Has Iowa lost its luster?

I

Ihawks61

Well-Known Member
I say no, I think we are on the verge of something great!!!!
In 2008 Iowa lost 4 games by a total of 12 points, 2009 lost 2 games by a total of 10 points and has lost 5 games this year by a total of 18. Thats an ave. of 3.63 points per loss, and just under 4 losses per year. For those of you who doubt this coaching staff I would say dont. This has been the best that I can remember since the early 80's that they have been that competitive. I remember Iowa losing big to Mich, OSU, every time we played them prior to KF and staff coming to Iowa so lets not judge them on the fact that we have not been to that NC game. We have won the big 10 what 2 or 3 times since KF has come to Iowa.

Now with that being said, I am not pleased with how we seem to lose to NW every frickin year but then again I am pleased that we have not lost a game in the last 3 years by more than 7 points. That shows you how good this coaching staff is they have put themselves in a position to win in every game since the start of the 2008 season. Now maybe we can start to win these close games, If that happens then we become a national power house.
 
But we are also something like 7-22 in games decided by 5 points or less! Five of those wins came last year too.
 
Ihawks61 said:
We have won the big 10 what 2 or 3 times since KF has come to Iowa.

Now with that being said, I am not pleased with how we seem to lose to NW every frickin year but then again I am pleased that we have not lost a game in the last 3 years by more than 7 points.
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2 times as CO-champion, but ZERO Rose Bowls.

I'd take a 44-7 loss early that the team rallies around to go 10-2 over a slew of close losses that cause the team to quit and go 7-5 any day of the week.
 
Ihawks61 said:
And out of the 22, 10 of those losses are since 2008.
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Ferentz was generally money in close games from 2002-2004, he could barely lose them, as was evidenced by the miracle against LSU. But then the luck turned and he couldn't win them until 2009.
 
okeefe4prez said:
2 times as CO-champion, but ZERO Rose Bowls.

I'd take a 44-7 loss early that the team rallies around to go 10-2 over a slew of close losses that cause the team to quit and go 7-5 any day of the week.
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We would have gone to the Rose Bowl in 2002 except the Orange Bowl picked ahead of the Rose. With the current way the BCS is ran and bowls are picked its really hard to put much stock into the # of Rose Bowls we have been to or not been to. Enjoy any BCS game we get to!
 
goods10 said:
We would have gone to the Rose Bowl in 2002 except the Orange Bowl picked ahead of the Rose. With the current way the BCS is ran and bowls are picked its really hard to put much stock into the # of Rose Bowls we have been to or not been to. Enjoy any BCS game we get to!
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Even in a pre-BCS era, we would have lost the tie breaker to OSU due to our loss to ISU in 2002 and OSU would have gone to the Rose Bowl. Nice try, though.
 
All Iowa needs it someone or something to get them MOTIVATED for each and every game, no matter who they play. That is the NUMBER 1 problem.
 
okeefe4prez said:
Ferentz was generally money in close games from 2002-2004, he could barely lose them, as was evidenced by the miracle against LSU. But then the luck turned and he couldn't win them until 2009.
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This is true but we also got our butts whipped in Arizona and got kicked around by Isu two times. I would rather we be close in every game and start to pull them out, now the reason for the bad close game record is because prior to 2008 the games we were losing were by 37 points 20 points to teams like Iowa state, Osu would walk in and laugh and say these hawk fans are so excited to play us, then they punched us in the mouth and kicked our ***** by 20, 17 points now we are going to OT almost every time. with the best team in the big ten. What do you think that means? That we are getting closer to an end product, that is just good this game, but in all games we are in a position to win. That to me shows improvement.
 
It really is a pro ball control mentality. Think of it as Lick ball on turf. Keep the score manageable and have a chance to win.

The problem with Iowa is that they haven't been able to have a consistently strong line and star running backs. With the exception of Greene, the team has had some quality backs, but not stars. In this offense you need some stars at RB. And a complete line.

Iowa always seems to be one player away from a complete line, either as a result of injury or graduation.

Also they really need at least a couple of guys who teams will really fear to open things up. Nobody fears ARob. He is a quality back that fights for tough yards, but teams are more than willing to play him straight up because they don't believe he is the type of back that can beat you on any given play.
 
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I dont think most people get it, Jon Miller gets it, Iowa has gone to 6 thats right 6 new years day bowl games in the last 10 years Please tell me when in The history of black and gold aka ,hawkeyes, has Iowa every done that not to mention that we have been in 9 bowl games out of the last 10 years I mean come on what part of that speaks that this coaching staff is not doing their jobs? Or is that not productive enough for you? This is Iowa its hard to get top notch recruits to come to this place, its not easy. What could KF and Co. get done at The U, or USC, or Texas, Florida, FSU, LSU? I would bet its hard to get them to Iowa vs playing in perfect weather and huge cities that have great night life. In IC a football player has a target on their backs. We should be thankful that we have what we have and give thanks that KF and Co. can do what they do with what they have in terms of talent.
 
Kansas was a one year wonder and had no evidence or recent tradition to think they were solid. Iowa has shown the ability to challenge for big ten titles. I'm happy with that. We've been in the national championship discussion.

Who knows, we may slip next year? I'm saying the program is on solid ground and the foundation is strong.
 
HawkeyeRyno said:
But we are also something like 7-22 in games decided by 5 points or less! Five of those wins came last year too.
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That is not true. Maybe Miller should keep this pinned at the top of this board?:

5 pt or less 7 pt or less
1999 0-2 0-4
2000 2-1 2-3
2001 0-2 2-4
2002 2-1 3-1
2003 1-0 2-0
2004 4-0 5-0
2005 0-2 0-3
2006 0-3 1-3
2007 2-2 3-2
2008 2-4 2-4
2009 4-1 4-2
2010 1-4 1-4

Overall, in games decided by 7 pts or less, Ferentz is 25-30. In games decided by 5 pts or less, he is 18-22.

Since 2005, he is 11-18 and 9-16, respectively.

His career record of 25-30 in games of 7 pts or less is ok, but not great.

Since 2005 he is 11-18, which I would say is a poor record.
 
Ihawks61 said:
a.) Iowa has gone to 6 thats right 6 new years day bowl games in the last 10 years. Please tell me when in The history of black and gold aka, hawkeyes, has Iowa every done that not to mention that we have been in b.) 9 bowl games out of the last 10 years.
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Your facts, while true, are a paper lion.

a.) Jan 1st bowl games used to mean something. Now it's a pig-trough fest with SIX games on Jan 1st....and some are real dogs (Dallas Football Classic, Gator Bowl). Four games are on within an hour of each other, with three on at the same time. So, playing on Jan 1st, in four of the bowl games (above mentioned two plus Outback and Cap-1) now means you had an OK season. Nothing more.

b.) Sorry pal, but going to a bowl game (other than BCS-level) is not a mark of a good or even decent program. Not with 35 games, with a potential 70 teams going (out of 120 1A teams)....6-6 teams and sub .500 conf teams, up to the EIGHTH place Big-10 team....cripes sake. Bowl games have become so diluted, it's transitioned into a disgrace if you don't go.

The only level of bowl game which to me signifies you've had a great season is a BCS-level bowl. Period.
 
SDK46 said:
Your facts, while true, are a paper lion.

a.) Jan 1st bowl games used to mean something. Now it's a pig-trough fest with SIX games on Jan 1st....and some are real dogs (Dallas Football Classic, Gator Bowl). Four games are on within an hour of each other, with three on at the same time. So, playing on Jan 1st, in four of the bowl games (above mentioned two plus Outback and Cap-1) now means you had an OK season. Nothing more.

b.) Sorry pal, but going to a bowl game (other than BCS-level) is not a mark of a good or even decent program. Not with 35 games, with a potential 70 teams going (out of 120 1A teams)....6-6 teams and sub .500 conf teams, up to the EIGHTH place Big-10 team....cripes sake. Bowl games have become so diluted, it's transitioned into a disgrace if you don't go.

The only level of bowl game which to me signifies you've had a great season is a BCS-level bowl. Period.
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Some of the 2nd tier bowls are still very good. The Cap One/Citrus Bowl (I really wish they'd start calling it the Citrus again) and Cotton Bowl are both very good bowls. Not as good as the BCS bowls, but those two bowls usually have top 15, or even top 10 teams matched up.

Those six bowls are the mark of a great/very good season. After that, a bowl is the mark of a good season, nothing special, but nothing to sneeze at, and keeps going downhill from there.
 
While I agree with you on too many bowl games, I do not agree with the 6 new years day bowl games that Iowa has been to. Those they have gone to usually mean you have had a pretty good year. If Iowa could go to 6 new years day bowls(Not the crap bowls in Jan) 2 being BCS games in the the next 10 years I would be happy with that because that would be a historic 20 year run for iowa 12 jan bowl games and 4 bcs I would be ok with that.
 
okeefe4prez said:
Even in a pre-BCS era, we would have lost the tie breaker to OSU due to our loss to ISU in 2002 and OSU would have gone to the Rose Bowl. Nice try, though.
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Wrong. Ohio St went on to the title game that year in Arizona, leaving Iowa for the Rose, however the Orange got first pick.
 
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