MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
Just curious. What high-profile teams has Iowa never or rarely played?
I don't recall a game with Alabama, though.
I don't recall a game with Alabama, though.
Has Iowa Ever Played Alabama?
- Thread starter MelroseHawkins
- Start date
Hawkalum2002
Well-Known Member
Never played Alabama. Auburn, FSU, Georgia, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia are probably the other biggest names. Also interesting we've never played Army or Navy, surprised they never crossed paths pre-1950.
WinOneThisCentury
Well-Known Member
I'm pretty sure they are ducking us.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
Never said do it. I was just curious if Iowa ever played them at some point in the past. You would think playing for 120 yrs that teams would eventually cross paths.
You know, teams aren't continually strong all those years. Each team has some low points on occasion. Michigan coming out of theirs, Alabama had a low point prior to Saban taking the reigns, Florida has had low points.
InGoodCo
Well-Known Member
sorry, i didn't mean you said do it... I don't think it's happened. And you're right, no team stays up forever. Hell, Ohio State took a dip, it was short, but they dipped. FSU, Nebraska, ND, OU, TX.... they all dip.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
I'm pretty sure Alabama played Mich St last year or the year before. They played some BIG team, I remember. They do it. Many of the SEC teams play a formidable opponent the 2nd or 3rd game. They also in the past recent years scheduled a non-conf cup cake late in the year, around the time the Final Four rankings are taking place. Coincidence, I don't think so. I think they think putting up a 56-3 score on the Garden Webb's of the world at that point will help their ranking at that time.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
Yea, but to your point, they don't stay down for long. So, it's a moving target to try to schedule when you think they may be down. Yes, I was going to put Ohio St. had a short term lull at the end of John Coopers tenure. He couldn't beat Michigan at the time.
You would have thought Iowa and Alabama would have met in some kind of 2nd tier bowl at some point. That is what was weird to me.
InGoodCo
Well-Known Member
MSU a couple of years ago - right or wrong, was a much sexier opponent then Iowa after 15. If Iowa goes on a run of winning double digit games in like 6 out 7 seasons then they'd have that appeal to. They just don't have that now. I'd like to see us get it
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
MSU a couple of years ago - right or wrong, was a much sexier opponent then Iowa after 15. If Iowa goes on a run of winning double digit games in like 6 out 7 seasons then they'd have that appeal to. They just don't have that now. I'd like to see us get it
That's what I stated, it's a moving target. It's difficult to predict the seasons teams like Iowa and Michigan St are going to have. Dantonio at the time, though, had a nice run of 10+ win seasons. But, they could have easily scheduled it last year when Mich St had a horrible season. Unexpected and again, a moving target schedule-wise.
So, it really ends up being a crap shoot. I think most Ferentz teams are solid and formidable. They may not win every game but they play close games.
MelroseHawkins
Well-Known Member
MSU a couple of years ago - right or wrong, was a much sexier opponent then Iowa after 15. If Iowa goes on a run of winning double digit games in like 6 out 7 seasons then they'd have that appeal to. They just don't have that now. I'd like to see us get it
Actually it was Wisconsin in 2015 that played Alabama. Wisky lost 35-17. I was wondering if it was Wisky.
eyekwah
Well-Known Member
SEC schools would not play college teams with black players probably until 1970 time period. Iowa, Michigan have a long history of having black players.
guffus
Well-Known Member
Actually it was both. Wisc in a scheduled game. MSU in playoffs on New Year's eve.
It could have been Iowa in the playoffs in 2015, just 30 seconds away from victory in the BigTen CCG.
JoeyLabasForPresident
Well-Known Member
An obvious targeting call away from a victory, as it were.
To your point, the infamous USC-Alabama game of 1970 was the first time Alabama hosted a team from outside of their state that fielded black players:
https://www.theatlantic.com/enterta...ege-football-didnt-happen-in-one-game/281557/
That article is a pretty interesting read. Alabama actually got beat by an integrated Tennessee team the year before, but for whatever reason that game does not carry the same mystique as the Alabama-USC affair.
Alabama themselves became integrated in 1971, although they actually had a black freshman on their team in 1970 (John Mitchell), but freshman were not allowed to play at that time. So they would have been integrated in '71 with or without the USC trouncing, yet the game certainly seems to have had an important impact on gaining public acceptance for integration.
