Why is Phil Parker Still at Iowa?
The Brian Ferentz Drive to 325 is all the rage this year with his new contract stipulations. For those who do not know, Brian Ferentz (Iowa Offensive Coordinator and son of Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz) has agreed to a new contract at the beginning of the year that includes Iowa averaging 25 points per game due to their offensive ineptitude in previous years. If they do not reach that average, Brian Ferentz will be let go. This is just a hilarious contract agreement and not something I’ve ever heard of before. These types of things is what makes college football beautiful.
So how is Brian Ferentz doing? Well, not great. After Week 7, he’s 29 points behind pace and their offense has looked like their offenses from the previous years. I think there’s no way Iowa reaches the 25 PPG by the end of the season. By the way, this also includes any bowl game and conference title game. The most hilarious thing about this is that, well Iowa continues to be Iowa. They continue to win games and have an offense that looks like it can’t score against a JV high school team.
With a win against Wisconsin last week, who was Iowa’s biggest “threat” to win the west, Iowa is in prime position to lock down that Big Ten West #1 spot. If Iowa ends up winning out, who’s toughest remaining game is Rutgers… they will win the West and compete against Ohio State, Michigan or Penn State for the conference title. Despite being 11-1 (in this situation), they will get embarrassed in the conference title game by the East winner and Ferentz will be far from reaching his 25 PPG average he needs to hit. Truthfully, if this scenario happens, I think that contract agreement will be voided and Brian Ferentz will return as OC next year. The Ferentz’s are royalty in Iowa and I just can’t see them firing him after bringing them to a conference title game and a one loss regular season. All that said, I’m sorry Iowa fans.
But this isn’t the story that I want to focus on. Why is Phil Parker (Iowa’s Defensive Coordinator) still on this staff? He is one of the best defensive minds and coordinators in the sport, yet he still intentionally puts himself in a position where he knows the offense will do his side of the ball no favors and because of that, their ceiling is a conference title game appearance… not victory. Is his loyalty to the Hawkeyes or to Kirk Ferentz that strong to keep him there? It can’t be money because he sits just outside the top 10 highest paid of defensive coordinators in 2023, behind defense’s led by LSU’s Matt House and Kentucky’s Brad White. Those defenses are little to be desired and surely not as competitive as the product Phil Parker has put together for Iowa.
If his loyalty is truly the reason he comes back to Iowa every year, he may be the most patient man in the world. He comes in every year, knowing Kirk’s offensive philosophy and Brian’s play calling will be on the other side of the ball for him. God bless that man. If Phil Parker was not the DC, Iowa would not be in the running to making conference title appearances. Additionally, Phil Parker gives Brian Ferentz all the opportunities in the world. He puts out a top 5 defense year in and year out, giving Brian Ferentz’s offense more plays on the field if any other DC were on the other side of the ball.
Obviously it seems as though Parker loves where he is so good for him. I selfishly would love to see him at a school like UNC this year or even a USC. Phil Parker at a school with an elite and electric offense would be a recipe for domination. I hope one day we can see Phil Parker get the accolades and championships he deserves.
