Kirk Ferentz Being Criticized Fairly?

[GatOrlando]

There are many longstanding and legendary coaches in CFB. People know the names well. But did you know that Kirk Ferentz is only a couple wins from breaking the all time B1G wins? Has he been there since forever? Yes.. he's entering his 27th season in an era where that's unheard of.

 

Has he won anything of note? Yes and no. He's won multiple B1G West division titles and a couple shared B1G titles before the league implemented a CCG. He's appeared in a Rose Bowl and two Orange Bowls. Winning the 2009 Orange Bowl over Georgia Tech. He has run a clean program with a high graduation rate and no off field issues. He's also put some great players into the NFL like Kittles and Wirfs currently along with Hockenson.

 

However, he isn't free from notable issues like hiring and keeping his own son on staff when it clearly wasn't working. Winning the B1G West was like being the fastest turtle tbh and Iowa got smoked in each title game except one. He's also been blown out in two of those three BCS bowls.

 

Recently he is being blamed for his apparent acceptance of high floor and low ceiling since in his words "They do things the right way". Well, that's kind of an arrogant statement. That's like saying that winning at a high level is only possible within programs that stretch the rules or have questionable personnel. Notre Dame runs a clean program, and they do it at a high level.

 

Putting all of that to the side though, I can say Iowa doesn't hit the transfer portal with the intensity of an Oregon or Texas because they don't have the means. So perhaps Iowa could be a little more aggressive and hit it big or strike out. You never hit the home run you don't swing at, but you also could bring in guys that don't buy into the culture and possibly make an eight win team drop down to barely bowl eligible.

[30Duck]

On 1/26/2025 at 1:07 PM, GatOrlando said:

"They do things the right way". Well, that's kind of an arrogant statement.

Arrogant and defensive. His B1G wins record won't get a lot of recognition. 

[GatOrlando]

On 1/26/2025 at 2:22 PM, 30Duck said:

Arrogant and defensive. His B1G wins record won't get a lot of recognition. 

I was surprised that a "lock" Hall Of Famer hasn't got any solo titles to his name. At what point does quantity overshadow quality? James Franklin and Ryan Day gets criticized for losing big games but how many has Captain Kirk won? Lanning in one year has done more in the B1G than Ferentz has. Beaten the big three and won an outright conference championship.

[Augduck]

Word is he is not well liked at all by coaching industry peers -FWIW

[HDuck]

1. not overall record, but at indicated school while that school was in Big Ten
2. Woody Hayes, Ohio State, 1951-78 (205 wins) 205-61-10 - 27 seasons
3. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa, 1999-present (204) 204-124 - 25 seasons (more games/year than Hayes)
4. Amos Alonzo Stagg, Chicago, 1896-1932 (199)
5. Bo Schembechler, Michigan, 1969-89 (194) 194-48-5
6. Joe Paterno, Penn State, 1993-2011 (162) 162-69

Ferentz has given a LOT of money to charitable causes, and particularly to medical facilities that are part of U of Iowa System.

[GatOrlando]

On 1/26/2025 at 4:49 PM, HDuck said:

1. not overall record, but at indicated school while that school was in Big Ten
2. Woody Hayes, Ohio State, 1951-78 (205 wins) 205-61-10 - 27 seasons
3. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa, 1999-present (204) 204-124 - 25 seasons (more games/year than Hayes)
4. Amos Alonzo Stagg, Chicago, 1896-1932 (199)
5. Bo Schembechler, Michigan, 1969-89 (194) 194-48-5
6. Joe Paterno, Penn State, 1993-2011 (162) 162-69

Ferentz has given a LOT of money to charitable causes, and particularly to medical facilities that are part of U of Iowa System.

 Most coaches are incredible human beings as well. I hate when people attack a person or their family. No place for that garbage and if anybody is doing it they should be ashamed and be shamed for doing it.

 

On 1/26/2025 at 2:57 PM, Augduck said:

Word is he is not well liked at all by coaching industry peers -FWIW

This kind of shocks me. I always heard he was well respected amongst his peers. But if he's doing something that draws this there may be truth to the rumors of him silencing local media in Iowa City. That should never be allowed.

[GatOrlando]

Dan Wetzel: 'I don’t think [Kirk Ferentz has] ever been asked a tough question'

AWFULANNOUNCING.COM

---

Yahoo! Sports columnist Dan Wetzel joined 92.3 The Fan’s Ken Carman on Friday to discuss Kirk Ferentz's...

 

"After the Hawkeyes were thoroughly trounced 54-10 by Ohio State last Saturday, the elder Ferentz lashed out at reporters over their questions about the state of the offense and what he intends to do about his offensive coordinator/child, some of which were asked by Doug Lesmerises of Cleveland.com, who has been critical of Ferentz and the Hawkeyes’ offense in his columns. While none of the questions he was asked rose above the level of “obvious given the situation,” the longtime head coach complained that he felt “interrogated.”

 

“I complimented the guys on Sunday during some of the interrogations that I experience on Saturday,” said Ferentz. “It dawned on me coming home that as bad as today was it could have been worse. I could have been that guy (while pointing at a media member), I could have had his job and acted like he did. Could’ve been a hell of a lot worse, right?"

 

 

This was from a 2022 article. It took a new athletic director to step in and fire Brian Ferentz after last season. There was talk about what Brian was being paid and what level Kirk was protecting him and keeping him on staff but nothing I can substantiate. But it's a bad look that I can't see being accepted anywhere, especially at a huge state learning institution like Iowa. Iowa is a darn good school and they have a pretty good history.

 

I can't imagine Oregon State or Washington State doing this. Much less a program with over 700 wins and a proud B1G member.

Edited Monday at 02:36 AM by GatOrlando