KF: Love/hate relationship

[hawkfan2024]

Bath doesn't have even a quarter of the ego of Kirk and Brian combined.

 

[shanksit44]

I’m more positive than most on this board when it comes to Iowa Football. I think what Kirk has done at Iowa is incredible. So much so, that a good portion of our fanbase might see us in a higher status than what reality suggests. He’s done a lot of great, great things.

Kirk blatantly put together a convoluted plan to insert Brian as the next head coach. He put his self-interests above the health of the program. He willingly let one side of the football die on the vine, and was willing to bring Brian back AGAIN next season.

Our offense this year is both much improved, while also feeling the ill-effects of the BF failure. Everyone who has ever said, “Imagine what we could’ve been with an average offense!” should be really pissed off, because we wasted excellent defenses in 2021 and 2023, and a generational unit in 2022.

And while we are good defensively this year, we are not even close to the last three years. The opportunity to capitalize on the peak of Phil Parker’s run is gone. And it is because of Kirk.

That. Freaking. Sucks.

Maybe not as a complete a unit as the previous 3 years but it felt like the D-line was getting a more consistent push and chase Saturday. The more hurries and hits on the QB’s should eventually pay off.

 

[jonesy5960]

It was Beth's ego and firing Brian mid season which was poor form. She should have let the season play out & then asserted her authority at the season's ending evaluation, like most AD's would have. Her insecurity and the need to insert herself into the storyline that was uncalled for & unprofessional in my opinion.

Nope. OC's don't work for any other AD's so I'm not sure why you believe that. 99% of coaches would have fired Brian the year before. Most coaches would have begun the search for a new OC the day after the current guy was let go in order to maximize the opportunity to hire the best guy available and begin the transition to the new guy the minute the season ended. Kirk chose not to utilize the time that was afforded by Beth's action. That's not a Beth problem. That was a Kirk problem.

 

[swihawk]

Bath doesn't have even a quarter of the ego of Kirk and Brian combined.

You know that how? She's an administrator. Her work is largely behind the curtain.

 

[the24fan]

I’m more positive than most on this board when it comes to Iowa Football. I think what Kirk has done at Iowa is incredible. So much so, that a good portion of our fanbase might see us in a higher status than what reality suggests. He’s done a lot of great, great things.

Kirk blatantly put together a convoluted plan to insert Brian as the next head coach. He put his self-interests above the health of the program. He willingly let one side of the football die on the vine, and was willing to bring Brian back AGAIN next season.

Our offense this year is both much improved, while also feeling the ill-effects of the BF failure. Everyone who has ever said, “Imagine what we could’ve been with an average offense!” should be really pissed off, because we wasted excellent defenses in 2021 and 2023, and a generational unit in 2022.

And while we are good defensively this year, we are not even close to the last three years. The opportunity to capitalize on the peak of Phil Parker’s run is gone. And it is because of Kirk.

That. Freaking. Sucks.

Nailed it

 

[Buggie]

It’s possible Kirk would have pulled the trigger on Brian by himself eventually.

Are you kidding me!!!

 

[danny14]

Are you kidding me!!!

To give him a raise! Yikes!!

 

[amahawk]

I think he would have fired Brian at the end of the season after the Tennessee game. And for all we know, maybe he made the decision to fire Brian when Brian was actually fired, and he was able to play it off as if it wasn't his call.

Did Kirk have Beth fire Brian?

 

[Rambler Hawk]

We'll never know for sure, but the likelihood of Kirk ever firing his son was always a huge longshot. I'm sure he seriously considered resigning after Beth fired Brian, but after coming to the conclusion that it served no purpose, and would only sully his legacy by quitting over it, he decided to stay and do what he loves doing. In any case, Lester appears to be a huge upgrade, albeit with personnel limitations, and we should all be grateful that Beth stepped in when she did.

Well said Jonesy! 😎

 

[hawkfan2024]

You know that how? She's an administrator. Her work is largely behind the curtain.

Because I've listened to the interviews she's done. She never throws people she works with under the bus, the way Kirk did with Deuce Hogan. She's never asked "what's the upside?" when asked by the press why she doesn't change something, the way Brian Ferentz did.

 

[jonesy5960]

Why won't phil keep it up ? Recruiting seems very good.

The defense is very good and is definitely still the strength of this team, and there is no reason to believe it will fall off precipitously as long as Phil is running the show. With that said, the previous few years were historically good, the likes of which might never be seen at Iowa again.

I think next year is the first real rebuilding year on defense that Iowa has had in quite a while with 8 or 9 starters being replaced? You will see a drop-off for sure.

 

[LukaDuka]

Nope. OC's don't work for any other AD's so I'm not sure why you believe that. 99% of coaches would have fired Brian the year before. Most coaches would have begun the search for a new OC the day after the current guy was let go in order to maximize the opportunity to hire the best guy available and begin the transition to the new guy the minute the season ended. Kirk chose not to utilize the time that was afforded by Beth's action. That's not a Beth problem. That was a Kirk problem.

Being he is a lifetime Hawkeye (Brian) and the son of a soon to be hall of fame coach, the correct thing to do would have been have him reassigned to OL or TE coach. A demotion was certainly called for, but not a firing. He was very successful in his previous positions.

But Beth thought she need to assert her authority without regard to his past accomplishments. I'm sure if it would have been proposed, Brian would have either resigned gracefully or accepted a demotion. But to be thrown out in mid season is piss poor on her (or the President of the Uni) part.

 

[LukaDuka]

The defense is very good and is definitely still the strength of this team, and there is no reason to believe it will fall off precipitously as long as Phil is running the show. With that said, the previous few years were historically good, the likes of which might never be seen at Iowa again.

I think next year is the first real rebuilding year on defense that Iowa has had in quite a while with 8 or 9 starters being replaced? You will see a drop-off for sure.

I agree. I know we have some good recruits, but very inexperienced. We will need to average 30 pts a game next year.

 

[jonesy5960]

Being he is a lifetime Hawkeye (Brian) and the son of a soon to be hall of fame coach, the correct thing to do would have been to not have hired him as OC in the first place but there was no recovering from that mistake once it was made and Brian failed miserably. Of course demotion was likely not an acceptable option for anyone involved.

But Beth thought she need to assert her authority when she did because the entire situation had become a circus and the decision was made. I'm sure the idea for informing then when she did was to give Brian an opportunity to find another job before his contract was up and Kirk an opportunity to find the best possible replacement. Or she could have just sat on it for 6 months without telling them like you wanted her to.

FIFY....

 

[LukaDuka]

FIFY....

It should not have solely been Beth's decision. Out of respect for Kirk, she should have allowed him this opportunity. Not sure if there were discussions with Kirk outside of what was conveyed, but it would be a dickless move on her part if not. Just sayin...

And to say she was giving Brian 6 months to find a position before his contract was up is ridiculous.

 

[jonesy5960]

It should not have solely been Beth's decision. Out of respect for Kirk, she should have allowed him this opportunity. Not sure if there were discussions with Kirk outside of what was conveyed, but it would be a dickless move on her part if not. Just sayin...

And to say she was giving Brian 6 months to find a position before his contract was up is ridiculous.

But she did. Whether they did anything with it is another discussion altogether.

 

[gojojo]

Brian Ferentz is no longer a coach at Iowa.

 

[TXHCHawk]

Water under the bridge. However, 10-2. If I’m in his shoes, I use it as leverage to keep him at OC. 10-2…even with Deac.

In the name of nepotism, national ridicule, protecting the product & legacy, and incremental offensive misery, she did the right thing. If she waited, he would have had too much leverage.

 

[jonesy5960]

I agree. I know we have some good recruits, but very inexperienced. We will need to average 30 pts a game next year.

It's really too early to tell with transfers and all that, but the offense looks to have some major issues upcoming as well.