OT: Rumor circulating that Brian Ferentz is out at Iowa
Rumors from Iowa insider that Brian Ferentz could step down as soon as today on a "mutual separation."
Report was tweeted out, but came from an insider board so wont include the screen shot.
https://twitter.com/BoardGeniuses/status/1719013910454436068
October 30th, 2023 at 12:06 PM ^
So, Kirk Ferentz is going to fire his son mid-season when they're tied for the Division lead? No.
October 30th, 2023 at 1:49 PM ^
The AD will have to fire Brian, and Kirk will chew his gum so hard when it happens.
October 30th, 2023 at 2:16 PM ^
Tied for the division lead WITH NO HELP FROM THE OFFENSE.
Ofc you make this change now. With any O they would be IN the division lead. Nothing to lose here… literally they have no offense so it cant get worse.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:06 PM ^
I think he needs another chance.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:06 PM ^
Jacobi said that report wasn't verified enough to report publicly but he felt comfortable posting it on a message board? Either he doesn't understand how the internet works or he's just playing CYA but wants credit for breaking it if it turns out to be true. Either way, I'm not impressed.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:48 PM ^
He should have just called Yahoo or SI or ESPN or Athletic or WSJ. They would have no problem reporting anything.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:09 PM ^
I would very much prefer to coach against Brian Ferentz on 12/2 so I hope this is not true
October 30th, 2023 at 1:14 PM ^
Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Nebraska are all tied at 3-2. I kinda feel like if I was forced to bet today, my money would be on Nebraska winning the West. Iowa and Wisconsin are down to their 2nd string QBs. I refuse to believe that Kelly McManus is a division winning QB. That leaves Nebraska. Their defense is good enough to win games now that they have replaced their turnover-machine at QB.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:13 PM ^
Oh man I was looking forward to the dream scenario: Last game of the season, 57 seconds left. Iowa needs a win to advance to the B1G Championship game. They're down by 2 and they're in field goal range but Brian needs five more points to save his job. What does he do?
October 30th, 2023 at 12:16 PM ^
Punt?
October 30th, 2023 at 1:03 PM ^
Punt with hope opposing team fumbles.
October 30th, 2023 at 1:42 PM ^
Too easy but I still like it!
October 30th, 2023 at 12:21 PM ^
Punt.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:38 PM ^
He says "Iowa Dad five points"
October 30th, 2023 at 12:55 PM ^
Takes a safety.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:14 PM ^
mutual separation. lol
October 30th, 2023 at 12:14 PM ^
Dan Patrick will probably lead tomorrow's show with "Brian Ferentz out at Iowa? How does this affect Jim Harbaugh's sign stealing? How do the Danettes feel about Harbaugh? Fritzy, go ahead."
October 30th, 2023 at 12:15 PM ^
So much focus on offense - a huge change in the game. What many people may not realize is - Iowa's high power offense is averaging 10.375 points per game this season.
I stand corrected - the Iowa Hawkeyes are averaging 10.375 points per game this season - I'm not sure what percentage of those points are associated with the offense, since Iowa's D / special teams can put points on the board too.
For the 2022 season - Iowa averaged 7.92 points per game.
So, Iowa has increased their scoring - year over year - by over 30%.
Though, the news is not so good if you look back a bit further. In 2021 - Iowa averaged just over 13.5 points per game.
This figures do appear to truly be offensive... no pun intended.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:26 PM ^
I was bored enough to look into it. Iowa has scored:
Pick Six against Iowa State
Safety against Western Michigan
Punt Return against Sparty
Safety against Wisconsin
Punt Return TD agaaaaaaaaahhh sorry nevermind
18 points so far this year scored by Iowa defense/special teams - 2.25 points per game. We've got 28 (all pick-6s) but hey, who's counting?
October 30th, 2023 at 1:18 PM ^
Well, Cade McNamara was counting -- remember his line about how he wasn't used to a defense that scored points for him?
October 30th, 2023 at 3:19 PM ^
I do remember that now! It's a shame that some of his Iowa statements have not aged well between that and the whole they're changing up the system there.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:15 PM ^
Feels unfair. I'm sure he'd turn it around if given one more season. He's only been the OC there since 2017, after all
October 30th, 2023 at 12:16 PM ^
that offense has to average 30pts per game over the next 4 to reach that 25pts a game mark
October 30th, 2023 at 12:18 PM ^
Daddy should have helped hi move out last January. It looks like the New York Giants are using Brian's playbook.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:17 PM ^
This might create a bit of controversy - it looks like Dan Enos is available. So, the Hawkeyes and Spartans might find themselves in a bidding war if they're not careful.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:20 PM ^
My guess is they had the hard conversation and will begin to look for a new OC for next year, but Brian will remain in the role for the balance of the season and then go back to OL coach (where he was damn good).
I mean, who wil take the role for the balance of the year, with the tire fire it already is and down their top three offensive weapons? I don't see an interim coach as path to improvement this season.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:21 PM ^
Whoa, that'll make for an awkward Thanksgiving dinner. I wonder who's side his mom is taking.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:31 PM ^
When has a mom ever sided with her husband when the alternative is her son?
October 30th, 2023 at 4:50 PM ^
I wonder if she knows Scott Frost's mommy.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:23 PM ^
Has he tried stealing signs?
October 30th, 2023 at 12:23 PM ^
Hammer Iowa-NW 29.5 o/u then
October 30th, 2023 at 12:33 PM ^
Is she:
- A Cornhusker in disguise.
- An Iowa fan who is part of a "house divided", or
- Projecting the sign for an upcoming play?
October 30th, 2023 at 4:49 PM ^
Iowa's got corn too. Not much else but they do have corn.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:28 PM ^
I would absolutely LOVE to see Michigan play Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game this year.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:32 PM ^
Seems like odd timing, *after* a bye week
October 30th, 2023 at 12:44 PM ^
Just when we got his signs all figured out? He won't be calling plays in the B1G championship? We are so busted! 
October 30th, 2023 at 12:44 PM ^
According to my anonymous source, who is close to Iowa staff and chatted with the ball boys at practice yesterday, Brian rescinded his own employment agreement.
If you need more hard hitting news, check out my blog on ESPN.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:45 PM ^
They're #120 in scoring offense and #133 in total offense, so I have no idea why they would want to replace the guy.
I mean, they lost their starting QB, so I think they should give him at least one more year to see what Cade McNamara can do when fully healthy.
October 30th, 2023 at 3:22 PM ^
Some have even said that there wasn't much of a difference between JJ and Cade so he might be able to really turn that offense into USC-lite.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:51 PM ^
Thanksgiving is going to be SO awkward in the Ferentz household...
October 30th, 2023 at 12:53 PM ^
But but but... What about popelando's weekly diary. It was the highlight of the week now thats Oppo watch is dead.
October 30th, 2023 at 12:54 PM ^
Mom finally signed off on the severance package amount
October 30th, 2023 at 12:57 PM ^
The 🐐 OC
He will be missed.
October 30th, 2023 at 1:03 PM ^
How surprising. Nations number one OFFENSE is their DEFENSE!!!
October 30th, 2023 at 1:04 PM ^
Makes sense, he was contractually obligated to average 25 pts.
October 30th, 2023 at 2:31 PM ^
I think that means he's only 117 points "off schedule" through eight games. He can cover that - in a season or two. No, I don't mean he'll make up the 117 points that he's off - but, it seems that Iowa can score 117 points in a couple of seasons.
This may just be a case of very aggressive goal setting.
October 30th, 2023 at 1:06 PM ^
Striking a blow against nepotism at Iowa? I will believe it when I see it.
October 30th, 2023 at 1:09 PM ^
They already junked the tweet so my guess is there's little truth to it.
Ferentz has innumerable issues but it's still a team that's likely to go 8-4/9-3, which is pretty good. And at some point you do need to cut him some small slack for losing his starting QB, two TEs, and starting running backs for stretches, including for the season. It's not ever going to be a "good" offense but Hill is decidedly worse at being QB compared to McNamara and All is an NFL-level talent on a roster that doesn't have a ton of it.
Brian Ferentz should be fired because he's clearly not suitable for an OC role but this "works" for Iowa to an extent and as long as Kirk is there he isn't leaving.