[Disclaimer: I respect Kirk Ferentz and think he is a great coach and an even better human being. Just not that great of a Wild Hog.]

When we win football games, I read every single Iowa football article that I can during the week. Well, except for Hawkeye Nation and Hawkeye Report because they're not free and I can't stand the people in those forums; and no Pat Harty articles either.

So, anyway, during early September when we were winning and I was reading a lot, I noticed a few quotes from Ferentz that stuck out to me. He seemed unusually humble. He's always been modest but I was sensing something different.

Take this for instance:

On being handed the game ball (9/16/2008)

"It's happened a couple of times and it's very much appreciated," Ferentz said Tuesday. "I don't know who was behind it. I had to make sure it wasn't ticking and there was something in there for me."

Gazette

Sound odd? He said that after the ISU win, before we even had a loss yet. Now, look at this one:

On his Pittsburgh Homecoming (9/16/2008)

"(I) might be able to say hello to a couple people Friday evening when we're done with our meetings," he said. "But pretty much, we're just going to play a game. Hopefully, all three of my friends and my family members understand that."

Gazette

That was before the folding at Pitt. Now maybe I'm looking too much into things but what about this:

On where the offense would be without Greene (9/25/08)

"No, I didn't think about that. I didn't think about our plane crashing the other day, either. That could have happened. I try to avoid topics like that. I have enough things that are bringing me down." Interview with Eric Page

Anyway, since those quotes in mid September, we have not won a game.  Coincidentally, I haven't seen any unusual quotes any more. Were these meant to motivate the team in some indirect way and he has since given up? I never noticed them in seasons past, so what could explain this?

I think Coach was having a mid life crisis...

Courtesy of Microsoft Paint. God forbid I have photoshop at work.

images via dl-client.getdropbox.com, news.metropolisadvertising.com, and usatoday.com