Good-Timey Radio Hour

Sorry, I'm a little late. I spent wayyyyy too long today looking up that 89-23 stat when Iowa has run the ball 35 or more times in a game under Kirk Ferentz. Like wayyyyy too long.

Oh well, I wanted to offer a counter balance to the stat that colleague Scott Dochterman dug up on Iowa's passing game. The Hawkeyes are 4-21 when they've passed 40 or more times during Ferentz's 15-plus seasons.

So, a little column A and a little column B.

Iowa women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder talked with Gary Dolphin to open the show. Tell you what, I think I want to follow around Samantha Logic (or is it Sam?) and write a long form story. That kid might be Iowa's toughest athlete.

The Dolph took one call before coach Bluder's interview and it was from Kentucky. I didn't catch the name, but the fella strutted on the good season the Kentucky Wildcats are having under second-year coach Mark Stoops.

Oh yeah, he went there. Kind of, he went there. The fella asked when Ferentz retires . . . maybe . . .

Dolph said no premature Ferentz retirement talk, but he did nicely note Stoops' success and the history of the family and the UI. Of course, you know all of that.

Dolph did then mention that Bret Bielema's Arkansas Razorbacks face down No. 1 Mississippi State this weekend. He noted that it's a chance for an old Hawkeye to make a dent in the 2014 college football season.

I said on TV last year that I had three people in mind for when Ferentz retires (what? he's going to retire at some point, let's not be ingenues) - Bielema, Mark Stoops and Brian Ferentz. Since last year, I would peel Bielema off the list. The Hogs have lost 16 straight SEC games. Bielema's team is markedly better than last season, but it needs to win. Will Arkansas' success time up when Iowa has an opening (KF's contract runs through the 2019 season)? I don't think so. Would Bielema won't to 'come home”? I can't answer that for certain. He's been there and done that in the Big Ten.

I've also cooled on Stoops. I think he's going to get Kentucky to a bowl level and that's probably the high side of things for the Wildcats. If he climbs higher, Stoops will be UK's statue coach. If he sustains bowl level, he'll still be a hot commodity. And remember, he was DC at Florida State. That might be appealing.

Brian Ferentz? I don't know. I think he's going to be a great coach, wherever and whenever. It's a chance when you hire a family member to replace his dad. It didn't work great for DePaul basketball and Ray and Joey Meyer. I think you want to buy early on Brian Ferentz, but he also hasn't been a head coach or a coordinator. It'd be a gamble, but Iowa, AD Gary Barta and et al, has had a good, long view of BF and there's logic to it.

Anyway, idle speculation on my part. I really don't know. I'm more worried about matching socks.

- Dude from Columbus Junction or somewhere SE asked about Derrick Willies.

Dolph said Willies was perfectly happy at Iowa. He wasn't. I've been asked what percentage is it his father being ill in Arizona (I've heard possibly very ill; KF said yesterday that his health seemed to have a solid prognosis) and how much of it was unhappiness with the Iowa offense.

I really don't know. It's somewhere in there. The door is open, but KF has said he isn't counting on it.

- KF is at the Carlo O'Kelly's.

On Willies: KF met with him today and the door is closed. Willies is gone (probably Arizona).

On RB LeShun Daniels: Stress fracture in foot. Out five or six weeks.

On LB Reggie Spearman: Suspended two weeks for the OWI. Josey Jewell is the guy.

On RB Akrum Wadley: KF said he had some grade problems in the spring. It's straightened out and he's in the mix this weekend. He's from NJ. Here's what I wrote on him when he committed.

- Former Iowa DL Hap Peterson is one of the creators of the Iowa Football Club, a fraternal orgainization for former Hawkeye players. They put on camps and are heavily involved in the community. Peterson gave KF a check for $20,000. They raise money for the team, too. They've pledged to raise $100,000 for the team. I think they said it was the first installment.

Cool deal. I've retweeted Iowa Football Club stuff. The camps are a great opportunity. Chuck Long has been involved in those. If you have a young one, do that. I highly recommend.

Cool moment.

- Jim from Cedar Falls, you're on the air!

Jim notes Iowa has had two coaches in 36 years. That is pretty amazing if you think about it. Something about schedule and the double-bye thingie.

What do the Ferentzes, Kirk and Mary, like to do as a couple?

KF says saw a movie and ate dinner with one of their sons. Enjoy hanging around and spending time with family. He's not a golfer. He reads (hello!!!). And hangs out.

- Robert in Adel, it's the home of Nile Kinnick!

He says hello from Hy-Vee!

- Bob in Cedar Falls, I lived there!!!

Some stuff about NFL things. I heard the word 'Packers.”

Actually, smart question about north teams playing big games in the south. KF: It won't change. There likely won't be a midwest locale and if so, probably a dome.

It's a great discussion. I think when it goes to eight teams - when - they should play home games in the first round.

KF: Fan, media and revenue will probably tip it to eight teams. It's going to be lucrative. KF would be for it 'if our guys didn't have to go to college.”

- Something about the Big Ten West.

KF: It's early. He tells the team to take care of the week in front of them. Do that and you'll be there when it counts.

Anybody's ballgame in the West. Right now, I'm at Nebraska. I think the Huskers are the closest to a complete team.

- Dolph just said some texts were called in.

Question on the next gen D-linemen: Ekakitie, Johnson and Bazata on the inside. Matt Nelson, Spears and McMinn are mentioned as DEs. Sam Brincks is a walk-on DE who's impressed. On Nelson: Up to 265, 268. Good football player. Terrance Harris: Doing some good things. Will learn more about them.

- On NU RB Justin Jackson: Hopefully, he's not like Tevin Coleman, Ferentz said. Iowa offered Jackson, but NU offered earlier.

- NU will try to get a mismatch, a WR on an LB.

- NU defense: Mike Hankewitz has helped the defense turn the corner.

OK, we're out.

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com