It seems as if one of the annual rites to the end of the regular season is Kirk Ferentz‘s name being attached to a high-profile opening.
This year is no different for Ferentz as the Iowa coach has been linked -- albeit very much on the periphery -- to the opening you may have heard about in South Bend.
Today, Ferentz was asked about the Notre Dame rumors, and indicated that he remains very content with the Hawkeyes and is not looking for another job.
“First thing I’d say is that’s Notre Dame’s business, nobody else’s, as far as I’m concerned,” Ferentz said in comments released by the school. “What they choose to do is their business. If they had or hadn’t, I think that would be inappropriate for me to comment on that.
“Secondly, I’ll give you the same answer I’ve been giving people and we give recruits all the time. I’ve been sitting here for 11 years now, and the people that throw it out in recruiting, my typical response would be to just ask our prospects or any prospects, to ask that question right back to the team that’s throwing it out there. I know Coach Paterno and Coach Bowden have been in their jobs longer than I have, and I know Coach Brown has down at Texas. Outside of that, I’m not sure who else is on the list. Bob Stoops, Randy Edsall, two guys that I have great respect for and are friends. We all came in the same year. I think we’re the only three survivors from our class.
“I can just tell you what I’ve been telling people for a long time; I like it at Iowa. I’ve had paychecks from three different places now since 1981. My first full-time job was here. I’m not a vagabond coach, and I like it where I’m at. I’ve enjoyed every day -- not every day, but most days, and you know, I don’t see things changing here.”
While not exactly slamming the door shut and locking it, Ferentz, with his statements today, has essentially ended any type of speculation connecting himself with the Irish opening.
The 11-year Iowa coach signed a contract extension earlier this year that could keep him with the Hawkeyes through the 2015 season. That extension came amidst rumors that he was Scott Pioli‘s top choice to fill the Kansas City Chiefs head-coaching vacancy.