Given the timing, I would say there is a fairly good chance Kirk explored the options. I get it that Ron Aiken was contacted. Jim Herrmann said he was not contacted, and under the circumstances probably was not. Herrmann’s style was too complicated for college ball anyway. Tom Bradley was a better candidate if you are considering only football qualifications. Given the scandal at Penn State, I could imagine Sally Mason and the PC crowd signing off on Tom Bradley shortly after hell froze over.
All I know is that Hermann looked pretty good to me on paper, but that Michigan fans could barely contain their glee when they heard he might come to Iowa. Take that for whatever it's worth.