An Optimistic Fan's View

[azhawkeyefan]

My "optimistic view" is that last year MSU lost at home to a dumpster fire of an Iowa team, and MSU still went to a bowl game. I would say that this years MSU team is better than last years Iowa's team, so by that logic the Hawks should be just fine and win 8 games.

 

[WeismanRules]

My "optimistic view" is that last year MSU lost at home to a dumpster fire of an Iowa team, and MSU still went to a bowl game. I would say that this years MSU team is better than last years Iowa's team, so by that logic the Hawks should be just fine and win 8 games.

Monkeys might come flying out of my butt, too. That's why... wait a minute...nope, just a fart.

 

[David79]

At this point in 2008 Iowa just lost to Michigan State and was 3-3.
Let the season play out before being being such Debbie Downers.

 

[tm3308]

People are acting like Iowa lost by 50 Saturday. Iowa played like dog **** and Michigan State's offense cant play any better. Connor Cook was making Peyton Manning like throws, that smash route on the sideline with Lowery draped on the receiver?? Are you ******* kidding me? He has never made that throw in his life and probably never will again along with about 5 other completions he had.

If Lowery hadn't been face guarding, that pass doesn't get completed and maybe even picked off. Another example of Lowery's occasional lazy/poor technique that causes him to get burned.

 

[JHHawk]

Trouble is, we seem to be on the wrong end of the upsets.

We will not be favored in a game the rest of the season, probably, so that will not be happening. We have upset a top 5 team or a BCS bowl team every year for the last 5 seasons...so we will get one at least...it is what we do. For comparison sakes...NW was trying to upset their first top 5 opponent last Saturday vs OSU ...since the 50's. ...so it could be a lot worse.

 

[tm3308]

We will not be favored in a game the rest of the season, probably, so that will not be happening. We have upset a top 5 team or a BCS bowl team every year for the last 5 seasons...so we will get one at least...it is what we do. For comparison sakes...NW was trying to upset their first top 5 opponent last Saturday vs OSU ...since the 50's. ...so it could be a lot worse.

I know it's on the road, but Purdue is horrendous.

 

[TChawk]

My conclusion is Connor Cook played out of his mind against Iowa. Weve all seen Western Michigan, theyre awful

Iowa's secondary is that bad...there were wide open guys all day...and the Dline put zero pressure on him..of course he was going to look like P. Manning.

 

[kmurp]

MSU's passing offense looked a lot worse against those teams than it did against Iowa. Go ahead and draw your own conclusions.

My conclusion is that Michigan State improved. Because Western is terible.

 

[HawkPrdatr40]

I don't think I made any claims or predictions about the team. This post is a commentary on so-called "fans" who declare the season a "train wreck" with 6 Big Ten games to play.

Now people who are unhappy are so-called "fans", never seen that before.

 

[HawkPrdatr40]

We lost 1 Big Ten game to a great defense. I hope the team will use the bye weeks to improve and play well against OSU. I'll be cheering for Legends teams to get beat so we can improve our standing in the division and bowl hierarchy. I'll be at the Ohio State wearing black and gold, not blasting my team on an anonymous blog. I'll critique individual games and performances, which is different from criticizing and writing off individual players and coaches. l"ll hope for whatever is still possible (10-2) because if sports were predictable, every one who bets on them would be rich. If the team shouldn't give up on the season, neither should I. I prefer fans who "drink Kool Aid" to fans who try to shove poison down other people's throats. I expect players to project a positive image of the team; I expect posters to project a positive image of our fan base.

I appreciate your view MBH but I prefer aligning myself with fans that are real and know what type of product we are putting on the field. It matters greatly to me and it should matter to you as well. Just because I voice my frustations about what is happening and my expectations are not being met by this program, that doesn't make me a bad fan.

You wrote:
I prefer fans who "drink Kool Aid" to fans who try to shove poison down other people's throats. I expect players to project a positive image of the team; I expect posters to project a positive image of our fan base.

KF and Gary Barta love your type and will thank you for the continued support!

 

[MBHHawk]

I get frustrated as well, but we are 4-2, not 4-8, and I don't think assuming that the players will not work hard to improve is fair to them. Critiquing the coaching of games is expected, but I don't like the nastiness or personal attacks. I don't think a fan should both expect players to give 100% and then feel free to blast them.

 

[olddude]

I get frustrated as well, but we are 4-2, not 4-8, and I don't think assuming that the players will not work hard to improve is fair to them. Critiquing the coaching of games is expected, but I don't like the nastiness or personal attacks. I don't think a fan should both expect players to give 100% and then feel free to blast them.

i dont call out people, but i do units. There are a few i think i could do better with. That is why i like what kf said about not doing punt returns. When it happens over and a over it has to stop at what is being taught.

 

[blubberhawk]

I get frustrated as well, but we are 4-2, not 4-8, and I don't think assuming that the players will not work hard to improve is fair to them. Critiquing the coaching of games is expected, but I don't like the nastiness or personal attacks. I don't think a fan should both expect players to give 100% and then feel free to blast them.

Playing division 1 football in the Big Ten is playing football on the Big Stage. Lots of press clippings, praise and notoriety if you play well. On the flipside, if you do not play well, there is going to be criticism. Personal attacks are out of bounds and uncalled for. Having your performance critiqued is part of the deal. They are going to get lots of praise when things go well and they are going to get a lot of crap when it doesn't. Players have to learn to handle both.

 

[ihawkeye]

I believe some adjustments can be made for some minor improvements. But when you look at the big picture, I don't see things really changing all that much. You can't train and practice to be more athletic or to make a player quicker or faster. KF has always being able to transform average player into great players that's not the case in the past 3 to 4 years. This years team has made alot of improvements but it still remains in the bottom of the conference. I still love the Hawks and will watch, it is what it is.

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

There are 2-3 teams in the B1G that will Always and have always have more talent and depth than Iowa. OSU, Mich, PSU(minus sanctions). We have had success against a couple of these teams. Parity is happening between the perceived "lower" tier programs and mid tier programs. But overall...the top 5% of teams still have a sizable advantage overall in both talent and depth. The top 5% will stay that way...with a little ebb and flow of variance.

Its kind of akin to the socioeconomics of our country.

7-8 wins on the norm...with occaisional "magic" is where I want my Hawks...which I believe would pit them in the upper portion of the mid tier. Expecting more...well...is...say...optimistic.

 

[MiniMoeHawk]

My conclusion is that Michigan State improved. Because Western is terible.

That and the game was played in a thunderstorm....There was a lengthly delay as well. In that game Sparty didn't know who QB1 was. Now that they do he should have more confidence. Sparty is better than most people on this board are giving them credit for.

 

[brhawks18]

I am also optimistic about this year. Let's look at some recent Iowa seasons that the pessimist may also have given up on. Most of these teams look even worse starting out and they all had first year QBs as this team does. If they can do it this team can.
1982 started 0-2 finished 8-4 won the Peach Bowl.
1987 started 3-2 finished 10-3 won the Holiday Bowl.
2004 started 2-2 finished 10-2 won the Capital One Bowl.
2008 started 3-3 finished 9-4 won the Outback Bowl.

Here's one of the problems. In 2009 Iowa finished 11-2 and won the Orange Bowl. KF was given a 10 year extension after this season and he has not been the same coach nor has the team done much since. 23-21 to be exact is their record since his extension. My prediction after this year since the extension will be 24-26. Of course GB is to blame as much as KF for giving him a deal like this.

That's one reason why there is not much optimism in Hawkeye land. People get a guarantee for 10 years (approximately $30 million) and I don't care who you are, you will lose some of your drive and desire. At least to this fan, that is the perception I get watching and listening to KF.

I will go on record as saying GB will never give another 10 year guarantee to any coaches at Iowa.