Wrong. Wisconsin has the same resources or less and they consistently outperform other programs in the BIG and the country with more resources. It's about culture and expectations. They fully expect 9-10 win seasons and we have fans like you that are totally geeked up about 7 wins. I expect more and I wish more Iowa fans did too, then we might finally start to move the needle on a consistent basis.
B1G West
- Thread starter NCHawker
- Start date
So @ Wisconsin isn't a definite win. Penn State and OSU are both programs that have better resources. That's 3 teams that are going to be tough to beat. It's pretty hard to set the floor at 3 losses when we play 3 games that are going to be incredibly difficult to win.
I would guess there isn't much difference between us in regards to how bad we want to win and how pissed we get after a loss. Hell I can hardly stand the way Ferentz coaches and unless the new coaching hires show a noticeable difference on game day, I'll be happy as hell when he's gone. The difference between the two of us is you throw out nonsense that has zero logic behind it and you have delusions that throwing out that nonsense on a message board will help change anything.
Unknownbadger
Well-Known Member
Wisconsin will be just as good on D, perhaps better, as it has been. I suspect the O will be improved. The OL will be much better as will the receiving units. RB will be just as good if not better running behind a better line. Jury is still out in my mind about the QB but he'll still be adequate and have some experience behind center this year.
Can Iowa win? Yes! It's a great rivalry that I'd never bet one way or another on. BUT Iowa is going to have to be better than they were last year to have a good shot.
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While some of those factors are important, none of them are as important as talent. Particularly talent at the skill positions. Iowa is short there. I'm not sure an expectation of a 3 loss season is realistic
Just because the coach is paid a lot. Or the kids have a fancy new facility to workout in doesn't mean their expectations should be 10 wins every single year necessarily. Plenty of other variables. Like how we still aren't sure what WRs are going to be playing a lot. Or who's going to be throwing the ball. We had way more experience at both positions last yr with a good running game and same Oline and had a terrible passing game. So maybe they only have nowhere to go but up from that. But how far if at all?
The other schools are out there trying too. This is going to be a tough year I'm afraid so if your expectations are 9 plus wins than expect to be let down. If they get to 8 wins with this group I think I'd be pretty tickled with it. To do that they'll have to get off to a good start. Any hickups in the first 3 games and it'd be hard to expect any miracles the rest of the way. 6-7 wins is kinda what I think will end up happening. More than that would be gravy and would mean the future would be really really bright.
The other schools are out there trying too. This is going to be a tough year I'm afraid so if your expectations are 9 plus wins than expect to be let down. If they get to 8 wins with this group I think I'd be pretty tickled with it. To do that they'll have to get off to a good start. Any hickups in the first 3 games and it'd be hard to expect any miracles the rest of the way. 6-7 wins is kinda what I think will end up happening. More than that would be gravy and would mean the future would be really really bright.
In terms of status here is how I'd rank the teams in each of the division.
1) Wisconsin (a notch above our level, but Iowa can expect to compete with them)
2a) Iowa
2b) Nebraska (whether they like it or not, they are on our level)
4) Northwestern (Closer to our level than some people want to admit. They are either at or close to being able to expect to compete for the division championship every couple of years. )
5) Minnesota (a notch below our level, but can expect to compete with Iowa)
7a) Illinois (currently a bad football program)
7b) Purdue (currently a bad football program)
1) Ohio State (Top dog in the conference)
2) Michigan (Under Harbaugh, they are nationally relevant. A notch about Wisconsin's level)
3) Penn State (Ranking them here based on their current trajectory more than anything they've done before last year)
4) Michigan State (Down year last year, but arguably on Wisconsin's level. Iowa can expect to compete against these guys. Potentially trending down)
5) Indiana (Loss of Kevin Wilson will hurt. Somewhere between Minnesota and Illinois level)
6) Maryland (Been a bad football program the last 2 years. Maybe trending up with recruiting though)
NR) Rutgers (Don't even deserve the privilege of being ranked 7 out of 7)
1) Wisconsin (a notch above our level, but Iowa can expect to compete with them)
2a) Iowa
2b) Nebraska (whether they like it or not, they are on our level)
4) Northwestern (Closer to our level than some people want to admit. They are either at or close to being able to expect to compete for the division championship every couple of years. )
5) Minnesota (a notch below our level, but can expect to compete with Iowa)
7a) Illinois (currently a bad football program)
7b) Purdue (currently a bad football program)
1) Ohio State (Top dog in the conference)
2) Michigan (Under Harbaugh, they are nationally relevant. A notch about Wisconsin's level)
3) Penn State (Ranking them here based on their current trajectory more than anything they've done before last year)
4) Michigan State (Down year last year, but arguably on Wisconsin's level. Iowa can expect to compete against these guys. Potentially trending down)
5) Indiana (Loss of Kevin Wilson will hurt. Somewhere between Minnesota and Illinois level)
6) Maryland (Been a bad football program the last 2 years. Maybe trending up with recruiting though)
NR) Rutgers (Don't even deserve the privilege of being ranked 7 out of 7)
guffus
Well-Known Member
West
1. Wisc
Since 2011 has won 2 conference championship and been to CCG 4 times.
2 rose bowls and 1 cotton bowl.
2. Iowa
Has beat Neb 3 out of last 4 times and only loss was in OT. 1 CCG and 1 Rose Bowl since 2011
3. Neb
1 CCG since 2011. Has lost 3 of last 4 to Iowa. No BCS/committee bowls
4. NW
5. MINN
6. ILL
7. Pur
East
1.OSU
1 national championship, 2 playoff teams , 1 conference championship.
2. MSU
1 playoff team. 2 conference championships, 3 CCG.
3. Penn St
1 conference championship
4. Mich
Zero division or conference titles. 1 Orange Bowl. 1 sugar Bowl
5. INDY
6. MD
7. Rut
1. Wisc
Since 2011 has won 2 conference championship and been to CCG 4 times.
2 rose bowls and 1 cotton bowl.
2. Iowa
Has beat Neb 3 out of last 4 times and only loss was in OT. 1 CCG and 1 Rose Bowl since 2011
3. Neb
1 CCG since 2011. Has lost 3 of last 4 to Iowa. No BCS/committee bowls
4. NW
5. MINN
6. ILL
7. Pur
East
1.OSU
1 national championship, 2 playoff teams , 1 conference championship.
2. MSU
1 playoff team. 2 conference championships, 3 CCG.
3. Penn St
1 conference championship
4. Mich
Zero division or conference titles. 1 Orange Bowl. 1 sugar Bowl
5. INDY
6. MD
7. Rut
Are you forgetting we play some East teams too?
I will not deba e someone whose expectations are to be average. You have your views and I'll stick to mine thanks. G'day sir.
So you only debate people who think the exact same way as you? That's weird.
And my expectations are based on what I think will happen. Not what I think should happen.
I thought about engaging him in a debate on this. But I figured there’s no point. I like to think that my hopes are through the roof for what I’d like to see the Hawks do. That said I can objectively look at the situation and say 9-3 would be just about unrealistic this year. I mean did this guy not see the spring game? Our Qbs both looked half lost out there. We aren’t sure who all will be catching passes yet. Sure our front lines on both sides will be solid. But they were last year too and look what happened. How someone can EXPECT a better season this year than last yr is beyond me. We had way more senior leadership from key positions than what they’ll have this year. Then you factor in the schedule changing and I just can’t see it. I want to see Iowa win 10 plus every year and I’ll be rooting for it. But don’t expect me to bet the farm on it happening…
Predicting how a team will do in a given year based on the players they have and the teams they play is completely different than setting demands based on how good you think a program should be. OkstHawk must not understand the difference.
You're spot on in that the West is weak and winnable year in and year out. Since the east/west realignment, Iowa has been competitive for the division entering November in all 3 seasons.
The mistake you're making is thinking people's expectations are what they want and/or are happy with. Iowa invests an incredible amount of money into their program, largely because their fan base is amazing.
I've told this story here before but it's worth repeating. In the 1999 season finale, Iowa hosted Minnesota with a record of 1-9(0-7). Paid attendance that day was 55,000 including me. Just think about how crazy that is. The lowest point of Iowa's football in my lifetime. A 1 win team coming off a season in which they won only 3 games, with several horrific beat downs over that period and more to come the following season and 55,000 people paid to watch it. That's insane.
Now with all that money they invested in the program, should they be better? Absolutely. They've finished the season ranked once in the last 6 years. Should people be happy with 4 and 5 loss seasons? No, like you said the division is weak and will be for the foreseeable future. But facts are facts. They don't have experienced talent at the QB & WR positions which in today's college football are the two most important position groups.
Look no further than 2008. That OL was better than the current group. So was the DL. In fact all 11 defense starters and a few reserves were on an NFL roster at some point. 2nd best RB of the Fry/KF era and 2 TEs that made the NFL. They lost 4 games. Why? Inconsistent play at QB & WR with little experienced talent.
I don't like it anymore than you do. Thinking about 2008 and its potential still pisses me off but the fact is, this program needs a QB and WRs to do legit damage and realize high potential. They simply don't have that currently.
The Big LeHAWKski
Well-Known Member
What we all have to realize is that this is a rebuilding year at QB, so even with decent protection there will be plenty of picks and likely a few pick-sixes against us.
Also, lest we never forget AIRBHG is still out there...waiting in the weeds somewhere.
Nothing scares me more than hanging our Offensive success on one very talented RB (Wadley) who will likely get 10+ more carries per game than he should at his size.
Folks, the pessimist in me is screaming in my head that we are one knee/high ankle sprain away from RB-by committee. With our pathetic, worst in-conference passing game last year, and this year resting our hopes on multiple 18-19 yr old receivers, EVERYONE is going to load the box to stop the run and THAT is what scares me because a Ferentz is a Ferentz and I fear we will still be oh-so predictable (running off left tackle 95% of the time on 1st down).
I pray I am wrong and B. Ferentz pleasantly shocks me by being his own man who wants TO SHINE RIGHT OUT THE GATE and not be an overly cautious, predictable, stubborn clone of his Dad.
Also, lest we never forget AIRBHG is still out there...waiting in the weeds somewhere.
Nothing scares me more than hanging our Offensive success on one very talented RB (Wadley) who will likely get 10+ more carries per game than he should at his size.
Folks, the pessimist in me is screaming in my head that we are one knee/high ankle sprain away from RB-by committee. With our pathetic, worst in-conference passing game last year, and this year resting our hopes on multiple 18-19 yr old receivers, EVERYONE is going to load the box to stop the run and THAT is what scares me because a Ferentz is a Ferentz and I fear we will still be oh-so predictable (running off left tackle 95% of the time on 1st down).
I pray I am wrong and B. Ferentz pleasantly shocks me by being his own man who wants TO SHINE RIGHT OUT THE GATE and not be an overly cautious, predictable, stubborn clone of his Dad.
judzeehawk
Well-Known Member
[QUOTE="The Big LeHAWKski,
Also, lest we never forget AIRBHG is still out there...waiting in the weeds somewhere.
Ok now you did it!
Also, lest we never forget AIRBHG is still out there...waiting in the weeds somewhere.
Ok now you did it!
