(11-13-2016 07:45 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(11-13-2016 02:40 PM)_C2_ Wrote:  If Iowa fires him, they don't know what they're missing. It's not easy to win at Iowa.

I agree. It's the most relevant this program has ever been, and while some get tired of the 8-4 and 7-5 finishes, few ever see such consistently competitive play.

But, all it takes are some humbug donors who think (but can't back it up) a new coach gets them over the hump, and it doesn't matter what the AD and president think.

Incorrect.

Iowa was a powerhouse in the early 1920's, had 1939 and was a top team in the 1950's.

Who remembers that, are you 100? If it happened before the hard helmet era, it mostly doesn't matter.

Hayden Fry had the Hawkeyes relevant in the late 80's and early 90's...

(11-15-2016 12:31 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  Hayden Fry had the Hawkeyes relevant in the late 80's and early 90's...

Iowa-Michigan was the game for the Big 10 championship throughout most of the 80s. Ohio St. was down by their standards.

Iowa is never going to have more than one chance at the CFP in 30 years.

Last year was their time. And now they're back to normal. Old, rich Iowa fans should just accept that they'll be gone the next time Iowa gets back to that.

(11-15-2016 10:22 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(11-15-2016 12:31 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  Hayden Fry had the Hawkeyes relevant in the late 80's and early 90's...

Iowa-Michigan was the game for the Big 10 championship throughout most of the 80s. Ohio St. was down by their standards.

The Hawkeyes went to three Rose Bowls from 1980-90. They were 8-4 two of those trips, 10-2 the other ('85).

Fry took them to bowls all but six of his seasons at the helm, and for 20 seasons, that's impressive. Three Big Ten titles to his name. Granted, they played fewer games when he coached, but he hit the ten-win-mark three times in his career (and only needed the bowl game to hit that number once).

Ferentz has missed bowling four seasons of his 17 completed seasons (he's going to one this year, so make that 18). Two Big Ten titles and a divisional championship. One Rose and two Orange Bowls to show for it. Five 10 or better win seasons (getting there twice via bowls).

I think there's a bigger difference between the Fry and Ferentz years than it looks. Yeah, a Rose Bowl is nothing to sneeze at, but two of those trips, it was like somebody had to go from the conference, and it's not exactly relevant if you're 8-4. But, okay...a little too dramatic saying Ferentz made them. Fry brought them out of a 20-year drought of any success, when Evashevski took them to two Rose Bowls in the 50's, but before 1956, you had to go to the early 20's to see a successful Iowa team before then. But, seriously...they've had no better coach than their current one. Not even close.

they are pretty darn close as coaches...
Fry 143-89-6 .613
Ferentz 133-91 .594

I would say Fry is better just from conference records...
Fry 96-61-5 .608
Ferentz 79-63 .556

And the one thing I would say is Fry inherited a far worse situation.

(11-15-2016 01:37 PM)The Cutter of Bish Wrote:  

(11-15-2016 10:22 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(11-15-2016 12:31 AM)BearcatJerry Wrote:  Hayden Fry had the Hawkeyes relevant in the late 80's and early 90's...

Iowa-Michigan was the game for the Big 10 championship throughout most of the 80s. Ohio St. was down by their standards.

The Hawkeyes went to three Rose Bowls from 1980-90. They were 8-4 two of those trips, 10-2 the other ('85).

Fry took them to bowls all but six of his seasons at the helm, and for 20 seasons, that's impressive. Three Big Ten titles to his name. Granted, they played fewer games when he coached, but he hit the ten-win-mark three times in his career (and only needed the bowl game to hit that number once).

Ferentz has missed bowling four seasons of his 17 completed seasons (he's going to one this year, so make that 18). Two Big Ten titles and a divisional championship. One Rose and two Orange Bowls to show for it. Five 10 or better win seasons (getting there twice via bowls).

I think there's a bigger difference between the Fry and Ferentz years than it looks. Yeah, a Rose Bowl is nothing to sneeze at, but two of those trips, it was like somebody had to go from the conference, and it's not exactly relevant if you're 8-4. But, okay...a little too dramatic saying Ferentz made them. Fry brought them out of a 20-year drought of any success, when Evashevski took them to two Rose Bowls in the 50's, but before 1956, you had to go to the early 20's to see a successful Iowa team before then. But, seriously...they've had no better coach than their current one. Not even close.

That was really impressive given that it actually used to mean something to go to a bowl game back then whereas now, you can be 5-7 in C-USA and go.

While I haven't actually researched this, what I understand is that Wisconsin used to be a terrible football program before Alvarez turned them around.

So, perhaps that's a similar comparison with what Fry inherited at Iowa.


*sigh* One day .... it will be Minnesota's time.

5 years before Fry took over- 18-37 13-27 in conference play
5 years before Ferentz took over- 32-25-1 19-20-1 in conference play

Wisconsin- since you mentioned it....
5 years before Alvarez took over 14-42 7-33 in conference play (then 1-10 0-8 1st year of Alvarez)

so Wisconsin was actually even worse than Iowa when Alvarez took over.

And Minnesota, five years prior to when Kill (now Claeys) took over? Four years of Brewster, plus Mason's last year where he got fired.

Not even going to calculate it. Too painful.

(11-15-2016 02:20 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  And Minnesota, five years prior to when Kill (now Claeys) took over? Four years of Brewster, plus Mason's last year where he got fired.

Not even going to calculate it. Too painful.

actually those 5 years- 2006-10-
Minnesota was 23-40. 11-29 in conference with 3 bowl games in 5 years. Hardly what Iowa and Wisconsin were. Part of that of course is FCS games I'm sure.

Well yeah, crappy non-conf and crappy bowls. Weren't as plentiful when Fry and Alvarez took over.

Wisconsin was actually above average under Dave McClain. But looks like he suddenly died right before the period you analyzed, and during that time they were fairly hapless. Sadly, the coach in that time was a former NDSU coach.

And another former NDSU coach also did poorly at Minnesota.



Some Minny fans are talking Craig Bohl, if Tracy Claeys falters the last two games here. Guess we'll see ...

(11-15-2016 01:52 PM)MplsBison Wrote:  While I haven't actually researched this, what I understand is that Wisconsin used to be a terrible football program before Alvarez turned them around.

So, perhaps that's a similar comparison with what Fry inherited at Iowa.


*sigh* One day .... it will be Minnesota's time.

Minnesota used to be very dominant...too bad it was well before your born I'm assuming.