Hear Me Out...

[Fryowa]

We've all done a lot of talking lately (mostly lamenting) about how the new B1G structure, eliminating divisions, and CFP have pretty much eliminated Iowa's chances at making a run for the Big Ten title or post season. And I get it. I don't like it either.

But...this new structure has completely changed the way I follow football and the way I root for Big Ten teams. It's totally care-free now.

Take Illinois, for example. I liked Lovie Smith a lot. I like Bielema a lot (even though he's gonna be dead in a couple years, sadly). He'll always be a Hawkeye in every sense of the word and his hate for ISU is legendary. The whole blue-collar, playing in a shit-hole town, Dick Butkus working man vibe is the best. When Seth Wallace unfortunately get KF's job it's who I'll go to until he retires or gets fired.

When we were in the West division I had to root against them because it made Iowa's 2.1% chance at the Big Ten title lower any time they won. I wanted to root for them if they were playing MSU or Maryland or whoever, but I couldn't.

I don't hate Purdue either...I wanted nothing more than to see them ruin a Michigan or Penn State season but same deal.

Now that we have no divisions and a 0.0000% shot at the BT title game, it's made watching the Big Ten games so much more care free and stress free. I can root for Bert no matter who they play unless it's the Hawks, and I can get invested in those games without having to worry how it's going to affect the outcome of Iowa's season.

Ok, flame away.

 

[Seth53]

F Illinois. Lol. Kidding. I live 12 miles south of Prophetstown, so I follow Bielema somewhat.

As the saying goes, it's the journey, not the endpoint.

I enjoy the games, each and every quarter...the cat n mouse chess moves, big and/or special plays, how people are developing, background of players, coaches, etc. I truly get immersed in the NCAA system for the entirety of the much too short season. Example of this is why I run to this board daily to both observe and add to the banter.

If all of this joy leads to a bowl game or the CFP, so be it. But I'll enjoy the ride regardless.

Heaven help me if I ever turn into an Ohio State fan....where winning becomes a mere relief and anything short of a CFP natty is a failure.

 

[HawkPowerlifter]

I have always liked Brett, but for some reason he just has this salty personality. However, he must be doing something right because he sure seems to obtain talent around him. I wouldn't be mad if Brett came to Iowa (if he is still alive. LOL Man, he looks horrible). Any thoughts Fitzgerald has a shot?

I don't see Seth Wallace. However, you are probably right since he is one of the associate head coaches. I thought maybe he slides over to DC as we know Phil rides off in the sunset with KF when he chooses to go.

LaVar wouldn't be a bad hire, but I think he is still learning to be a head coach and seems content biding his time and with a son who is committed to Iowa, and family very happy in Iowa City, I wonder if he will be content staying on board until his kids are out of school or he sees it as his time.

Then, of course, does Lester warrant another shot at being a head coach? Unless he can completely turn this offense around and create a juggernaut, I don't see him having a shot (at least) here.

For now, I still trust the man who has been at the helm for 27 years. One has to take a moment to appreciate what he has done (with less).

 

[Hay Man]

Teams I despise in the Big Ten are still going to be teams I despise and hope they lose every game. If the current playoff system had been around the past couple of decades or more, how many times would Iowa had made it? I would think between 3 to 5 times... and now the teams I hate are going to make it sooner than the Hawks. Throw the Clowns in there as well with them getting better and their conference getting worse.

 

[Fryowa]

Heaven help me if I ever turn into an Ohio State fan....where winning becomes a mere relief and nothing short of a CFP natty is a failure.

That's the one beauty of the new conference structure...since we can't do anything to change it, you can now root for or against any Big Ten team at any time because it has no bearing on Iowa's outcome at the end of the year.

If they're going to expand the conferences, my preference would be 4 divisions of 5 in each of the power 4. Take the 16 winners of all divisions and that's the CFP. Independents can join or die.

But, that's never going to happen, so what we have now we'll just have to live with.

 

[HawkPowerlifter]

F Illinois. Lol. Kidding. I live 12 miles south of Prophetstown, so I follow Bielema somewhat.

As the saying goes, it's the journey, not the endpoint.

I enjoy the games, each and every quarter...the cat n mouse chess moves, big and/or special plays, how people are developing, background of players, coaches, etc. I truly get immersed in the NCAA system for the entirety of the much too short season. Example of this is why I run to this board daily to both observe and add to the banter.

If all of this joy leads to a bowl game or the CFP, so be it. But I'll enjoy the ride regardless.

Heaven help me if I ever turn into an Ohio State fan....where winning becomes a mere relief and anything short of a CFP natty is a failure.

I think it's about identity. Who are we? And as much as I hate to admit it, Iowa is a program that is not going to be in the title hunt every year. Why? Quite simply we don't have the NIL nor draw to have that type of thought process. Could Iowa be a team that could be a regular in the CFP playoff? Possibly.

Sometimes, we have to be happy with what is in our reach and what is possible. I just don't think it's fair to compare us to Bama, tOSU and other programs. And there are other programs who would kill to have our consistency and winning 8-9 games a year.

 

[Seth53]

I think it's about identity. Who are we? And as much as I hate to admit it, Iowa is a program that is not going to be in the title hunt every year. Why? Quite simply we don't have the NIL nor draw to have that type of thought process. Could Iowa be a team that could be a regular in the CFP playoff? Possibly.

Sometimes, we have to be happy with what is in our reach and what is possible. I just don't think it's fair to compare us to Bama, tOSU and other programs. And there are other programs who would kill to have our consistency and winning 8-9 games a year.

Agree.

And while it's fun catching lightening in a bottle every once in awhile, I have no illogical expectations that Iowa will ever routinely join the blue bloods (see my avatar).

I *do* enjoy being decent, being relevant. That's my expectation level. No reason we can't remain there.

 

[Fryowa]

I think it's about identity. Who are we? And as much as I hate to admit it, Iowa is a program that is not going to be in the title hunt every year. Why? Quite simply we don't have the NIL nor draw to have that type of thought process. Could Iowa be a team that could be a regular in the CFP playoff? Possibly.

Sometimes, we have to be happy with what is in our reach and what is possible. I just don't think it's fair to compare us to Bama, tOSU and other programs. And there are other programs who would kill to have our consistency and winning 8-9 games a year.

Agree.

And while it's fun catching lightening in a bottle every once in awhile, I have no illogical expectations that Iowa will ever routinely join the blue bloods (see my avatar).

I *do* enjoy being decent, being relevant. That's my expectation level. No reason we can't remain there.

Yup.

Except I don't think Iowa will ever be in the hunt. Like not even once in a while. Unless things change, Iowa needs to have 3 out of Michigan, OSU, Penn State, and Oregon to have a down year, and at the same time can only lose 1 game on their schedule. That odds of that ever happening all in 1 year just don't pencil out. It is what it is.

I gave my thoughts about a 4 conference league with 4 divisions each, winner of each of the 16 divisions makes the playoffs. Could possibly happen in that scenario but they'll never go that route. The alternative is breaking away and either leaving the B1G (never happen because the program would die out with no B1G money), or like @HuckFinn suggested, the blue bloods leave their conferences to form a new one. That won't happen wither because it's too easy for the OSUs and PSUs to beat up on the Iowas and Wisconsins of the world.

I'm fine with it...what choice do I have?

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

We've all done a lot of talking lately (mostly lamenting) about how the new B1G structure, eliminating divisions, and CFP have pretty much eliminated Iowa's chances at making a run for the Big Ten title or post season. And I get it. I don't like it either.

But...this new structure has completely changed the way I follow football and the way I root for Big Ten teams. It's totally care-free now.

Take Illinois, for example. I liked Lovie Smith a lot. I like Bielema a lot (even though he's gonna be dead in a couple years, sadly). He'll always be a Hawkeye in every sense of the word and his hate for ISU is legendary. The whole blue-collar, playing in a shit-hole town, Dick Butkus working man vibe is the best. When Seth Wallace unfortunately get KF's job it's who I'll go to until he retires or gets fired.

When we were in the West division I had to root against them because it made Iowa's 2.1% chance at the Big Ten title lower any time they won. I wanted to root for them if they were playing MSU or Maryland or whoever, but I couldn't.

I don't hate Purdue either...I wanted nothing more than to see them ruin a Michigan or Penn State season but same deal.

Now that we have no divisions and a 0.0000% shot at the BT title game, it's made watching the Big Ten games so much more care free and stress free. I can root for Bert no matter who they play unless it's the Hawks, and I can get invested in those games without having to worry how it's going to affect the outcome of Iowa's season.

Ok, flame away.

Obviously Wallace is Kirk's choice since he decided to name him associate HC. And I think trying to build somewhat of a relationship with Goetz since the Brian firing has a lot to do with wanting to put his finger on the scale when a transition occurs.

Do you see Goetz hiring Wallace though? I'm not sure I do. She was tapping into some of the most respected minds in basketball about Fran's eventual replacement. I'm guessing she has a list of names for football that are pretty interesting, too.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Obviously Wallace is Kirk's choice since he decided to name him associate HC. And I think trying to build somewhat of a relationship with Goetz since the Brian firing has a lot to do with wanting to put his finger on the scale when a transition occurs.

Do you see Goetz hiring Wallace though? I'm not sure I do. She was tapping into some of the most respected minds in basketball about Fran's eventual replacement. I'm guessing she has a list of names for football that are pretty interesting, too.

Totally agree with you. My guess is whenever that day comes be it the end of this yr or in 3 more she's going to do a broad national search and it won't be a hand the baton over situation like it was with Jan and Lisa. Football is just way way too big of a deal. Now I'd leave open the possibility of Wallace/Woods/Lester maybe being seriously considered for it. But to open up our minds a little bit here and get outside our bubble the Iowa gig is a highly coveted job. They'll be no shortage of big name suiters for it. And she'll have to consider wanting to look at them all. She'd be crazy not to.