postgame, saying he knew he was going to be fined for his pointed comments toward the referees and hoped they’d donate the proceeds to a children’s hospital.

Here’s what Ferentz forgot to mention during his postgame rant: Iowa gained 12 — 12!!!!! — yards of offense in the entire second half. After the punt return was called back, Iowa still had plenty of time to move 30 yards down the field to attempt a game-winning field goal, but quarterback Deacon Hill threw an interception three plays later that ended the game.

Minnesota 12, Iowa 10. Final.

Ding, dong the witch is dead.

Ferentz has put me in an uncomfortable position this year. I’ve been to Iowa City many times, and Hawkeyes fans are sweet, hard-working people who love their football team. They’re nice, warm and passionate. They’re good people. Yet Ferentz has put me in a position that even some of the Hawkeyes faithful have found themselves in — rooting for Iowa to fail.

There is nothing cute about what Iowa is doing this year. More on that in a minute. But first, some background. Ferentz retained his son, Brian, as offensive coordinator after last season despite the fact the Hawkeyes had one of the worst offenses in the past few decades. Like, bad enough to make your eyeballs bleed.

Iowa kept Brian Ferentz in the fold and stipulated in his contract that the team had to score 325 points in 2023. The repercussions if it fails to do so? He won’t automatically be fired, but his contract will expire.

Guess what? Iowa’s offense has gotten worse. Through eight games, Iowa has scored 156 points and averaged 19.5 points per game (well short of the 25 it needs to average over a 13-game schedule). Sixteen of those points are defensive or special teams scores.

It’s been pitiful, disgusting and insulting to Iowa fans.

Yet before Iowa lost to Minnesota, the Hawkeyes kept winning these disgusting rugby matches: 15-6 over Wisconsin, 20-14 over Purdue, 26-16 over Michigan State. Iowa climbed into the Top 25 in the AP poll and came into the weekend as the clear-cut favorite to make it to Indianapolis for the conference title game out of the Big Ten West.

People were amused by how a program that doesn’t try to score keeps winning. We kept coming up with fake scenarios for how Iowa could fail to reach 25 points per game and still find a way to retain Brian Ferentz. It became this fun little game to see how far Iowa could push the envelope.

It’s been a national punchline. We discuss it on the podcast all the time. We laugh about how bad, yet beautiful these games are. Everyone laughs.

But Iowa fans don’t deserve to be a national punchline. And regardless of how much Ferentz has done for Iowa football in the past, he has clearly resigned himself to not caring about its offense. He is seemingly content to beat Big Ten West teams 9-6 and occasionally make it in Indianapolis, never once stopping to consider that his team could be better than 10-2 if it could score.

Iowa’s defensive coordinator, Phil Parker, continues to turn three-star prospects into NFL Draft picks and design a defense that is routinely among the best in the nation. Then his boss jokes about how his favorite victory at Iowa was a 6-4 win over Penn State in 2004.

All of this is happening during a blatant case of nepotism. While his son remains in over his head as an offensive coordinator and jokes keep pouring in, he’s lining his pockets as a government employee.

No more. I can’t take it anymore.

Thank goodness Minnesota won, and we were reminded that with an offense that poor, Iowa is susceptible to losing to anyone. Iowa is still technically alive for the Big Ten Championship Game, so I hope it loses to another bad team because it can’t get a first down. I don’t want Iowa to win another game because I can’t stand any more misguided confirmation in Kirk Ferentz’s head that he is doing right by his program, players and fans. He’s stealing money from the people booing in the stands.

When you stink at your job, you get fired. Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman fired offensive coordinator Dan Enos on Sunday after saying he was the most gifted play caller he had ever seen when he hired him. That was a relationship that ended because Enos isn’t Pittman’s son.

I understand Iowa has been dealt a tough hand with some bad injuries on offense, most notably losing starting quarterback Cade McNamara. Yes, I’m sure the Hawkeyes may be a little better than dead last in total offense in college football had they had their full roster to deal with.

But this isn’t a serious program. It won’t be until it has a serious coach who cares about putting a quality offensive product on the field. Iowa fans deserve better than this.

I’m rooting for Iowa to fail so Iowa fans can get the changes necessary for the program to actually succeed.

Ari Wasserman is a senior writer for The Athletic covering college football and recruiting nationally. He previously spent 10 years covering Ohio State for The Athletic and Cleveland.com, starting on the Buckeyes beat in 2009. Follow Ari on Twitter @AriWasserman
I promise I won't pray for Ari Wasserman to get hit by a train.
 
The article (I didn't read all of it) is probably a fair assessment of what the fans are already feeling.

I do however, object to the term "disgusting". That term should be saved for parents treating children badly and similar actions. Not used to describe a 25 year, highly successful coach that's 6-2, with one loss to a vastly superior team and one that escaped on a questionable call.

I short, I simply don't like the character assassinations being applied to a coach that is unsuccessful in all or part of the game he coaches.

A man can be wrong or unsuccessful without being disgusting.
They aren't character "assassinations", they are character observations when everything about Kirk's decision making regarding Brian's tenure as OC and QB coach has been shady AF

From lying about him being the best candidate to lying to get around nepotism rules to naming him QB Coach and keeping him on staff after dreadful results while putting his family's financial interests above the program's....Kirk has repeatedly demonstrated questionable (at best) character in this case.

He has shown plenty of good character too over the years but this is far from the only example of him demonstrating poor ethics in his choices. Being an Iowa fan shouldn't blind people from that fact.

KF deserves every bit of criticism that is coming his way, he is the only assassin to blame as far as his character goes
 
Last edited:
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The article is over-the-top, accurate, even glorious!

"...Yet before Iowa lost to Minnesota, the Hawkeyes kept winning these disgusting rugby matches:"

In an obvious situation of favoritism compounded by manifest, abject failure, no one wins. This HAD to be written.
 

What Kirk Ferentz is doing at Iowa isn’t cute — it’s disgusting​

Oct 14, 2023; Madison, Wisconsin, USA;  Iowa Hawkeyes head coach Kirk Ferentz looks on during the second quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

By Ari Wasserman
4h ago
82

As Cooper DeJean ran toward the end zone for what would have been the go-ahead touchdown with less than 90 seconds remaining in Iowa’s game against Minnesota on Saturday, it looked like Kirk Ferentz was going to get away with it again.
It looked as though we were all going to be subjected to that patented, condescending Ferentz smirk. You know, that grin that Iowa’s coach likes to flash when his team wins another gross, sad excuse for a football game that, in a twisted way, only confirms in his mind that offense is a fruitless burden he shouldn’t have to consider.

Then, thankfully, that glorious penalty flag came.

As DeJean was running to pick up the punted ball, he flailed his left arm, and the referees, ultimately, ruled it was an invalid fair catch signal. The touchdown was negated and Iowa’s offense, predictably, failed again with the game on the line.

Ferentz was bitterly disappointed in the postgame, saying he knew he was going to be fined for his pointed comments toward the referees and hoped they’d donate the proceeds to a children’s hospital.

Here’s what Ferentz forgot to mention during his postgame rant: Iowa gained 12 — 12!!!!! — yards of offense in the entire second half. After the punt return was called back, Iowa still had plenty of time to move 30 yards down the field to attempt a game-winning field goal, but quarterback Deacon Hill threw an interception three plays later that ended the game.

Minnesota 12, Iowa 10. Final.

Ding, dong the witch is dead.

Ferentz has put me in an uncomfortable position this year. I’ve been to Iowa City many times, and Hawkeyes fans are sweet, hard-working people who love their football team. They’re nice, warm and passionate. They’re good people. Yet Ferentz has put me in a position that even some of the Hawkeyes faithful have found themselves in — rooting for Iowa to fail.

There is nothing cute about what Iowa is doing this year. More on that in a minute. But first, some background. Ferentz retained his son, Brian, as offensive coordinator after last season despite the fact the Hawkeyes had one of the worst offenses in the past few decades. Like, bad enough to make your eyeballs bleed.

Iowa kept Brian Ferentz in the fold and stipulated in his contract that the team had to score 325 points in 2023. The repercussions if it fails to do so? He won’t automatically be fired, but his contract will expire.

Guess what? Iowa’s offense has gotten worse. Through eight games, Iowa has scored 156 points and averaged 19.5 points per game (well short of the 25 it needs to average over a 13-game schedule). Sixteen of those points are defensive or special teams scores.

It’s been pitiful, disgusting and insulting to Iowa fans.

Yet before Iowa lost to Minnesota, the Hawkeyes kept winning these disgusting rugby matches: 15-6 over Wisconsin, 20-14 over Purdue, 26-16 over Michigan State. Iowa climbed into the Top 25 in the AP poll and came into the weekend as the clear-cut favorite to make it to Indianapolis for the conference title game out of the Big Ten West.

People were amused by how a program that doesn’t try to score keeps winning. We kept coming up with fake scenarios for how Iowa could fail to reach 25 points per game and still find a way to retain Brian Ferentz. It became this fun little game to see how far Iowa could push the envelope.

It’s been a national punchline. We discuss it on the podcast all the time. We laugh about how bad, yet beautiful these games are. Everyone laughs.

But Iowa fans don’t deserve to be a national punchline. And regardless of how much Ferentz has done for Iowa football in the past, he has clearly resigned himself to not caring about its offense. He is seemingly content to beat Big Ten West teams 9-6 and occasionally make it in Indianapolis, never once stopping to consider that his team could be better than 10-2 if it could score.

Iowa’s defensive coordinator, Phil Parker, continues to turn three-star prospects into NFL Draft picks and design a defense that is routinely among the best in the nation. Then his boss jokes about how his favorite victory at Iowa was a 6-4 win over Penn State in 2004.

All of this is happening during a blatant case of nepotism. While his son remains in over his head as an offensive coordinator and jokes keep pouring in, he’s lining his pockets as a government employee.

No more. I can’t take it anymore.

Thank goodness Minnesota won, and we were reminded that with an offense that poor, Iowa is susceptible to losing to anyone. Iowa is still technically alive for the Big Ten Championship Game, so I hope it loses to another bad team because it can’t get a first down. I don’t want Iowa to win another game because I can’t stand any more misguided confirmation in Kirk Ferentz’s head that he is doing right by his program, players and fans. He’s stealing money from the people booing in the stands.

When you stink at your job, you get fired. Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman fired offensive coordinator Dan Enos on Sunday after saying he was the most gifted play caller he had ever seen when he hired him. That was a relationship that ended because Enos isn’t Pittman’s son.

I understand Iowa has been dealt a tough hand with some bad injuries on offense, most notably losing starting quarterback Cade McNamara. Yes, I’m sure the Hawkeyes may be a little better than dead last in total offense in college football had they had their full roster to deal with.

But this isn’t a serious program. It won’t be until it has a serious coach who cares about putting a quality offensive product on the field. Iowa fans deserve better than this.

I’m rooting for Iowa to fail so Iowa fans can get the changes necessary for the program to actually succeed.

Ari Wasserman is a senior writer for The Athletic covering college football and recruiting nationally. He previously spent 10 years covering Ohio State for The Athletic and Cleveland.com, starting on the Buckeyes beat in 2009. Follow Ari on Twitter @AriWasserman
You would prefer watching a team score 40 a game and be 3-9. I prefer winning.
 
I'd prefer to have an offense that was in the top 50 and be playing in the playoffs.
You had it. Where were you June ‘20 to defend it.

Imagine what could have been if UI backed their people? If this teams leadership followed the U’s lead Iowa FB would be 2-10 right now.
 
You had it. Where were you June ‘20 to defend it.

Imagine what could have been if UI backed their people? If this teams leadership followed the U’s lead Iowa FB would be 2-10 right now.
Using 2020 as a reference point is all i need to hear from you. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
 
It’s a good reference point, you were rooting for the same team then as you were today. Glad you had a terrible season rooting against the Hawks. 2-10 buh bye.
I never rooted against the hawks, its a horrible reference as its an outlier where so many players were out and it wasnt a complete season.

Not sure what your 2-10 reference is, but ok.
 
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Big Ten West is protecting the Ferentz family. It's a pathetic division and the only place in the country Iowa could continue to win games in this manner
Like Wisconsin and Minnesota, and Nebraska, etc. That article was a joke and not reporting. It was a hatchet job. Kirks smile is now a smirk and i guarantee he wants a good offense. Why bring in all these offensive portal guys if he thinks offense is unnecessary? KF can stay forever as far as I'm concerned.
 
More to the point, those that don't like this article and articles like this are typically people afraid of change and cling to mediocrity for fear of further failure...it's a sad life but unfortunately it is the norm for many people.
10-2 is a special season especially with the injuries. I don't care if Iowa is in the west division or who they played. That's a great record against p5 teams.
 
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