AP

BigD

Well-Known Member
I see they barely squeezed us in at 25. We will have a top defense once again, but the big question mark we all know is on the offensive side of the ball. Pathetic when you have a QB who won Big Ten Conference handily just two years ago and you. At have a top five defense again.

I am hoping for the best as to me it appears the offense has made some big steps in portal acquisitions.

Do or die for Brian.

 
Yea, but I presume they have a hard time placing a team in the top 25 who has managed to solidify a 100+ offensive ranking the past several years. I get it but I, as you, expect Iowa to move up and be solidly in the top 20 all season.
 
Yea, but I presume they have a hard time placing a team in the top 25 who has managed to solidify a 100+ offensive ranking the past several years. I get it but I, as you, expect Iowa to move up and be solidly in the top 20 all season.
Many are expecting a nine win + season. Put me down in the plus category. If our offense can at least exhibit a pulse on offense then there is no reason to not finish North of nine wins. I am going with eleven wins with one loss between the Penn State and Wisconsin game. I actually feel better odds of beating Wisconsin over beating Penn State. I say this knowing that over the years we have done well playing Penn State.

The “if” game.

If the offensive line finally puts on its B1G boy pants this year, and if Cade can avoid injuries, then the pieces are all there for an incredible season. One for the ages!

We all know who the wild card is here. If Brian can put on his B1G boy offensive coordinator pants this year, then anything is possible.

I also have to hope the Barta didn’t get out while the getting is good, meaning he would have an insider’s perspective of the offensive coordinator’s limited abilities. Having just retire myself in fairness to Barta is there really a good time to retire. Only the good Lord knows when our life’s clock we quit ticking. Best to retire while physical abilities allow quality of life. Maybe it was just that simple in Barta’s decision, or maybe not.

Hopefully I am right on my eleven win season prediction, after all we have brought in significant player skills that have been lacking the last couple of years. This season will go along way in proving Brian’s worth to the future of this program. Sink or swim baby! I am hoping he has Olympic swimming skills that finally rise to the top.

Let’s shoot for an 15 win season. For those of you doing the math you know what that would mean. Hey, what’s wrong with hoping for the very best?
 
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I'm trying not to get too excited.
I am actually planning on attending more than one game this season as my kid's got access to great tailgating space.
Obligatory "offense can't be any worse, defense should be solid" statement.

My big concern is that the same portal that helped fill some gaps for Iowa has been used in MN, Nebraska, Wisconsin, et. al. as well.

Every game is winnable. It will either be a glorious season or an aggravating one with a healthy dose of coulda/woulda/shouldas. If it's neither case, we're all gonna be real grumpy.
 
I'm trying not to get too excited.
I am actually planning on attending more than one game this season as my kid's got access to great tailgating space.
Obligatory "offense can't be any worse, defense should be solid" statement.

My big concern is that the same portal that helped fill some gaps for Iowa has been used in MN, Nebraska, Wisconsin, et. al. as well.

Every game is winnable. It will either be a glorious season or an aggravating one with a healthy dose of coulda/woulda/shouldas. If it's neither case, we're all gonna be real grumpy.

The offense can absolutely be worse.
 
I'm trying not to get too excited.
I am actually planning on attending more than one game this season as my kid's got access to great tailgating space.
Obligatory "offense can't be any worse, defense should be solid" statement.

My big concern is that the same portal that helped fill some gaps for Iowa has been used in MN, Nebraska, Wisconsin, et. al. as well.

Every game is winnable. It will either be a glorious season or an aggravating one with a healthy dose of coulda/woulda/shouldas. If it's neither case, we're all gonna be real grumpy.
Grumpy? If it goes South this year because of the offense then a majority of fans will demand Brian be fired and they could be angry enough to want pop’s to go with him.

I watched a locked on Hawkeyes
you tube podcast last night (thought about sharing it here). The Host had as a guest Scott Dochterman.

Scott talked openly about the football program and basketball program. When talking about the basketball program Scott mentioned that Fran had done a great job of bringing the basketball program to respectability and how Fran’s stats of NCAA bids is among the best in the country. Scott however brought up an excellent point about basketball programs and fan expectations.

He talked about how in basketball it is great to be consistent, but there needs to be seasons of making significant runs in the NCAA tourney to make it fun for the fan base. He points out that Fran has failed to do this, and that there may be Fran Fatigue sitting in with the fan base despite Frans good record. Scott mentioned how reports are out there that Fran’s youngest son not wanting to play for Iowa, in fact Fran’s son has indicated this himself in comments.

Scott mentioned that it would not surprise him if this upcoming season or the one after might not be Frans last at Iowa. Not that he has any info but he wouldn’t be surprised if it happens.

Now while I was sitting and listening to this I am thinking why does Kirk get a pass on this? You have to go back to 2004 to the time Iowa represented the conference. Twenty years. That a long ass time.

My point here is that Kirk is way over due and this seems to be the year for him to do it. I think it’s very possible. Another you tube video quoting Kirk as feeling this years team to be the best defense he has coached at Iowa.

Brian we will be watching.

Next year, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, USC, Wisconsin, Oregon, MSU, all in one conference with no divisions. What are our chances then??? The odds did not improve with the expansion, but in my opinion significantly decreased. I like the idea of three divisions with each division winner getter automatic bids to the expanded playoffs with leeway for a wild card or two getting added when the conference justifies it. That would improve Iowa’s chances of getting invited.

I know some of you are done with divisions. I assume you are envisioning it being done like it is in basketball. Just take the top rated team and give them invites. Well, I can see that. Where would you place Iowa on the long list of teams? Would they make it most years?

Brian we will be watching you this year as is the rest of the college football world. Make it happen Brian!
 
Grumpy? If it goes South this year because of the offense then a majority of fans will demand Brian be fired and they could be angry enough to want pop’s to go with him.

I watched a locked on Hawkeyes
you tube podcast last night (thought about sharing it here). The Host had as a guest Scott Dochterman.

Scott talked openly about the football program and basketball program. When talking about the basketball program Scott mentioned that Fran had done a great job of bringing the basketball program to respectability and how Fran’s stats of NCAA bids is among the best in the country. Scott however brought up an excellent point about basketball programs and fan expectations.

He talked about how in basketball it is great to be consistent, but there needs to be seasons of making significant runs in the NCAA tourney to make it fun for the fan base. He points out that Fran has failed to do this, and that there may be Fran Fatigue sitting in with the fan base despite Frans good record. Scott mentioned how reports are out there that Fran’s youngest son not wanting to play for Iowa, in fact Fran’s son has indicated this himself in comments.

Scott mentioned that it would not surprise him if this upcoming season or the one after might not be Frans last at Iowa. Not that he has any info but he wouldn’t be surprised if it happens.

Now while I was sitting and listening to this I am thinking why does Kirk get a pass on this? You have to go back to 2004 to the time Iowa represented the conference. Twenty years. That a long ass time.

My point here is that Kirk is way over due and this seems to be the year for him to do it. I think it’s very possible. Another you tube video quoting Kirk as feeling this years team to be the best defense he has coached at Iowa.

Brian we will be watching.

Next year, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, USC, Wisconsin, Oregon, MSU, all in one conference with no divisions. What are our chances then??? The odds did not improve with the expansion, but in my opinion significantly decreased. I like the idea of three divisions with each division winner getter automatic bids to the expanded playoffs with leeway for a wild card or two getting added when the conference justifies it. That would improve Iowa’s chances of getting invited.

I know some of you are done with divisions. I assume you are envisioning it being done like it is in basketball. Just take the top rated team and give them invites. Well, I can see that. Where would you place Iowa on the long list of teams? Would they make it most years?

Brian we will be watching you this year as is the rest of the college football world. Make it happen Brian!
KF gets a pass on the Brian thing because he has earned it with 20+ years of really good football. If all you are focusing on is conference titles, you are missing the bigger picture. And, in 2015, KF and the boys were a yard away from winning the conference and going to the playoffs. Winning the Big 10 is pretty damn hard with 14 teams, including several elite teams.

KF has had a number of Top 10 finishes, division titles, conference titles, high profile bowls, double digit win seasons, etc.. Has he punched through to the playoffs? Not yet, but close. But compared to Fran's success nationally (meaning NCAA and conference tournament success), its really no comparison.

Not saying I agree with KF on Brian. I don't. But, he has earned the right to make that call. It may blow up in his face. We shall see.
 
The offense can absolutely be worse.
Iowa has every egg they have in the Cade basket. This team would suck without him. It's pretty much that simple. Teams would make us one dimensional by taking away the run and just blitz us into oblivion. I haven't seen a ton of our 260 lbs plus backup but I'm going to go out on a limb and assume he's not all that mobile. He might be the one guy Petras could beat in a race. So yeah stud RBs Stud TEs and some ok WRs wouldn't matter if Cade isn't the one taking the snaps.
 
KF gets a pass on the Brian thing because he has earned it with 20+ years of really good football. If all you are focusing on is conference titles, you are missing the bigger picture. And, in 2015, KF and the boys were a yard away from winning the conference and going to the playoffs. Winning the Big 10 is pretty damn hard with 14 teams, including several elite teams.

KF has had a number of Top 10 finishes, division titles, conference titles, high profile bowls, double digit win seasons, etc.. Has he punched through to the playoffs? Not yet, but close. But compared to Fran's success nationally (meaning NCAA and conference tournament success), its really no comparison.

Not saying I agree with KF on Brian. I don't. But, he has earned the right to make that call. It may blow up in his face. We shall see.
This is it to me. I don't think KF gets a total pass in regards to being critiqued on it. It's more then fair to blast him over the nepotism angle of it all and just the whole situation. Combine the results of the previous couple yrs and that no other OC would've been brought back I think that any and all criticism focused on that is totally fair. But end of the day media and fans can't influence a coach going into yr 25 that's as entrenched as KF is. We'll see how this yr goes....
 
How can you claim to seek excellence when the offense is so poor? You can't and that is the problem in a nutshell.
 
Doesn't make one f'ing iota of difference if "we're watching."

Neither Kirk nor Brian give two shits what we or any other fans think.
Oh, it's pretty obvious they care what fans think; that they go to such great lengths to deny it makes that clear.
 
Grumpy? If it goes South this year because of the offense then a majority of fans will demand Brian be fired and they could be angry enough to want pop’s to go with him.

I watched a locked on Hawkeyes
you tube podcast last night (thought about sharing it here). The Host had as a guest Scott Dochterman.


Brian we will be watching you this year as is the rest of the college football world. Make it happen Brian!
I know this is a football thread, but Fran is gone in 2 years...3 at most. Once Patrick is done and Jack is playing somewhere else, he'll retire so he can watch Jack.
 
I know this is a football thread, but Fran is gone in 2 years...3 at most. Once Patrick is done and Jack is playing somewhere else, he'll retire so he can watch Jack.
Maybe... It shouldn't be ruled out. He's old enough to. If I were him at that stage of my life and had 5-10 plus million in the bank saved up hard telling how much he has and kids are all out of the house I would. Think of the $ he's saved on sending kids to college with all 3 of his boys getting free rides. Just his daughter I suppose they've had to pay for but that's no biggy to him. He'll make almost 7 million combined the next 2 yrs along with what he's already made. I could see him retiring at 66 and calling that good.

What's he hanging around for beyond that? He isn't ring chasing. He's pretty much hit the ceiling at Iowa it feels like. Go retire take the stress off and watch your youngest boy play ball. There's logic to it. Is he wired that way? We'll find out eventually
 
KF gets a pass on the Brian thing because he has earned it with 20+ years of really good football. If all you are focusing on is conference titles, you are missing the bigger picture. And, in 2015, KF and the boys were a yard away from winning the conference and going to the playoffs. Winning the Big 10 is pretty damn hard with 14 teams, including several elite teams.

KF has had a number of Top 10 finishes, division titles, conference titles, high profile bowls, double digit win seasons, etc.. Has he punched through to the playoffs? Not yet, but close. But compared to Fran's success nationally (meaning NCAA and conference tournament success), its really no comparison.

Not saying I agree with KF on Brian. I don't. But, he has earned the right to make that call. It may blow up in his face. We shall see.
I will have to mildly disagree somewhat. Good football yes. However REALLY GOOD Football, not so much so. To me really good would fall into a catagory of winning the weak ass West division (outright) at least once every three years and not lose to hapless Nebraska and then hope for a miracle upset to back into the division title two years ago.
Doesn't make one f'ing iota of difference if "we're watching."

Neither Kirk nor Brian give two shits what we or any other fans think.
Well the fact that we had an offense that was among the worst in college football last year and there was no ramifications from it, is supportive evidence for what you saying.

Hopefully Brian can make up for it this year by turning things around.
 
KF gets a pass on the Brian thing because he has earned it with 20+ years of really good football. If all you are focusing on is conference titles, you are missing the bigger picture. And, in 2015, KF and the boys were a yard away from winning the conference and going to the playoffs. Winning the Big 10 is pretty damn hard with 14 teams, including several elite teams.

KF has had a number of Top 10 finishes, division titles, conference titles, high profile bowls, double digit win seasons, etc.. Has he punched through to the playoffs? Not yet, but close. But compared to Fran's success nationally (meaning NCAA and conference tournament success), its really no comparison.

Not saying I agree with KF on Brian. I don't. But, he has earned the right to make that call. It may blow up in his face. We shall see.
Getting bitch slapped by stanford should eliminate any puffy chest you have for the team that was a yard away from the playoffs. We may have gotten into the playoffs in an incredibly weak b10 that year, but it would have resulted into “who doesn’t belong in this picture”.
 

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