Derrick Willies leaving Iowa
- Thread starter UNIGuy4Cy
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Please explain how the program is fractured right now-I would describe Iowa State as that right now-not Iowa.
Your coach keeps the more talented players on the bench which then upsets the aforementioned talented players and causes you to lose games
I don't think Iowa is fractured but yeah, Willies splitting in the first place suggests that you're right. Every hawk fan I know agrees that KF starts less talented older guys over younger guys.
This is what Willies has said regarding his departure:
"I'm a Hawkeye," said Willies in a statement Tuesday. "I thought I was putting my family first. Only after time did I realize I'm leaving my family here... my team."
"It's a lot to deal all at once when the man you look up to your whole life tells you he only has a little time left. My father is going to move here and I am going to try and get my place back on the team. That's all I have to say on everything."
That's straight out of his mouth. The rest of what's being said here is complete BS because it's pure conjecture. Not to mention it's coming from rival fans. Obviously you're going to jump the ship with the "this is evidence the team is fractured" card. Reality is he's a RS freshman who has a father that told him he doesn't have long to live. Now maybe playing time, or lack there of, helped him make his decision to leave, but that is hardly evidence that the team is fractured.
Would Iowa have any losses right now if players like Powell and Willies were getting all the snaps? What about if CJB was the quarterback all season?
When your coach is costing you a chance for a perfect season or a BCS bowl game because he's purposefully playing less talented players I think it's safe to say your program is pretty fractured.
Given that players are taking to twitter, which last I knew was banned by KF during season, and some brazen comments made by a couple players, most notably CJB, is evidence that KF doesn't have the tight keep it in the locker room ship that he always demands. Fractured, IDK? I guess we will see how the next two weeks play out. Two losses and we might hear a little more grumbling.
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IMO, the close wins would not have been close. I think we would still have a loss or two because game day coaching is awful. But I think fans would be more positive if the team had looked better in the ugly wins and only had a loss or 2, and be more hopeful in the final two weeks and next year.
KF has done this for years so I would not say it is fractured based on this. That is just how KF rolls.
Iowa media propping up the Iowa-Wisc game as the biggest game in the country this Saturday (Scott Dochterman; CR Gazette)...Iowa has a clear path to the West division crown.......blah blah blah
Reality?
~Eyes will be on RB Gordon, to see if he gashes Iowa's defense
~Nobody outside of Iowa, cares about the Hawkeyes
~If Iowa wins the West, its all you need to know about the Big 10 in football
Two more losses and I guarantee you'll hear plenty of grumbling. That's because Iowa fans demand better than that. Not necessarily because the locker room is fractured. I'm not saying these preconceived notions aren't true. I'm just saying no one has a clue.
I don't know the answer to those questions. Could Powell, Willies, and CJB playing more have resulted in more wins? Possibly. Who knows? I'm not psychic. I don't think the difference in Rudock and CJB is that great. With CJB starting there may be more scoring, but I also think it's likely there would be more interceptions. That's just because he takes more risks.
Powell is sort of a one trick pony. When he comes in the game he's either going deep or catching a screen. It's a red flag to a defense. Plus because of his small size I'm sure he's not near as good at blocking as some of the other guys. As far as Willies goes I can't really explain that one as much. He messed up some quick routes a few times where it was clear he wasn't on the same page as the QB, but no player is going to play flawlessly. I definitely thought he should have been on the field a lot more than he was. Especially over a guy like Vandeberg or Hillyer. Vandeberg gets his reps because he has good hands, and Hillyer gets his reps because he's a damn good blocker at the receiving position. I think if Willies applied himself he would be as good as Vandeberg at catching the ball and as tough as Hillyer at blocking. I really don't see a good reason to keep him off the field unless he was being a headcase.
LOL. Exactly which is why absolutely nothing will change after it happens, just like at ISU. Demand all you want but accepting reality and demanding better will get you the same canned comments from coaches and AD's and all the demands in the world aren't going to change the numbers that the accountants have to work with.
First of all, we are where we are today because most Iowa fans do NOT demand better than this. That is the problem. Kirk is nice, he gives money to charities, we go to bowl games, blah, blah, blah.
Secondly, I wasn't talking about the fans grumbling. The thing with Willies is a little odd. He quit the team midseason because of his dad, but yet he remained in Iowa City in school. If he quit to be with his dad, why is he still in Iowa City? If he was planning to move closer to his dad but wait til after semester, why wouldn't he stay on the team? Then you have CJB telling us that Willies left because he doesn't fit into the offense. CJB also tells us that he isn't practicing with the 1s. Willies announces he is quitting via twitter PRIOR to telling coaches. Then announces his return via Twitter PRIOR to telling coaches. Now, you know how KF is, none of this is not kosher at all.
Powell is not a one-trick pony. KF has used him for one trick. KF doesn't know how to utilize his talent.
Respectfully disagree. Iowa fans and ISU fans are much different in terms of standards for football. ISU fans have just recently started to turn on Rhoads. Iowa fans would have bailed on him a long time ago.
I will agree with you that there's really nothing fans can do. I never meant to insinuate that in my post. If it came down to it both schools could fire their coach and they'd work it out financially. Whether or not that happens is ultimately up to the A.D.'s.
I respectfully disagree, both fanbases are the same in terms of standards. Both sides unrealistically think they are, and should be much better than they actually are or should be.
I don't know the specifics of the situation so why speculate? That's all I'm saying. He's said it's about his Dad. There's also been things said regarding playing time. Like I said before, I would guess it is probably a combination of both, but I don't know the specifics. I think it's pointless to speculate because it could be a number of things and neither of us really have a clue.
We'll have to disagree about Iowa fans. I've been pretty happy long-term with Ferentz at the helm. I started to turn after the 4-8 season, but figured he deserved one more chance to turn it around. Last season was a step in the right direction, and this season has been a step back so far. So for me it's hinging on these last two games. If they win both and make the B10 championship I'll be content. If they split I'll probably be on the fence, and if they lose both I'll be ready to move on. There's two sides to every argument and no one is right or wrong. Personally I believe Ferentz has brought Iowa some pretty special seasons. That's what has got him this far. So when you say Iowa fans don't demand more that's kind of a cheap statement because there is some history there that accounts for the reason Iowa fans have been willing to cut him some slack. He's done it before. That's not as easy to move on from as it would be if he had only had minimal levels of success.
Section110... DO you think Iowa can beat Wisconsin? weirder stuff has happened with these two teams the last 20 years
Northwestern beat Wisconsin and Notre Dame this season, yet got their butts beat in by Iowa
All about matchups I guess. Who knows. Iowa could win be 3 points or lose by 35