Howe: Special Season Despite Crash Landing

[brhawks18]

So I take it by the way you've been acting since Indy you want Iowa to be elite.

Not one person expected this Iowa season and for that KF is being ripped to shreds by fans, who can't be satisfied because the expect and or want more and more and more. Bottom line is this any fan who can't see the overwhelming positivity that came from this season, honestly is a fan that can never ever be pleased.

Can only speak for myself here and don't believe you meant the post for me, but as a fan I don't expect elite at all.

Living outside of Iowa as I do, I would like to see Iowa look somewhat competitive against the elite teams though. Iowa didn't look prepared against Stanford in any phase of the game.

It was hard to watch really.

As for those fans wanting KF gone, I don't agree with that at all. There is more work to do though and it'll be hard work. As I posted earlier, they need to do a better job developing skill positions like wide receiver or do a better job at recruiting the position.

 

[dmclone]

Can only speak for myself here and don't believe you meant the post for me, but as a fan I don't expect elite at all.

Living outside of Iowa as I do, I would like to see Iowa look somewhat competitive against the elite teams though. Iowa didn't look prepared against Stanford in any phase of the game.

It was hard to watch really.

As for those fans wanting KF gone, I don't agree with that at all. There is more work to do though and it'll be hard work. As I posted earlier, they need to do a better job developing skill positions like wide receiver or do a better job at recruiting the position.

Everyone seems to focus on McCaffrey but the surprise to me was how the Iowa O-Line just got manhandled. I didn't see that coming at all.

 

[deanvogs]

Everyone seems to focus on McCaffrey but the surprise to me was how the Iowa O-Line just got manhandled. I didn't see that coming at all.

You can add Iowa's Dline being completely handled as well. McCaffrey deservedly gets a ton of credit, but the holes he had to run through were crazy big. I think he averaged something like 6 or 7 yards BEFORE first contact or some sh!t like that. I didn't see either of those coming.

 

[brhawks18]

Everyone seems to focus on McCaffrey but the surprise to me was how the Iowa O-Line just got manhandled. I didn't see that coming at all.

That could also have something to do with Stanford blitzing what seemed like 2/3 to 3/4 of the time.

I don't remember Iowa bringing in their FB's to block let alone plewa or cox playing much at all. If I'm wrong on that please let me know.

The offensive game plan was as plain and simple as I've seen it this year. That baffled me. Against a team like Stanford and the last game of the year to boot, you pull out all the stops. Iowa appeared to do the opposite. Maybe CJB was hurt and limited to what he could do.

 

[brhawks18]

Some of you think hawk fans are being rough on this board then you should be listening to Sirius college sports radio today.

One host said it was like Stanford was playing a 1-AA team.

Another said it looked to him like Stanford was playing Presbyterian.

Yet another one, Jack Arute to be specific, started his show with the Iowa/Stanford game. He said Iowa didn't show up and apparently thought they were on vacation.

And these were the guys who have talked up Iowa most of the year.

For those of us not living in Iowa, at least for me, it's been a brutal first day back at work since the bowl game. A lot of crap being thrown around. Sadly it's all deserved.

 

[HawkeyeWalker]

The bottom line question(s) are....

Do you feel satisfied winning the B1G West, and making the B1G champ game knowing you went up against mediocre talent and interim coaches?

or

Do you want to see Iowa represent well against truly good teams?

I think we saw Iowa's ceiling this year. Not a bad thing. Who can argue against 12-0 and a hell of a showing in Indy? But if you're looking for something higher, elite if you will, I'm afraid we're going to be perpetually disappointed.

It all comes down to one's true expectations.

Good question, I'll say I want both. I personally think the '2-'4 run may be closer to "the ceiling". We were basically a 3 year top 10 team and in the top 2 in the B1G. That USC team might be on par with the greatest teams in college football history, aside from that game, we were good enough to play with basically anyone for 3 straight years.

 

[BigD]

Some of you think hawk fans are being rough on this board then you should be listening to Sirius college sports radio today.

One host said it was like Stanford was playing a 1-AA team.

Another said it looked to him like Stanford was playing Presbyterian.

Yet another one, Jack Arute to be specific, started his show with the Iowa/Stanford game. He said Iowa didn't show up and apparently thought they were on vacation.

And these were the guys who have talked up Iowa most of the year.

For those of us not living in Iowa, at least for me, it's been a brutal first day back at work since the bowl game. A lot of crap being thrown around. Sadly it's all deserved.

The reaction I got down here in Atlanta, Georgia when I got to work was pretty universal....... "What happened???"

Weii pretty much the only two really quality teams we played the entire year beat us. In this political year especially with the republican debates I guess we were put back at the little kids table where we belong. Sigh

 

[HawkPrdatr40]

The reaction I got down here in Atlanta, Georgia when I got to work was pretty universal....... "What happened???"

Weii pretty much the only two really quality teams we played the entire year beat us. In this political year especially with the republican debates I guess we were put back at the little kids table where we belong. Sigh

Iowa only faced 2 quality opponents? Well If you believe that than yeah you deserve to sit at the little kid table!!

 

[eveningnewsteam]

The reaction I got down here in Atlanta, Georgia when I got to work was pretty universal....... "What happened???"

Thats pretty much the response from anyone. Who the hell were those guys in the Iowa uniforms Friday?

 

[hawkeyebob62]

WRONG.

You know what my lasting memory of the 1985 team is? Two words: Ronnie Harmon. Two more: Gaston Green.

You know what I remember from the 1990 season? Mark F'n Brunell.

From this season I fear that the lasting memory will be 35-0. And that PED-jacked McCaffery.

We didn't play against Gaston Green, genius.

 

[hawkeyebob62]

I still enjoyed the season. It's a lot easier to enjoy these kinds of collapses when you have nothing financially invested.
Would I consider the season a failure? I think a lot of the players really wanted that BIG Title. When they fell short, the player motivation went south soon after. I won't remember this season as particularly special. It didn't make me want to run out and make a 10K commitment to next season. So, I guess that says all there needs to be said.
It will be interesting to see how next season unfolds. We have more than enough returning starters to win the West again.

<<It didn't make me want to run out and make a 10K commitment to next season>>

My guess is you haven't made a 10K commitment to ANY single season. Which is fine. But your level of commitment--or mine or any other supporter--is based on "long-term", anyway, or should be.

If we determine our support based on what-have-you-done-for-me-lately, historically mid-tier programs--like Iowa's--will slowly slide down to bottom-tier.

 

[Robowe]

We didn't play against Gaston Green, genius.

Gaston Green started the 1986 Rose Bowl for UCLA vs Iowa. He got hurt, Eric Ball came in, and the rest is history.

http://articles.latimes.com/1986-01-02/sports/sp-23597_1_eric-ball

Eric Ball, a freshman running back who took over when starter Gaston Green went out in the second period with a pulled hamstring, scored four touchdowns--on runs of 30, 40, 6 and 32 yards, respectively--to tie the modern Rose Bowl record set by USC's Sam Cunningham in 1973. Ball carried the ball 22 times for 227 yards--a Rose Bowl yardage total second only to the 247 yards of USC's Charles White in 1980.