How Expectations Have Changed

eyekwah

eyekwah

Well-Known Member
The 1981 Iowa football regular season record was 8 and 3 with a loss to Washington in the Rose Bowl. Fans were ecstatic since it was the first winning season in 19 years. In 2018 the regular season ends with an 8 and 4 record and most Iowa fans are disappointed because their expectations were not met and unexcited about the Outback Bowl . In central Iowa the Cyclone fans are elated about 8 and 4 in the regular season following a 7 and 5 2017 regular season. They are all charged up to go to San Antonio to attend the Alamo Bowl.

I believe that the above description explains why there is a divided Iowa Hawkeye fan base. Those of us that have been Iowa fans before 1981 probably are more likely to appreciate an 8 and 4 season than those who were born much later. The Iowa Sports Media is reflecting this in its Iowa coverage. Local sports radio has highlighted the unenthusiastic response to the Outback by some fans, followed by callers that are positive about it. Judging by the callers voices the younger voices are more critical.

Personally I am going to put away my frustration and just respect the efforts of the team members and coaches.
 
Good points. I was 10 in 1980 and started following sports and the Hawks. 8 wins is almost “break even”. Less then that feels disappointing, from my point of view.
I have heard many of my Cyclone friends complain about Hawk fans feeling it’s our birthright to win 10 games and beat ISU. Anything less and we, and I quote, “wine like spoiled babies”
Can’t imagine how fan bases of Alabama, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, etc feel
 
eyekwah said:
The 1981 Iowa football regular season record was 8 and 3 with a loss to Washington in the Rose Bowl...In 2018 the regular season ends with an 8 and 4 record and most Iowa fans are disappointed...

there is a divided Iowa Hawkeye fan base. Those of us that have been Iowa fans before 1981 probably are more likely to appreciate an 8 and 4 season than those who were born much later.
Click to expand...

Keep in mind the '81 team beat three top-10 teams to get their 8 wins (#5 Mich, 6 UCLA, 7 Neb). They got as high as #6 in the rankings themselves, finishing #15. This year's road was significantly easier and even a bowl win might net another non-top-25 ending....

And, I'm in the "older but unhappy with the current state" category...
 
eyekwah said:
The 1981 Iowa football regular season record was 8 and 3 with a loss to Washington in the Rose Bowl. Fans were ecstatic since it was the first winning season in 19 years. In 2018 the regular season ends with an 8 and 4 record and most Iowa fans are disappointed because their expectations were not met and unexcited about the Outback Bowl . In central Iowa the Cyclone fans are elated about 8 and 4 in the regular season following a 7 and 5 2017 regular season. They are all charged up to go to San Antonio to attend the Alamo Bowl.

I believe that the above description explains why there is a divided Iowa Hawkeye fan base. Those of us that have been Iowa fans before 1981 probably are more likely to appreciate an 8 and 4 season than those who were born much later. The Iowa Sports Media is reflecting this in its Iowa coverage. Local sports radio has highlighted the unenthusiastic response to the Outback by some fans, followed by callers that are positive about it. Judging by the callers voices the younger voices are more critical.

Personally I am going to put away my frustration and just respect the efforts of the team members and coaches.
Click to expand...
I honestly don't care whther you get fired up about the Hawkeyes or not, but you definitely are saying you're content with no improvement, a perpetual bottom of the B1G finish, and repeat toilet bowls. That makes you by definition a casual observer, not a fan.

Why play or be a fan if you don't push for improvement or get fed up with being a lame duck?

And as far as ISU, that couldn't be a dumber comparison. Cyclone fans are whooping it up because they had a losing record ten out of their last 12 seasons.
 
koralakers said:
Good points. I was 10 in 1980 and started following sports and the Hawks. 8 wins is almost “break even”. Less then that feels disappointing, from my point of view.
I have heard many of my Cyclone friends complain about Hawk fans feeling it’s our birthright to win 10 games and beat ISU. Anything less and we, and I quote, “wine like spoiled babies”
Can’t imagine how fan bases of Alabama, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, etc feel
Click to expand...
I don't expect to win 10 games every year, but if you told me going into the year that Nebraska, Illinois, Maryland and Indiana would all finish with losing records, Purdue and Minnesota would finish 6-6, Wisconsin would finish 7-5 and Northwestern would finish 8-4, I would have set my reasonable projection at 10 wins with a Big Ten West title and be disappointed if we failed to achieve that. I would have expected a loss to PSU and the annual inexplicable Kirk loss, not fricking 8-4.
 
eyekwah said:
The 1981 Iowa football regular season record was 8 and 3 with a loss to Washington in the Rose Bowl. Fans were ecstatic since it was the first winning season in 19 years. In 2018 the regular season ends with an 8 and 4 record and most Iowa fans are disappointed because their expectations were not met and unexcited about the Outback Bowl . In central Iowa the Cyclone fans are elated about 8 and 4 in the regular season following a 7 and 5 2017 regular season. They are all charged up to go to San Antonio to attend the Alamo Bowl.

I believe that the above description explains why there is a divided Iowa Hawkeye fan base. Those of us that have been Iowa fans before 1981 probably are more likely to appreciate an 8 and 4 season than those who were born much later. The Iowa Sports Media is reflecting this in its Iowa coverage. Local sports radio has highlighted the unenthusiastic response to the Outback by some fans, followed by callers that are positive about it. Judging by the callers voices the younger voices are more critical.

Personally I am going to put away my frustration and just respect the efforts of the team members and coaches.
Click to expand...
What you and so many others fail to understand are so many things. For starters, it’s about who you’ve played and whi you’ve beaten for me. Simply throwing records around is meaningless until you look at the makeup. We beat ine team this yr with a winning record. That is a fail regardless of the record. Second, we pay and bonus our coach a mind blowing amount of cabbage that didn’t happen back then. With that, now come expectations that even existed back then. They should be tenfold now, but for some reason, arent. And we keep bonuses coming with the same lousy schedules yr after yr. there is an incredible amount of skill position boredom. We call walk on wide receivers fron south dakota our best and just a few yrs ago had a fullback as our featured running back. We lack gamebreakers, playmakers. Guys that take it to the house, explosive plays. We had that in the hayden era. Rarely have that now and even when we do, don’t seem to use them. Turn on the tv and you can see 20 games on at once. There is competition. It’s a business with the advertising dollars and tv dollars, cost of the day for the fan. We demand a product in return. Some want wins. Some want entertainment. Some want all the above. It most certainly isn’t your grandfathers game anymore, but our athletic dept acts the same way in so many ways. I’ve said many times. It’s not so much about the record to me. I just want to play someone, play on the road, have variety and challenge ourselves. Take chances. Pull the qb in the first half of the 2nd game when he isn’t getting it done. Play the backup. Find out if someone is a gamer. If a back fumbles, don’t sit them until they transfer. Put them right back in. They may surprise you with their motivation. Just so tired of the same product after 20 years. It’s time.
 
I was looking back at their schedule in 1979-81.......amazing: Oklahoma, Nebraska (back when they were good) UCLA, Arizona, Iowa State. No Rutgers, no UNI, Northern Illinois. I'll be happy with 8-4 most years if they actually played someone relevant in the non-conference.
 
not that anyone is reading my shit but here's my version.

I'm old enough to remember the euphoria that came with the early 80s'. Then we expected bowl games and loved it all.

With KF we expected a resurrection and it came sooner and greater than what I expected with 2002. Then two more years of dang good football. Then down, then up then it seemed like 3 up and 3 down.. and now its 7.5 wins per year...the ups and downs are gone. I can scarcely distinguish between 2013, 14, 16, 17 and 18.
 
I can vaguely remember seeing a newspaper or TV broadcast back in the late 50s/very early 60s when Iowa was still relevant. Listening to WMT AM 600 and their broadcasts in the late 60s/70s pre-Hayden days and being bummed so often when the Hawks just let the game get away from them in the 4th quarter, but being elated when they happened to beat UCLA or Penn State. Fast-forward to modern-day and the frustrating thing is not the lack of talent. I realize Iowa's never going to be a hotbed for top-level high school talent. What is aggravating to no end is the way the offense seems to be stifled in so many games. Play with a more aggressive approach on offense and some of the wins take care of themselves. And with the way offense is becoming more and more featured to have a HC who doesn't share that philosophy allows many of us to look at a tougher schedule with trepidation.
 
To want to schedule down because you don’t think we have enough talent or enough offensive ingenuity is the biggest loser mentality syndrome I’ve seen. It is really pathetic and not something I’ll ever choose to relate to. You schedule up and then bring the rest of your program up with it. From personnel to coaches to yourself. And never look down
 
oldhawk12 said:
What you and so many others fail to understand are so many things. For starters, it’s about who you’ve played and whi you’ve beaten for me. Simply throwing records around is meaningless until you look at the makeup. We beat ine team this yr with a winning record. That is a fail regardless of the record. Second, we pay and bonus our coach a mind blowing amount of cabbage that didn’t happen back then. With that, now come expectations that even existed back then. They should be tenfold now, but for some reason, arent. And we keep bonuses coming with the same lousy schedules yr after yr. there is an incredible amount of skill position boredom. We call walk on wide receivers fron south dakota our best and just a few yrs ago had a fullback as our featured running back. We lack gamebreakers, playmakers. Guys that take it to the house, explosive plays. We had that in the hayden era. Rarely have that now and even when we do, don’t seem to use them. Turn on the tv and you can see 20 games on at once. There is competition. It’s a business with the advertising dollars and tv dollars, cost of the day for the fan. We demand a product in return. Some want wins. Some want entertainment. Some want all the above. It most certainly isn’t your grandfathers game anymore, but our athletic dept acts the same way in so many ways. I’ve said many times. It’s not so much about the record to me. I just want to play someone, play on the road, have variety and challenge ourselves. Take chances. Pull the qb in the first half of the 2nd game when he isn’t getting it done. Play the backup. Find out if someone is a gamer. If a back fumbles, don’t sit them until they transfer. Put them right back in. They may surprise you with their motivation. Just so tired of the same product after 20 years. It’s time.
Click to expand...

We beat two teams with a winning record, but I understand your overall feeling.
 
Fryowa said:
I honestly don't care whther you get fired up about the Hawkeyes or not, but you definitely are saying you're content with no improvement, a perpetual bottom of the B1G finish, and repeat toilet bowls. That makes you by definition a casual observer, not a fan.

Why play or be a fan if you don't push for improvement or get fed up with being a lame duck?

And as far as ISU, that couldn't be a dumber comparison. Cyclone fans are whooping it up because they had a losing record ten out of their last 12 seasons.
Click to expand...

We aren't a perpetual bottom of the B1G finisher though, and I guess it depends on your definition of toilet bowls. The Pinstripe Bowl was a toilet bowl for sure. I don't see the Outback as a toilet bowl though.
 
eyekwah said:
The 1981 Iowa football regular season record was 8 and 3 with a loss to Washington in the Rose Bowl. Fans were ecstatic since it was the first winning season in 19 years. In 2018 the regular season ends with an 8 and 4 record and most Iowa fans are disappointed because their expectations were not met and unexcited about the Outback Bowl . In central Iowa the Cyclone fans are elated about 8 and 4 in the regular season following a 7 and 5 2017 regular season. They are all charged up to go to San Antonio to attend the Alamo Bowl.

I believe that the above description explains why there is a divided Iowa Hawkeye fan base. Those of us that have been Iowa fans before 1981 probably are more likely to appreciate an 8 and 4 season than those who were born much later. The Iowa Sports Media is reflecting this in its Iowa coverage. Local sports radio has highlighted the unenthusiastic response to the Outback by some fans, followed by callers that are positive about it. Judging by the callers voices the younger voices are more critical.

Personally I am going to put away my frustration and just respect the efforts of the team members and coaches.
Click to expand...

Agreed. What's almost funny is the selective memory of some. In August, media pundits, B1G Media Days, etc., NObody was picking this team to win the West Division. The Vegas over/under was 6.5 wins. Now? Suddenly, we have the most talent in the division, and totally blew a chance at the CFP. Incredible.
 
SmokeTownHawk said:
I can vaguely remember seeing a newspaper or TV broadcast back in the late 50s/very early 60s when Iowa was still relevant. Listening to WMT AM 600 and their broadcasts in the late 60s/70s pre-Hayden days and being bummed so often when the Hawks just let the game get away from them in the 4th quarter, but being elated when they happened to beat UCLA or Penn State. Fast-forward to modern-day and the frustrating thing is not the lack of talent. I realize Iowa's never going to be a hotbed for top-level high school talent. What is aggravating to no end is the way the offense seems to be stifled in so many games. Play with a more aggressive approach on offense and some of the wins take care of themselves. And with the way offense is becoming more and more featured to have a HC who doesn't share that philosophy allows many of us to look at a tougher schedule with trepidation.
Click to expand...

In reality, some of the "aggressive offense" is what killed this year's team. Wiscy and PSU both had instances of leaving points on the ground in favor of "going for it". Two extra FGs against Wiscy means a win vs. their winning TD. PSU was a little more than just failed 4th downs, but again, taking a couple FGs this year vs. "going for it" could have meant extra lead/cushion (including Nebraska game, where no walk-off FG would have been needed).

I'm all for some "gambles", but when you start going for it on every 4th down, THAT, in and of itself, becomes a "tell" for opposing defenses.
 
Expectations change with prices. At least in this society. Charge me 1981 season ticket prices and It would bother me a hell of a lot less. The 2018 version of Iowa football under KF, doesn't look any different than the 2001 version of Iowa football under KF. But the prices have tripled. And the current AD is a lying POS. That doesn't help.
 
I'm disappointed in this season because the team gave away games.. Should've been 10-2 or even maybe 11-1, but beat themselves too many times.

8-4 is solid sometimes. Depends on how you get there, and what you have coming back from the previous year, schedule, etc.

I considered 8-4 a good season in 2013, but in 2016, not as much.

None of this is in a vacuum. Expectations are, and should be, higher some years than they are in others.
 
hawkeyebob62 said:
Agreed. What's almost funny is the selective memory of some. In August, media pundits, B1G Media Days, etc., NObody was picking this team to win the West Division. The Vegas over/under was 6.5 wins. Now? Suddenly, we have the most talent in the division, and totally blew a chance at the CFP. Incredible.
Click to expand...

I couldn't care less about pre-season predictions.

Nobody predicted the 2002 team to go 8-0 and go to the Orange Bowl either, but it happened.
 
hawkeyebob62 said:
Agreed. What's almost funny is the selective memory of some. In August, media pundits, B1G Media Days, etc., NObody was picking this team to win the West Division. The Vegas over/under was 6.5 wins. Now? Suddenly, we have the most talent in the division, and totally blew a chance at the CFP. Incredible.
Click to expand...
Maybe you can explain to us what "media pundits, B1G Media Days, etc" have to do with OUR expectations? Incredible is right. :rolleyes:
 
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