IF.... We were 6-2

HawkeyeMHA

HawkeyeMHA

Well-Known Member
I don't typically play the "what if" game and know there will be some "horseshoe and hand gernades" comments, but just think of those three games this year where we lead at half and were in late in the game. I think we have seen a lot of improvement with this years team but just think what one more win would mean for our program. My pony is I think we are close. This year we've improved, and hopefully next year we take another step. Two years, national champs
 


The answer to your questions largely depends on what game Iowa had won.

If Iowa was 6-2 (2-2) with a win over N. Illinois I don't think too much would be different. N. Illinois would not be ranked had they lost to Iowa and that win, while solid, would not be considered much more than any other home win over a MAC team.

If Iowa were 6-2 (3-1) with a win over MSU, people would be excited about the possibility for a division title and overall very happy with the progress of the program.

If Iowa were 6-2 (3-1) with a win over Ohio St two weeks ago, fans would be talking B10 title and how disappointing it would be for Iowa not to reach Indy for the title game. And the backlash from the lackluster 2nd half against Northwestern would be attributed to a "hangover" from the Ohio St win.
 


If we were 8-0, people would say our schedule is "soft". Ditto 7-1 if the loss was to OSU. At 6-2, we'd be in the "Iowa is a tough out for most teams" category.

At 5-3, we get 5 to 10 minutes a week on BTN Live/Pulse/Report/Final Drive.

Note: Minny is getting more talk right now, although at least one BTN personality has noted that we DID beat Minnesota. Our win over NW has been noted only for Jake's OT TD pass.

Bottom line: we are what we are, a 5-3 team that is still tough to get a good read or handle on
 


Iowa is not "tough to get a handle on".
They are a bad offensive team with a pretty good defense.
Same as it has been for the majority of the past 15 seasons.
 


hawkeyebob62 said:
If we were 8-0, people would say our schedule is "soft". Ditto 7-1 if the loss was to OSU. At 6-2, we'd be in the "Iowa is a tough out for most teams" category.

At 5-3, we get 5 to 10 minutes a week on BTN Live/Pulse/Report/Final Drive.

Note: Minny is getting more talk right now, although at least one BTN personality has noted that we DID beat Minnesota. Our win over NW has been noted only for Jake's OT TD pass.

Bottom line: we are what we are, a 5-3 team that is still tough to get a good read or handle on
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A win this week changes the discussion - internally, locally and regionally. The Hawks need this win. They can skip a whole year of "development" with a win on Saturday. They become next year's team, this year.
 


6-2 is what we should be if we took care of business..

Can't lose to MAC teams at home ever - the day we accept that is a dark day in history.
 


Forget win's and loses just look at the last two weeks.

A 10 point loss at Ohio State where we went toe to toe with the best team in the Big Ten for 3 quarters.

Followed up with a OT win where our O at times couldn't do @#$% against a team that was 0-3 and missing a lot of key guys.

It all depends on which Iowa team shows up each week.
 


The big thing is if we are sitting here at 6-2 then 1) the hawks are going bowling and that monkey is off the back and 2) well we are going bowling and they can play looser I hope.

The only way much changes if the win was over MSU which would make us all of a sudden the Leaders in the division controlling our own destiny. How big that stale 2nd half against MSU turned out to be.

Right now we are basically 3 games behind MSU but if we won that game both teams would have one loss and we would hold the head to head edge.

Now if we win 2 to 3 more games then this is like next year.
 


HawkeyeMHA said:
I don't typically play the "what if" game and know there will be some "horseshoe and hand gernades" comments, but just think of those three games this year where we lead at half and were in late in the game. I think we have seen a lot of improvement with this years team but just think what one more win would mean for our program. My pony is I think we are close. This year we've improved, and hopefully next year we take another step. Two years, national champs
Click to expand...

You had me there for a few sentences.

horseshoes-and-handgrenades.jpg
 


Xerxes said:
The answer to your questions largely depends on what game Iowa had won.

If Iowa was 6-2 (2-2) with a win over N. Illinois I don't think too much would be different. N. Illinois would not be ranked had they lost to Iowa and that win, while solid, would not be considered much more than any other home win over a MAC team.

If Iowa were 6-2 (3-1) with a win over MSU, people would be excited about the possibility for a division title and overall very happy with the progress of the program.

If Iowa were 6-2 (3-1) with a win over Ohio St two weeks ago, fans would be talking B10 title and how disappointing it would be for Iowa not to reach Indy for the title game. And the backlash from the lackluster 2nd half against Northwestern would be attributed to a "hangover" from the Ohio St win.
Click to expand...

Damn I like how you do business. Agreed.

NIU is the one that got away. 8 wins and a very solid year would have been very possible if we pull that one out.
 


Xerxes said:
The answer to your questions largely depends on what game Iowa had won.

If Iowa was 6-2 (2-2) with a win over N. Illinois I don't think too much would be different. N. Illinois would not be ranked had they lost to Iowa and that win, while solid, would not be considered much more than any other home win over a MAC team.

If Iowa were 6-2 (3-1) with a win over MSU, people would be excited about the possibility for a division title and overall very happy with the progress of the program.

If Iowa were 6-2 (3-1) with a win over Ohio St two weeks ago, fans would be talking B10 title and how disappointing it would be for Iowa not to reach Indy for the title game. And the backlash from the lackluster 2nd half against Northwestern would be attributed to a "hangover" from the Ohio St win.
Click to expand...
....

.....and with all the above, many "fans" and posters would still be b^t@hing about us because were not 7-1 or 8-0.
 






If we were to beat any of the 3 teams we lost to its northern Illinois in my opinion and that doesn't change anything in terms of conference but would have highered expectations and led to a bigger disappointment in the loss to Sparty especially if we would have been ahead at half.
 


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