4 B1G Coach of the Year Candidates

[OnceAhawk]

From ESPN.com:


Coach of the Year

1. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz (6 first-place votes): The Hawkeyes are 12-0 right now and hadn’t gone undefeated since 1922. Does anything more really need to be said? Iowa is the surprise team of the Big Ten this season, and Ferentz deserves all the credit coming his way.

2. Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio: Another year, another 10-plus win season for the Spartans. It’s becoming so commonplace that one voter left Dantonio off his ballot altogether. Michigan State is just one win away from its third Big Ten title since 2010.

3. Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald: Outside of Iowa, no other Big Ten team exceeded expectations more than the Wildcats. They rebounded from back-to-back five-win seasons and are now back on track as a rising program. This is Northwestern’s fourth 10-win season since 1903.

4. Also receiving votes: Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh

http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten/post...tracker-week-13-de-carl-nassib-remains-on-top

 

[HawktimusPrime]

Ferentz should win this running away. Team was 7-6 last year, no one expected what we have here, and if this school doesn't pass the eye test as they say, due to lack of 5 stars, then you can only blame coaching.

 

[modeba2004]

FERENTZ!!! That, I believe would be number 4, and the most in B1G history.

 

[OC_Hawk]

If I had a vote it would go to Ferentz, but I think Fitz very well could win the award. 5-7 last year to 10-2 this year with a Freshman quarterback.

 

[soybean]

If I had a vote it would go to Ferentz, but I think Fitz very well could win the award. 5-7 last year to 10-2 this year with a Freshman quarterback.

Fitz did a good job this year...but c'mon, how do you look past 12-0?

 

[hurlhawk]

Fitz did a good job this year...but c'mon, how do you look past 12-0?

Not to mention the head to head result. Northwestern has had a very nice season & Fitz should be commended for that. However, based on preseason expectations & season results, if Ferentz doesn't win, it's a travesty.

 

[Scherrman]

Has to be Ferentz but I could see Fitz making it close.

 

[NileKinnicksGhost]

You have to give it to Ferentz, he beat Fitz head-to-head.

 

[MIKEBOV]

I'm an MSU fan but I would vote for KF. He has his team far out performing preseason expectations.

 

[Shower Fart]

Ferentz all day. But I wouldn't count on it, the other coaches and media can be petty. He deserves it though.

 

[HawkeyeJones]

I think the only variable is whether he wins National Coach of the Year or not.

 

[OnceAhawk]

I'm an MSU fan but I would vote for KF. He has his team far out performing preseason expectations.

dantonio did a great job too; MSU had to overcome a lot of injuries and they beat OSU at the Shoe without Connor Cook

could Iowa beat OSU at the Shoe without CJ?

 

[IACub]

I think the only variable is whether he wins National Coach of the Year or not.

This. There's no question he's Big Ten COTY, and I don't see who could challenge him nationally. From our crappy, disappointing last year to our amazing, mind blowing this year, and a good deal of it due solely to coaching decisions and changes in philosophy.

 

[ABYPFCS]

Most any other year a coach for NW going 10-2 would be an automatic for COY. This year however, it should not and Kirk Ferentz should be Big Ten coach of the year and very likely National Coach of the year.

 

[IaHawk44]

Not only did Ferentz lead Iowa to an undefeated season, he also is responsible for Michigan's success from coaching Jake Rudock the previous three seasons and making him a "Godsend."

 

[Hawk-A-Doodle-Doo]

Not only did Ferentz lead Iowa to an undefeated season, he also is responsible for Michigan's success from coaching Jake Rudock the previous three seasons and making him a "Godsend."

Fine....Coach-and-a-Half of the Year then!

 

[SDHawkDoc]

It's really not close.
Iowa was expected to be 4th in the B1G west.
To be undefeated and in the champ game where this team came from, that's not just B1G coach of the year. That's national coach of the year.

 

[OnceAhawk]

It's really not close.
Iowa was expected to be 4th in the B1G west.
To be undefeated and in the champ game where this team came from, that's not just B1G coach of the year. That's national coach of the year.

i hope u r right on the national coach of the year; some say Clemson's coach is the front runner but who knows.....KF has to be in the top 2 in the discussion, though, correct? I bet Dantonio is, too; i am guessing these are the 3 top candidates for national coach of the year