Strengthening the core???

[24Hawkeye7]

I read an interesting article on Hawk Central about the surprising number of athletes leaving the program this spring and summer. It talked about how only one player (Fleming) that transferred would have had a shot at seeing any playing time at all, then went on to talk about how this is actually a good thing for Iowa. It sounded as if they were saying that this is happening from the inside, for a reason, to strengthen the core of the team. By allowing these lesser players to transfer and have more scholarships to give out, especially with the momentum Iowa has been having in recruiting, I was wondering your guys thoughts on this???

 

[dekhawk]

do it, have to find a way to keep up with SEC over signing.

 

[GunnerHawk]

I don't know if I totally agree with the article. I think many of the departures were because the player saw they were down the chart. Most were not in the three deeps. Only Fleming would have played a lot. Outsey may have played on special teams and some on offense. Truitt wasn't listed in the two deeps.

This being said, Iowa has always succeeded with the 4th and 5th year players. Player attrition happens at all schools but Iowa is not deep enough to lose 8 scholarship players and not take a hit somewhere. I do think we are hot right now and could finish strong with a few more 4 star players, but losing a player in his third or fourth year in the program that has developed physically and mentally (knows our offense) is hard to replace, even with high skilled newcomers.

I had high hopes for several kids that left. What you never know is how hard they will work when they get into the program. The time spent to develop in the weight room, in the film room and in the class room requires a tremendous amount of dedication for these kids.

I personally thank each kid who came to Iowa and wish them well whether in football or in life.

 

[ichawk24]

I don't want the staff to run off players. But if guys find themselves buried on the depth chart and prefer to transfer to a school with more opportunity, it does open up roster spots for the next recruiting class.

I agree that Fleming is the only recent departure that would have seen the field. Maybe one or two others after a couple years of development.

Maybe football is joining basketball in the transfer culture.

 

[milehighhawkeye24]

I am only speculating here but it sounds like Darwinism at its finest....most if not all these players were 1) Not ever going to play or wanted to play more (Fleming) 2) Not willing to put in full effort academically, as a teammate, or on field/in weight room or 3) all the above
If this was an isolated thing at Iowa I would be concerned, but it is pretty common from coast to coast. Now if Beathard, King, Johnson, etc is deciding to transfer, now I would be concerned. Considering the ones who transferred were not going to be essential players (minus fleming if we have injury) then it seems like a pretty natural progression

 

[Hawk68]

It certainly is a mutual decision..

 

[td77]

As has been pointed out in other threads, this is a good year to strengthen the core. Wish everyone luck, but this could be a good long term effect on our depth.

 

[DogBoyRy]

I am only speculating here but it sounds like Darwinism at its finest....most if not all these players were 1) Not ever going to play or wanted to play more (Fleming) 2) Not willing to put in full effort academically, as a teammate, or on field/in weight room or 3) all the above
If this was an isolated thing at Iowa I would be concerned, but it is pretty common from coast to coast. Now if Beathard, King, Johnson, etc is deciding to transfer, now I would be concerned. Considering the ones who transferred were not going to be essential players (minus fleming if we have injury) then it seems like a pretty natural progression

Biggest factor for turnover is the depth chart vs amount of time it takes to be a D1 fball player at Iowa and a lot of other programs.

 

[B1G]

I don't agree with the OP. Any transfer, it's wasted time and effort spent for nothing. And while their scholarships may go to better players it's not a given. The staff obviously liked all those that transferred at one time too.

 

[bouma1415]

I don't agree with the OP. Any transfer, it's wasted time and effort spent for nothing. And while their scholarships may go to better players it's not a given. The staff obviously liked all those that transferred at one time too.

Hogwash! Is it better to keep "wasting" time with players if they are never going to succeed....or try another player with potential to make our team better in the future. No one wants to ride the bench for 4 years. Players see the writing on the wall. Do you hang around and hope the 3-4 players in front of you get hurt, or find another program that has a need for your skill level. This is not rocket science fellas.

 

[HawkeyeMcNutt]

Outside of Fleming, let them go, and attack this 2017 recruiting class full force. Use the momentum to build the foundation for continued success.

 

[EZ2BJZ]

Is it possible that KF and staff were just honest with these kids about where they stood on the depth chart and these kids in turn just took a natural course of action by deciding to go somewhere else where they might have a better chance at PT? In other words, nothing malevolent or insidious, just a normal part of the business of college football that happens everywhere?

I personally am grateful that all of these defections had nothing to do with team rule infractions or legal concerns. There was a time when that was happening all too frequently.

 

[Eternal Return]

Is it possible that KF and staff were just honest with these kids about where they stood on the depth chart and these kids in turn just took a natural course of action by deciding to go somewhere else where they might have a better chance at PT? In other words, nothing malevolent or insidious, just a normal part of the business of college football that happens everywhere?

I personally am grateful that all of these defections had nothing to do with team rule infractions or legal concerns. There was a time when that was happening all too frequently.

Good points. I also wonder if there weren't some players looking at the new recruits coming in this year's class (2016) and next year's (2017) in addition to what was already in front of them. They were inside the program so they probably made decisions based on what they knew. Also, homesickness could have played a factor for some guys. Unless the kid says exactly why he left, it's all speculation anyway (although some speculations are a little more likely to be true than others).

 

[pharmdfd]

Any kid that gives up a free education to try and get playing time at some CC or such isn't very smart to begin with. If you can't start at Iowa chances are very very high you aren't going to the next level. No knock on Iowa that's just the fact of how hard it is to make it to the NFL.

 

[DutchyFunStar]

I can understand guys like Truitt who have been in the system a few years and are buried on the depth chart. I less understand guys like Graham who leave after their redshirt year. This is probably the most common however as they find out after one year that football at this level isn't for them. I even less understand guys like Outsey who are getting some PT and have opportunity ahead of them.

 

[Eternal Return]

I can understand guys like Truitt who have been in the system a few years and are buried on the depth chart. I less understand guys like Graham who leave after their redshirt year. This is probably the most common however as they find out after one year that football at this level isn't for them. I even less understand guys like Outsey who are getting some PT and have opportunity ahead of them.

In fairness, Graham was from Alabama so maybe the distance from home was tough on him. I don't know, though.

 

[Dauminator]

Hogwash! Is it better to keep "wasting" time with players if they are never going to succeed....or try another player with potential to make our team better in the future. No one wants to ride the bench for 4 years. Players see the writing on the wall. Do you hang around and hope the 3-4 players in front of you get hurt, or find another program that has a need for your skill level. This is not rocket science fellas.

There's something to be said for calling that "lost" time a sunk cost and ignore it in your calculations.

However . . . I'd venture to say it isn't lost or wasted time per se. Just because the kid doesn't see the field doesn't mean there wasn't an impact to his life. I get wanting to play, but chasing PT wouldn't be enough to me to cause a transfer. There's a whole lot more that goes into being on a team then your on-field time.

I guess I'm saying I can't make blanket statements. Based on everything I've heard from our staff, I trust them (esp KF) to seek each player's best interests as a person. So if some players are choosing to transfer, I hope they were positively impacted while here, that they were at least advised well, and they prosper in their new endeavors.