Don't let disappointing year dampen Hawkeye spirit

Must Kirk Ferentz and his staff go just because he makes big dollars? The top 20 highest-paid college football coaches won an average 8.3 games this year, so this year's seven wins is a little below the standard.

However, counting his last 10 years, Iowa football has won 85 games and lost 41. That is an average of 8.5 wins a year, right on standard. This includes two shared Big Ten titles, four 10-plus win seasons, two BCS bowl berths, and a bowl record of six wins, three losses.

Of the top 20 highest-paid coaches, only Mark Richt of Georgia (7-3), Jeff Tedford of California (5-2) and Bo Pelini of Nebraska (3-1) have a better winning percentage in bowls. Also, eight of the top 20 highest-paid coaches have losing records in bowl games.

Don't let a couple of disappointing years dampen the Hawkeye spirit. After all, before Fry and Ferentz, Iowa had won only 49.28 percent of its games since 1889.

Mike Machovec

Springville