good article on both. I didnt really think ferentz was already in high demand from the NFL. I figured we could get him for 4 or 5 years and he could jet. Move Tedford to the top of my list regardless its impossibility. We don't want a one year coach if we can help it. Saban, Ferentz NFL material Talented Nick Saban finally yields to the pros, and Kirk Ferentz could eventually follow suit. By Alan Schmadtke Sentinel Staff Writer LSU had concluded its first football practice in Orlando, and Nick Saban had finished his first media briefing as both current coach of the Tigers and future coach of the Miami Dolphins. LSU-related questions only, please. Outside in a windy December chill, Iowa finished its workout for its New Year's Day date against LSU in the Capital One Bowl. And Hawkeyes Coach Kirk Ferentz acknowledged receiving calls from Cleveland media. Over the phone, reporters fished around to see if Ferentz, a one-time Cleveland Browns assistant, had been approached about replacing Butch Davis as the Browns' next coach. "I think I'm on speed-dial there," Ferentz joked. It only seems that way. But, then, it has for a while. Over the past three seasons, Saban and Ferentz, once staff-mates in Cleveland under former Browns coach Bill Belichick, have sat atop the short list of college coaches destined to take some NFL team's reins. Saban guided LSU to two Southeastern Conference championships and a national title. Ferentz directed Iowa to one Big Ten title and this year a share of another. Now Saban is days away from taking over the Dolphins. And Ferentz . . . is still on that hot list. Although he just signed a new three-year contract extension ($1.2 million annual base salary, plus a $400,000 bonus every June 1), Ferentz is merely guaranteed a no-lose future decision when -- not if -- the NFL comes calling again. Jacksonville owner Wayne Weaver called two years ago after Iowa finished its Big Ten championship run en route to an Orange Bowl berth. The Jags eventually hired Jack Del Rio. "We hear talk every now and then that Coach is going here or going there," Iowa linebacker George Lewis said. "We don't pay any attention. We know Captain Kirk's not going anywhere. He loves Iowa." There are enough examples of decorated college coaches jumping up to the NFL only to experience dismal results to make Saban a risk for the Dolphins. Lou Holtz. Barry Switzer. Rich Brooks. Steve Spurrier. Dennis Erickson. But there also are equalizers. Bill Walsh. Dennis Green. Tom Coughlin. For the Belichick believers who face off in downtown Orlando, the name of the NFL game is not altogether different than it is on their respective campuses in Baton Rouge, La., and Iowa City, Iowa. It's sound business sense, solid management. "If you're running a business -- or recruiting in college -- you want to be around good people," Ferentz said. "That's especially true in the NFL now. Once you commit yourself to a contract [for a player], you're married. If you're married to a guy with a lot of variables, it can be a rocky road. It can hit you in the pocket book pretty good, and it's going to show up on the field." Such overall program management, however, is where Saban excelled at Michigan State and again at LSU. He overhauled the Tigers' program as if he were running his own reality show, Extreme Makeover: LSU Edition. He had four areas of concern when he walked in the door, and his bosses addressed them. LSU built a new academic center for improved tutoring. It developed a better life-skills program for all the school's athletes. It improved the on-campus living situation for athletes. "I felt if we could establish a program that people could recognize that we have the best interest of the student-athlete at heart, first as a person, second as a student and third as a football player -- so they can reach their full potential in every area -- then they'd realize we could help them launch their careers," Saban said. "They could see that when they left, they'd have the best opportunities life has to offer, and we'd end up with great players, great students and great young men in our program. "Our job is to teach and to develop young men to be leaders for whatever they choose to do when they leave our campus." Saban's replacement will reap the benefits of those and the $28 million football operations building being constructed. The overall construction was not just brick and mortar. Saban recruited academic coordinator Roger Grooters to join him from Michigan State. He asked sports psychologist and close friend Lionel Rosen to counsel him, assistant coaches and players. He brought in peer intervention specialist Ron Heitzinger for more one-on-one counseling. Another noted sports psychologist, Kevin Elko, got his turn with the Tigers. "They way he philosophizes, it's becoming a man that's most important and growing up," LSU All-America defensive end Marcus Spears said of Saban. "It's beyond football and beyond TV and beyond the fans in the stadium, that at the end of the day you have to look at yourself and know that you did the right thing and had character about the way you did things. . . . He's recruiting some guys that really have mature minds and want to be successful in life." Much the same is happening in Iowa, where athletic development and team chemistry are integral to on-field success. The Hawkeyes never see themselves listed among the programs with the country's best recruits, yet they've won 30 games the past three seasons after winning only 11 in the three previous seasons. Iowa (9-2) finds itself playing in the Big Ten's second-favorite bowl despite finishing last in the country in rushing (74.91 yards a game), an anomaly if ever there was one. No doubt Ferentz will secure a tag as a coach who can adapt his systems as needed -- or direct his assistants to do it. "Every time his name comes up . . . he very quickly takes his name out of consideration -- at least publicly," said Iowa guard Brian Ferentz, one of Kirk's sons. "He's never really gone through a long interview process and set a date or a deadline. . . . I'm obviously privy to some family information about things sometimes, but we've never been in a situation where he really seriously considered another opportunity. We're pretty lucky in that regard." Give it time. If there's one sure thing besides death, taxes and a controversial college bowl system, it's that the NFL will keep churning through coaches. Alan Schmadtke can be reached at [email protected].
Nice find. I would have bolded the following, too: "Every time his name comes up . . . he very quickly takes his name out of consideration -- at least publicly," said Iowa guard Brian Ferentz, one of Kirk's sons. "He's never really gone through a long interview process and set a date or a deadline. . . . I'm obviously privy to some family information about things sometimes, but we've never been in a situation where he really seriously considered another opportunity. We're pretty lucky in that regard." Sounds like he's already (a) quickly said he wasn't interested in previous opportunities, (b) was lying and was initially interested in some cases, (c) discussed this interest with his family, but (d) eventually dismissed those opportunities before they became serious. Yeah, Hawkeye fans, you just keep blindly believing "Captain Kirk" every time he adamantly states he's not leaving Iowa City. Methinks he doth protest too much sometimes, IMO. :wink:
"Blindly believing"??? Who gave you that impression? We believe he would have zero interest in following Saban to LSU... as some of you suggested. Some day he probably will go to Penn State or the pros... and when he does I, for one, will wish him the best and thank him for the ride. He has NEVER said or indicated Iowa was his final destination. Did Saban?
Ferentz is from PA... Many believe that the Penn State job might be the only college position he would consider leaving Iowa for... Luckily it is widely thought that JoePa has been grooming his heir apparant from within. I feel strongly that Ferentz will some day give the NFL a try... His wife and kids love Iowa City, and are very vocal about it.... They want to stay at least long enough for his youngest (12 years old) to graduate HS in Iowa City. Ferentz is also a bit different than Saban in that he isn't nearly as high of an ego guy... He's making about $2mm per year and has a great thing going at Iowa... He likely has a top 5/10 recruiting class coming in and is the type of guy who wants to take his endeavors as far as he can.... Saban already reached the Holy Grail and was ready for another challenge... Ferentz, and many Iowa fans, believe we have a legit shot at a MNC in the next few years...
