Just for fun what do you think is important in the next coach

[kceasthawk]

That's exactly what Hayden Fry did, and after 20 years of losing, in only his third season Iowa won the Big Ten and went to the Rose Bowl (1982) for the first time since 1959. Cignetti came in with a similar attitude at Indiana and has produced similar results, albeit with a much easier schedule.

Fry knew college football was entertainment as well as competition, and he built an entire program from the ashes, including creating one of the most recognizable logos in sports, the Tiger Hawk. He promoted and he coached and his players had fun. Hayden wasn't afraid to do the unexpected, and even when he didn't, the other team had to worry about it. Hayden never apologized for being Iowa. Instead, he said he was coming to Iowa City to break up the Big Two (Ohio State and Michigan). And that's exactly what he did.

I want someone like Hayden Fry, someone with a bold vision who knows defense wins but who also knows offense entertains and that the two are NOT mutually exclusive. I want someone who isn't afraid to let the kids play to the final whistle, even if it means scoring 50 or 60 points. I want someone who understands the forward pass is legal and lethal. And I want someone who will run an exotic, a trick play or two almost every game. It's fun, and those plays usually work. Hell, the best teams in the NFL use them, but they're too progressive for guys like KF.

I want Iowa football to be fun as well as competitive. I want to be entertained, not bored. I want the next Hayden Fry. Somebody else can have the next Kirk Ferentz.

That all sounds great. It does. Of course we go right back to the same argument. "Exotic plays and they usually worked". Did they? Against good teams? Yes Fry lit up the crap teams, and just to be clear there were a lot more crap teams in the conference back then. Still we struggled to score points against good teams almost as bad as today. Go back and look at the records. I'm not saying it wouldn't be fun, but how about we stop trying to reauthor the Hayden Fry years with all this revisionist history.

Just to be clear I think Fry should be lauded for what he did for Iowa football. Still remember that he coached for the most part in a time before the internet or social media. Especially in the latter years and in his many low scoring games against good teams, his six tie games, and losses to average teams he would have been shredded by the fans here just as much as Kirk is now. He's fortunate that his legacy is fondly remembered by the 56-10 type games against the NW.s and ISU's of his earlier years and not some of the lesser lowlights of several years.

 

[MeetTheFerentzes]

Bell and Wallace have done a heck of a job with the defense, so no job for them? Of course if you go outside the Iowa tree, almost none of those guys get retained. Even if you keep Phil, (and I doubt he stays) he wouldn't be down with all of his guys being tossed out either....As for the contract Cignettis already going to 8 millio a year next season....

Wouldn't necessarily run them off, but the others would be my preference to retain; chances are the new guy would only keep 1-2 at the most.

If the guy wins 11 games and takes Iowa to the CFP in his first season, then I'd be ok with matching Cignetti's new contract.