Curious...

[smhawk]

When was the last time Iowa football started the year off versus a ranked opponent?

Does anyone think the few weeks leading up the years first game would produce better results if the opener was vs. a tough opponent? Therefore be further along in development only a week into the season. Also it would provide momentum for catching the attention of pollsters.

The draw back would be you would have a week in the middle of the season where maybe the practice intensity would dip when faced verse cupcake team, similar to how bye seem to sometimes throw off the chemistry of a team.

Or does everyone like the traditional strategy of easing your way into tougher games and then Big ten play?

 

[CAARHawk]

You think KF is going to change his system just because the first team is tough? Seriously?

Believe me, as long as KF is coach, the Hawks will go into game one VERY, VERY much a work in progress.

And pollsters? Don't you remember the "they must not have seen us play" comment. KF is Never going to play to impress pollsters.

 

[SLarew]

You think KF is going to change his system just because the first team is tough? Seriously?

Believe me, as long as KF is coach, the Hawks will go into game one VERY, VERY much a work in progress.

And pollsters? Don't you remember the "they must not have seen us play" comment. KF is Never going to play to impress pollsters.

Correct about KF. I believe Kansas State in 2000 was probably last time Iowa opened against ranked team but that is off top of my head. May be overlooking someone.
Would you really want to open against Oklahoma or similar team? Maybe as 2nd or third game but not as opener. KF has his system set up and wont be changing it. Possibly would be tougher is some teams willing to do home and home but the economics of 7 home games makes it tougher to schedule ranked type teams. They wont want to play in IC on certain years and Iowa wont want to travel in certain years.

 

[thejumper5]

2003 vs. 15. Miami (OH) was the last time we opened vs. a ranked opponent.

 

[smhawk]

I was just seeing what everyone else thought, not what would kf do. I like the setup. but just looking at other conferences/teams tendencies I just wondered how long it's been.

 

[silvanthalas]

With the way things are going, we'll never open a season with anything resembling a decent team ever again.

 

[DTF]

Starting off against a ranked opponent doesn't really seem like a good idea, especially if you're going to have a bunch of question marks on the field, like this year. Last year, maybe it would have been alright (although based on the way the season went, maybe that wouldn't have gone too well). I look forward to seeing them on the field as much as anything else. I like watching other teams play their ranked games, but I'm not sure that's want to see out from Iowa, call me a nervous Nelly. Some teams, though, are probably overrated and could probably be beat pretty easily early in the season. I guess it depends who you want to play.

 

[BlackandGold81]

I think I would like to start off vs a ranked opponent. You would have all the kids attention for the summer and would be able to push them harder to be ready for the start of the season.

The hawks always seem to be slow starters so I would like to see them ready for the first game.

 

[kicker22]

I've been saying it forever, that I would love to see Top 25 (preferably Top 10) OOC oponents on a yearly basis. That said, I don't think I'd want that game the first week of the season, but I don't think I need to worry about it because IMO it'll never happen on a consistent basis.