Kirk Ferentz on the state of college football: 'We have done a lot to really screw this thing up'

Kirk Ferentz is preparing for the Iowa Hawkeyes for a date with the Tennessee Volunteers on Monday in the Citrus Bowl.

However, that hasn’t stopped the longtime Iowa leader from speaking on the state of college football as a whole. Evidently, Ferentz believes the sport is headed in a fascinating direction, where it’s not all going to be positive.

“Sorry to say two years later, we are in worse shape than we were two years ago. I did not think that was possible,” Ferentz told the media. “We, the adults, have done a lot to really screw this thing up. We have a great game, so I do – old guy in the room – I have got some concerns about what the future is going to look like. I think most people are aware that we have some real issues right now. I am not sure what we can come to agreement what the remedies may be. You see a lot of things that just concern you, and again, there are a lot of moving parts. I’m not going to pretend I have all the answers.

“Despite all the challenges, I think the thing that remains consistent, the single best part about what we do is we get to work with really high-quality young players, and that has not changed. It was the same way two years ago, ten years ago, and that is the part you really enjoy. I have always told people in any job, you have X amount of percent of things you do not really look forward to doing, and then another percent, hopefully, you do like doing. If that percent outweighs the other side, then it is still a pretty good deal.”

Continuing, Ferentz specifically touched on the topic of opt-outs. While the idea is nothing new, the sheer amount of them has grown to inordinate numbers over the past few seasons, and the Iowa leader isn’t excited a fan of the new normal.

“It is just a different world. Even 20 years ago, you had guys possibly opting out for the NFL, not near to the extent now,” Ferentz added. “There are just a lot of parties involved now, and it us not always healthy voices that the players here and some of the parties involved are not necessarily thinking about what is best for the individual young people.

“Just kind of flies in the face of what we try to do as coaches I think, so that is part of it.”

Kirk Ferentz: ‘We have opened the rules up now where it is real easy for people to make bad decisions.’

Alas, Ferentz put it all into perspective, speaking on what bowl games used to mean to schools and their players. While it’s still a special thing to partake in for athletes, it certainly feels like non-Playoff bowl games are losing some luster.

“We have opened the rules up now where it is real easy for people to make bad decisions. I have always — not always, but for a while now – I have been just concerned about how our thirst for the playoffs and our thirst for the National Championship race: Two teams, four teams, with all the focus going there with the public and the media, really diminishes some of the other Bowls,” Ferentz stated. “Our first Bowl game in 2001 was in San Antonio, Alamo Bowl, and we won it. Bob Sanders, the shortest guy on the field came out with the ball. Wes Welker was in that group, too, another short guy, but two pretty good players. Sanders comes out of the game with the ball at the end. They threw a Hail Mary, and it was like we won the Super Bowl. Like that was a really important game and important year for us, our third year; and we did not turn the corner, but at least we were showing progress making traction.

“Those games do mean a lot. They mean a lot more the people involved and I just think right now there is a trend where like it is not the whatever game. It does not matter. Anybody that has ever played in the game, that is why you play the game. You play to go out and compete, do your best every opportunity and when I coached at Worcester Academy, every game was important. We have really drifted away from that a little bit, and I think that is unfortunate, because a lot of people are missing out on some really special experiences, and that is too bad.”

Regardless, change is inevitable. Kirk Ferentz recognizes that, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some things from the past that he’d like to see take a bigger precedent moving forward. It’s going to be fascinating to see where college football continues to go from here.