Can't Iowa Afford To Take More Chances On Offense?

[Hawkboys]

We could consistently be a top ten team if the offense was significantly closer to the level of the defense. If the oline became as dominant as the dline then we are in the conversation for the CFP.

They'd be a top 10 team or even top 5 with an average O-line and Offense.

 

[Teddy]

By almost every metric of football value, the University of Iowa should not be good, or at least not very good in football. We are the second smallest state, and the Bugeaters overcome their lack of population by the national BB reputation that has carried over since late in the last century. If all the states have the same ratio of 4 and 5* players, Iowa will always be behind. Pennsylvania, Ohio St. and Michigan are nearly three times as large as Iowa. Long time cellar dwellers like Illinois and Minnesota should be better than Iowa. Now we have the large to massive populations of the west coast as direct competitors.

Iowa is a small school by Big Ten Standards. That directly impacts fundraising because the graduates form the donor pool of the near and long term. They are the guys who become executives that make not only medium to large personal donations but can influence corporate donors' decisions. Take the annual disparity and multiply that by roughly 50 years of donations.

Size also means fewer rich people for very large personal donations and very large corporate donations. There aren't nearly as many mega-corporations to make multimillion dollar donations in Iowa because we only have one real city, and it is not a large city. I'm hopeful that the new AD will prioritize marketing in DSM. The last guy sure didn't. DSM and its burbs are where nearly a third of the state live, most of the individually wealthy reside, and most of the large corps exist. This problem only gets worse when the west coast arrives. Oregon has a single donor that could field a full future NFL team with its NIL money. USC has been growing its donor base since Marion Morrison was still in the silents.

Lack of size means fewer viewers and streamers. These mergers are designed to bring more of both but not to Iowa. We will see audience spikes when we play some BB schools, but those viewership spikes are not coming from Iowa fans and are much more like the BBs regular audience. We sell less apparel. Although, not unique to Iowa, we also have lousy weather, too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. The population is shifting south and southwest, although California is losing population share but not fast enough to matter for football purposes.

Iowa has nothing going for it as a P5 competitor. We can occasionally build and 10 or 10+ win team but we lack the resources to sustain that level. So, the question on the Ferentz methodology of offensive caution and great special teams and defensive play is really simple. Have we won more games against conference competition by playing it safe and slow on offensive, dominate special teams and defense and win than we have lost.

I would say we have won far more games with that philosophy than Iowa has lost. Even last year.

​

 

[Teddy]

They'd be a top 10 team or even top 5 with an average O-line and Offense.

This posted while I was typing but it's a good example of the margins at which Iowa operates. Had they stayed healthy, last year would have Britt, Ince and Davidkov. The starting lineup looks a lot better with Ince at RT and Britt at RG doesn't it? Unfortunately, we don't have 4* linemen with a year or two of experience behind them. We have to play freshmen, or guys crossing the line, RS freshmen that played a few downs in 4 games, etc... Iowa would have been a 10-win, Division Champ with that line, even with Petras, worse yet Padilla and the wide receiver problems.

We are due some injury luck. If this line improves, especially the guys entering their third season at a position, we will be a ten-win Division Champion as well.​

 

[thedukeofearl]

This posted while I was typing but it's a good example of the margins at which Iowa operates. Had they stayed healthy, last year would have Britt, Ince and Davidkov, Ince and Britt. The starting lineup looks a lot better with Ince at RT and Britt at RG doesn't it? Unfortunately, we don't have 4* linemen with a year or two of experience behind them. We have to play freshmen, or guys crossing the line, RS freshmen that played a few downs in 4 games, etc... Iowa would have been a 10-win, Division Champ with that line, even with Petras, worse yet Padilla and the wide receiver problems.

We are due some injury luck. If this line improves, especially the guys entering their third season at a position, we will be a ten-win Division Champion as well.​

Damn, Very nice posts, Teddy

 

[MelroseHawkins]

This posted while I was typing but it's a good example of the margins at which Iowa operates. Had they stayed healthy, last year would have Britt, Ince and Davidkov, Ince and Britt. The starting lineup looks a lot better with Ince at RT and Britt at RG doesn't it? Unfortunately, we don't have 4* linemen with a year or two of experience behind them. We have to play freshmen, or guys crossing the line, RS freshmen that played a few downs in 4 games, etc... Iowa would have been a 10-win, Division Champ with that line, even with Petras, worse yet Padilla and the wide receiver problems.

We are due some injury luck. If this line improves, especially the guys entering their third season at a position, we will be a ten-win Division Champion as well.​

Why you yell so much?

 

[MelroseHawkins]

By almost every metric of football value, the University of Iowa should not be good, or at least not very good in football. We are the second smallest state, and the Bugeaters overcome their lack of population by the national BB reputation that has carried over since late in the last century. If all the states have the same ratio of 4 and 5* players, Iowa will always be behind. Pennsylvania, Ohio St. and Michigan are nearly three times as large as Iowa. Long time cellar dwellers like Illinois and Minnesota should be better than Iowa. Now we have the large to massive populations of the west coast as direct competitors.

Iowa is a small school by Big Ten Standards. That directly impacts fundraising because the graduates form the donor pool of the near and long term. They are the guys who become executives that make not only medium to large personal donations but can influence corporate donors' decisions. Take the annual disparity and multiply that by roughly 50 years of donations.

Size also means fewer rich people for very large personal donations and very large corporate donations. There aren't nearly as many mega-corporations to make multimillion dollar donations in Iowa because we only have one real city. I'm hopeful that the new AD will prioritize marketing in DSM. The last guy sure didn't. DSM and its burbs are where nearly a third of the state live, most of the individually wealthy reside, and most of the large corps exist. This problem only gets worse when the west coast arrives. Oregon has a single donor that could field a full future NFL team with its NIL money. USC has been growing its donor base since Marion Morrison was still in the silents.

Lack of size means fewer viewers and streamers. These mergers are designed to bring more of both but not to Iowa. We will see audience spikes when we play some BB schools, but those viewership spikes are not coming from Iowa fans and are much more like the BBs regular audience. We sell less apparel. Although, not unique to Iowa, we also have lousy weather, too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. The population is shifting south and southwest, although California is losing population share but not fast enough to matter for football purposes.

Iowa has nothing going for it as a P5 competitor. We can occasionally build and 10 or 10+ win team but we lack the resources to sustain that level. So, the question on the Ferentz methodology of offensive caution and great special teams and defensive play is really simple. Have we won more games against conference competition by playing it safe and slow on offensive, dominate special teams and defense and win than we have lost.

I would say we have won far more games with that philosophy than Iowa has lost. Even last year.

​

Yes, Iowa is a small state with only about 3 mill people, but I think the larger hurdle that Iowa has that many other states don't have that are remotely near in size, is the challenge of recruiting in-state. Iowa has a number of Div 1 universities including another P5 in Iowa St and a top FCS Div 1 in Northern Iowa. You can add Drake in there but they aren't near the same level as N. Iowa.

Wisconsin doesn't have this landscape nor Minnesota, Nebraska, Missiouri, etc.. It is really unique for the size of the state.

I think that is more telling than just the size of the university or eyes that follow.

 

[Hawkboys]

Yes, Iowa is a small state with only about 3 mill people, but I think the larger hurdle that Iowa has that many other states have that are remotely near in size is the challenge of recruiting in-state. Iowa has a number of Div 1 universities including another P5 in Iowa St and a top FCS Div 1 in Northern Iowa. You can add Drake in there but they aren't near the same level as N. Iowa.

Wisconsin doesn't have this landscape nor Minnesota, Nebraska, Missiouri, etc.. It is really unique for the size of the state.

I think that is more telling than just the size of the university or eyes show follow.

Yep, except IA usually takes at least 3 of 4 or 4 of 5 of the state's top recruits they want. It does hurt them a little to lose that 1, but it's not like the top recruits are 50/50 between IA & ISU. UNI almost never gets a top recruit unless they're a legacy, especially in football.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

Yep, except IA usually takes at least 3 of 4 or 4 of 5 of the state's top recruits they want. It does hurt them a little to lose that 1, but it's not like the top recruits are 50/50 between IA & ISU. UNI almost never gets a top recruit unless they're a legacy, especially in football.

I'm not confident in your distribution of % above that Iowa typically gets pretty much all in-state top recruits. I just don't think it's that easy or simple. I think this may be a situation where you have fan blinders on a bit to a point.

 

[InGoodCo]

You and I completely agree on the winning. I’m fully on board with this. Where we separate is the fact I want to beat real teams and not just run up a record of longevity and from playing in the b10w with a soft preseason schedule that we play annually. So yes…we have completely different expectations and views on what success really is

Iowa plays 10 P5 games a year, their schedule is on par or as "hard" as any other team in the sport. ISU has been ranked in 5 of the last 6 seasons, so, I don't buy that week OOC especially when you see what the SEC deems to be a formiable OOC. The West isn't easy, MN has been formidable, Northwestern had it's moment, IL now seems to be a problem, WI is always good....Purdue had a run with their previous coach....so really on "competitive" standpoint, every team is dedicated to winning football and rises up .... you're doormat is Nebraska, who is one of the bluebloods in the sport.

Iowa is 1-2 vs TOSU in the last decade
Iowa is 4-4 vs Michigan in the last decade

They've won 4 of their last 5 bowl games, including one over USC and one over an ranked SEC opponent.

Iowa plays in the B1G, it's one of the elite football conferences in the sport and frankly one of the only 2 conferences in the country that actually matters. You're argument that Iowa isn't winning relevant games isn't based in reality.

We have completely different expectations but let's not pretend this isn't the best stretch for the program in school history. Iowa is winning at it's highest clip ever.

Try and enjoy it, history tells us, it won't likely last. We have a program we can all be proud of. That wins every season despite a lot of things it doesn't have going for it. Putting guys into the NFL at an incredible rate and recruiting as good as it ever has.

Maybe football just isn't your sport, Iowa wins. I like winning. I want more too, but like, there's nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to Iowa winning football games.

 

[InGoodCo]

By almost every metric of football value, the University of Iowa should not be good, or at least not very good in football. We are the second smallest state, and the Bugeaters overcome their lack of population by the national BB reputation that has carried over since late in the last century. If all the states have the same ratio of 4 and 5* players, Iowa will always be behind. Pennsylvania, Ohio St. and Michigan are nearly three times as large as Iowa. Long time cellar dwellers like Illinois and Minnesota should be better than Iowa. Now we have the large to massive populations of the west coast as direct competitors.

Iowa is a small school by Big Ten Standards. That directly impacts fundraising because the graduates form the donor pool of the near and long term. They are the guys who become executives that make not only medium to large personal donations but can influence corporate donors' decisions. Take the annual disparity and multiply that by roughly 50 years of donations.

Size also means fewer rich people for very large personal donations and very large corporate donations. There aren't nearly as many mega-corporations to make multimillion dollar donations in Iowa because we only have one real city. I'm hopeful that the new AD will prioritize marketing in DSM. The last guy sure didn't. DSM and its burbs are where nearly a third of the state live, most of the individually wealthy reside, and most of the large corps exist. This problem only gets worse when the west coast arrives. Oregon has a single donor that could field a full future NFL team with its NIL money. USC has been growing its donor base since Marion Morrison was still in the silents.

Lack of size means fewer viewers and streamers. These mergers are designed to bring more of both but not to Iowa. We will see audience spikes when we play some BB schools, but those viewership spikes are not coming from Iowa fans and are much more like the BBs regular audience. We sell less apparel. Although, not unique to Iowa, we also have lousy weather, too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. The population is shifting south and southwest, although California is losing population share but not fast enough to matter for football purposes.

Iowa has nothing going for it as a P5 competitor. We can occasionally build and 10 or 10+ win team but we lack the resources to sustain that level. So, the question on the Ferentz methodology of offensive caution and great special teams and defensive play is really simple. Have we won more games against conference competition by playing it safe and slow on offensive, dominate special teams and defense and win than we have lost.

I would say we have won far more games with that philosophy than Iowa has lost. Even last year.

​

Iowa wins because of it's strategy and by being sound in a lot of area's other teams aren't. Iowa wins despite a lot of disadvantages they have compared to their peers. I want them to win more as well, and the offense has stunk, but like, I don't let that get in my way of understanding the sport in general. We are spoiled fans, Iowa is a football factory and frankly I am scared of what's next. I wanted BF to be next because I really really really really and I'll throw on more "really" here, don't want this type of competitive and sound program to go away. Where we always win and are always beating teams. It's so fing nice. Iowa has made 2 really good hires in FB, can they do 3 in a row? I am hopeful but that's entirely more of a crap shoot and we're bound to stub our toe eventually in that regards.

 

[NCHawker]

I would admit that, but then we'd be talking about how horrible our D is and people would be like "man, wouldn't it be awesome if like, we just stop people from scoring?"

I believe Iowa is sold out for the season, the bottom line is all that matters to people. People want to win, they want to watch a team that wins and they expect Iowa to win every season. That get's lost in all this hand wringing over the offense. We're spoiled as Iowa fans. we've been ranked at some point of the season in 8 of the last 10 years. The offense stunk the last 2 seasons, but it's not like it's never been good right?

Iowa is essentially a football factory and the model of consistency. I want the offense to be better, but really, IDGAF as long as the old winning a lot more than you lose thing continues.

are you lecturing? instructing fans how to see the world really? just share your own perceptions and call it a day.

 

[HuckFinn]

Iowa plays 10 P5 games a year, their schedule is on par or as "hard" as any other team in the sport. ISU has been ranked in 5 of the last 6 seasons, so, I don't buy that week OOC especially when you see what the SEC deems to be a formiable OOC. The West isn't easy, MN has been formidable, Northwestern had it's moment, IL now seems to be a problem, WI is always good....Purdue had a run with their previous coach....so really on "competitive" standpoint, every team is dedicated to winning football and rises up .... you're doormat is Nebraska, who is one of the bluebloods in the sport.

Iowa is 1-2 vs TOSU in the last decade
Iowa is 4-4 vs Michigan in the last decade

They've won 4 of their last 5 bowl games, including one over USC and one over an ranked SEC opponent.

Iowa plays in the B1G, it's one of the elite football conferences in the sport and frankly one of the only 2 conferences in the country that actually matters. You're argument that Iowa isn't winning relevant games isn't based in reality.

We have completely different expectations but let's not pretend this isn't the best stretch for the program in school history. Iowa is winning at it's highest clip ever.

Try and enjoy it, history tells us, it won't likely last. We have a program we can all be proud of. That wins every season despite a lot of things it doesn't have going for it. Putting guys into the NFL at an incredible rate and recruiting as good as it ever has.

Maybe football just isn't your sport, Iowa wins. I like winning. I want more too, but like, there's nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to Iowa winning football games.

This post will irritate some % of HN. Thank you.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

are you lecturing? instructing fans how to see the world really? just share your own perceptions and call it a day.

I don't get where this comes from. He's just stating his thoughts. Don't we all lecture on here. I mean it's a message board and people put their thoughts. ..................Hmm. Baffled.

 

[HuckFinn]

are you lecturing? instructing fans how to see the world really? just share your own perceptions and call it a day.

I enjoyed that “lecture.”

 

[Hawkboys]

I don't get where this comes from. He's just stating his thoughts. Don't we all lecture on here. I mean it's a message board and people put their thoughts. ..................Hmm. Baffled.

A lecture on lecturing on lecturing... ;-P

 

[MelroseHawkins]

This post will irritate some % of HN. Thank you.

The thing is................is that we are out so many years now (44) from consistent crappy Iowa football. This is basically a large part of an entire generation, so many on here are so young they can't really relate to the true frustrations and challenges of a chitty program or coach. Some of our fans are clueless of the true frustration dealing with the bowels of defeat.

I was quite young during the last of the horrible years and was about 8 yrs old when Hayden Fry came on board, so, I also didn't really understand how bad it was for Iowa. I remember them as a youngster but really started to be a fan around the time Iowa made it's first Rose Bowl run with Hayden. After that, it coincided with my age growing up so naturally became a true fan after that. But, it was bad my first 8 yrs of my life. I know of it but don't really remember it.

People need to keep it real because Iowa has had a great run in the last 44 years. I'd like to know the next program that has only had 2 coaches in 44 years. Anybody know what program after Iowa has had the steadiest coaching position? I often wonder.

 

[InGoodCo]

are you lecturing? instructing fans how to see the world really? just share your own perceptions and call it a day.

I am not lecturing, I am sharing my own perspective, and giving perspective as someone who has followed the program as closely as anyone that last 30 years. You do whatever you want to do, this is a message board where we all give our opinions on Iowa football. If you don't understand how good things are at Iowa right now when it comes to winning football games, that's your problem, not mine.

 

[Teddy]

are you lecturing? instructing fans how to see the world really? just share your own perceptions and call it a day.

No one should be lecturing or lectured about their thoughts on football. There are however, some fans that could probably emotionally benefit from tracking their expectations a little closer to reality. There are very real impediments to Iowa being a consistent 10 game winner, as I said above.

Those reasons are not excuses because they explain why Iowa is winning about as much as we can reasonably expect from a school in our situation. Big Red, the Gophs, Illinois, Boilers, Purdue, Indiana, Maryland and Rutgers would kill for Iowa's record in even just the last decade.

These are the good old days, enjoy them. The four Pac teams push Iowa further down the pole. If no collective NIL arrives the decline and fall of Iowa football will begin in probably the 2025 season.​

 

[InGoodCo]

No one should be lecturing or lectured about their thoughts on football. There are however, some fans that could probably emotionally benefit from tracking their expectations a little closer to reality. There are very real impediments to Iowa being a consistent 10 game winner, as I said above.

Those reasons are not excuses because they explain why Iowa is winning about as much as we can reasonably expect from a school in our situation. Big Red, the Gophs, Illinois, Boilers, Purdue, Indiana, Maryland and Rutgers would kill for Iowa's record in even just the last decade.

These are the good old days, enjoy them. The four Pac teams push Iowa further down the pole. If no collective NIL arrives the decline and fall of Iowa football will begin in probably the 2025 season.​

Teddy, you are so right. I hope Iowa can keep up with the Jones's moving forward but it's going to take some specail circumstances, leadership that gets a little lucky and they will have to be very creative. I don't think NIL will continue with the collectives long term, or if they do, they won't be the main revenue produceres for players. Investors are already seeing terrible ROI and anyone with any business sense isn't going to just keep dumping money at things that don't produce. You will see that market level out. Iowa stands a chance right now, only because they win....if that goes away, boy.... I don't know. Where does that leave us? Iowa football is in a pretty good place heading into this but who knows which directions things go beyond this season and if I had to bet, like put down money where things go, I am not betting on upper tier (a place Iowa Football has resided in for a lot of time) after things settle.

 

[SCHawkeye2]

Iowa plays 10 P5 games a year, their schedule is on par or as "hard" as any other team in the sport. ISU has been ranked in 5 of the last 6 seasons, so, I don't buy that week OOC especially when you see what the SEC deems to be a formiable OOC. The West isn't easy, MN has been formidable, Northwestern had it's moment, IL now seems to be a problem, WI is always good....Purdue had a run with their previous coach....so really on "competitive" standpoint, every team is dedicated to winning football and rises up .... you're doormat is Nebraska, who is one of the bluebloods in the sport.

Iowa is 1-2 vs TOSU in the last decade
Iowa is 4-4 vs Michigan in the last decade

They've won 4 of their last 5 bowl games, including one over USC and one over an ranked SEC opponent.

Iowa plays in the B1G, it's one of the elite football conferences in the sport and frankly one of the only 2 conferences in the country that actually matters. You're argument that Iowa isn't winning relevant games isn't based in reality.

We have completely different expectations but let's not pretend this isn't the best stretch for the program in school history. Iowa is winning at it's highest clip ever.

Try and enjoy it, history tells us, it won't likely last. We have a program we can all be proud of. That wins every season despite a lot of things it doesn't have going for it. Putting guys into the NFL at an incredible rate and recruiting as good as it ever has.

Maybe football just isn't your sport, Iowa wins. I like winning. I want more too, but like, there's nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to Iowa winning football games.

ISU has been ranked in 5 of the last 6 seasons

I believe ISU has been ranked only once in the season ending Top 25 in the last 6 seasons.
2020 Covid season #9/#10

2020 AP Poll College Football Rankings, Final Rankings - ESPN

Find the complete NCAAF Final Rankings rankings on ESPN. Includes the full votes and trend for the top 25 NCAAF teams.

www.espn.com

And Iowa and ISU did not play in 2020 due to Covid.