Kirk Ferentz getting sued for being racist

[mj4cy]

First and foremost if Barta is holding a presser to speak to anything related to personal health I wish him the best. Cancer sucks period. My criticism towards him is in his professional duties. Although if he's stepping away or taking a leave of absence why not just issue a statement?

Beyond that, how is it the supposed "face" of the athletic department can seem so distant? Why is it after each and everyone of these PR disasters we say to ourselves "how have they not learned?" KF hasn't really been doing a great job (unless you count boasting that you'll lead college football in longer being racists and wanting credit for it) but at least he's out there trying. Just mind boggling.

You just know if it was at ISU, JP, the university president, and coaches would all do a presser immediately and answer everything under the sun that they legally could. Of course the local media would rake them over the coals vs. fluff questions.

Before I end my rant....seriously, we have players talking about years of emotional abuse a lot of it racially charged and we get a question on pizza toppings....you gotta be kidding me.

/end rant.

 

[mj4cy]

Oh it's been said.. The illogical thought process behind it is ridiculous. Those arguing for Kirk and his staff to fix this say so because Kirk's a good man, which doesn't make sense because if he was a good man he wouldn't have been running his program like this for 20 years.

The vast majority of Iowa fans and Iowa media members believe Kirk should be given a chance, whereas from the outside looking in, it's the other way around. The blind loyalty is glaring and proves that some people care more about winning than the gross culture that was allowed within those walls.

You know they are going to lead college football in how not to have a racist culture anymore...then probably want an award for it.

 

[cycloneman003]

Well that response by Iowa is something

So many things wrong with that response.

- Makes certain to call all accusations on social media "unverified" despite experiences coming directly from the mouths of the individuals that we victims
- Ferentz isn't commenting on accusations out of respect for those who came to him personally... so come out publicly and KF/University will not acknowledge your claims, don't worry just come to Kirk privately and we'll get this all taken care of
- Says individuals not related to the program are exploiting the situation and undermining change happening... give me a break. You won't acknowledge the victims, so they are hiring consultants and lawyering up... SHOCKER

I know it's beating a dead horse, but JFC they need to get PR figured out over there. That response is so transparently saying they will attempt to discredit any/all individuals who come out publicly with their experience and are sweeping this all under the rug.

You're not fooling anyone!

 

[Statefan10]

You know they are going to lead college football in how not to have a racist culture anymore...then probably want an award for it.

I've seen so many articles written by Hawkeye reporters saying Kirk and Iowa are going to "lead the charge". Insane. You don't get to "lead the charge" in how to change a program around, you're going to get highlighted and shown as the program that you absolutely should not emulate.

 

[Pitt_Clone]

Iowa's response

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Good lord, how have they not figured out the PR basics at this point? And the person who established the toxic culture calling around to victims sounds like intimidation to me.

 

[mj4cy]

I've seen so many articles written by Hawkeye reporters saying Kirk and Iowa are going to "lead the charge". Insane. You don't get to "lead the charge" in how to change a program around, you're going to get highlighted and shown as the program that you absolutely should not emulate.

You literally can't lead the charge or change unless you openly admit there was a problem and you were apart of it.

 

[Stewo]

Iowa's response

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Ah. So, they're going to ride the "ignore the fact all of these allegations happened under Kirk's supervision" train I see.

 

[Statefan10]

You literally can't lead the charge or change unless you openly admit there was a problem and you were apart of it.

The only way you can lead the charge and change in my mind, is if you clean house with the entire staff that was allowing this sort of culture. Otherwise, you're showing the entire country that you can have an ugly culture as long as everything stays quiet, you deny most of it, and you tell everyone you will change in the future.

 

[IlliniCy]

Good lord, how have they not figured out the PR basics at this point? And the person who established the toxic culture calling around to victims sounds like intimidation to me.

They're dirt bags. It's really that simple. Despicable, evil ******* dirtbags.

 

[cycloner29]

What are “real constructive changes” compared to “constructive changes”?

 

[Statefan10]

What are “real constructive changes” compared to “constructive changes”?

In their minds, saying the word real means they're actually going to make changes and not just say they are.

 

[SouthernCy]

Iowa's response

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The whole thing that pisses me off about that statement and I guess anyone that is defending Ferentz, is how do you sit there and TRULY believe that he didn't know about these things? How can you sit there and not think his policies directly kept all this quite for this long? I mean my God the man had a no hoodies or hats policy up until LAST YEAR! He has been silencing players for years and there is no doubt in my mind that he will continue to do so

 

[Statefan10]

The whole thing that pisses me off about that statement and I guess anyone that is defending Ferentz, is how do you sit there and TRULY believe that he didn't know about these things? How can you sit there and not think his policies directly kept all this quite for this long? I mean my God the man had a no hoodies or hats policy up until LAST YEAR! He has been silencing players for years and there is no doubt in my mind that he will continue to do so

They don't believe that. They're smarter than that they just don't care, don't think it constitutes punishment, or both.

 

[JP4CY]

Iowa's response

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I think there should have been an independent party listening to what the players had to say not Kirk.

 

[TrianglePlace]

It takes over a week to at least put out a statement to acknowledge overwhelming reports of abuse? Logistics? Give me a break. I can set up a Zoom meeting with colleagues anywhere in a matter of seconds. Also, your words are that players reporting abuse within Ferentz's regime is "**** hit the fan"? Talk about tone deaf. You're digging your hole deeper triangle.

Logistics depended on whether Barta would actually be able to hold something in person, not actually setting up the Zoom meeting. Seriously?

Thats exactly what happened last Friday on Twitter. I didnt use the phrase to minimize the situation but you are just looking for things to be upset about now.

 

[Statefan10]

I think there should have been an independent party listening to what the players had to say not Kirk.

No no no, remember, everything runs through Barta and Kirk. There wasn't an independent party listening when that student athlete was raped by the two football players either, it was Barta and Kirk who sat down with her and pushed her to not make it public.

 

[TrianglePlace]

First and foremost if Barta is holding a presser to speak to anything related to personal health I wish him the best. Cancer sucks period. My criticism towards him is in his professional duties. Although if he's stepping away or taking a leave of absence why not just issue a statement?

I dont think the press conference is any type of announcement for him personally. Him being unavailable for the 2 KF press conferences last week sounds like it was due to health issues which you decided to try and be clever about with your comment below that was posted earlier in this thread.

So Barta didn't attend the press conference? Ill update my timeline.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

Claiming that your football program is going to lead the nation in change and then putting out a statement accusing people of trying to exploit the program is.....something. LOL that statement is literally the complete opposite of acknowledging that change needs to occur or that the people in charge are even capable of leading the way. Wow, Iowa really knocks the whole PR thing out of the park.

 

[clonedude]

Whoever wrote that statement should have been fired already. That was SO bad.

It only reinforces the fact that nothing is going to change in that program. KF has full power and authority, and if you don’t come to him first, then you will be thrown under the bus and not believed.

 

[mj4cy]

I dont think the press conference is any type of announcement for him personally. Him being unavailable for the 2 KF press conferences last week sounds like it was due to health issues which you decided to try and be clever about with your comment below that was posted earlier in this thread.

How was that "trying to be clever"? It was factual. If it was personal reasons wouldn't they just state that? Why not have someone else from the university there?

You have to admit Iowa has years of horrendous PR.