The original post had me thinking about something else.
I was in Austin, Texas for a few days recently, and all the articles and columns seemed to be chalking up the Missouri game (for that Saturday) as a win. As an outsider, it seemed odd for Texas fans and media to take a game at Missouri (with an average Longhorns team) for granted. It seemed everyone, fan base and media included, was looking ahead to Kansas State, which they assumed would also be a win since it was in Austin.
The point is, there is nothing unique about Iowa fans holding somewhat unrealistic expectations for its team. No matter a program and coach's level of success, a certain element - perhaps even a slight majority - of those fans will consider the highest peak as the baseline of expectations. For Texas fans, they should be in national title contention every year. If they aren't, it was a down year and they need to be the next season.
For Iowa, this peak is contending for the conference championship. In some fans' minds, not competing for a conference championship is a down year and unacceptable two or three seasons in a row. Coaches and programs are expected to replicate with some consistency what they've been able to achieve at their highest point.
Without fail, nearly every program that has had any level of success goes through this. Part of the reason that I find Ferentz so likable and easy to cheer for is that the typical chain of events in college football is to fire part of your staff, certainly at least one coordinator, after one or two of the "dip" seasons. Texas did. Being a high level college assistant is a nomadic lifestyle, one in which you are usually thrown under the bus by the head coach at some point, despite spending far more time on the road recruiting and making much less money with no long-term security.
I've always admired Ferentz for his belief that this is wrong.
One more reason, in my mind, to relish being a Hawkeye fan.