Source - http://espn.go.com/blog/bigten...t-a-b1g-problem 

If people don't already know, Florida is no longer a "priority area" of recruitment, as per the article. I don't see why Ferentz won't send a coach to recruit there, seeing as Florida has loads of talent.

Hopefully, Greg Davis has encouraged KF to recruit Texas instead.  If this isn't the case, Florida needs to be a priority.  If GD wants speed, the south seems to have an abundance for some reason, not the midwest.

I don't have a huge problem with Iowa not having a full time recruiter in Florida.

Yes there is a lot of talent but almost all the 5*, 4*, and high level 3*'s will stay in Florida, Georiga, SEC territory or end up at blue bloods like Ohio St. and Notre Dame. After those players are gone it's essentially the same type of players that Iowa can pull from Ohio, Texas, Missouri, Illinois, etc. There are only so many hours that can be put toward recruiting I don't think it's worth Iowa's time to have somebody there full time to pull 1 or 2 players that are similar to what Iowa is already getting.

Another reason I don't have a problem is because of the way recruiting is changing. Official visits don't start until September of their senior year and so many kids now are committing well before then. It's hard to get a kid from Florida to pay their own money to visit Iowa when they can drive to other closer schools that they are considering.

Also, I don't think that recruiting has hurt Iowa the last few years as much as attrition has. The attrition from those past classes left Iowa with a lack of talent and depth which caused the recent struggles. If you get kids from Florida to come to Iowa I think they would be more prone to leaving to go back home as compared to kids from Big Ten country.

I don't think the coaching staff meant that they would completely stop recruiting Florida, I think it just means they won't proactively recruit there. If a recruit from Florida pops up that they really like and he has similar interest then I'm sure they will adjust their plans accordingly.

Just my thoughts...

Unbelievable, with three New Year's Day bowl games with automatic B1G invitations plus the BCS Orange Bowl, we are no longer going to recruit Florida? That either means we have gone over the deep end or KF no longer expects to compete regularly for the Capital One, Outback, Gator, or Orange Bowl.

Looking at past recruiting classes Iowa hasn't had a class with more than one contributor from FL since 2002 (Edmond Miles and Marcus Paschal).

floridahawk wrote: Unbelievable, with three New Year's Day bowl games with automatic B1G invitations plus the BCS Orange Bowl, we are no longer going to recruit Florida? That either means we have gone over the deep end or KF no longer expects to compete regularly for the Capital One, Outback, Gator, or Orange Bowl.

So, we should start recruiting in Pasadena...?

I just hope this doesn't hurt future recruiting to much.

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--- UImed17 wrote:

floridahawk wrote: Unbelievable, with three New Year's Day bowl games with automatic B1G invitations plus the BCS Orange Bowl, we are no longer going to recruit Florida? That either means we have gone over the deep end or KF no longer expects to compete regularly for the Capital One, Outback, Gator, or Orange Bowl.

So, we should start recruiting in Pasadena...?

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If we have thrown the towel in on Florida bowl games, we definitely will not be going to Pasadena anytime soon!

With the new assistant coaches we are going to hit Tx and East coast very ahrd.  I ahve no problem with that.

As long as Texas is able to compensate for Florida, I'm fine with it as well.

drizzyj32 wrote: Looking at past recruiting classes Iowa hasn't had a class with more than one contributor from FL since 2002 (Edmond Miles and Marcus Paschal).

And since about 2005 (about the time the 2002 recruits would probably be seeing the field), how many big seasons has Iowa had?  I count ONE double-digit win season in the 8 seasons since the end of '04.

1977Hawkeye wrote:

drizzyj32 wrote: Looking at past recruiting classes Iowa hasn't had a class with more than one contributor from FL since 2002 (Edmond Miles and Marcus Paschal).

And since about 2005 (about the time the 2002 recruits would probably be seeing the field), how many big seasons has Iowa had?  I count ONE double-digit win season in the 8 seasons since the end of '04.

I understand what you are saying. Iowa had a lot of success in those years in large part because of Florida players (Brad Banks, C.J. Jones, Abdul Hodge, Colin Cole etc.) but for whatever reason that trend has changed since then. Of the 16 commits from Florida between 2002-2010 (didn't count the last 3 classes because we've yet to see if they'll contribute) only 4 of them were solid contributors to the team. Is it worth Iowa's time to have a full time recruiter there with that kind of success rate? Iowa's most recent struggles have had to do a lot with attrition. Schools like Alabama can afford to recruit that way because if someone leaves they can have another 4 or 5 star step in. If players don't workout or stay at Iowa that's when the struggles start because they have to fill in with less talented players or walk-ons.

It's hard to battle BB.

cost-benefit. I think 10 yrs is enough data to suggest that what we can get out of FLA after the SEC, B 12, ACC, higher B 10 teams have their picks is not worth the expense of going down there.

With Maryland and Rutgers joining the conference this will give Iowa even more visibility in the East. I also believe that GD and the new WR coach will bring much stronger ties to Texas, so this is a sound decision.

We have made significant in-roads into Ohio and Michigan over the past three years. Illinois and Missouri has also been good to us. Academics in Florida can be an issue whereas Texas has much more stringent academic requirements for HS student athletes.

Iowa will spot recruit Florida if there is interest from both parties from wat was said on KXNO this afternoon. Also said it was a topic a year ago so don't know why all of a sudden it has sprouted legs. Just tells me these online guys check out the boards, find something to write about and go with it. I guess if you throw enough crap against a wall, something will stick!

The original headline for this thread is misleading, as are many headlines of articles I read these days. Iowa is still going to recruit Florida. They are just going to do it more selectively. Why waste the cash if the paybacks are low %age? Sounds like common sense to me. I don't know why everything has to be so sensationalized. Then again, we wouldn't want to pass up an opportunity to criticize Ferentz every time he opens his mouth. Hmm, wonder why he is so tight lipped about everything?

I didn't mean for it to be misleading. When I read the article, it sounded to me like Iowa was permanently staying away from Florida.

If you check out Morehouse's blog on CRGazette he shows the assistant coaches and lists their recruiting area. None of which shows Florida as a recruiting area. Pretty safe to say Florida is no longer being recruitied by this staff. However, it looks like Texas is going to hit hard by the new staff. Three assistants (Davis, Woods, & Kennedy) are assigned for that state.

I really do not understand why we would stay out of Florida. I am not saying we need to set up shop there, but if we go check out 25 or so kids, is that so bad. What if a 4 star OL has us as one of his top 10, we just going to tell him sorry, look elsewhere. That seems kinda crazy. GO HAWKS!!

Do not panic! Remove the rope from around your neck and back away from the keyboard. I am fairly certain, if the coaches get a lead on a kid from Florida and their is mutual interest, someone will go see the kid and make a decision whether to pursue him further. Good God! I wish they wouldn't write these inflammatory articles. Is real news that difficult to come by? Isn't Manti Te'o getting married this weekend?

I stopped paying attention to the Manti Te'o story a long time ago. All I heard is that he made up a girlfriend.

"Iowa lost another Florida recruiter when Rick Kaczenski left for Nebraska in 2011."

Umm.. wasn't he fired, and then he went to Nebby? I hate revisionist history, but I could be wrong.

WildIowaCat wrote: "Iowa lost another Florida recruiter when Rick Kaczenski left for Nebraska in 2011."

Umm.. wasn't he fired, and then he went to Nebby? I hate revisionist history, but I could be wrong.

No.  He wasn't fired.  He took a job that was offered when he was still on your staff.

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--- HuskerDoc wrote:

WildIowaCat wrote: "Iowa lost another Florida recruiter when Rick Kaczenski left for Nebraska in 2011."

Umm.. wasn't he fired, and then he went to Nebby? I hate revisionist history, but I could be wrong.

No.  He wasn't fired.  He took a job that was offered when he was still on your staff.

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Technically you may be correct, but if he didn't pick the Husker offer, he would have probably ended up in the unemployment line. His bullying attitude drove several good DL away from Iowa football.

floridahawk wrote:

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--- HuskerDoc wrote:

WildIowaCat wrote: "Iowa lost another Florida recruiter when Rick Kaczenski left for Nebraska in 2011."

Umm.. wasn't he fired, and then he went to Nebby? I hate revisionist history, but I could be wrong.

No.  He wasn't fired.  He took a job that was offered when he was still on your staff.

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Technically you may be correct, but if he didn't pick the Husker offer, he would have probably ended up in the unemployment line. His bullying attitude drove several good DL away from Iowa football.

Not arguing that.  Just clarifying the initial comment.  He wasn't fired.

HuskerDoc wrote:

floridahawk wrote:

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--- HuskerDoc wrote:

WildIowaCat wrote: "Iowa lost another Florida recruiter when Rick Kaczenski left for Nebraska in 2011."

Umm.. wasn't he fired, and then he went to Nebby? I hate revisionist history, but I could be wrong.

No.  He wasn't fired.  He took a job that was offered when he was still on your staff.

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Technically you may be correct, but if he didn't pick the Husker offer, he would have probably ended up in the unemployment line. His bullying attitude drove several good DL away from Iowa football.

Not arguing that.  Just clarifying the initial comment.  He wasn't fired.

He'll be fired from Nebraska, sooner rather than later.

HuskerDoc wrote:

floridahawk wrote:

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--- HuskerDoc wrote:

WildIowaCat wrote: "Iowa lost another Florida recruiter when Rick Kaczenski left for Nebraska in 2011."

Umm.. wasn't he fired, and then he went to Nebby? I hate revisionist history, but I could be wrong.

No.  He wasn't fired.  He took a job that was offered when he was still on your staff.

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Technically you may be correct, but if he didn't pick the Husker offer, he would have probably ended up in the unemployment line. His bullying attitude drove several good DL away from Iowa football.

Not arguing that.  Just clarifying the initial comment.  He wasn't fired.

Neither was KOK. 

RJSimmons wrote:

HuskerDoc wrote:

floridahawk wrote:

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--- HuskerDoc wrote:

WildIowaCat wrote: "Iowa lost another Florida recruiter when Rick Kaczenski left for Nebraska in 2011."

Umm.. wasn't he fired, and then he went to Nebby? I hate revisionist history, but I could be wrong.

No.  He wasn't fired.  He took a job that was offered when he was still on your staff.

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Technically you may be correct, but if he didn't pick the Husker offer, he would have probably ended up in the unemployment line. His bullying attitude drove several good DL away from Iowa football.

Not arguing that.  Just clarifying the initial comment.  He wasn't fired.

He'll be fired from Nebraska, sooner rather than later.

Well, first he has to have some DL guys to actually coach.  We were so thin at DL last year we started our 250 lb. DE at DT the last few games of the year, and got exposed badly.  We need depth at DT and DE terribly.  Lots and lots of new faces on our DL this year.  It will be interesting to see what he does with them.  I was impressed with your DL when he was your coach - whether that was because of RK, or in spite of him I don't know.

HuskerDoc wrote:

RJSimmons wrote:

HuskerDoc wrote:

floridahawk wrote:

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--- HuskerDoc wrote:

WildIowaCat wrote: "Iowa lost another Florida recruiter when Rick Kaczenski left for Nebraska in 2011."

Umm.. wasn't he fired, and then he went to Nebby? I hate revisionist history, but I could be wrong.

No.  He wasn't fired.  He took a job that was offered when he was still on your staff.

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Technically you may be correct, but if he didn't pick the Husker offer, he would have probably ended up in the unemployment line. His bullying attitude drove several good DL away from Iowa football.

Not arguing that.  Just clarifying the initial comment.  He wasn't fired.

He'll be fired from Nebraska, sooner rather than later.

Well, first he has to have some DL guys to actually coach.  We were so thin at DL last year we started our 250 lb. DE at DT the last few games of the year, and got exposed badly.  We need depth at DT and DE terribly.  Lots and lots of new faces on our DL this year.  It will be interesting to see what he does with them.  I was impressed with your DL when he was your coach - whether that was because of RK, or in spite of him I don't know.

2009 he appeared to do an excellent job with the DL. 2010....not so much. I have heard that he is abusive to his players. Now, what that means is anyone's guess??? As far as I'm concerned, today's standards would have found every single one of my coaches abusive. One way or another. I do believe that too much criticism can wear on anyone and potentially make your players not want to play for you and I believe we had that problem with RK and several transfers were a direct result of that. 
I haven't seen anything out of NEB's DL to prove otherwise, since he was hired. It might be a talent problem but it might not.

RJSimmons wrote:

HuskerDoc wrote:

RJSimmons wrote:

HuskerDoc wrote:

floridahawk wrote:

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--- HuskerDoc wrote:

WildIowaCat wrote: "Iowa lost another Florida recruiter when Rick Kaczenski left for Nebraska in 2011."

Umm.. wasn't he fired, and then he went to Nebby? I hate revisionist history, but I could be wrong.

No.  He wasn't fired.  He took a job that was offered when he was still on your staff.

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Technically you may be correct, but if he didn't pick the Husker offer, he would have probably ended up in the unemployment line. His bullying attitude drove several good DL away from Iowa football.

Not arguing that.  Just clarifying the initial comment.  He wasn't fired.

He'll be fired from Nebraska, sooner rather than later.

Well, first he has to have some DL guys to actually coach.  We were so thin at DL last year we started our 250 lb. DE at DT the last few games of the year, and got exposed badly.  We need depth at DT and DE terribly.  Lots and lots of new faces on our DL this year.  It will be interesting to see what he does with them.  I was impressed with your DL when he was your coach - whether that was because of RK, or in spite of him I don't know.

2009 he appeared to do an excellent job with the DL. 2010....not so much. I have heard that he is abusive to his players. Now, what that means is anyone's guess??? As far as I'm concerned, today's standards would have found every single one of my coaches abusive. One way or another. I do believe that too much criticism can wear on anyone and potentially make your players not want to play for you and I believe we had that problem with RK and several transfers were a direct result of that. 
I haven't seen anything out of NEB's DL to prove otherwise, since he was hired. It might be a talent problem but it might not.

With Bo as our HC, RK may seem like the nice one!  I agree with the point you made about too much criticism falling on deaf ears after a while.  Also agree with you about today's standards and the coaches we grew up with.  My dad was my wrestling coach from birth through HS.  I would say he chewed my butt better than anyone.  However, he knew how to to get me motivated, and sometimes I needed a little nudge.  Other kids he treated with kid gloves if they needed it.  He knew how to get the most out of every kid.  Some kids need tough love, some need more constructive criticism.  Constantly yelling at everyone gets old.

HuskerDoc wrote:

RJSimmons wrote:
2009 he appeared to do an excellent job with the DL. 2010....not so much. I have heard that he is abusive to his players. Now, what that means is anyone's guess??? As far as I'm concerned, today's standards would have found every single one of my coaches abusive. One way or another. I do believe that too much criticism can wear on anyone and potentially make your players not want to play for you and I believe we had that problem with RK and several transfers were a direct result of that. 
I haven't seen anything out of NEB's DL to prove otherwise, since he was hired. It might be a talent problem but it might not.

With Bo as our HC, RK may seem like the nice one!  I agree with the point you made about too much criticism falling on deaf ears after a while.  Also agree with you about today's standards and the coaches we grew up with.  My dad was my wrestling coach from birth through HS.  I would say he chewed my butt better than anyone.  However, he knew how to to get me motivated, and sometimes I needed a little nudge.  Other kids he treated with kid gloves if they needed it.  He knew how to get the most out of every kid.  Some kids need tough love, some need more constructive criticism.  Constantly yelling at everyone gets old.

You just pegged the most important part of coaching. Figuring out what players, need what kind of motivation and applying it to get the maximum effort. I was coached by the tough love coaches. But in fairness, I started boxing at the age of 8 and there is no other way to coach that sport. If you aren't tough enough to put up with the coach, you're not cut out for that sport. You'll get your head knocked off. It's also the sport of NO EXCUSES! It's you and him in the ring. Win or lose, you have nobody to blame but yourself. 
That's probably why I'm not winning any popularity contests on this board. I'd just as soon put my foot in someone's azz and I don't much care for excuses.
I'm really old school.

If anyone's interested, here's an article assessing the positives and negatives of Iowa's new recruiting strategy -

http://bleacherreport.com/arti...wkeyes-football