In their eyes, the Hawkeyes’ offensive coordinator can do no right, it seems.
The same goes or defensive play-caller Norm Parker.
While the frustration might at times be justified, it is, head coach Kirk Ferentz says, altogether misguided.
“Be mad at me. Be mad at me,” said Ferentz, whose 3-2 Iowa team takes on Michigan State (4-1) at 11 a.m. Saturday. “I approve everything we do in all three areas. It’s my responsibility.”
Fans — and the media — have criticized O’Keefe for his play calling the past two weeks is losses to Pittsburgh and Northwestern. At Pitt, the Hawkeyes abandoned the run; against the Wildcats, they had first-and-goal at the 8 and threw four straight incompletions.
“O’Keefe must go” and “Fire KOK” have been popular themes on message boards and comment streams online.
But what a lot of fans don’t understand, Ferentz said, is how play calling actually happens on game day. O’Keefe and Parker, who has been criticized for lacking creativity when it comes to defending the spread offense, aren’t out there operating as mavericks. Ferentz is always listening and sometimes interjecting.
He has ultimate authority.
“I may comment on a given situation, offensively, defensively or special teams,” Ferentz said. “And I also have the right to veto anything that we do — a blitz, a punt block or whatever. Ultimately, it’s my responsibility. If people want to get upset, I’m the person to get upset with.”
Questions have been raised as to whether Ferentz will shake up his coaching staff if Iowa struggles through another season.
The coach hears it. He says it is reflective of the throwaway nature of society as a whole, something he laments.
“If you study organizations in general, and if you study sports organizations specifically,” Ferentz said, citing the success of his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers. “Nobody’s had more stability than them. They were smart enough to know if you’ve got good people, you work through tough times. It’s all about having good people. And I think we’ve got that here.”
Contact Eric Page at (563) 383-2277 or epage@qctimes.com.
Comments
WTF wrote on Oct 4, 2008 9:12 AM:
" The uniforms are similar, but comparisons end there. There is little competition for the spectator dollar in IOWA and fans will sit on wooden splinters with spaces large enough for a single cheek. Sure, we often brace ourselves with elixer from a metal container against the 0 degree gale. Maybe IOWA fans are not very sophiscated, but we don't countenence condesention, especially when it comes from a weak-willed coach trying to justify a failed programme. "The buck stops here", one President said and so it does with the IOWA football team. Ferentz must take the heat and make the necessary changes - or he must be shown the door! "
e wrote on Oct 4, 2008 9:40 PM: