Hawkeyes See Unity Building Within Program

Ferentz says the conversations have been raw, but his players are listening.

Kirk Ferentz read the lengthy report from the Iowa athletic department’s diversity task force before last season, and after conversations with his team’s leadership group, made some changes within the football program.

There were simple changes — players could wear hooded sweatshirts within the football facility, for example — but they were a sign that the head coach was listening.

Ferentz vowed that he would have more meetings with his leadership group during the season — maybe one during Iowa’s bye week, and maybe in December.

And then, he admitted on Thursday, he didn’t follow through.

Nor did he follow through after Iowa’s win over USC in the Holiday Bowl, or during the offseason workouts before spring practice was scheduled.

“I felt we had a pretty healthy environment, a pretty healthy culture, last December coming off the field in California,” Ferentz said. “When we left here on March 13 (for spring break), I felt pretty good about our positioning heading into spring practice.

“A lot of things in the world have changed since then.”

A lot of things have changed in the Hawkeyes’ world since then.

Allegations of racial disparities within the program have led to an independent review by a Kansas City, Mo., law firm. Chris Doyle, the strength and conditioning coach who was the subject of many of the allegations, is no longer with the program.

And an emotional team meeting in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis has made Ferentz admit that he has had a “blind spot” when it came to dealing with racial issues inside his program.

But there are positives that have come from this tumultuous time within the program, Ferentz said, and he said they could be seen recently after a hour-long meeting with players to decide if they should kneel during the national anthem this season.

Ferentz wants it to be a unified decision, and the Hawkeyes aren’t there yet.

But the players are talking, and listening.

“There was a lot of listening going on, a lot of good discussion,” Ferentz said. “But most evidently, a lot of good respect for each other.

“What I witnessed in that hour was what you’re looking for. The foundation of good teams is honoring each other’s opinions, honoring each other’s beliefs, and to do so with respect. That’s, quite frankly, what I took away from that meeting.”

The Hawkeyes came back to campus on June 8 to begin voluntary workouts, just days after former players, including Chicago Bears offensive lineman James Daniels, went on Twitter and posted about their experiences within the program. Many singled out Doyle, while others mentioned Ferentz and his son, Brian, the team’s offensive coordinator.

That first meeting was “super-raw,” said linebacker Djimon Colbert.

“I had never seen anything like that before,” Colbert said.

“It was a meeting that definitely needed to happen,” wide receiver Brandon Smith said. “I felt like, after the meeting, it was definitely positive.”

“To see my teammates speak up for what they think is right is something special,” center Tyler Linderbaum said. “I’m glad they did it.”

Colbert said he can see changes. Players who normally wouldn’t speak to each other because of different backgrounds, he said, are now talking in the weight room and locker room.

“It’s a very open space,” Colbert said. “Very open discussion.”

The independent review, conducted by law firm Husch Blackwell, is expected to be done in the coming weeks.

Ferentz said numerous former and current players have been interviewed. He, too, has been interviewed, as well as members of the coaching staff.

Ferentz knows there will be unhappy fans if the Hawkeyes choose to kneel for the national anthem.

“I can tell you from the emails I get, the letters I get, it is a hot-button topic, no question about it,” he said.

Ferentz wants unity on the decision. He wants unity within the program.

The change, his players said, is already happening.

“We already can see,” Colbert said. “We already have seen it.”

“When you have those tough conversations, you’re going to bring a team together,” Linderbaum said. “You’re going to have more unity.”

There have been meetings again between Ferentz and his team’s leadership group, and ideas have been discussed, although, as Ferentz said, “We haven’t put anything in permanent ink yet.”

He knows one thing — this time he has to follow through.

“In December,” Ferentz said, “I failed to do that.”