There is an opening in the NFL (Cleveland) and there will surely be more by the end of the year.

There is an opening at Notre Dame, and at many other colleges looking for a new football coach.

Don't expect Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz to fill any of them.

He seems more than happy to stay at Iowa. Notre Dame apparently made an overture to Ferentz, but less than two weeks after signing an extension that keeps him connected with Iowa through 2012, Ferentz politely declined. Cleveland parted company with Butch Davis, but Ferentz has no interest in taking that job.

It has been obvious that Ferentz is one of the best coaches in the Big Ten and a hot property for other jobs. His team went to a BCS game following the 2002 season and won a New Year's Day bowl in 2003.

Ferentz is interested in preparing his team for the Capital One Bowl against LSU. The matchup pits two of the hottest coaches in college football -- Ferentz and Nick Saban -- and two outstanding football programs.

The fact that the Hawkeyes are in a New Year's Day bowl game is somewhat surprising. Not much was expected this year after the loss of a number of key players -- most notably QB Nathan Chandler and RB Fred Russell. But the Hawkeyes kept right on punching -- even though they could barely keep a running back healthy all season.

QB Drew Tate emerged as one of the most effective and consistent quarterbacks in the country, and WRs Clinton Solomon and Ed Hinkel proved downright dangerous. Throwing against LSU may prove to be the key to the game. The Tigers finished third nationally against the pass, allowing just 145.4 air yards per game.

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