Get Prepared for some Tough Times

[kicker22]

Rankings only matter at the end of the year.
In 2021, PSU was ranked #4 early in the season. They finished 7-6 and not in the Top 25.
2021 Indiana was even worse. Ranked 17 when we played them in the first game, they finished 2-10, 0-9 in the B10. Last place.
2021 ISU was ranked 9 when we played them in the second game. They finished 7-6.
Not Top 25 by a long shot.
Covid 2020 Illinois finished 2-6. Wisconsin 4-3.

You consider these Top 25 wins?

My only argument with the ratings only matter at the end of the year mentality is every time you beat a ranked team during the season there is that much greater chance that that same team doesn't end up ranked.

While I agree that they are often times over rated and the polls find themselves weeding them out quite often there's also the other side of the argument that at the point in which we played them they were some of the hottest teams in the country and playing as well as anyone else despite how they ended up.

I think the rankings argument needs to come with an asterisk, because if only the end of the season rankings hold any meaning then you're only looking at half the picture. I agree with you that I don't necessarily consider those being top 25 wins, but at the same time I have a hard time saying they don't count simply because while being ranked at the time the game was played they didn't stay there.

 

[kicker22]

I hope you're wrong about that. I hope they can continue to win 8-10 games per year. Of course familiarity breeds contempt.

I have a cynical take that says Kirk neglected the offense for over a decade. Not in a malicous way but because it is a blind spot. He just didn't have high enough expectations and thus didn't press for more. I'll be he learned a lot after Lester started talking about X and Os with him.

I agree but don't know if I'd say neglected. I think the issue is with the emphasis he puts on defense and special teams and his style of offense whether neglegent or not his priorities came back to bite him in the ass in terms of recruiting, because they definitely don't match.

 

[InGoodCo]

My only argument with the ratings only matter at the end of the year mentality is every time you beat a ranked team during the season there is that much greater chance that that same team doesn't end up ranked.

While I agree that they are often times over rated and the polls find themselves weeding them out quite often there's also the other side of the argument that at the point in which we played them they were some of the hottest teams in the country and playing as well as anyone else despite how they ended up.

I think the rankings argument needs to come with an asterisk, because if only the end of the season rankings hold any meaning then you're only looking at half the picture. I agree with you that I don't necessarily consider those being top 25 wins, but at the same time I have a hard time saying they don't count simply because while being ranked at the time the game was played they didn't stay there.

I’ve been saying exactly that for 2 days now lol.

 

[InGoodCo]

I agree but don't know if I'd say neglected. I think the issue is with the emphasis he puts on defense and special teams and his style of offense whether neglegent or not his priorities came back to bite him in the ass in terms of recruiting, because they definitely don't match.

He also built his team to win the B1G West every year. He got pretty good at that towards the end right? I can’t blame him for a winning strategy. The landscape has changed and I’m not confident Kirk’s the guy to lead us where we go next. I’m a KF and BF fan and I believe these are truely the “good ole days” so to speak for our program. I hope Kirk can figure that out just like he figured out how to beat almost every team on our schedule every fucking year towards the end. Good coach but the overhaul our team needs to compete is glaring. Not sure that’s something anyone could fix

 

[oldhawk12]

I wonder if Beth is operating with a strong presumption that SW will succeed Kirk - that continuity is key

If you don’t want the program to go back, that’s not the move that’s made. The fact this is even discussed is unreal

 

[oldhawk12]

Seriously?
You believe the current state of the Iowa program is because Brian is NOT there?

Ironic isn’t it? In reality, it’s because Kirk still is

 

[trj]

If you don’t want the program to go back, that’s not the move that’s made. The fact this is even discussed is unreal

Ironic isn’t it? In reality, it’s because Kirk still is

You going to have an original thought or you just going to continue to troll?

 

[dahlhawk]

Next year will be a major rebuild, if we had anything in the underclassmen tank, they would be seeing playing time. Strength of schedule goes from a 4 to a 10 next year and we are losing almost all our starters. YET, Kirk doesn't see this season as a rebuilding year, even though we are out of the playoff and conference championship contention. Keeping Cade as our starter, with a healthy Sullivan on the team who is probable next year's starter is unacceptable. Next year will take an active and exhaustive search of the portal to just find back-ups for untested players, and oh yes, a lot of programs want payback for the last several years. I hope we win the rest of our games but honestly I expect to lose 2 more if Cade stays the starter. Kirk's time is over. This feels exactly like Fry's last year. A bowl game now with both teams having the best players sit out doesn't do anything for me anymore. If Kirk does the right thing and retires, we have several options of good H/C who can fill in quickly and bring talent with them. Maybe even lure a retired NC coach out of retirement 25 years after Iowa fans thought he would would be the no-brain hire. I'd take Bret, Campbell, Mark, or even an untraditional coach at this point. I just have severe KDS right now and after following the greatness that was Caitlin Clark and the Iowa women's team would love to follow a team and coach in football feel they can do the same. Sometimes things need to change BEFORE they bottom out, but alas I think that time has passed. Now I expect to be called a horrible fan and whatever, but I have been living and breathing Hawkeyes since 1981, I expect the highs and lows of sport and I know we win more than we lose, but there just isn't any joy in it for me anymore.