I watched the Hawkeye media day coverage last night on the news. I tried to follow what Jon and most of the other Hawk fans say: there was no cover up by Kirk, he did all he could when he kicked the players off, he used bad judgment sending the players back to the room and finally I have had a relationship with Kirk for 9 years and he is a good guy. I tried really hard to consider Kirk that way but the problem is that I also have a 9 year relationship with Kirk and tend to view things a little differently. I think if you look at his time at Iowa 2 things stick out. One of them would be the terrific success he had from 2002-2004. I would love to see Chizik go a run like that. The other thing I see is 9 years of continual poor judgment and lack of discipline.
Over the last 9 years, it is very easy to walk through case by case where Kirk’s judgment and discipline are questionable. Dana Brown kicked off the team but only after this 3rd arrest, Sam Aiello beating up the QB and nothing happening. There are obviously more. The coaching of Drew Tate reeks of no discipline and poor judgment. The housing scandal was recently discussed on this board and there clearly was some poor judgment and discipline by Kirk not only as a coach but as a parent. Even with the rape case, Kirk showed poor judgment more than once and did not discipline Jevon Pugh. Meeting with the victim initially and then being part of the group that recommended an informal process shows no wisdom on his part. Sounds like from reading the reports after the victim was taken to the room Pugh touched the victim. He was not disciplined at all and fact scored the winning touchdown against Michigan State. Certainly with his handling of the rape case, Kirk’s judgment and discipline should be questioned more that what it is.
When it comes right down to it, I have 2 problems with Kirk and the way Jon and other Hawks look at him.
1.) It seems to me that discipline and wisdom are 2 very big pillars in making up someone’s character. How can Kirk still be considered a man of such great integrity and character when he has displayed repeated lack of discipline and judgment in his 9 years at Iowa? I think what is scary is that he has gotten worse over time and not better. His judgment as to who he offers scholarships to has declined greatly. I guess his discipline has not gotten worse. It has never existed.
2.) Should a man with a history of judgment and discipline problems be allowed to be in charge of 100, 18-23 year old young men who by default struggle with discipline and making the right choices? It seems like the team is simply going to follow their leader. It took Kirk 9 years to get a life skills coach and Chizik one year. I do not see much leadership in Kirk.
Unfortunately, I think Kirk will win 8-9 games this year and all will be forgiven and forgotten. I am not trying to paint Kirk as a complete scumbag but if you look at the evidence over 9 years you have to come to the conclusion that he has some issues. I would be fine if Jon and the other Hawks said, “He know Kirk has some character problems but he took us to the greatest success Iowa has ever had. I think he can take us back there so we should keep him around.†I could accept that because it is truth. The hypocrisy of saying that Kirk is a great guy when the evidence does not support it sickens me.
Over the last 9 years, it is very easy to walk through case by case where Kirk’s judgment and discipline are questionable. Dana Brown kicked off the team but only after this 3rd arrest, Sam Aiello beating up the QB and nothing happening. There are obviously more. The coaching of Drew Tate reeks of no discipline and poor judgment. The housing scandal was recently discussed on this board and there clearly was some poor judgment and discipline by Kirk not only as a coach but as a parent. Even with the rape case, Kirk showed poor judgment more than once and did not discipline Jevon Pugh. Meeting with the victim initially and then being part of the group that recommended an informal process shows no wisdom on his part. Sounds like from reading the reports after the victim was taken to the room Pugh touched the victim. He was not disciplined at all and fact scored the winning touchdown against Michigan State. Certainly with his handling of the rape case, Kirk’s judgment and discipline should be questioned more that what it is.
When it comes right down to it, I have 2 problems with Kirk and the way Jon and other Hawks look at him.
1.) It seems to me that discipline and wisdom are 2 very big pillars in making up someone’s character. How can Kirk still be considered a man of such great integrity and character when he has displayed repeated lack of discipline and judgment in his 9 years at Iowa? I think what is scary is that he has gotten worse over time and not better. His judgment as to who he offers scholarships to has declined greatly. I guess his discipline has not gotten worse. It has never existed.
2.) Should a man with a history of judgment and discipline problems be allowed to be in charge of 100, 18-23 year old young men who by default struggle with discipline and making the right choices? It seems like the team is simply going to follow their leader. It took Kirk 9 years to get a life skills coach and Chizik one year. I do not see much leadership in Kirk.
Unfortunately, I think Kirk will win 8-9 games this year and all will be forgiven and forgotten. I am not trying to paint Kirk as a complete scumbag but if you look at the evidence over 9 years you have to come to the conclusion that he has some issues. I would be fine if Jon and the other Hawks said, “He know Kirk has some character problems but he took us to the greatest success Iowa has ever had. I think he can take us back there so we should keep him around.†I could accept that because it is truth. The hypocrisy of saying that Kirk is a great guy when the evidence does not support it sickens me.