I've tried to come up with some ways of trying to see the cup half full here. For one the west is not lost. And this may be the kick in the rear the coaches need not just the players for going forward. The coaches should have an easy time motivating the team to play this week. I'm glad it's on the road and they can focus on the game. They'll have a rough week around town as it is so playing on the road should help.
Going forward Iowa really really needs to shake up their scheduling. It just has to be done. Schwartzs article really pointed that out. Playing cupcakes does nothing. I hate being lumped in with the Baylors of the world and having the lame lazy media be right about Iowa's perception. I think KF got such a bad taste in his mouth from playing out west and losing in non con years ago has just skewed his thinking. But football was different then. The goals have changed. Now there's a division to win still yes but also the playoffs. I think getting to the playoffs should be Iowa's #1 goal. That starts with scheduling. This type of schedule gives Iowa no margin for error on getting in it. (Hell last year there was talk of leaving Iowa out if they were undefeated) I'd almost rather lose a game like that against an AZ, AZ ST, or a legit Cali school then a MAC school, ISU let alone FCS. Now it's not like those are the only options either playing Pitt like we did was good now find a new partner or two like that again. Now I'm a pretty big fan of college football and I take nothing away from NDSU. I've watched UNI and them play quite a bit and have always respected them. NDSU the last few years could be defeating a whole lot of D1 teams. However here is where the 'but' comes in for me. It's irrelevant that NDSU is as good as they are. Only because of who they are. The powers that be will not look at that loss as even remotely being a good one. So much like the same argument with playing a MAC or ISU what is the benefit of playing them? If you don't beat them convincingly and get out of it without many injuries you lose. I wonder if the media will ask and press KF on this topic going forward and see if 'New Kirk' may continue to evolve one can only hope....
As far as how the game went I thought there were two main plays and one possession that got to me. The first being very early in the game where CJ over threw Kittle. If he hits him he'd have been around mid field or further. Instead Iowa punts. The second was Daniels long run on first play of 3rd q. What a BS holding call that was. Instead of 1st and goal Iowa punts. The next was the last possession Iowa had. So our 4 min offense is basically lineup in power I everyone on the LOS with no threat of a pass and run it twice when all game long Iowa had no success in doing that and then throw on 3rd down with next to no chance of converting... It just screamed not only old KF but just bad strategy. Iowa does realize you can lineup in other formations and still run the ball right? You don't have to 100% tip your hand pre snap even if you are going to run it. At least if you have 3 WRs spread out you make them take a man or two out of the box...
So anyway there's my Monday morning rant hope we can get our O lineman back to full strength and start being the bullies again.
Going forward Iowa really really needs to shake up their scheduling. It just has to be done. Schwartzs article really pointed that out. Playing cupcakes does nothing. I hate being lumped in with the Baylors of the world and having the lame lazy media be right about Iowa's perception. I think KF got such a bad taste in his mouth from playing out west and losing in non con years ago has just skewed his thinking. But football was different then. The goals have changed. Now there's a division to win still yes but also the playoffs. I think getting to the playoffs should be Iowa's #1 goal. That starts with scheduling. This type of schedule gives Iowa no margin for error on getting in it. (Hell last year there was talk of leaving Iowa out if they were undefeated) I'd almost rather lose a game like that against an AZ, AZ ST, or a legit Cali school then a MAC school, ISU let alone FCS. Now it's not like those are the only options either playing Pitt like we did was good now find a new partner or two like that again. Now I'm a pretty big fan of college football and I take nothing away from NDSU. I've watched UNI and them play quite a bit and have always respected them. NDSU the last few years could be defeating a whole lot of D1 teams. However here is where the 'but' comes in for me. It's irrelevant that NDSU is as good as they are. Only because of who they are. The powers that be will not look at that loss as even remotely being a good one. So much like the same argument with playing a MAC or ISU what is the benefit of playing them? If you don't beat them convincingly and get out of it without many injuries you lose. I wonder if the media will ask and press KF on this topic going forward and see if 'New Kirk' may continue to evolve one can only hope....
As far as how the game went I thought there were two main plays and one possession that got to me. The first being very early in the game where CJ over threw Kittle. If he hits him he'd have been around mid field or further. Instead Iowa punts. The second was Daniels long run on first play of 3rd q. What a BS holding call that was. Instead of 1st and goal Iowa punts. The next was the last possession Iowa had. So our 4 min offense is basically lineup in power I everyone on the LOS with no threat of a pass and run it twice when all game long Iowa had no success in doing that and then throw on 3rd down with next to no chance of converting... It just screamed not only old KF but just bad strategy. Iowa does realize you can lineup in other formations and still run the ball right? You don't have to 100% tip your hand pre snap even if you are going to run it. At least if you have 3 WRs spread out you make them take a man or two out of the box...
So anyway there's my Monday morning rant hope we can get our O lineman back to full strength and start being the bullies again.
