It was just the opposite after the Northwestern game and the first half of the Nebraska on these boards.
When we have strength at the line of scrimmage (we may have 4 OL/DL get drafted this spring), and we saw a mostly anemic running game, that's cause for fans noting our displeasure.
When we had one of the easiest schedules in the nation, and could only muster up 7 wins, that's cause for fans noting our displeasure.
It's not just this season. It's a pattern.
We saw Ferentz 1.0.
Then saw it slipping after Adam Shada's salute during the Northwestern game in 2005.
Went into a funk since then, until the Penn State game in 2008.
This started Ferentz 2.0.
As we know, this essentially ended after the fake punt against Wisconsin, or after the Michigan State game in 2010. We like to say "fake punt", as the Michigan State game was just a dead cat bounce.
We keep hoping for a Ferentz 3.0, but have had just a few dead cat bounces.
Win against Michigan in 2011, but finished 7-6.
Win at MSU in 2012, then lost all remaining games.
Wins against Michigan and Nebraska in 2013, and had a chance against LSU rolling in a new QB for the bowl game.
2014 was set up for better than 8 wins, with a returning player at all positions, save the LB position.
Throw in an easy schedule, that many in the media thought we would start 10-0.
This would be 2009, all over again, except the first 10 wins would be much easier this go around.
Then, Kurt loses for the NINTH time against Iowa State.
Some said, we lost to Iowa State in 2002, and that was a special season.
Some said, "uh oh", when Kurt loses to Iowa State, he wins no more than 7 games in a season (except for 2002) and if we only get 7 wins with this easy schedule, this is cause for concern.
Then, we lose at Maryland, by abandoning our running game.
Great optimistim after the Northwestern game. The ship is on course.
Then, the embarassment at Minnesota.
Despite, the well below par performances these first 10 games, Iowa actually had a chance to win the B1G West. In the Wisconsin game, we just needed that late game stop, because our offense, surely could drive us into FG range. That never happened, and the energy went out on the season.
The Nebraksa game didn't mean much for both teams, but Nebraska fought for their coach after being down 24-7, and being dominated, but, then, we saw what happened.
I know JDM and some others are a little late to the party, but, IMO, a majority of it has to do with that contract.
Georgia Tech just extended Paul Johnson through 2020. That is how you do a contract extension.
If Kirk made the B1G championship game this year, despite the past few seasons, I would have been OK, with now, extending him through 2020.
Thank you, Fran, for the basketball win at North Carolina. Hawkeye fans really needed that, and is cause for continued optimism with the basketball program, despite the late season plunge last year.