Considering Iowa had one of the worst statistical offenses in Division I college football last season, one might think the program and, particularly, offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, would want to change something.
If Ferentz plans on making a change, he isn’t tellijg anybody.
Coach Brian Ferentz says he "doesn't know that there are any notable changes to the offense" going into this coming season.
— Eliot Clough (@EliotClough) April 20, 2023
Fetentz recently told the press that he “doesn’t know that there are any notable changes” to Iowa’s offense and then declined to say anything reassuring or otherwise to Iowa’s justifiably disgruntled fanbase.
“I don’t have a message to them,” he said.
Brian Ferentz asked if he has a message for the Iowa fans who are running out of patience with the offense.
“I don’t have a message to them” pic.twitter.com/pIEGhSys2n
— Chris Hassel (@Hassel_Chris) April 20, 2023
There are many who feel that Ferentz, who has been Iowa’s OC since 2017, is still employed for one reason; nepotism.
Ferentz’s father, Kirk Ferentz, is arguably the most successful coach in Iowa football history. He’s been in charge of the program since 1999, and took the team from 1-10 his first season to a consistent winner starting in the 2000s. Kirk Ferentz is 186-115 overall at Iowa and 115-83 in the Big Ten. Only three coaches in Big Ten history; College Football Hall of Famers Woody Hayes (202) Amos Alonzo Stagg (199) and Bo Schembechler (194) have more wins.
But things are not well in Iowa City right now.
Last season, Iowa finished with an 8-5 record and beat Kentucky 21-0 on the Citrus Bowl. But the team was awful on the offensive end. It averaged 17.7 points per game, which ranked 12th out of 14 Big Ten schools, ahead of only Rutgers (4-8, 1-8 Big Ten) and Northwestern (1-11, 1-8 Big Ten). Nationally, Iowa finished 123rd of 131 teams in scoring average. If Iowa averaged 25 points per game this season, it would have been one of 86 teams to accomplish that feat, which is relevant because of a bizarre contract amendment Iowa issued the younger Ferentz this winter.
Penn State plays Iowa Sept. 23 at Beaver Stadium. The last time Penn State played Iowa was in October 2021. No. 3 Iowa came back from a 17-3 deficit to beat No. 4 Penn State 23-20. Penn State fans remember that day mainly for DT PJ Mustipher and QB Sean Clifford getting injured in the first half. Mustipher missed the final eight games of the season. Clifford returned the next game, but Penn State wasn’t the same. Coach James Franklin’s team fell from 5-0 and in the top five to 7-6 at the end of the season.
If Iowa follows through on what is implied as a plan to change nothing scheme-wise from last season, Penn State and its fans could enjoy Sept. 23 immensely.
