Voice of the Hawkeyes Board

Personally, Todd, I think the new OC is already on staff. Promotion from within organization. Erik "Soup" Campbell is my choice. His football experience and education from Michigan trumps Lester Erb's Bucknell background and time at IOWA, IMO. I'm guessing LE will be given an assistant coach title extension to RB coach. LE is a very good recruiter. But Soup's WR corps improvement has been more productive (DJK, MMcNutt, KMM, and KD).

Not to play a race card, but vanilla IOWA could do a better job promoting talented African Americans to its top coaching positions. I hope I am heard in a tone that does not across as bias towards or against a person's race. One's race should not matter, however, IOWA needs do a better job of connecting with the inner city programs in the B1G market like Cleveland, Indy, Detroit, Chicago and Minneapolis. Kids are looking for men of character and mentors. Always helps when your mentor can relate to your background or upbringing.

IOWA's reputation as the school in a corn field does not sell well in the inner cities. Example: Look at what Faith Ekakite had to say this year when comparing schools. IOWA, BC and Northwestern.

Commitments come easier with winning football, period. New OL coach will get assistance from KF at recruiting connections.

I'll bite first. I think for most of the guys we'll be recruiting, it won't make a huge difference as most of the coaching staff is still the same, namely at head coach. That being said, Iowa rarely get's early commitments either way, I think once they see some of Iowa's spring practices and maybe seeing the team over the summer they'll see that not much has changed. So I don't think we'll suffer a ton from this, just like it's not likely we'll suffer from having a new DC.

Nothing will change Kirk gives the game plan in my opinion (guess we will find out) It will still be the same run first basic pass offense. I see it effecting nothing.

I wouldn't mind BF at o line coach/te coach he has done a heck of a job with the Pats. i also really really hope Woods gets LB coach he is good and can recruit.

I'd definitely be in favor of Campbell getting the promotion. And I do think there's some merit to the race aspect that you brought up. Some coaches are just great recruiters, period, no matter what they look like, and no matter what the kids look like. But with some recruits, being of the same race as the coach can certainly help build that all important relationship.

I agree the most with your last statement about winning being the best recruiter, especially at a school like Iowa that doesn't necessarily have the tradition of Notre Dame, Texas, Michigan, etc. Heading into the 2010 season, Iowa was on the verge of taking a step up in terms of national perception. Had the Hawkeyes been able to salvage yet another BCS bowl berth that season, things really could have begun to change.

Just my opinion, but I think offensive skill position recruits look at play-calling a lot more than defensive recruits do. And for 13+ years, Iowa has had nothing but stability at that spot. While the Hawkeyes generally don't get a ton of early commits, I do think this may make some of the recruits that ordinarily may have committed in June or July take a little longer before deciding. I don't expect it to have a huge impact, but I could see a high school QB, for example, wanting to see the new OC in action for a few games before committing.