IOWA CITY - Almost two months have passed since the Iowa football team finished its season with a home loss to Western Michigan.

Plenty of time for Kirk Ferentz to reflect on a year in which the Hawkeyes went 6-6 and missed a bowl game for the first time in seven seasons.

Tuesday, a rested and refreshed Iowa coach had an agenda when he met with reporters for the first time since that Nov. 17 loss.

He expressed disappointment in the on-field letdown that ultimately cost the Hawkeyes a bowl bid; he addressed off-field issues that have derailed the program the past year; and he conveyed his displeasure in having his name circulated as a candidate for high-profile job openings this offseason.

Ferentz first was rumored to be a front-runner to replace Lloyd Carr at Michigan and, more recently, to take over the Baltimore Ravens after Brian Billick was fired. Last week, he told the Baltimore Sun he was staying at Iowa, and he has not commented on the Michigan job, which went to former West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez.

"Anytime there is a job opening, one of three things can happen: Either neither party is interested, one of the parties is interested or both parties are interested," Ferentz said. "The way I look at it, unless both parties are interested, I just don't think it needs to become public. I don't think it's a public issue. I don't feel compelled to discuss information on that front."

Ferentz defended actions taken by the coaching staff and athletic department in dealing with the rash of legal troubles that have plagued the program the past nine months. Twelve Iowa players have accounted for 16 arrests in Johnson County since April, including Dominique Douglas and Anthony Bowman, who have pleaded guilty to credit card fraud.

Three other players, who have yet to be named, have been questioned in an investigation of an alleged sexual assault on Iowa's campus in October. No charges have been filed in that case.

Ferentz said the reason he waited more than six weeks to hold an "end of the season" news conference was that he needed time to evaluate where the program was headed and how the coaching staff can more effectively combat off-field issues.

"We're not proud of what's happened this past year. But I think our handling of the situation has been decisive, I think it's been firm, I think it's been fair," Ferentz said, adding that new policies regarding player conduct will be implemented this offseason.

"I think we've done a pretty good job in preseason camp of doing a lot of educational work. I think that's been good. The thing that has become very clear to me is that we're going to have to be more proactive once our players get into the flow of school. Once the school year begins, the players have a lot more on their plates than just football."

As for the Hawkeyes on-field issues, Ferentz is focused on improvement. A record of 12-13 the past two seasons just isn't going to cut it.

He said he was disappointed to have the team's bowl streak stopped at six but, he added, "Our goal every year is not just to qualify for a bowl game. It's more than that. The idea is to be competing for something bigger come November. We were awfully close in 2005. The past two years, we haven't been close.

"We have some challenges ahead, there's no doubt about that," Ferentz said. "We're very excited about them, and we're very confident 2008 is going to be an improved year in all regards."

Contact Eric Page at (563) 383-2277 or epage@qctimes.com

Iowa items

- Iowa will not move its Oct. 18 game against Wisconsin to after Thanksgiving, as had been reported as a possibility. The Hawkeyes already have a bye week Oct. 25, and Ferentz said having back-to-back byes would be more damaging than no bye week at all.

- Tight end Tony Moeaki, who suffered a dislocated elbow and broken hand Sept. 22, had surgery last week to repair ligament damage in his wrist. The surgery will delay his return, and he will miss spring practice, but Ferentz expects him to be 100-percent healthy by June. Ferentz also expects Moeaki, a junior, to be granted a medical redshirt year by the NCAA.

- As of now, running back Jevon Pugh still is on the roster. Without naming Pugh, Ferentz said there still is one player who might be transferring. It has been reported that Pugh, Iowa's only returning scholarship back, was leaving the program.

- Bowman, who avoided jail time by pleading guilty to aggravated misdemeanor credit card fraud, is in good standing and will be allowed to return to the team, "with conditions," if he chooses to do so, Ferentz said.

- Tight end Brandon Myers, who was arrested Dec. 23 for interfering with official acts, will be punished during spring practice. Ferentz has not decided if Myers will serve a game suspension in the fall.

- Outgoing seniors Mike Humpal, Charles Godfrey and Ken Iwebema have been invited to participate in the NFL combine.