Ferentz Domains Now a Hot Item

Thanks to our network of correspondents and various acts of espionage, we've been monitoring coverage and fallout from the Wiz's world exclusive on Monday that the University of Iowa had purchased domain names that could be used to criticize athletic department officials, including coach Kirk Ferentz.

Given developments since the story broke, Iowa's decision to snap up seven domain names appears to be backfiring. Interest in other cyberspace combinations have sparked a new round of domain name staking. We heard from one individual who purchased Fire-Kirk-Ferentz.com. A check also showed that FireFerentz.com had been secured in the previous 24 hours. We'd love to hear from others who have purchased domains, and we promise to keep your identity a secret.

This leads one to ask why Iowa would embark on such a cyberspace venture, especially considering the endless supply of domain name possibilities.

"If you're trying to sleep in the Puerto Rican rain forest, will snuffing one of the thousands of chirping frogs make it a quiet night?" wrote Mike Hlas of the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

Iowa's move is drawing more jeers than cheers. Check out the messages left on the Des Moines Register's story.

Iowa associate athletic director Rick Klatt explained the decision to secure the seven domain names.

"In one sense, we're attempting to provide some level of protection to the individual," Klatt told the Associated Press. "On a much smaller scale, because they are all dot-com extensions, they could be commercial web sites where people could make money off that web site ... it just seems wrong that someone could benefit from that."

By the way, FireRickKlatt.com is available in case anybody wants to try and profit off it....

We'd also like to thank those who properly credited the site with breaking the story. Among this distinguished group are Bruce Feldman of ESPN.com, Will Leitch of Deadspin, Scott Dochterman and Mike Hlas of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, Ron Maly and Michael Rand of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.