At the end of the 1998 football season, fans of the Iowa Hawkeyes were up in arms about who should replace Hayden Fry as head football coach.

The natural choice to most was University of Florida defensive coordinator Bob Stoops, who played for Fry from 1979 to 1982 and coached with him from 1983 to 1987.

Not only did Stoops have the so-desired Fry connection that fans demanded in their new coach, but he also had impressive credentials, helping to orchestrate amazing defensive turnarounds at Kansas State and the University of Florida.

Sounds like a master plan … almost. Stoops took the Oklahoma job after Iowa either waited too long to offer him the job or never offered him the job, depending on who you talk to.

Needless to say, Iowa City was up in arms that Stoops would not be following Fry at Iowa. Subsequently, the fall of modern civilization would also occur because the only viable candidate for the head coaching job was not coming to Iowa City.

But wait!

December 8,1998 — Iowa hires a new coach. The future of the Hawkeye program now lies in the hands of Kirk Ferentz, who spent nine years as Fry’s offensive line coach from 1981 to 1989.

Despite the Hayden connection, Ferentz was not exactly welcomed by many fans with open arms.

Why not?

Even before coming to Iowa, Ferentz served as a graduate assistant in 1980 on the staff of Jackie Sherrill’s Pitt Panthers. That team finished 11-1 and ended the season ranked second in the nation.

Ferentz then tasted success at Iowa immediately, as a part of Iowa’s 1982 Rose Bowl team. In Ferentz’s nine seasons, he took part in eight bowl games.

As offensive line coach, he coached eleven players at Iowa who have played in the NFL, including former first-rounders John Alt, Mike Haight and Ron Hallstrom.

Offensively, the Hawkeyes averaged 161.7 yards per game rushing and 234.6 yards passing during Ferentz’s stint as O-line coach. The team averaged 26.9 points per game as well.

Seems Ferentz knew how to coach his line. And not too shabbily, either.

After three seasons at Maine, it was on to the NFL, to serve as offensive line coach and assistant head coach for the Cleveland Browns/Baltimore Ravens for six seasons.

Coaching all-pros like Tony Jones and Jonathan Ogden, as well as other solid pros like Orlando Brown, Wally Williams and former Cyclone Gene Williams, Ferentz transformed the Browns/Ravens line into one of the most physically dominating in the league.

Rose Bowl births, All-Big Ten lineman, first round draft picks — the list goes on and on. Ferentz has the experience and credibility to make him a definite coaching candidate.

Heading into this weekend’s game, Iowa is coming off a loss to Nebraska, and with a tough schedule ahead featuring the likes of Penn State, Ohio State and Wisconsin, the pressure is on for Ferentz to win and win soon.

He inherits the remnants of a 3-8 squad from a year ago and has endured several key losses from his roster due to off-the-field problems already this season.

Hopefully, Hawkeye fans can stick with Ferentz for the long haul and not hope for a quick fix. Given time, Ferentz could mold the Hawkeyes into a solid squad.