The last thing the Iowa football program needs is a referendum on whether Kirk Ferentz respects the jobs of the reporters who ask him questions after games. It doesn't matter to the fans, it shouldn't matter to anyone in the media and it doesn't have an impact one way or the other on how many points the Hawkeyes score on Saturday.
But the mini-controversy that has bubbled around Ferentz this week after insulting Cleveland.com columnist Doug Lesmerises, then walking it back with a written apology, then undoing the apology with an appearance on a radio show, has been instructive about the media ecosystem around college football.