Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz has apologized to media members after recent comments he made about reporters questioning him about his son Brian’s performance as the team’s offensive coordinator.
“The one good thing about it that dawned on me coming home … I said, man, as bad as today was, it could have been worse because I could have been that guy,” Ferentz told reporters Tuesday. “I could have been that guy, had his job and had to act like he did. Yeah, it could be … a lot worse. All things aren’t that bad.”
Ferentz said he felt he was “interrogated” by Cleveland.com columnist Doug Lesmerises after Iowa’s 54-10 loss to Ohio State Saturday.
The longtime Iowa coach emailed an apology to media members, saying he regretted being dismissive of the profession.
“I have a high respect for the work that you do, and I am appreciative of how you cover our team,” Ferentz said in the statement. “You ask tough and pointed questions but do so with a high degree of professionalism. I tell our players to take the high road and yesterday, I did not do the same thing.”
Lesmerises told the Associated Press he took no issue with how Ferentz responded to his initial questions Saturday.
“I criticized him and he certainly has the right to respond however he sees fit,” Lesmerises said. “The issue remains how Kirk Ferentz and Iowa have handled the employment of Brian Ferentz.”
