For the last seven years, ESPN and every other media outlet in the country has been trying to tell everyone that Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz should be the next head coach for the (insert the name of the crummiest NFL teams here) next fall.
Brent Musberger and Herbie (Kirk Herbstreit) even were stumping for him to move onto the NFL during the game the other night. Michigan faithful spread the rumor they got Kirk before Rich Rodriguez, and now Neil Rudel is trying to talk him into leaving Iowa for PSU.
Stop it, already!
Ferentz has been in Iowa City for over 20 years now, arriving with Hayden Fry back in the 1970s before moving onto Maine and the NFL. He and his wife, Mary, have got a couple more kids to get through college before any wanderlust gets the best of him.
Hopefully by then he'll be up for athletic director, president of the university, or even governor of Iowa.
Kelly Ungs
Marion, Iowa
Ten observations on PSU loss
Some thoughts on Penn State in the wake of the loss to Iowa:
1. When will they a hire quarterback coach, an offensive coordinator and a special teams coach? Daryll Clark is going backwards.
2. Don't they have anyone who can kick the ball into the end zone?
3. PSU looked weak. Both offensive tackles got manhandled. Same thing for Graham Zug trying to get into pattern and Nick Sukay on the punt block.
4. The defensive line was terrible. No QB pressure and didn't stop the run.
5. Lee was really missed. Maybe he'll be smart enough to stay out of meaningless games when slightly injured so he doesn't make it worse.
6. Do they have any plays calling for a QB rollout? One Clark run sweep was effective and never tried again.
7. Where was the deep passing attack? They should have max protected and tried an out-and-up to Powell when he was single covered.
8. Loss goes onto the head of Paterno. He is ultra conservative when he has a lead.
9. Play Newsome one quarter of every game. PSU should have a better team next year than this if they can get decent QB play. That's practically impossible if Newsome doesn't get some meaningful snaps this year.
10. Try man to man with CBs and blitz like the Steelers. These CBs look capable.
Mike Brown
Prospect, Ky.
Give Vick more playing time
I wish Michael Vick had more time to show Eagles fans what he can offer the team.
The game against New Orleans should never have ended the way it did. Andy Reid brought Jeff Garcia onto the team for a reason, and putting him in the game could have changed everything. In 2006, Garcia took over when McNabb got injured and led the Eagles with a 6-3 record, including postseason. He knows Philadelphia's system and shows confidence on the field. In the game against Kansas City, Garcia had no opportunity to do anything (editor's note:?Garcia was later released).
Although Kolb performed well last week, he cracked against a strong team. In the game against New Orleans, he threw more interceptions than touchdowns, and if it wasn't for DeSean Jackson basically running the offense, the Eagles probably wouldn't have scored at all. If the Eagles plan to rely on him as McNabb's backup, then he needs to control the game and run the offense himself.
On the other hand, Vick was finally eligible to play but unfortunately didn't receive much time to prove himself. I have always been a fan of Vick while he was on the Falcons. He shows initiative and drive, and reminds me of McNabb in his earlier years with the Eagles.
I really think Vick needs more playing time because he is a strong player that can bring a lot to the table.
Erica Battista
Springfield
he past weekend was a doozy for our family here in the midst of Steeler Country.
Our beloved Bears kind of closed the curtain on your local "tin boys." And the Irish came away with another NBC Classic you'll be able to catch on these days.
JoePa is kicking around a no-name jayvee team. But most of all, our daughter was married Saturday, Sept. 19 and the weather was perfect. What a weekend.
P.S. Our "new son" is a Steeler and Penn State fan. Go Irish!
Don Zengel
Hollidaysburg
I disagree with the author who wrote "[Cecil] Cooper was not getting the job done in an Associated Press article published Sept. 27.
The article said Cooper was the fourth manager fired this season. I think they should look into making changes on the team rather than just firing every manager that doesn't win them games.
The Houston Astros firing their manager was a bad idea.
Ryan McClatchy
Philadelphia
