[Golfer]

Originally Posted by imported_ankle23

i didn't imply you were, or think that you were, but i'd still ask you to give that advice to anyone who thinks like these 'donors'.

I'll probably not give that advice. They do care about football, believe it or not.
I get all excited about it too. I get all emotional, and make posts in the heat of emotion. I give them credit that they're human also. Although, what they want is listened to more closely than what you and I want, I'll grant you that.

I honestly don't think, outside of the basketball coach situation, their opinions matter all that much.

A couple of bad seasons, or horrible publicity? I don't delude myself that they could exert pressure that might cause action in that circumstance.

[Hawk7458]

You are kidding right? Kirk F. Could go to the NFL in a nano second! I just heard a interview with Schwantz (sp), he was telling Rome about starting out as a assistant coach with Saban and Kirk Ferentz on Belicheck's staff ,all he did was rave about Ferentz.You have no idea how lucky we are to have him.Just a lot of hater's because of his salary! He is worth every penny.

[CRHawk2002]

Originally Posted by JonDMiller

And this hot seat talk based on todays announcement is simply foolish

Agree completely. Phil Parker may have been the safe hire, but that doesnt mean it was a bad hire. I am excited about the changes on D. I am hopeful we add Soup as OC, add Brian Ferentz as OL coach, and start the spring on the right foot.

[herky01]

Originally Posted by bcl20

It makes no sense. I haven't seen a real argument against this hiring aside from people saying new blood over and over again.

How about no experience as the sole DC. In 2010 it was coach by committee. Now he's the man, and he has no such experience. You don't think there's going to be a drop off from Norm who had game-planned for everything imaginable? The Hawks will pay for that lack of experience at some point. In every walk of life experience is what matters.

[FalseMirage]

Originally Posted by 1hawkeye1

KF is not on any "hotseat." If your avatar was here right now, I'd slap those bongos silly.

When he walks into a room the bongos slap themselves silly.

[bwsmoney]

Originally Posted by hawkfan1319

With this hire and his failure to bring new blood into the program does this increase the temperature of the seat he's on?

yes, a little, but not as much as if he had promoted from within to replace KOK ... why, because the defense has actually been the stronger unit ... now if he promotes from within on Offense, we have a problem.

[HawkAttack]

KF has never been on the hot seat. Anyone who even remotely believes so is spending too much time on internet forums.

[bwsmoney]

Originally Posted by JonDMiller

Through the MSU game, Iowa's offense converted more than 50% of third downs and was averaging over 30ppg. After that game, losing ARob, Gettis and MacMillan (and Tyler Nielsen), the offense converted 32% of third downs and averaged less than 20ppg. Thru MSU game, defense allowed less than 32% third down conversions...after MSU, that went to over 50.

It's not surprising as to why. The offense, once again, let down the defense. People need to separate emotion (unmet expectations) from football realities.

Couldn't have anything to do with playing some real competition in the second half of the season, versus playing JuCo teams early on.

[imported_jsmith337]

Originally Posted by Golfer

I'll probably not give that advice. They do care about football, believe it or not.
I get all excited about it too. I get all emotional, and make posts in the heat of emotion. I give them credit that they're human also. Although, what they want is listened to more closely than what you and I want, I'll grant you that.

I honestly don't think, outside of the basketball coach situation, their opinions matter all that much.

A couple of bad seasons, or horrible publicity? I don't delude myself that they could exert pressure that might cause action in that circumstance.

Golfer, you have had some good insight in this whole deal, can you say if there was any pressure by donors to go outside the program or was Parker the guy all along? Just curious the census you felt?

[trapperjon]

Originally Posted by JonDMiller

7th in the nation in scoring defense? Elite
Wisconsin scored some points that year, but they scored on everyone. It also took a fake punt on 4th down for them to win that game.

In the other four losses, the defense:

-gave up 21 points to Arizona and the offense scored 21.
-gave up 21 points to Northwestern, and the offense scored 17 against one of the worst defenses in the nation and was 2-14 on third downs (1-7 each half), which helped lead to 50 second half plays.
-gave up just 21 points to Ohio State and it took a freakish, one player in the nation run on 4th and long to help OSU continue a drive and the offense scored 17
-they did give up 27 to Minnesota, which even Clayborn said afterwards they had lost their will to win, but the offense scored just 17 points against one of the worst defenses in the nation.

Through the MSU game, Iowa's offense converted more than 50% of third downs and was averaging over 30ppg. After that game, losing ARob, Gettis and MacMillan (and Tyler Nielsen), the offense converted 32% of third downs and averaged less than 20ppg. Thru MSU game, defense allowed less than 32% third down conversions...after MSU, that went to over 50.

It's not surprising as to why. The offense, once again, let down the defense. People need to separate emotion (unmet expectations) from football realities.

The D has never been the problem since Kirk has been the coach.

The offense has always been suspect in my mind. This has been documented many times here (none better than Jon's article a few months ago)

I think Parker will be just fine if he's learned anything in 13 years w/Norm which of coarse we know he has. The OC and any tweaks or different philosophies he can bring to the table will be a far more important hire. I will even go so far to say that the hire will have far more impact on the next 5 years than promoting Parker.

[trapperjon]

Oh and Shon Greene did KOK a big favor in 08. Without Greene I wonder what that year would have looked like Offensively.

What I wonder if KOK's departure was fully of his own doing. We will probably never know but if I were a betting man I'd throw some coin down that it was aided by gentle nudge and a nice opportunity presenting itself.

[Golfer]

Originally Posted by imported_jsmith337

Golfer, you have had some good insight in this whole deal, can you say if there was any pressure by donors to go outside the program or was Parker the guy all along? Just curious the census you felt?

I don't think there was any direct pressure on the DC situation. At least none I'm aware of. There were conversations about KoK however.

I'm not sure these conversations have any impact of KF's decisions, but I know the school, and football staff are aware of the conversations. I also doubt these conversations are ever 1 on 1 with KF. I think he is made aware by the AD or admin.

Although, several of the larger donor do have access to him, one on one, but I can't imagine they'd ever bring something like this up.

They have a balancing act. KF runs the program, and his boss is the AD. The U, supposedly never intervenes, except they do on occasion. In this case (KoK), I believe the move would have happened in any event, but they were aware of displeasure. I doubt there was ever any direct intervention. Some things came together, and the donor, was one of several factors. Not the only factor, or probably not even the most important factor, but another straw on the camel's back.

I believe the U also intervened on Coker. I'm not sure KF agreed with how this was handled, and I'm getting that KoK didn't either.

In the case of a former basketball coach, it was very much large donor displeasure that most likely caused the move. Direct intervention and pressure big time on the basketball situation.

Keep in mind, it's not like I'm sitting in the room when these things take place. I hear a bit now. I'll hear more at some dinner. I'll hear maybe a bit more at next year's home opener, when I'm upstairs.

So, for example in the KoK deal, here is how I got it. I get a call on Thursday, actually a text, from a friend who is out with a donor in Vegas for the super bowl. Basically says, some folks agree with your displeasure about our offense. I reply, don't tease me. He replies, I'll talk to you when I get back, but KoK is gone. Keep it quiet.

And that's all I get, until I have lunch with him. But from various dinners, fundraisers, etc, you can figure out who isn't happy, and who likes to throw their weight around, just by listening and watching.