Ferentz definitely not going to Penn State

Acting on a tip, I asked Kirk Ferentz about Penn State.

I've been doing this for nearly 14 years. I try not to ask stupid questions, and I'm especially careful about questions about employment and coaching rumors. You can count on one hand how many times I've asked the "rumor" question with Ferentz. The Jacksonville thingie, after the 2006 Outback Bowl, that's about it. I really try not to be reckless in my role. I understand what's at stake.

Got a solid bit of info last week that Ferentz's agent, Neil Cornrich, contacted Penn State. So, I felt I had to ask the question and did.

Ferentz has been here nearly 14 seasons as the head coach, I know that. I've covered all but one of those games. That doesn't make him immune to the question. Things change. I had info and I thought I had to ask the question.

Full disclosure, I told UI sports information director Steve Roe that I was going to ask this before last night's news conference. Ferentz usually does a side deal after the main press conference. I wanted to make sure that was going to happen. I thought maybe that would be a better forum. I was told just as it started that there would be no side thingie, so this was the forum in which Ferentz wanted to answer the question.

"Not to my knowledge, I wouldn't know that," Ferentz said. "He may have been."

I asked how he wouldn't know that.

"He works for a lot of people," Ferentz said.

I asked if he was a candidate.

"Am I candidate? I'll be coaching at Iowa next year, is that your question?" Ferentz said. "Year 14 coming up. As long as Iowa will have me, I'll be here."

Asked, answered and moving on.