Hawks not close to Natty Champ caliber

[HawkleberryFinn]

I've been to games down here, and I'll take Kinnick any day! Just a Midwesterner that's lived in the South for 32 years! LOL. SEC fans are the worst!

Yeah! Screw the South! The North will rise again!

 

[homes]

I've been to games down here, and I'll take Kinnick any day! Just a Midwesterner that's lived in the South for 32 years! LOL. SEC fans are the worst!

Good for you! It's nice to hear that blood is thicker than water.

 

[SmokeTownHawk]

The way the CFB landscape is right now there's maybe 5 teams that can win the title. It's completely unbalanced and there's no sign that's likely to change anytime soon

One way to overcome that is to make the 'bamas and Clemsons do away with their cupcakes. SOS should be a major factor in making the playoffs.

 

[wkeehawk]

You do realize by saying Alabama plays a cupcake schedule you are actually ripping on the Big 10.

In 10 plus years out of conference Alabama has played Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan, along with Clemson, Florida State, USC, West Virginia, and Virginia Tech. So if you are saying our conferences top teams are cupcakes please don’t claim the big 10 is unfairly labeled.

 

[SmokeTownHawk]

You do realize by saying Alabama plays a cupcake schedule you are actually ripping on the Big 10.

In 10 plus years out of conference Alabama has played Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan, along with Clemson, Florida State, USC, West Virginia, and Virginia Tech. So if you are saying our conferences top teams are cupcakes please don’t claim the big 10 is unfairly labeled.

How cute. If you go over their schedule you will see every season is interlaced with opponents that even Iowa on a bad day would have little problem with.

 

[Mrke1]

Here are the records of a certain team over a consecutive 15 year stretch between 1994-2008 - not that long ago.

5-6
8-4
7-5
7-5
3-8
6-6
9-3
7-5
7-6
9-4
6-5
8-4
8-5
9-4
7-6

And now they're being discussed as a team Iowa can never compete against. Will it happen for Iowa? Maybe, maybe not. But never? As in, never ever? I feel sorry for those of you who feel that way. That must be a brutal existence.

The difference is that the Clemson AD/fanbase got fed up with mediocrity and made the necessary changes. Will that happen at Iowa before we’re all too senile to enjoy....IDK.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

True.
All more the reason we need some aggressive recruiting methods.
There is no reason surplus players shouldn't be interested in Iowa Football.

Except, as mentioned, the kids who aren't taken by $EC, Miami/FSU/Clemson can now go UCF, USF, etc., and still be near home. That wasn't the case 20-25-30 years ago. Iowa, as an example, has never "raided" a Florida, Texas, or California. We have had success in Jersey, Illinois and limited success from Texas or Ohio. The players we get from Michigan and Ohio, alone, are guys that were NEVER on the radar for $EC, Clemson, Miami or FSU.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

In the "modern" era, basically the B1G has had two to three teams that can legitimately go into a season with "natty" as a realistic goal. The rest of the B1G is still stuck in the "it's all about winning the conference and playing in the Rose Bowl"-as-a-goal mindset. Never has an Iowa or Wisconsin been seen as a "natty contender" vs. a "possible natty upstart" possibility.

 

[hawkation]

Lol. First of all, you named about half the team. Secondly, if you truly believe this, has anyone broke the news to you about Santa? So far off, not even close. What part of, we beat only one p5 team with a winning record don’t you understand?

Haven't you listened to the media in Omaha? Debbie is a BIG West contender from now on as long as frosty is there. That should qualify as beating (2) p5 teams with a winning record this year.

 

[FBletterman]

2002 was the closest team we had who could have pulled it off; I know we got upside down quick against USC (who was the nations best team by far at years end, IMO) but losing to ISU in preseason was a complete unlucky fluke. We were a hair away of playing Miami in the title game and i think we matched up well against them.

 

[homes]

2002 was the closest team we had who could have pulled it off; I know we got upside down quick against USC (who was the nations best team by far at years end, IMO) but losing to ISU in preseason was a complete unlucky fluke. We were a hair away of playing Miami in the title game and i think we matched up well against them.

Actually, Iowa had a chance to go into halftime with the lead, but Nate missed a field goal (or it was blocked - I don't recall). It was in the second half that USC opened it up and Iowa couldn't respond. USC was on the cusp of their greatness that year, so yes, I agree they were playing as well as anyone by the end of the year. There was something quirky about Iowa not going to the Rose Bowl that year, where they would have played Washington State, a game they probably would have won, and ended up #2 or #3 in the country.

 

[THawk122]

Without reading any of this thread I will throw out a 'Duh'

 

[1hawkeye1]

So the only reason we don’t compete with Alabama is we don’t pay our players? Keep telling yourself that’s the only difference. Lol

Where did I say that's the only difference? It's the biggest.

 

[lightning1]

But what's wrong with that? Would you feel better if we took on these tough teams in September and watch them get their butts kicked early on, finish 6-6 or worse, and end up in a crappy bowl if at all? Even though it was a bit of fools gold I enjoyed that season, it was fun to come within an inch of winning the Big Ten and a lot of memories were made people making the trip to the Rose Bowl.

I think Ferentz gives us what Iowa is capable of producing. Competitive teams that play in a bowl game every year with an occasional run at the Big Ten Championship. I don't see a team from Iowa ever being able to compete with an Alabama year over year, I think those expectations are unreasonable.

Most fans that used to be competitors, want the effort. If the point is to simply field a team, then charge high school prices. If you're going to pay big boy salaries and charge big boy ticket prices, you better be making every effort possible to improve the program. KF does NOT do that and Gutless Gary won't demand it. That's the problem a lot of people have with KF.
I don't care if we ever win a NC but I want to believe that the HC is making every effort to get there. I don't believe that's the case with KF. Not even close.

 

[lightning1]

So you admit the 2009 team probably wins it all with a healthy Stanzi. I PREVAIL AGAIN, undefeated, just like Gable!!!!!!!!!!!!

A healthy Stanzi and a Shonn Greene SR season. In fact, with Shonn Greene running the ball, we wouldn't even have needed a healthy Stanzi.

 

[westender]

Only place Nick Saban has won a national title is Alabama. So it matters what school even with the same coach. You have to have the $$$$$$$$ and rep and then coach.

 

[Denverhawk1]

Only place Nick Saban has won a national title is Alabama. So it matters what school even with the same coach. You have to have the $$$$$$$$ and rep and then coach.

Not true. He won a title at LSU also.

 

[ssckelley]

Most fans that used to be competitors, want the effort. If the point is to simply field a team, then charge high school prices. If you're going to pay big boy salaries and charge big boy ticket prices, you better be making every effort possible to improve the program. KF does NOT do that and Gutless Gary won't demand it. That's the problem a lot of people have with KF.
I don't care if we ever win a NC but I want to believe that the HC is making every effort to get there. I don't believe that's the case with KF. Not even close.

Your opinions are based on what? You would have to be pretty damn close to the football program to know what kind of effort KF is putting in.

If KF wasn't putting forth the effort to make Iowa competitive Iowa would be mired in losing just like they were in the 70s.

Ticket prices are based on the market, if people stopped showing up then they wouldn't be charging those prices. I believe KF is getting paid what he deserves, he's keeping a competitive product on the field and Kinnick filled.

 

[lightning1]

Your opinions are based on what? You would have to be pretty damn close to the football program to know what kind of effort KF is putting in.

If KF wasn't putting forth the effort to make Iowa competitive Iowa would be mired in losing just like they were in the 70s.

Ticket prices are based on the market, if people stopped showing up then they wouldn't be charging those prices. I believe KF is getting paid what he deserves, he's keeping a competitive product on the field and Kinnick filled.

Any head coach that pulls Greg Davis out of retirement to fill an OC position until his son has enough history to get the job, isn't trying his hardest to get the best OC available for the program. Nobody on this planet can deny that fact! If anyone does, they are a freaking liar.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

...........Well, duh!??