I was just watching a youtube video of the Hawks blowout wins since 2012. I have always thought and have noticed how Iowa does blow out a fair number of teams even in conference play but they do not get blown out a lot in their losses. I think that says a lot about the overall strength of the program. It says a lot about Kirk's maybe more conservative approach, focus and strong defense and kicking since it is hard to get blown out when those two parts of the team are clicking.
But usually the hawks tend to lose to jNW rather than jNW really handling the hawks. I think the hawks lost at home in 2014 to jNW by about 10-14 points and the hawks just played a ragged, bad game. But the hawks have taken jNW to the woodshed at least 3 times in the last 9 years.
Same goes with games against ISU as when the clowns win it is many times just a lackluster performance by the hawks. The Steele Jance game in Ames where ISU won in OT was a really unusually poor tackling and defensive effort for Iowa. By the same token when the hawks beat the clowns I would say over 50% of the wins under Kirk have been very wide wins and even blowouts.
It is hard to say with Nebby, Minny, Illini, as they haven't beat Iowa in forever. I do remember in 2011 and '12 when the hawks were a little down that Nebby and these teams still didnt beat Iowa by much. Which makes me think that when Iowa is clicking they take care of business. Minny blew out the hawks in 2014 Iirc but that doesnt happen very often
This whole story does go back to how many more wins Kirk and the hawks would have over the last 23 years without some of these hiccup games. But that is sports and it is hard to be 'up' and playing great all the time.
But usually the hawks tend to lose to jNW rather than jNW really handling the hawks. I think the hawks lost at home in 2014 to jNW by about 10-14 points and the hawks just played a ragged, bad game. But the hawks have taken jNW to the woodshed at least 3 times in the last 9 years.
Same goes with games against ISU as when the clowns win it is many times just a lackluster performance by the hawks. The Steele Jance game in Ames where ISU won in OT was a really unusually poor tackling and defensive effort for Iowa. By the same token when the hawks beat the clowns I would say over 50% of the wins under Kirk have been very wide wins and even blowouts.
It is hard to say with Nebby, Minny, Illini, as they haven't beat Iowa in forever. I do remember in 2011 and '12 when the hawks were a little down that Nebby and these teams still didnt beat Iowa by much. Which makes me think that when Iowa is clicking they take care of business. Minny blew out the hawks in 2014 Iirc but that doesnt happen very often
This whole story does go back to how many more wins Kirk and the hawks would have over the last 23 years without some of these hiccup games. But that is sports and it is hard to be 'up' and playing great all the time.
