From the 'logical, but will never happen' department . . .

I don't think any coaches' agent would agree to this. And let's face, once money is spent and contracts are signed, it's a done deal.

Matt Shaffer, of Cedar Rapids, has a simple and logical suggestion that would never in a million years make it to a coach's contract. It'll never happen, but I think Matt's suggestion shows how deeply frustration has set in for a lot of Iowa fans.

I suggest hanging on and seeing what happens here with a team that's pretty good in a couple places (running, stopping the run) that should win some football games. But you guys are free to voice your frustration and this is the place to do it.

Here's Matt's e-mail, what do you guys think?

Hi,I read your story about Ferentz and the buck stopping with him.  My suggestion would be to tie team performance (record) to the ticket prices and seat premiums for season ticket holders.  Pay the list rate up front at the start of the season and for every loss a season ticket holder gets so many dollars per ticket back as a refund or applied to next year.  As a premium season ticket holder, my patience is wearing very thin.  They have jacked the ticket prices and they should be elevating performance, not playing 0.500 ball and losing to Western Michigan or Northwestern at home. 

Matt Shaffer

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Section 128, Row 1, seats 12 & 13

Matt sent this addendum:

Sure.  I just wanted to clarify to Marc that when I said season ticketholders should get a rebate based on the team's won -loss record (team performance), I meant the rebate should come from the University, not Coach Ferentz.  The fans who are committed to this program, especially people who buy the season tickets and put up the money should get what we paid for and are paying for.  I do like the recent decisions the staff has made in certain areas and on Saturday versus Northwestern that was as into a game as I have seen the players on the sideline in quite a while.  My seats are right behind the Iowa bench (right behind the quarterbacks) so I see how they react and support their teammates.  There were games last year where I would swear the game was a distraction to some of the players I observed.  I don't want Coach Ferentz to go anywhere, as I think he is a great Coach, but I wish he were more open to changes and we can quit referring back to successes from 4 years ago.  We could be sitting at 4 years of 0.5000 ball essentially if this year goes the same way as the previous 3.  To me, that is totally unacceptable.

Feel free to use my commentary.  I am a true Iowa fan and I don't like criticizing Coach Ferentz.  He has brought a lot to Iowa and to the state just as Coach Fry did.  Hopefully they surprise us and win on Saturday at Michigan State.