David Porter goes in depth about his controversial message that Kirk Ferentz should retire
IOWA CITY, Iowa – Former Iowa offensive lineman David Porter has suddenly become a polarizing figure in the wake of his request that Kirk Ferentz should retire, and that his entire staff be replaced.
Porter made that request on Jan. 2 in a group message, and it has created a firestorm, including the advisory committee of which Porter led in the wake of racial allegations in the summer of 2020 being dissolved this past November.
Porter said Monday in a 40-minute interview on the Hawk Fanatic radio show that he wasn’t aware that the advisory committee had been disbanded when he made his comment about Kirk Ferentz and about his staff.
Some Iowa fans disagree strongly with Porter’s request and have lashed out on social media, blaming Porter for overstepping his role with the committee, and blaming the media for only telling one side of the story, and for only using Porter as a source on the record.
The problem is that nobody with an opposing view from Porter will speak on the record.
Former Iowa defensive back Jordan Lomax posted one tweet in which he criticized Pat Harty’s column on Hawk Fanatic for only telling Porter’s side of the story.
Harty wrote in response to an article in the Cedar Rapids Gazette that the way in which the committee was dissolved was not a good look for the Iowa program in its quest to improve the culture.
However, Lomax did not respond when asked to be on the radio show, or when asked for a comment.
Porter, who played at Iowa from 1999 to 2002, had plenty to say, on the other hand, including that he still considers Kirk Ferentz a friend and hopes that Ferentz would feel the same about him.
Porter also said that he isn’t going anywhere because he’s a Hawkeye for life and he still wants to help improve the culture in the football program and would help if Kirk Ferentz asked.
Ferentz hand picked Porter to head the committee shortly after the accusations of racial disparities were made public in June 2020.
But now 18 months later, the committee has been disbanded and Porter is being criticized by some fans for betraying Kirk Ferentz.
Here is a link to Porter’s interview, which first aired on KCJJ radio: