Shatel: Modern college football is no country for old coaches — and that may include Kirk Ferentz

[RonaldMexico]

I want to know what "Modern Football" means. The only descriptive criteria in that article was using the portal and NIL. My main problem with that is lets say you use the portal, what do you then do with the extra players on your team? Do you kick them out the door, revoke their scholarship? Then with NIL, how would you feel if you were a player, say like Arland Bruce who signed up to play for Iowa on a scholarship with no NIL guarantee and then you find out that Iowa goes out and pays a receiver out of the portal or in recruiting a million dollars? Its real easy here to completely lose your team and lose everything you stand for.

Now, that methodology may work for a team like Alabama or Ohio State that is much like the NFL in that it is all about "what have you done for me lately?" They can replace talent with talent and have no problem getting it. But that is not Iowa.

So to me all of this "modern football" stuff is bullshit. Did anyone rip Ryan Day last Saturday when they scored their first touchdown on 3rd and goal from the 2 when they lined up with a fullback? Where was all the "the fullback is a dinosaur and has no place in modern football" drivel that we hear all the time. We didn't hear shit because it worked. What also worked for CJ Stroud is play-action. And Stroud didn't take off and run up and down the field either. Football is still all about blocking, passing, running, etc., the basic fundamentals. And no matter if you run the wishbone or the air raid, both can work with enough talent and execution and neither will work without it.

I don’t have enough time to address the stupid in this post, so I will let Nick Saban do it for me. He seems like a guy that may know what he is talking about.

Nick Saban recalls his decision to adapt his offensive philosophy at Alabama

College football isn't what it was when Saban was coming up.

www.saturdaydownsouth.com

 

[jo12208]

So you don't think KF knows his offense is DEAD LAST? He needs to hear it from a reporter? And how exactly should he explain it that satisfies you? Do you want him to go all Scott Frost and start throwing players and coaches under the bus? Because him taking the high road by saying that he is ultimately accountable for the performance of his football team and he will evaluate his team at the end of the season seems to not be good enough for you.

On your second point, lets say BF is not KF's son and just some random coach. Do you think that KF would have fired him during the season? Maybe you do, but I don't. He has never done that and I don't ever see him doing that. There are a lot of ramifications of that and it could be an indication to his team that he is throwing in the towel. Plus, even the most novice Iowa football fan knows that there are a lot of problems with the offense aside from the OC. But, because BF is his son, everyone wants to jump on the nepotism thing and I think that irrelevant because AT THIS POINT he is not treating his son differently than an unrelated coach. I also personally don't think KF hired BF just because he was his son and wanted to give him a job, I think KF hired BF because he believed in his coaching ability, he could trust him and because he knew his character very well because he was his son. A lot of sons have worked for their dad's in sports over the years. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, but to just say it shouldn't happen at all because of nepotism is lazy.

For your third paragraph, you don't think KF knows this is a fickle business and it is all about what you have done lately? He knows it better than anyone, I promise. He knows that it all comes down to whether you win games or not.

I agree with the first two parts. Not the last. I don't think he can be fired with the huge buyout.

 

[blubberhawk]

How's Notre Dame, Texas A&M and Miami (FL) doing? Blue bloods. I will give Texas and Oklahoma a pass for this one year, but not next year.

You do not have to give Texas a pass. They have sucked for years, with multiple coaches and top five recruiting classes. Texas has done less with more than any program in history.

 

[blubberhawk]

Longevity helps and created this the legendary status. 25 years and what has really been legendary about this a career. Drubbing OhioSt at home, once. TCU has even won a Rose Bowl, Kirk hasn't. Gene Cheeseik won a national title ! Kirk hasn't sniffed one.
Shatel is right. It was tolerable before. In today's game, it has become laughable. Imagine playing in the new conference, with basically a walk on secondary. Kirk and Barta are not even taking football seriously. Illin, Minny, Purdue and of course the blue bloods take football very seriously.
End it.

Iowa's secondary is very good. They had tight coverage on the best receivers in the country. If you want to lament positions, start at our receiving corps.

You were being sarcastic about Illinois, Minny and Purdue, Correct? Coaching carousels and mediocre to poor seasons describe those programs.

 

[ksihawk]

I don’t have enough time to address the stupid in this post, so I will let Nick Saban do it for me. He seems like a guy that may know what he is talking about.

Nick Saban recalls his decision to adapt his offensive philosophy at Alabama

College football isn't what it was when Saban was coming up.

www.saturdaydownsouth.com

Another great article on how Saban has embraced the portal even though he doesn't like it. Football is like any business, you adapt or die.
Nick Saban may not like the portal but he has mastered it

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

I don't understand what some of these people are wanting and expecting here. Does it really matter that somebody calls out KF? What is the point, do they think that KF doesn't know that the offense is not very good and the obvious obstacle to why this team is losing games? Do they expect KF to say, yeah, BF is going to be fired at the end of the year? If he did that he may as well fire him now. And what good is that going to do? If for nothing else it means that somebody else on the staff has to handle those duties, and, on top of the duties they already have. All while there are still some things to play for. And when they ask him about the nepotism, do they really expect him to say "yeah, I hired Brian because he was my son and so we could milk some more money out of this deal." Or do they want him to say that he regrets ever hiring Brian in the first place?

There is no answer that these people want to hear. KF says the right things like, we are just looking at the next game and everyone is working as hard as we can and at the end of the season we will go back and evaluate everything and make some decisions then. What is wrong with that? By calling players and coaches out right now is just unprofessional and tacky.

He asked the question because he was hoping Kirk would go into a tirade and give him some juicy melt material to write about. Ultimately, he got it from Tuesday's presser. "Journalism" these days is all about sensationalism, not about the news. People like that disgust me. I'm glad our team here and HR aren't like that.

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

Yes, it matters.

Kirk needs to know that his offense isn't only "not very good," it's DEAD LAST in almost every category. It's a historically bad situation, a situation he should attempt to explain as the man in charge.

Using the word nepotism in a statement directed at KF makes it known people are thinking about it - The nepotism he has in place is being noticed and he can no longer sit idly by, chewing his gum and getting away with "that's football." Nepotism is a very, very bad thing hence the importance of him knowing what he's gotten into.

KF has been allowed to be very comfortable in his role for many many years, which he needs to know is rapidly changing (insert situations where Kirky is finally being called out).

Wow...you really think he doesn't/didn't know that? How stupid are you?

 

[Kabby]

Yes, it matters.

Kirk needs to know that his offense isn't only "not very good," it's DEAD LAST in almost every category. It's a historically bad situation, a situation he should attempt to explain as the man in charge.

Using the word nepotism in a statement directed at KF makes it known people are thinking about it - The nepotism he has in place is being noticed and he can no longer sit idly by, chewing his gum and getting away with "that's football." Nepotism is a very, very bad thing hence the importance of him knowing what he's gotten into.

KF has been allowed to be very comfortable in his role for many many years, which he needs to know is rapidly changing (insert situations where Kirky is finally being called out).

Oh so Kirk had no idea the offense was sucking till this a-hole pointed it out. I get it. 99% of the people on this board have no clue what is going on behind the scenes and what it takes to run a team. They just think they are smarter than people that do.

 

[grayhair81]

I want to know what "Modern Football" means. The only descriptive criteria in that article was using the portal and NIL. My main problem with that is lets say you use the portal, what do you then do with the extra players on your team? Do you kick them out the door, revoke their scholarship? Then with NIL, how would you feel if you were a player, say like Arland Bruce who signed up to play for Iowa on a scholarship with no NIL guarantee and then you find out that Iowa goes out and pays a receiver out of the portal or in recruiting a million dollars? Its real easy here to completely lose your team and lose everything you stand for.

Now, that methodology may work for a team like Alabama or Ohio State that is much like the NFL in that it is all about "what have you done for me lately?" They can replace talent with talent and have no problem getting it. But that is not Iowa.

So to me all of this "modern football" stuff is bullshit. Did anyone rip Ryan Day last Saturday when they scored their first touchdown on 3rd and goal from the 2 when they lined up with a fullback? Where was all the "the fullback is a dinosaur and has no place in modern football" drivel that we hear all the time. We didn't hear shit because it worked. What also worked for CJ Stroud is play-action. And Stroud didn't take off and run up and down the field either. Football is still all about blocking, passing, running, etc., the basic fundamentals. And no matter if you run the wishbone or the air raid, both can work with enough talent and execution and neither will work without it.

I am one of the few people left that believes nearly any offensive scheme can succeed if you have the right players that have been properly trained. For sustained success, you have to make the defense respect the entire field. Making them account for the QB changes EVERYTHING about how a defense prepares its schemes. And having said all that, it is Iowa's EXECUTION on offense that has been abominable for a long time now and that is 100% on the Ferentzes.

 

[frydaze]

I am one of the few people left that believes nearly any offensive scheme can succeed if you have the right players that have been properly trained. For sustained success, you have to make the defense respect the entire field. Making them account for the QB changes EVERYTHING about how a defense prepares its schemes. And having said all that, it is Iowa's EXECUTION on offense that has been abominable for a long time now and that is 100% on the Ferentzes.

100% agree. I have said the exact same thing.

 

[pistachio1999]

You do not have to give Texas a pass. They have sucked for years, with multiple coaches and top five recruiting classes. Texas has done less with more than any program in history.

But every time they make a coaching change everyone always thinks okay they finally got the one that is going to return them to the top and then they fall flat. That team is a real head scratcher as you mentioned. All that talent and coaches and changes and nothing seems to change.

 

[BirdistheWord]

How's Notre Dame, Texas A&M and Miami (FL) doing? Blue bloods. I will give Texas and Oklahoma a pass for this one year, but not next year.

TAMU lost 11 players to the NFL from last years team (4 Drafted / 7 UDFA's) and while they did land the #1 recruiting class, we all know that not many of those will step right in and start this year. They are still underachieving this year as they are one of the youngest teams in college football. But overall, their program is trending up, but will need to get it done next year. Need to be in the college playoff hunt.

As a side note, I prefer their #2 QB Haynes King to their #1 guy (Brad Johnson's son). King is the 2nd fastest on the team and is a smoother passer than Johnson. Johnson is bigger and stronger, and does have less turnovers, but King has a much higher ceiling IMO. I cannot even imagine if Iowa had a player like King. Hell, even Zach Calzada who they chased off to Auburn was a lot better than our QB room.

 

[NCHawkeye24]

I am one of the few people left that believes nearly any offensive scheme can succeed if you have the right players that have been properly trained. For sustained success, you have to make the defense respect the entire field. Making them account for the QB changes EVERYTHING about how a defense prepares its schemes. And having said all that, it is Iowa's EXECUTION on offense that has been abominable for a long time now and that is 100% on the Ferentzes.

I agree completely and the reason why Iowa's offense has been so bad and seemingly so easy to defend is because they cannot make the defense defend the entire field. I also agree that is 100% on the Ferentzes.

 

[NCHawkeye24]

I don’t have enough time to address the stupid in this post, so I will let Nick Saban do it for me. He seems like a guy that may know what he is talking about.

Nick Saban recalls his decision to adapt his offensive philosophy at Alabama

College football isn't what it was when Saban was coming up.

www.saturdaydownsouth.com

The stupid is you comparing Iowa and Alabama. Saban has the luxury of being able to change his philosophy to anything he wants and match up the personnel to execute that. You are a moron if you think that it is that easy for a coach at Iowa to do that. You really think elite skill position talent is going to come to Iowa City? You do realize that the scout team receivers at Bama and Ohio State are better than anybody we have here right? And that going all the way back into the Hayden days that we have had exactly how many elite wide receivers, the type that end up as pro bowlers in the NFL?

So what do you do when you know you cannot beat teams consistently doing it the way that they do it? According to you that just means trying harder to mimic that right, just copy what they are doing. And how exactly do you think that will work out? Keep quoting Saban, I want to read it. Throw Kirby Smart in there too, oh, and Lincoln Reilly. I am sure what they say will provide some incredible insight on how Iowa should develop their offensive philosophy.

 

[radicalhawk]

Oh so Kirk had no idea the offense was sucking till this a-hole pointed it out. I get it. 99% of the people on this board have no clue what is going on behind the scenes and what it takes to run a team. They just think they are smarter than people that do

Ferentz and Boy Wonder knew the offense was sucking for months, did nothing, and allowed it to hit rock bottom. In your warped mind and lack of common sense, the one who questions that kind of incompetence is an "a-hole."
99% of the people on this board seen it coming. You're the 1% who has no clue, to put it diplomatically.

 

[pistachio1999]

TAMU lost 11 players to the NFL from last years team (4 Drafted / 7 UDFA's) and while they did land the #1 recruiting class, we all know that not many of those will step right in and start this year. They are still underachieving this year as they are one of the youngest teams in college football. But overall, their program is trending up, but will need to get it done next year. Need to be in the college playoff hunt.

As a side note, I prefer their #2 QB Haynes King to their #1 guy (Brad Johnson's son). King is the 2nd fastest on the team and is a smoother passer than Johnson. Johnson is bigger and stronger, and does have less turnovers, but King has a much higher ceiling IMO. I cannot even imagine if Iowa had a player like King. Hell, even Zach Calzada who they chased off to Auburn was a lot better than our QB room.

They just had 3 guys suspended for behavior issues.

 

[TheEuroHawk]

Nebraska trash is Nebraska trash.

 

[BirdistheWord]

They just had 3 guys suspended for behavior issues.

Yes, I saw that. All true freshman I believe. They have problems for sure, and a #1 recruiting class is no guarantee of success, but I would certainly take my chances.

 

[JLDHAWK]

Texas A&M is a blue blood?

Did you exclude teams that are doing better after making a coaching change, or, do those not count and go against your narrative?

They are buying that status as we speak!

 

[SBWarriorHawk]

Iowa's secondary is very good. They had tight coverage on the best receivers in the country. If you want to lament positions, start at our receiving corps.

You were being sarcastic about Illinois, Minny and Purdue, Correct? Coaching carousels and mediocre to poor seasons describe those programs.

Very good lol. Basically three walk-ons completely overmatched by real teams. Not playing with big time teams with those people.

 

[pistachio1999]

Doesn't "Shatel" sound like something that happens after sucking down a 12 pack of Schlitz the night before?

 

[kceasthawk]

Longevity helps and created this the legendary status. 25 years and what has really been legendary about this a career. Drubbing OhioSt at home, once. TCU has even won a Rose Bowl, Kirk hasn't. Gene Cheeseik won a national title ! Kirk hasn't sniffed one.
Shatel is right. It was tolerable before. In today's game, it has become laughable. Imagine playing in the new conference, with basically a walk on secondary. Kirk and Barta are not even taking football seriously. Illin, Minny, Purdue and of course the blue bloods take football very seriously.
End it.

Good Lord. What in the F--- are you talking about with " a walk on secondary". CDJ will be first team All conf more then once, and X is a 5 star and he'll probably be starting next year. Like the Db's coached by Phil are the problem? Seriously, seek help.......