I think Kirk is getting better, he’s getting better with the portal and recruiting, letting Lester run the offense. The only game I felt e were out coached in, was Iowa State, maybe USC.
Ferentz not retiring.
- Thread starter Hawk_4shur
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I'll disagree with you in regard to portals. He has brought in 2 broken QB's, a bunch of low G5/FCS cast off WR's, some OL who never see the field due to injuries or ability. He's done okay on the defensive side of the ball, but only barely.
KF will always be about recruiting and developing HS kids and I would very surprised if he chases after and pays P4 players. Maybe getting burned by Proctor is a factor, IDK.
In any case, KF will retire on his terms I guess. I would be very surprised if there isn't a deal in place for a retirement date with AD. I do not see him getting an extension.
Rusty Feth (OL) was a starter and he was pretty good. Guy that came this year got hurt in fall camp or pregame game 1
Remember Nick Jackson ????????????????
The two guys started on the DL this year that came in. Jonah Pace was honorable mention All Big Ten. Pretty good for one year
Oh they think someone like Lane Kiffin or Nick Saban is gonna beat down the door to get in there
As frustrating as it was losing 4 close games, it felt different to me this year. We are scoring more points, the offense has progressed steadily the last couple years. This gives me hope for the future with KF staying at the helm. If we can finally add a downfield passing threat, and use it regularly, we have a chance to win close games like the 4 we lost this year.
With this ever changing college football landscape, I'm good with KF if our offense continues it's progress. Use the portal for guys that fit in the program. Keep up the quality recruiting. I'm looking forward to watching one more fun Hawkeye football game this season. GO HAWKS!
With this ever changing college football landscape, I'm good with KF if our offense continues it's progress. Use the portal for guys that fit in the program. Keep up the quality recruiting. I'm looking forward to watching one more fun Hawkeye football game this season. GO HAWKS!
Why is the stadium still full then? You just smarter than everyon else?
End of first half vs. Penn State.
There was another game, I can’t remember against who, where Iowa had 3 timeouts with over a minute left and was trying to score before halftime. Iowa drove to around the 30 yard line, didn’t call one timeout, and had under :20 left. Of course, they ended up kicking a field goal because the drive stalled, but they should have burnt at least two timeouts by that point. They could have discussed better play options to get the ball in the end zone instead of rushing to beat the clock at the end and having to settle for a field goal.
You are correct, however, that none are memorable because none cost Iowa a game.
Oh yeah anyone we offer would just haul tail to get here and stay forever and ever.
And 99% of the players are loyal as hell to him. Tells you a lot about his character
I thought Lester is the savior? We moved up to 60th in offense in 2025. Trend is in the right direction.
Hell no they don't. They just want their team to do that. Like people with diet, exercise, financial matters, personal relationships, etc etc etc
Since were being honest, the creation of the Big Ten West allowed his tenure to endure longer than it otherwise would have. Those win loss records would have been majorly impacted.
We played Penn State a lot. We beat them as much as they beat us. Who else from the East, play Ohio State every year? MIchigan only got good when Harbaugh brought in Connor Stallions. We beat them in 2016 when they were #2. Then Stallion came on scene in later years. What other "east" teams were we supposed to be afraid of?
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The question is this: Looking ahead at the next 3-5 years, do we have a better chance of making the CFP with or without Kirk Ferentz as our head coach?
Everyone is entitled to their opinion on this question.
That said, I'll note that we were very much in the discussion for a playoff spot midway through this season. And there have been numerous seasons in the past when we would have had an excellent shot of making a 12-team field, had it existed.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion on this question.
That said, I'll note that we were very much in the discussion for a playoff spot midway through this season. And there have been numerous seasons in the past when we would have had an excellent shot of making a 12-team field, had it existed.
Yeah, I think KF worries a lot about the opponent getting the ball back. And given the number of times the defense has allowed points in the last couple of minutes of the half, maybe it's warranted. It's a conservative approach for sure.
This Year at least You saw Kirk take the gagball out of or at least loosen it from Lester's mouth , He stays as long as He is healthy and Iowa is winning and no lost locker rooms or scandals . I just hope Beth has had sit downs and there is a transition plan already agreed on so Iowa keeps Players recruiting classes and the culture when Kirk does leave , I have to believe Beth and Iowa football are not totally blind to the possibility that People who are 70 are truly on 1 day 1 month 1 Year deals
So again, when Ferentz retires, who's going to come take Iowa to the promised land? Do you think Iowa City is a destination for coaching? The only reason we have the assistants we do is because of Ferentz. I'll say again, we're lucky to have a coach that has had the sustained success that KF has for as long as he has. This program could be in the ditch without him.
Put off becoming Whisky as long as you can. Once KF leaves, the schedule will get harder, the officiating will not be so lenient, and expectations will become higher. KF in perpetuity!Sorry if Pepsi.
Iowa's Kirk Ferentz to coach 28th season with Hawkeyes in '26
Iowa's Kirk Ferentz, currently the longest-tenured head coach in the FBS, announced he'll return in 2026 for his 28th season with the Hawkeyes.www.espn.com
Sorry but that's just a complete loser mentality... we're just little old Iowa and are lucky to eek out another 8-win season and we all should just be thankful for what we have. BS.
Iowa is an upper half program in the best and richest conference in the country. Sure we're not LSU but to think that we won't be able to attract some really good coaching candidates is nonsense.
But that is exactly the point. If you’re going to play it conservatively, play it conservatively. If you’re going to try to score, go try to score. Vacillating is what cost Iowa 7 points against Penn State trying to kick a 70 yard field goal.
I'm asking you specifically who you think we can get to replace Ferentz today that would be an improvement. Especially in a case where he's fired.
Iowa's expectations should be this:
FWIW, it seems like we are achieving #1, #2*, and #4 of these with Kirk. #3 is probably debatable, but I personally am excited/hopeful at the start of most years.
(*-Not enough years with the 12-team playoff to evaluate "qualifying occasionally," but had the expanded playoff been in existence for the entirety of Kirk's career, we certainly would have qualified numerous times.)
- 8-10 wins during most years
- Being in the mix for the CFP regularly; qualifying occasionally*
- Having a realistic hope of catching fire and winning the conference championship or more
- Full stadium for home games
FWIW, it seems like we are achieving #1, #2*, and #4 of these with Kirk. #3 is probably debatable, but I personally am excited/hopeful at the start of most years.
(*-Not enough years with the 12-team playoff to evaluate "qualifying occasionally," but had the expanded playoff been in existence for the entirety of Kirk's career, we certainly would have qualified numerous times.)
I have no idea. I'm not an AD. I don't know when the position will be open and need to be filled, obviously it won't be next season. And I don't pay close enough attention to college football coaching beyond the B1G to put an actual name out there. My personal preference would be for someone young(ish) who's had success at a smaller program/programs and is looking to climb the ranks, as opposed to a Pat F./Brett B. type. I don't think the search should be limited to candidates who have some previous connection with Iowa (see Mark Stoops), and I don't think it should focus on candidates who most resemble Kirk Ferentz in terms of their personality, approach, coaching philosophy, background, etc. (see Chris Klieman). My hope would be for someone who's leaning into the realities of college football today (NIL, portal, conference expansion) and would bring new energy to the program.
to compete with Ohio State, The Nike Ducks, Michigan, and USC Iowa is going to need a Mich higher payroll. Coaching can only do do so much…jimmys and joes.
So some hypothetical unicorn that will want to come to Iowa and it'll be all rainbows. And our 2nd string QB is the savior.
Face it, you want a Cignetti, a once in a generation coach that will leave Indiana within 3 years, guaranteed.
Sounds good. I'd like to drill down on that a little if you don't mind.
1. Are these just your expectations? Or are you suggesting what Beth's expectations should be? Beth can have "expectations". The rest of us pretty much just have "hopes".
2. You say "Iowa's expectations". Should those be the same expectations at Wisconsin, Nebraska, Illinois or Minnesota? If not, why not?
3, "Regularly" being in the mix for the playoffs. Does this year count as being "in the mix"?
I'm not trying to challenge your expectations. Those are up to you. Just picking your brain a little.
Good questions. See below.
I think these would be reasonable expectations/hopes for all fans, and the AD. Meet these, and there's no reason to part with your coach.
Pretty close for most of the schools you mentioned. I was thinking in terms of solid programs that are outside of the traditional blueblood tier. I am impacted in my thinking by the fact that I live in Arkansas, and while I am in no way a Razorback fan, I have had conversations with some of their fans about what they can expect for their program, particularly with the hire of a new coach.
This year would count as being "in the mix." It was being discussed at length during the middle of the season, and there was a reasonable path for how it could have happened.3, "Regularly" being in the mix for the playoffs. Does this year count as being "in the mix"?
I'm not trying to challenge your expectations. Those are up to you. Just picking your brain a little.
MIchigan has Oracle's wife dumping money in.
A youngish coach that you expect to be better than Kirk Ferentz, especially if we damage the program's reputation by firing the winningest coach in conference history? Yup. That's a unicorn.
This is one of the dumbest things that continue to be posted. “Who you gonna get” is lame and it shows how little a person thinks of the football program and the University in general.
Some fans said the same thing about Fran, and now we have McCollum. Obviously too early to tell, but I have a hunch he will at least get the Hawks to the Sweet 16 during his tenure.
The next football coach may or may not be an improvement over Kirk. To just assume there is nobody out there who could do better is loser talk.
And no, I am NOT calling for Kirk to be fired.
9 wins, good year but if they do not really compete for a championship or make the playoffs just more of the same (not disappointed just the same). My starting point is having a realistic chance of playoffs/championships. I personally have zero confidence Ferentz can win one anymore or even really compete for one. Winning 6,7.8,9,10 games does not mean a lot if Iowa does not compete for the playoffs/win BIG (unless you like to attend bowl games). Just another year of similar results and a low-level bowl game, but JMO.
With HF I always felt like Iowa had a shot in every game until he became ill, not so much for me with Ferentz the last few years. He obviously can coach and develop players, but his teams no longer really compete for championships/playoffs IMO. Not a hater, just have higher expectations. And yes, the next guy could be worse, so move on to the next guy, that is how Iowa found HF. He is going to retire soon whether Ferentz fans like it or not and he will be gone. Who knows how the next guy will do, but it will bring some excitement and a different type of game to Iowa (good or bad)?