Iowa football doing what it can to stay competitive, but today that comes at heavy price
By Pat Harty
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Mark Gronowski is reportedly receiving a seven-figure NIL payment to play quarterback for the Iowa football team next season.
The former South Dakota State quarterback explored the NFL draft process to see where he might stand before deciding that playing one more season in college would be in his best interest, both on the field and from a financial standpoint.
Gronowski zeroed in on Iowa right away, or so it seems, and Iowa apparently made him an offer that he couldn’t refuse; the chance to play for an established Big Ten program and for a record-breaking head coach, and to make some serious coin.
It’s a win-win for both sides, at least for now.
There is some reason for concern with Gronowski needing what is believed to be shoulder surgery on his right throwing arm to fix what is reportedly a torn labrum.
The surgery will cause him to miss spring practice.
Iowa fans are paranoid after having watched Cade McNamara deal with injuries during his two seasons as an Iowa quarterback.
McNamara came to Iowa from Michigan in 2023, and after having had season-ending knee surgery due to an injury that he suffered while playing for Michigan early in 2022 season.
Some will argue that McNamara was damaged goods when he came to Iowa, and it only got worse as he would go on to suffer another season-ending knee injury in the fifth game of the 2023 season.
He also suffered a soft tissue injury in the 2023 Kids Day practice, and a concussion against Northwestern this past season.
So, it’s easy to understand why some Iowa fans might be paranoid or skeptical after learning that Gronowski will need surgery.

But you’d also like to think that Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz and offensive coordinator Tim Lester did their due diligence in vetting Gronowski.
And if they’re convinced that Gronowski will be healthy and ready to go this summer, and is worth the money reportedly being paid to him, then it’s up to the fans to decide if they believe it or if they don’t believe it.
The fact that Iowa waited to announce that Gronowski will need surgery after having apparently raised enough money to land him from the portal is a point of contention for some that have donated to the cause, and rightfully so.
But again, if Kirk Ferentz and Tim Lester, and the Iowa medical staff, believe that Gronowski is worth the risk, and the money, then maybe that’s reason for optimism because they certainly have way more information about Gronowski’s situation than almost anybody.
Gronowski certainly has the credentials after having passed for over 10,000 yards and rushed for over 1,700 yards while leading South Dakota State two FCS national titles.
A skeptic might point to the fact that he compiled those numbers mostly against FCS opponents.
But he still was dominate at that level, whereas McNamara struggled as a Hawkeye despite having previously started for one of college football’s traditional powers in Michigan.
Kirk Ferentz already has swung for the fence and missed with McNamara, partly due to things beyond Kirk Ferentz’s control, most notably injuries.
So, it seems unlikely to think that Kirk Ferentz would swing for the fence again if he didn’t think it was worth it.
Some Iowa fans were upset when former Penn State backup quarterback Beau Pribula picked Missouri over the Hawkeyes, and they took out their frustration on Brad Heinrichs, who is the CEO of the Iowa Swarm Collective, after it was reported that NIL was a huge factor in Pribula’s decision.
Heinrichs said recently on the Hawk Fanatic radio show and podcast that he was criticized for failing to the close deal with Pribula.
But now some fans are also questioning why Iowa would give Gronowski such a large NIL payment. They worry that it might cause some resentment.
Heinrichs can’t win in this case.
He is either criticized for not raising enough NIL money, or he’s questioned or criticized for paying too much to one player.

And while the Iowa coaches have no direct involvement in raising NIL money due to the current rules, they obviously make Heinrichs aware of where they stand with each player.
One of the biggest challenges that Lester faces as the Iowa offensive coordinator is upgrading the quarterback position.
He promised to be aggressive in the portal and he has been.
In addition to Gronowski, Iowa also has added former Auburn backup quarterback Hank Brown from the portal. Brown has three seasons of eligibility, while Gronowski only has one.
Time and performance will ultimately determine if Iowa made the right choice in investing so much in Gronowski, who already has played one game at Kinnick Stadium, though it didn’t go well for him as he only completed 10-of-26 passes for 87 yards in a 7-3 loss in the 2022 season opener.
Gronowski started for four seasons for South Dakota State and now he wants to play on a bigger stage because he thinks that will improve his chance of making the NFL and because he’s getting paid a lot of money.
Some of old traditionalist are struggling to accept the new landscape in college sports. They’re uncomfortable with student-athletes being paid so much money, but they had better getting use to it because it’s never going back to the way it was, nor should it.
There needs to be more structure with NIL, and with the transfer portal.
But until that happens, a team like Iowa does what it can to stay competitive.
And today, that comes at a price.
Assuming Brendan Sullivan sticks around for his final season, he would likely get most of the snaps with the No. 1 offense this spring after having started three games this past season, including the 27-24 loss to Missouri in the Music City Bowl.
What if Brendan Sullivan were to knock it out of the park this spring with his performance on the field?
That would certainly give Kirk Ferentz and Tim Lester something to think about.
But considering what Iowa has reportedly invested in Gronowski, the starting position, fair or not, will be his to lose once he is healthy.