The Mad Hatter

September 6th, 2016 at 12:20 PM ^

And I'm glad that after our long walk through the desert we've finally reached the coaching promised land.

But I give RR/Hoke at least 50% credit for my stomach ulcer.  Going 9/3 - 11/1 for the last decade would have been frustrating, but I probably wouldn't be taking prilosec either.

/still pissed we didn't hire Miles after Carr

Joined: 02/17/2015

MGoPoints: 112109

stephenrjking

September 6th, 2016 at 12:34 PM ^

Did you watch the LSU-Wisconsin game? Miles would have perpetuated the worst aspects of the Carr era while introducing an entirely new set of problems. Either he would have imported his current, improbably miraculous recruiting ability and lost head scratching games with good talent until local media unencumbered by the southern media's willful ignorance uncovered various recruiting violations prompting serious NCAA problems, or he would attempt to follow Bo's philosophies and lose games with average talent until fans and an internal program base every bit as divided as RR's succeed in attaining his ouster. Miles would have been a disaster. We got a disaster anyway, yes. But Miles would have been, at best, a marginal improvement, and at worst could have left the program with long-term disciplinary consequences that could have thwarted an attempt to hire Jim Harbaugh. In retrospect, the man Michigan should have hired in 2011 was Jim Harbaugh. And, in 2008, the man they should have hired was a young, energetic guy with a signature win and program history named Jim Harbaugh. He is the only right hire.

Joined: 03/15/2012

MGoPoints: 20144029

The Mad Hatter

September 6th, 2016 at 12:52 PM ^

At one of the top two programs in that conference.  So in order to win he brings in some kids that he would never dream of bringing in at Michigan.  Miles played and coached at Michigan.  He is, in every respect, a Michigan Man.  Regardless of what he does in the dirtiest conference in CFB, I find it difficult to believe that he would have ever done anything to embarrass Michigan.

The fact that you think his hypothetical tenure as HC of Michigan would have been a disaster is just laughable.  The man has won a NC and played for a second.  His overall win percentage is outstanding.  Yes, he seems to be falling off a bit as most coaches do once they pass 60ish, but we're talking about 10 years ago.

There would have been no 3-9 / 5-7 seasons with Miles and I think he would have had us at the top of CFB, at least for several years.  

Joined: 02/17/2015

MGoPoints: 112109

MGOTokyo

September 6th, 2016 at 7:08 PM ^

I actually, for the long haul, think it's good that we didn't get JH in 2011. Without the years at SF, I think he would have ultimately left for the challenge of the NFL. There is a much greater likelihood now of him staying. Plus, the success in SF, especially with QBs, makes him a much more legitimate recruiter of out-of-state players.

Joined: 11/20/2014

MGoPoints: 1438

matty blue

September 6th, 2016 at 11:44 AM ^

we always need a good-but-never-great team around to bump our strength of schedule when we beat them.  never be a true year-to-year threat, never sink to rutgers.  just be.

Joined: 08/01/2008

MGoPoints: 39227

Zarniwoop

September 6th, 2016 at 11:48 AM ^

I'm seriously just in awe of his ability to produce an average record year-in, year-out and get megabucks.

Once a decade, he has an above average year, or a really lucky year and they throw money at him.

Joined: 09/10/2013

MGoPoints: 10498

Sac Fly

September 6th, 2016 at 11:57 AM ^

This team still employs Greg Davis, the college football version of Mike Martz. A guy who runs an offense that is flaming trash but has coached for 3 decades because of that time he was given two once in a generation quarterbacks and didn't totally suck.

Joined: 04/03/2010

MGoPoints: 5981

stopthewnba

September 6th, 2016 at 12:06 PM ^

Purdue?

Under Ferentz, Iowa has lost two or more conference games 14 of 17 years, and finished with a conference winning record less than 50% of the time. Even with last year's 8-0 run, he is 76-60 (.558) in the Big Ten.  
 
He's equally average OUT of conference (52-27, .584 winning pct).
 
And he is 5-7 in bowls (0-4 since 2010)
 
And I'm terrified of Nov 12

Joined: 06/07/2011

MGoPoints: 1327

Champeen

September 6th, 2016 at 12:06 PM ^

I disagree with everyones sentiments in this thread.  I believe Ferentz has done a really good job at Iowa.  For the recruiting grounds, facilities and prestige Iowa carries, they really could not ask for anything more.  And im willing to venture after he leaves/if they got rid of him, they would end up similar to Illinois.

I think he is a pretty damn good coach.  Always thought he was a Lloyd Carr clone - still do.  He would obviously do better here than what he does at Iowa, given the difference in resources.  He is not elite, but is definitely an above average, solid coach.

 

Joined: 04/07/2011

MGoPoints: 15031

1VaBlue1

September 6th, 2016 at 12:11 PM ^

I see your point, but will disagree.  Before Ferentz, Hayden Fry led a bunch of respectable teams.  Iowa's history of decent football goes back 30-40 years.  They've never been world beaters, but they've never suffered the fate of Illinios, either.  Like any other team (ref: UM, Alabama, etc), you hire the wrong guy and your program is gonna tank.  But Iowa could restart quicker than what Lovie will be able to do with UI...

Joined: 01/31/2016

MGoPoints: 127530

SF Wolverine

September 6th, 2016 at 12:15 PM ^

that is an awful long extension for a guy his age.  Also seems like a reward for a very fluky 12-0 regular season last year.  But, he's done a pretty good job there with mostly 3-star talent, so maybe it's better than the alternative.

Joined: 10/04/2010

MGoPoints: 24916

Rabbit21

September 6th, 2016 at 12:18 PM ^

Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!  That is a great joke!

Oh, you're serious?!

Who does Ferentz have pictures of?  And of what activities are they?  At this point it has to involve Iowa's AD, a mountain of blow, a goat, and midget hookers as a starting point.

Joined: 11/12/2009

MGoPoints: 30384

CorkyCole

September 6th, 2016 at 12:26 PM ^

He is their Joe Pa minus that gross stuff. But seriously, they should have maybe waited until after this season... it's not like he's at risk of leaving for something better...

Joined: 06/13/2011

MGoPoints: 4498

BlueinLansing

September 6th, 2016 at 1:01 PM ^

with Wisconsin coming down an notch and Nebraska flubbing around I think its likely Iowa has a chance to dominate that division for a while.  The only years they'll have trouble is when they play Michigan, Ohio State or both and probably Michigan State.

 

Will they seize it is really the question.

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 23520

Brick in The Wave

September 6th, 2016 at 12:42 PM ^

I hate Iowa, don't know why but I always have.  

It seems that every decade they produce a decent albeit lucky team and go to a huge bowl that the rest of the country basis their opinon of the BIG on.

They usually get crushed and then someone says "see the Big 10 sucks". 

Joined: 05/17/2011

MGoPoints: 2421

CTSgoblue

September 6th, 2016 at 1:38 PM ^

At an average of 7.5 wins/year, they're paying $600,000 per win.  A better metric would be an expected wins added, but I'm too lazy to figure that out.

 

Joined: 08/20/2014

MGoPoints: 5375

Don

September 6th, 2016 at 2:25 PM ^

When they're a Bear Bryant or a Tom Osborne or a Nick Saban. Not for coaches like Ferentz. They've just tied a $45 million anchor to themselves. Idiots.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 148460

UMgradMSUdad

September 7th, 2016 at 12:15 AM ^

I don't see the problem.  This is Iowa.  They know what they're getting: a good coach without scandal and whose players graduate at a respectable rate. He'll average 7.5 wins per year. Once every 5 years his team will finish in the top 20 in the AP poll, and once every 10 years they'll crack the top ten.  There is nothing wrong with that, and it sure as hell beats hiring a new coach every 2-3 years or enduring scandals just for the hope of getting that magical season with a shot at a national championship.

Joined: 07/02/2011

MGoPoints: 13186