NIU very early tidbit...
- Thread starter Hawkfromnorwalk
- Start date
ICHawk24
Well-Known Member
A night game on the last weekend in October is dicey. This all lines up, IMNSHO, that NIU may be the night game.
FreedComanche
Banned
Sorry, when I don't wanna believe something it can take a few times for me to read/hear it before it sinks in. Weakness of mine.
FreedComanche
kicker22
Well-Known Member
You guys are probably right, but I will never understand the logic. We were abismal last season and NIU had a great year and return a lot of quality players on their two deeps, yet if we somehow lose it will start the beginning of the end talk all over again. I understand that as fans we want to truly feel that we should win every OOC game, but at the same time isn't there a chance that our opponent might actually be the better team going into next season?
DP5555
Well-Known Member
Wishful thinking bud, wishful thinking. It was apparent that NIU was damn near equal to Iowa last year in terms of talent. They did start 5 brand new offensive lineman last year(their best player was injured the week before they played Iowa). Iowa's d-line was young, but so was NIU's offensive line and the Hawks certainly didn't control the line of scrimmage. I don't see any reason to believe that will be any different this upcoming year. Not to mention the fact Aaron Lynch is a hell of a player, and Iowa will be starting a QB who hasn't seen a single live snap for over a year (assuming it's Rudock). If it isn't Rudock then it will be someone who hasn't seen a single snap at the D1 level. Oh and NIU also had more talent at the WR position than Iowa. In all fairness, you could probably say NIU is more talented than Iowa.
Hawknick
Banned
The game should not have been as close as it was. NIU broke a couple plays where as Iowa could not get a break. Bullock rushed for 150 on 30 attempts. Iowa had 23 first downs to NIUs 12. Iowa also had possession for 38:42. NIU was lucky to be close. Iowa can run the ball down their throats again and control the game.
It's cool Freed!
Yeah I think if Lynch goes to the draft they won't be nearly as good. I think he was the real key to that team. He got shut down for the most part in their BSC game. He couldn't do much so they as a team couldn't do much.
kicker22
Well-Known Member
"We" won't be taking them lightly again? I'd be willing to bet there wasn't a player in the lockerroom or on the field that day that took NIU lightly. The fact is they were just as talented as we are. I get the blinders, but can't understand the mentality of the fanbase. Half are ready to jump ship the other half still have the mentality that we're a BCS worthy program.
I'll break it down for you. NIU is a very good team, in a not so good conference. We are a not so good team in a bigger conference. That doesn't entitle Iowa to a win. As a fan base sure they might have been overlooked, but that means absolutely nothing on the field. I love the optimistic thinking, but IMO the reality is that the programs are equal and the better team will end up with a hard fought win.
kicker22
Well-Known Member
It was close, because NIU kept Iowa out of the end zone most the game. There was no luck involved, Iowa didn't capitalize and get into the endzone. I get what your saying, but based on your argument it sounds as though your saying NIU had nothing to do with the result of the game and took their foot off the petal. Your also forgetting the fact that that was Lynch's first career start with a new Oline. The team that we played that day is not the same team that made it to a BCS game or that we will see next year. Not saying we will be either and I hope your right, but I think it's going to be two even teams in an absolute dogfight.
kicker22
Well-Known Member
You do realize that they were leading the majority of the game don't you. I get what your saying but IMO part of the reason we "ran it down their throats" was the fact that we couldn't move the ball down the field through the air, and that was all we had. I understand the time of possession argument and hope that is what you meant by controlling the game, because I think your mistaken if you think our offense had control of anything that afternoon when they were only able to muster a total of 268 total yards.
kicker22
Well-Known Member
I got ya. The one thing that's kind of cool to see however is the change of mindset that you just mentioned. It went from a game that very few cared about last year to a game that fans are getting up for already. That alone shows the level of respect for NIU rising.
HawkeyeMcNutt
Well-Known Member
So you think they'll stripe the stadium and have ANF day, and FryFest on the same weekend? I just don't know. It mixes two of the biggest weekends for Iowa Football.
HawkeyeMcNutt
Well-Known Member
NIU loses their top wide out.
hawkeyebob62
Well-Known Member
I got quite drunk at that game...actually, well before the game...and changed into my newly-acquired Hawk shorts on the sidewalk on Iowa Avenue. A car approached, honking like hell. Thank God it was ColoradoHawkeye and not ICs finest.
I like to think I've grown up. Then again, objectively, I could not POSSIBLY regress from that particular point in time!
DP5555
Well-Known Member
You will give them respect this year, but you think Iowa will win by 3 td's??? I bet if you asked any NIU player how they felt about that comment they'd say it is disrespectful. They proved ON THE FIELD that they have what it takes to compete with and even beat Iowa. IMO they should have won that game. Yes, Iowa ran the ball very well against them. However, Iowa's problem all year was finishing drives. You can't say "Well Iowa put up 400 yards so clearly they dominated". If they didn't put up points the amount of yardage doesn't mean a damn thing.
