Did Iowa Make Kirk Ferentz Mistake?

Just Great Enough?

Before the news came out, another fan suggested that Ferentz has, in fact, mastered the formula for staying on to coach college football.

"If you win too few games in one season, it doesn’t matter what you’ve done before, you’re fired and fans will hate you," They wrote.

If you win too many games, someone will pay 9 figures to leave and fans will hate you.

You have to win the exact right number. Kirk Ferentz has mastered this."

In the same sentiment, one fan elaborated on a possible philosophy behind Iowa's success over their Ferentz era.

"I have to hand it to Iowa," They wrote. "That might be the most self-aware program in college football. They know they aren't Ohio State, and could never consistently compete for National Championships. And, they know they have a great coach for a middle-of-nowhere program in a deep conference."

"So, they're happy to endure regular 8-4 an 9-3 seasons, so they can relish in the occasional 10-11 season that takes them to higher heights than they'd achieve if they fired coaches ever 4-5 years, in the futile attempt at national relevance, like most non-self-aware programs."

Ferentz (70) has been the Hawkeyes' head coach since 1999, and is the longest-tenured active college football coach in the NCAA Division 1 FBS.

"I feel really good," Ferentz said on the subject of staying for another year. "I had no idea what it feels like to be 70. Now I do (for) however many months it's been. It doesn't feel any different than when I was 60. I feel good physically. I've got permission from my wife to keep doing this."

"It's what I like doing. I really enjoy doing it. Unless we just screw this up beyond repair, which we're trying to do right now in college football, I don't envision stopping anytime in the near future."