By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Brian Ferentz often speaks his mind and uses no filter, much to the delight of some Iowa fans who admire his passion.

But Iowa’s first-year offensive coordinator crossed the line on Saturday when he unleashed a profanity-laced tirade while leaving the Kinnick Stadium press box at halftime against Minnesota.

Brian Ferentz was upset about a call late in the second quarter in which the officials ruled that Iowa running back James Butler had fumbled after initially saying he was down by contact.

The fact that Iowa hung on to defeat Minnesota 17-10 was cause for celebration, but the head Hawk, who also happens to be Brian Ferentz’s father, made it clear after the game that he wasn’t pleased.

“I just learned about some inappropriate behavior up in the press box with one of our coaches,” said Iowa Kirk Ferentz. “I don’t know all the details at this given point. But what I heard is just not acceptable. We’re just not going down that road.

“There’s a certain level of professionalism that you have to be operating with and we’ll plan on doing that in the future. In the meantime, we’ll sit down, address this and find out what the details are. I’m a little sketchy in terms of what all took place. But the bottom line is there’s no room for that. That will be addressed and then we’ll move on.”

Brian Ferentz was irate that the replay official in the booth had reversed the call on Butler’s fumble. Brian didn’t think the play should’ve been reviewed and he let everybody in the press box know it with language that would’ve made those who wrote the script for the movie “The Big Lebowski” blush.

Brian's rage apparently was directed at the replay official who was seated in a booth in the press box. Brian had just left the room where he sits during the game and was walking to the elevator when he unleashed. 

Brian still seemed upset when he returned to the press box for the start of the third quarter. But whatever he said to his players during halftime seems to have worked because Iowa marched 67 yards on five plays for a touchdown on its first possession of the third quarter.

An offense that barely fired a shot in the first half, with exception to scoring a touchdown on its opening drive of the game, suddenly looked like a well-oiled machine to start the third quarter.

Nate Stanley’s 45-yard touchdown pass to tight end Noah Fant, followed by Miguel Recinos’ point-after kick expanded Iowa’s lead to 14-0, and that was enough as the Hawkeyes held on to win a huge game before an announced attendance of 66,292.

The victory improved Iowa’s record to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the Big Ten, while Minnesota fell to 4-4 and 1-4 in conference play.

It seems fair to assume that Brian Ferentz’s frustration was building as he watched his offense sputter in the first half on Saturday, and for much of the season.

Iowa failed to convert on all six third-down plays in the first half and only ran 28 plays overall in the first two quarters.

Stanley threw a near-perfect pass to freshman receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette on a deep route in the first quarter, but the ball deflected off Smith-Marsette’s hands into the hands of a Minnesota defender for an interception.

Iowa was fortunate that Minnesota’s offense was more inept, especially at quarterback where Demry Croft only completed 9-of-29 passes for 139 yards.

Some fans on social media defended Brian Ferentz and blamed the media for blowing his meltdown out of proportion. They also praised Brian Ferentz for showing the kind of fire and emotion that his father rarely shows.

But you also have to wonder if those same fans would've felt that way if they had heard what Brian said because his choice of words was startling. It wasn't just him dropping a few F-bombs in anger.

Football is a game of unbridled emotion and Brian Ferentz isn’t the first or the last coach to use foul language in public. Brian often wears his emotions on his sleeve and isn’t afraid to say what he feels regardless of the consequences.

And that’s part of the reason why so many fans adore Brian Ferentz because he is passionate about his job and hates to lose.

The problem with Saturday’s meltdown is the setting in which it occurred. Brian Ferentz should’ve waited until he was in the locker room, or at least out of the press box, to vent because some things are meant to be kept private.

It just wasn’t a good look to have the Iowa offensive coordinator, who is also the head coach’s son, use the kind of language that Brian used in public.

Brian is lucky in this age of social media that nobody caught his tirade on video because it would've gone viral immediately.

Brian’s outburst shows that the pressure is building in a season filled with missed opportunities and agonizing defeats. Iowa’s three losses to Penn State, Michigan State and Northwestern were by a combined 16 points.

Three of Iowa’s last four games have ended with the score of 17-10, but Saturday was the first time Iowa was on the winning side of that score.

The game was uneventful for long stretches, if not boring. But nobody cares when your team prevails.

Brian Ferentz has tested boundaries before by speaking his mind, but this time his behavior was inappropriate and crossed the line.

His father probably was embarrassed after hearing what Brian said because it was embarrassing and unprofessional. There were women, guests and administrators in the press box and they had reason to be offended because what Brian said was crude and vulgar, even for a football coach in the heat of the moment.

Again, it comes down to time and place.

I’ve covered the Iowa beat since 1992, but have never witnessed anything like Brian Ferentz’s outburst on Saturday. And that includes seven seasons with Iowa men's basketball coach Fran McCaffery, who is known to lose his temper every now and then.

Kirk Ferentz had to say something to the media after the game because it would’ve given the impression that Brian Ferentz is free to do as he pleases if his father hadn’t addressed it.

It would’ve given the impression that Brian Ferentz operates under a double standard because his father is the head coach.

But instead, his father nipped it in the bud and made it clear without the media having to bring it up that Brian’s behavior wouldn’t be tolerated. Kirk Ferentz never mentioned Brian by name, but he didn’t have to.

Iowa already has a unique and delicate situation with Brian Ferentz serving as his father’s offensive coordinator. Many assume that Brian Ferentz is auditioning to replace his father as head coach some day. But Brian's behavior on Saturday certainly won't help that cause.

Brian Ferentz has to understand that his behavior has consequences and that he represents more than just the Iowa footbll program. He represents the entire university, and with that comes a level of responsibility and decorum.

I have nothing personal against Brian Ferentz. In fact, I will forever be grateful to him because he stood up for us at AllHawkeyes.com after we initially had our press credentials denied by the Iowa Sports Information Department shortly after we launched in 2015. Brian made a few calls that day, and within a few hours, we had credentials. 

My hope is that Brian Ferentz will learn from this ugly incident because it can’t happen again.

Kirk Ferentz has to send a message beyond just making a statement. He has to show Brian that his behavior was unacceptable.

I’m not saying Brian Ferentz should be suspended, but he should be disciplined to show the other coaches on the staff that there is no favortism and that they all have to be accountable.