Wow. Iowa puts a boring, losing, uninspiring product on the field, and then–because of its unique role in the state–gouges fans as you’ve outlined for the privilege of watching classic battles with UNI and Ball State. Iowa fans are loyal to a fault. History shows that. But that history doesn’t account for such innovations as 60-inch HD TV in the comfort of your living room. Even Iowa fans can’t be hoodwinked forever. In the very, very near future, either Iowa football rejuvenates itself and the out-of-conference schedule ceases to be an embarrassment, or Hawkeye fans may start opting out of dinner with the AD–who may not be Mr. Barta for much longer.

Sanji,.. wow, this is getting to be like the Sanjispam page. If you hate Hawkeye Football so much pick another team to follow, you can bandwagon back in 10 years when KF retires, or in two years when we’re playing for B1G Championship. Until then, save the vitriol and don’t go to the games, and those of us who want to… well let us support our team. I’m sure there are enough bandwagon-ers that you guys can prove your point by not watching, but its the off season now. Try to relax and enjoy some basketball where the expectations have been lowered so much by the absence of Tom Davis, whom the haters threw out, that they can have a losing B1G season and everyone will call it a success…

Mike,

While I agree that the sports are different, it doesn’t change the premise: that “the grass is greener” mentality has contributed greatly to the worst years that Iowa basketball has ever seen. That the basketball standard in Iowa has been lowered so much that Hawkeye fandom is actually thrilled now with the prospect of a .500 Big Ten conference season in basketball. In the Tom Davis Era that would have been considered as unacceptable as a 4-4 (or less) Big Ten football season is now. Can you deny that? Tom Davis’ firing came after 11-7, 12-6, 9-7, 9-7 Big Ten seasons, and now we are in awe that McCaffery, 14 years later might be able to get us back to the level that Dr. Tom was fired for? My premise is only that the “grass is greener” disease doesn’t get the better of level-headed logic in the hiring and firing of football coaches.

As for donations and ticket increases, the market either will or will not support it. I am guessing that the University has studied the market and would not have raised prices if the market would not support that increase. If the University’s market research was bad, that will play out in the size of the crowd that attends games. Besides, what does Sanji care if prices are raised anyway – its not like he wants to be there anyway. It’ll make room for me.

You are right on Zach. Some of these negative fans like Azad, Miller, Davis, etc., etc. don’t really add anything of signifigance to these posts, so we loyal fans should probably best just ignore them. I am most interested now in watching the FB recruiting because that is what the future promises. I do think our BB coach M will someday catch up with Dr Tom … our best ever BB coach during my time.

You could characterize Dr. Tom as a middle-of the league coach if you define middle of the league anywhere from third to eighth place; however, this is a coach who in 13 years had one second place finish (with players he recruited 96-97), four third place finishes, two fourth place finishes, and three 5th place finishes in the Big Ten. That is ten out of thirteen years in the top half of the league. He also compiled ten 20-win seasons during that time period and took Iowa to the Big Dance nine times including two Sweet 16s and one Elite 8. And, although I agree that he didn’t recruit the players that he played with for the first two years, his resume over the next eleven years at Iowa is much better than the last 14 years have been. Its nice to hear that you believe that Fran can take the program beyond where Dr. Tom did, and hopefully he will. But my point is perfectly exemplified here. Dr. Tom would be/is retired now anyway, and Fran could have been here anyway, and it is very likely we would have had some competitive basketball to watch over the last fourteen years if it hadn’t been for “fans” like Sanji calling for Davis’ head. Furthermore, all I have seen so far from Fran is a much watered-down non-conference schedule (that led to a barely winning season), some big talking, and some great recruiting, I will reserve judgment on Fran until he actually accomplishes something on the court – and I hope he does.
I don’t exactly know why you keep bringing up NFL talent, that has never been a point in this discussion – seems like more of a Red Herring…
I like how you cut off at 2005 when noting winning football seasons, because you couldn’t include the great seasons of 2004 and 2002, and we forget that 2009 could have been an even bigger season (with a look at the National Championship?) had Stanzi not been hurt on a freak play at Northwestern.
But all of this is side information to the real problem we have at Iowa, and why people like me, and people like you and Sanji end up on opposite sides of the fence. You believe that coaching is all about money, you think that because the U of Iowa can pay out elaborate salaries that we will be able to entice an Urban Meyer or someone of his caliber to ride in and take Iowa to a National Championship. I don’t believe that the U of Iowa has that type of appeal to coaches who were not brought up within the Hawkeye sphere of influence. Yes, maybe we had a shot at Bob Stoops – not because of what we would or wouldn’t pay, but because of his understanding of the program and the University of Iowa. The Urban Meyers, and Steve Spurriers of the world don’t look on Iowa Football as anything more than we see Wyoming Football, or Montana Football. They wouldn’t come here for any amount of money and the University of Iowa’s coaching hires bears out that we do not hire big name, proven, Division 1 coaches, but most often get a “rising” 1-AA or mid-major coach. I, for one, don’t want to risk the next 10 years of watching Iowa football languish under a series of unproven 1-AA coaches, when we currently have a two-time Big Ten champion, Two-time BCS bowl invitee, 10 out of 14 years in bowl games, Nine times finishing in the top half of the Big Ten conference.
The funny thing about it is, none of this matters, Ferentz will be here for at least three more years, and it will all play out one way or another. No matter what you, or I, or Sanjispam, thinks.

“Yes, that could absolutely happen once Ferentz is gone – but it’s less likely. Iowa now has the money to change things if necessary”

What was your point here? Maybe it is ambiguous, but I thought you were saying that getting rid of Ferentz wouldn’t turn out the same as getting rid of Davis (an endless parade of mindless mid-major coaches) because now Iowa has the money to get someone better (thus my reference to large contracts)… then you say this:

“Iowa will always need to be a place for a hungry, organized and possibly a little younger HC that understands the league, the region, and the state of Iowa”

Which seems to contradict your earlier statement… could you clarify?

I guess I don’t want an untested untried coach like Minnesota, which has been through (how many?) of those in the last ten years, (although I must say it looks like they may have finally found their version of a football Fran McCaffery) I would still take my chances with Ferentz, even if his contract had been up after this year.

Zach:

Those statements aren’t really contradictory at all: just because Iowa will have a little money now (thanks to the BTN) doesn’t mean that it’s going to go after big-name coaches. However, if it does choose the wrong coach, it will need certain monetary resources to correct the mistake and move forward – provided the AD doesn’t give the coach a foolish 10-year extension. Those two things I mentioned aren’t contradictory at all.

We’re just at two somewhat different places when it comes to Iowa’s future: yourself and others are so afraid of what MIGHT happen that you’re quite willing to accept the status quo – which has fallen quite a bit 8-9 years ago. Others, like myself, are cautious about the future but are more willing to explore other options rather than continue to tread water/slide beneath the surface for the remainder of KF’s tenure at Iowa – stagnancy is a program-killer long-term, especially for a midrange-upper range job like Iowa (recruiting is tougher anyway, but being mediocre to average with little imagination isn’t really an attention-getter for prospective recruits). The final group of coaching jurors wants to fire the coach about every other week, based on a mix of performance on the field and how many Hamm’s, MGD, or Budweiser the “jurors” have consumed during that weekend’s game.

I have had season tickets for 10 years now, (my grandfather had season tickets for nearly 40 years before me) and I am to a point where I am not sure I want to continue shoveling out huge amounts of money to a program that can’t get out of its own way. Either get your stuff together and produce a program that is worth watching, or hand it over to somebody who can. I am tired of seeing the same thing year in and year out. I am not talking about playing an “Urban Meyer” or “Chip Kelly” spread style offense. I am just talking about changing it up a little bit. How about playing a two back set? How about recruiting a dual threat QB? I remember a team back in the early 2000’s who had a dual threat QB, a quick little running back, an All American tight end, some fast and reliable receivers, and one of the best offensive lines college football has ever seen. I remember a defense that could/would bring the lumber and knock an opposing team on its rear every single play. I remember special teams and being a game changer: from blocking punts, to returning kickoffs and even returning PAT’s for a 2 point score. What happened to that program? What happened to that Hawkeye Swagger? What happened to the “chip on the shoulder” mentality? I am not expecting Big Ten Championships and Rose Bowls every season. I am; however, expecting winning football that is ENJOYABLE TO WATCH!!!

If you want to charge more money for season tickets, put something on the field that is worth the price you are asking. Is that asking too much?

Thank you for clarifying… I agree that we disagree. Even with the resources to hire a new coach (we have had three basketball coaches in 14 years, 2 in the last six), I would rather have had Tom Davis “mediocrity,” as opposed to the basement dwelling that the other two (hopefully not three), coaches have taken us to. So you are right when you say I would rather have the successful “medocrity” of KF then sit through seasons of Glen Mason and Tim Brewster like the Gophers had to do.
You mention recruiting as a problem… looks like the 2014 class is off to a good start.