By Glenn Guilbeau
Louisiana Gannett News
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Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz has been mentioned as a possible candidate to replace Nick Saban, but it has been speculated Ferentz would only leave the Hawkeyes for an NFL job. AP

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz fielded the question of the week Wednesday. Has LSU contacted you about becoming its next football coach?

"I'll just tell you what I told our folks," Ferentz said after a press conference for Saturday's noon Capital One Bowl between Iowa and LSU. "I get a lot of phone calls. This year I've gotten a lot. Utah did not call. But I've gotten a lot of phone calls the last couple of years, and I like it where I'm at."

Was LSU one of those schools that called?

"I've had a lot of phone calls in this past couple of years," Ferentz said. "I like it where I'm at."

Ferentz is expected to become the next Nick Saban, not at LSU, but as the most sought after college coach by the NFL. Ferentz was an assistant in the NFL from 1993-98 and coached with Saban for two years with the Cleveland Browns.

The search firm headed by former College Football Association chairman Chuck Neinas that LSU has hired informed LSU recently that if Ferentz ever leaves Iowa it would likely be for an NFL job.

Ferentz did hint at the fact, though, that there may be a ceiling at Iowa, which has gone 30-7 the last three years with an Orange Bowl, an Outback Bowl and a Capital One Bowl. There obviously isn't one at LSU, which won the BCS national championship last season.

"We've been to three straight January bowls," Ferentz said. "That's outstanding to accomplish. But we're still not "». You know, we can't walk into a recruit's school or home and say, 'OK we want a visit from you.' We have to work a little harder. We're still not one of the brand names. I don't think we ever will be. But that's OK. We're still having fun.

"We can't recruit the majority of our football team from the state. That's puts us a little bit behind. We don't have as fertile a recruiting area if you will as other teams in our conference. We have to fight distance. We have to fight weather. We have to put a team together a little differently than some of the elite or glamour schools."

Iowa does have an extremely loyal and strong fan base, and Ferentz loves living in Iowa City with his wife and five children. He also makes $1.5 million a year.

"It would take a helluva good reason to make me leave," Ferentz said.

LSU paid Saban $2.3 million a year last season.
ADVICE FOR WHITWORTH?:

While discussing why players should leave early for the NFL or stay for their senior season Wednesday at a press conference, Saban was seated next to LSU junior Andrew Whitworth.

Whitworth is undecided at the moment whether he will stay at LSU for his senior season as he has a chance to be a first round draft choice in the next NFL draft as a junior. How strong a chance is unknown right now.

"This is a message to all college football players," Saban said. "Go out early, if you're a first-round pick. If you're not, stay for your senior year."

Saban convinced defensive end Marcus Spears with that argument last season.

"We went through everything," said Spears, who in the end learned he probably would not go in the first round as receiver Michael Clayton did last spring as a junior. "And there were a lot of things I learned I could get better at."

Now Spears is expected to go in the first round as a senior.

"If you come back for your senior year, you can create a legacy," Saban said. "I told our guys you'll get a portrait of yourself in our hall of fame for 100 years. I just think it's something that everyone needs to hear."

When Saban said, "everyone," he pointed at Whitworth.

I definitely think that Ferentz is getable now, but we will have to offer him, most likely, about 1.75-2M, probably a 5 year with a very small buy out.

not bad news at all.

Well, we know he was contacted by his non-answer answer:

Nick Saban "liked it where I'm at", too, before/during/after the Dolphins came a calling, so that doesn't mean squat.

Would make sense to leak names like Nutt and Miles to keep us on a wild goose chase while Skip stole a moment or two of Kirk's time while in Orlando...

FYI - just read on Iowa board that Ferentz son will be a senior OL next season, i doubt he leaves for here with his son stuck at Iowa with a new coach.

You all are really grasping at straws....rotflmao

What color is it in your world.....

oh yeah..its green

the color of money.....everyone can be bought...

Dream on losers!!!:lol:

Great point.

Guys, and I say this with respect, there is no chance that Ferentz is going to coach at LSU or any other university. I don't even think the pros are in the cards for another 8 years. He has stated repeatedly that he wants to keep his family in Iowa City until his youngest son graduates. If the perfect situation arose where people he knows and trusts were in the management of a pro team, he might possibly jump at that opportunity. Google Ferentz and read some of his past comments. He has been a man of his word and has mentioned time and time again that money is not the name of the game for him and his family. Even the consulting firm that LSU hired agrees that KF's next stop is the NFL.

Good luck on Saturday and GO HAWKS

Iowasteam, though I agree that their comments are far off the mark, I see no reason to come on their board and be rude. I've enjoyed this board and its posters.

For the record, that is exactly what Saban said his whole time at LSU. He wanted his son and daughter (who really love Baton Rouge) to graduate before he left. Also, his wife was said to "love" Baton Rouge. I don't think we will get Ferentz, but I also don't think you guys have him after about 2 years, if that long.