Iowa Finishes Season at #25

[Ian Pike Hammer]

+AUGUST 31st - MIAMI OF OHIO (Fry Fest);
+SEPTEMBER 7th: RUTGERS (conference opener);
+September 14th: At Iowa State;
+[9/21 - OFF];
+SEPTEMBER 28TH: MIDDLE TENN. ST.;
+October 5th: At Michigan;
+OCTOBER 12th: PENN STATE;
+OCTOBER 19th: PURDUE (Homecoming);
+October 26th: At Northwestern;
+[11/2 - OFF] (yes, two bye weeks next season);
+November 9th: At Wisconsin;
+NOVEMBER 16th: MINNESOTA (Family Weekend);
+NOVEMBER 23rd: ILLINOIS;
+Friday, November 29th: At Nebraska.

Looks like 4-0 'til we visit Mich. Also, I thought we had Ohio St. back on the slate.

 

[mopkins]

Church Lady; “Well isn’t that special. Isn’t that the Hawkeye Pot calling the Nebraska kettle black (and gold). See 2015”

2015 Iowa played at Wisconsin, at NW and at Nebraska. Nebraska gets all 4 of their toughest games at home. They won't run the table like 2015 Iowa did, but they have the easiest schedule out of anyone by far.

 

[GVGiant44]

The final coaches poll had Iowa unranked, one spot behind #25 Mississippi State. What a joke man. Guess Iowa was sitting in the 25th spot until the final coach voted that put Miss St. ahead. Must have been an SEC coach. Guess I'm done paying attention to that poll.

Sir again - that is only in the independent poll taken by USA Today, co-sponsored by AMWAY. The official coaches poll had a deadline - and when that deadline is reached, the poll is published and made official. All you need to do is check ESPN, SI.com, CBSSports, NBCSports, and a host of others. They all agree on the official coaches poll - and they have it right. Iowa 25th, Miss. St. 26th. Yes, you can quit paying attention to that other poll.

 

[deanvogs]

These polls are a joke with how much meaningless pre season polls influence these ranking. If Iowa was pre season #12, they would have been ranked the entire year and probably finished ranked #16 or #17. Since they weren’t ranked in the pre season they finished at #25

 

[InGoodCo]

Your comical. All those NFL players and all those National Championship Titles. No wait, after twenty years Kirk doesn’t have any national titles. Ok then your right because of all those regular Big Ten Championship titles he has. No wait, I guess that’s a fail too. Never mind me, carry on 7-5 cult.

What's comical is that you think that's some sort of indictment for Kirk Ferentz. He shoulders some of the blame for not reaching further heights, but what he's made Iowa into is nothing short of amazing. A football factory that is good every year, close to greatness at least 5 times. 17th in the P5 for wins since 2002. If titles are so easy to win, why don't other programs outside of maybe 12 or 15 of the same programs have them in the last 30 years? Is that a Kirk Ferentz thing? How bout B1G titles? Only 3 schools have won it more than twice during his time at Iowa and only 1 active coach in the conference has more. Can it be better, yes? But winning football games isn't easy, otherwise everyone would do it. Iowa wins a lot more than it loses. That's not a cult, that's being appreciative of having something everyone else wants. I want it to be better too, but what we have is envious of many other fan bases.

 

[iloveyoularrystation]

As long as that parker character remains at iowa, I ain't worried about Corner/safety. As long as guys named Ferentz are at Iowa, I ain't worried about Oline. As long as a guy named Brian is at Iowa, I ain't worried about tight end. As long as AJ epenesa is at Iowa I ain't worried about a pass rush, and as long as Reece Morgan is at Iowa I ain't worried about dline. Need linebackers to keep growing in off-season, need running backs to continue to grow, and need receivers to show up in EVERY GAME next year, not be hit or miss. If so, could be a really good year next year. I know hock will probably go pro, but if he doesn't, next year could be very, very, very special. Defense all has experience, offense has experience. We have a lot coming back honestly. No reason this club shouldn't win 9 games next year at least. Everybody who will be starting next year, unless they get beat out by a freshmen, will have significant experience, except our center, who the coaches our stupid high on. Literally every position we have experience at. No reason this shouldn't be a team that is ranked most if not all of next year. But i'm glad for the disrespect, we do better flying under the radar.

 

[Northside Hawk]

Your comical. All those NFL players and all those National Championship Titles. No wait, after twenty years Kirk doesn’t have any national titles. Ok then your right because of all those regular Big Ten Championship titles he has. No wait, I guess that’s a fail too. Never mind me, carry on 7-5 cult.

Well it's closer to eight wins a year than seven and that's dragging 1-10 and 3-9 through the mud.

Do you want his average wins per year with 1999 and 2000 deleted?

Facts. They'll kill your argument.

 

[Northside Hawk]

Looks like 4-0 'til we visit Mich. Also, I thought we had Ohio St. back on the slate.

We haven't visited Michigan since 2012 and it seems like a lot longer than that.

Since the 34-9 game I only remember three games up there. 2006, 2010 (win) and 2012.

Is that really true? In any case it will be interesting to see how we perform in Ann Arbor. We have done well against them recently.

 

[Xerxes]

What's comical is that you think that's some sort of indictment for Kirk Ferentz. He shoulders some of the blame for not reaching further heights, but what's he's made Iowa into is nothing short of amazing. A football factory that is good every year, close to greatness at least 5 times. 17th in the P5 for wins since 2002. If titles are so easy to win, why don't other programs outside of maybe 12 or 15 of the same programs have them in the last 30 years? Is that a Kirk Ferentz thing? How bout B1G titles? Only 3 schools have won it more than twice during his time at Iowa and only 1 active coach in the conference has more. Can it be better, yes? But winning football games isn't easy, otherwise everyone would do it. Iowa wins a lot more than it loses. That's not a cult, that's being appreciative of having something everyone else wants. I want it to better too, but what we have is envious of many other fan bases.

You're absolutely right. Many programs are envious of Iowa and I need to be more appreciative of that fact.

My only complaint with this is when you compare Iowa to their West opponents. With all of the NFL talent combined with the coaching ability you mentioned, I would like to see Iowa do a little better in the West.

The last two years particularly have been a struggle 9-9 with 6 of those losses to West rivals Wisconsin, Northwestern, & Purdue.

Iowa has lost 5 guys early to the pros during that span, most likely going to be 6.
Wisconsin has lost 2
Purdue has lost 1 (a guy who went undrafted)
Northwestern has lost 0

 

[BigD]

2015 Iowa played at Wisconsin, at NW and at Nebraska. Nebraska gets all 4 of their toughest games at home. They won't run the table like 2015 Iowa did, but they have the easiest schedule out of anyone by far.

I am really referring to the point that they didn’t play Michigan, Ohio State, or Michigan’s state in the regular season. Those are traditionally the strongest teams in the conference. Even Wisconsin wasn’t as strong that year due to multiple losses to injuries. Also we had all but loss that game as we could not move the ball on offense and our defense had gotten tired and their offense was rolling right over us. We were dead up to the point where a freak fumble gifted us the win. I was thrilled when it happened, but the truth is what it is.

Then when we finally played MSU we lost and then MSU got trounced by Alabama and we got trounced in the rose bowl. As much as we might want to change the facts there are what they are. By the way Michigan was by far the best team in the conference in 2015 and we would have been playing them instead of MSU if not for the worse play by a punter in the history of college football.

Kirk is right in his assessment of “Welp that’s football” because of human weakness people make mistakes like the Michigan punter basically handing the botched punt off to the MSU player for the winning touch down. Similarly, when our player backed into the football on a punt that changed the entire momentum of the game and possibly our entire season. Then there’s the trick or treat play against Indiana where they were having our luch and that freak ricochet play changes the entire momentum of the game. So in some ways “whelp that’s football” is true but other times is huge mental farts by coaching staffs like punting the ball from the opponent’s own thirty yards line or not being prepared for a fake punt against Wisconsin, or deliberately running out the clock and going into overtime when you had a team totally on their heals in regular time.

 

[BigD]

What's comical is that you think that's some sort of indictment for Kirk Ferentz. He shoulders some of the blame for not reaching further heights, but what's he's made Iowa into is nothing short of amazing. A football factory that is good every year, close to greatness at least 5 times. 17th in the P5 for wins since 2002. If titles are so easy to win, why don't other programs outside of maybe 12 or 15 of the same programs have them in the last 30 years? Is that a Kirk Ferentz thing? How bout B1G titles? Only 3 schools have won it more than twice during his time at Iowa and only 1 active coach in the conference has more. Can it be better, yes? But winning football games isn't easy, otherwise everyone would do it. Iowa wins a lot more than it loses. That's not a cult, that's being appreciative of having something everyone else wants. I want it to better too, but what we have is envious of many other fan bases.

Look you admit it in your comments. It could be better. That’s all I am saying. There are segments of the fan base that are totally happy with endless 7-5 seasons. To find that satisfying is basically defying the true sense of the spirit of competition. I have already said more than once if Kirk could make 7-5 his low point and have more 10-2 and 9-3 seasons and beat Wisconsin out for the division title, THEN I would feel much better about things. Much, much, better.

 

[BigD]

Well it's closer to eight wins a year than seven and that's dragging 1-10 and 3-9 through the mud.

Do you want his average wins per year with 1999 and 2000 deleted?

Facts. They'll kill your argument.

I use the word cult because in a religious cult the followers are always trying to excuse, justify, and rationalize their point of view.

Just admit it you are happy with 7-5 seasons. If you weren’t you would be calling for his head. If that’s what you like that’s fine. Peole have a right to like what they want to like. I’m ok with an occasional 7-5 season, but I honestly feel Kirk should be doing better for what he has been paid. Again, that is just MY opinion. Doesn’t mean I am right. Maybe you are right and I am wrong, but that is how I feel. I would like to at least go into a season feeling legitimately that this could be the year. Kirk doesn’t give me that feeling and next year sure as hell isnt even going to come close with the loss of his TE’s. Even if both would have stayed our QB’s doesn’t have it in big games. He’s a good kid and a average B1G quarterback. Average in the B1G isn’t any thing to be ashamed of.

Next season is just going to be another average Kirk season. I am just not excited to watch us beat up on inferior sub P-5 teams, squeak out narrow victories against weak average conference teams, and then lose the games that determine who the divisional champ will be and then play some middle of the road conference team in bowl game. What I just stated is Kirk football in a nut shell.

Again if that is satisfying to you then that is freedom to feel that way. I just happen to feel that the teams in the West dictates that we should be doing better that what we have been doing. Especially since history over the last twenty-five years shows these team used to be our bitches. Somethings wrong with that picture.

 

[BigD]

You're absolutely right. Many programs are envious of Iowa and I need to be more appreciative of that fact.

My only complaint with this is when you compare Iowa to their West opponents. With all of the NFL talent combined with the coaching ability you mentioned, I would like to see Iowa do a little better in the West.

The last two years particularly have been a struggle 9-9 with 6 of those losses to West rivals Wisconsin, Northwestern, & Purdue.

Iowa has lost 5 guys early to the pros during that span, most likely going to be 6.
Wisconsin has lost 2
Purdue has lost 1 (a guy who went undrafted)
Northwestern has lost 0

LMAO!!! As you posted your comments I was typing up a response to another comment that basically is saying the same thing you posted.

It is the truth.

 

[blubberhawk]

Folks, this has been explained ad nauseum. First off, we never get talked about early as we play absolutely nobody in the non conference and our recruiting classes are ho hum. We beat one p5 team in the regular season with a winning record and our defense played stellar in beating a middle of the road SEC team to give us our second p5 win over a team with a winning record. We never leave home in September and evidently have an easement to show up at the outback bowl whenever we want due to fan travel. We play a boring brand of football, play low scoring games, throw to tight ends and in some yrs highlight a fullback at tailback. Many of us appreciate all the lunchpail stuff but much of the rest of America doesn’t. Winning big games and playing home and homes intersectionally moves the meter. So does a flashy qb, a tailback that takes it the distance and wideouts that do the same. Our plodding, phone booth, punting, field position, fullback, tight end stuff doesn’t do it for most and the media follows suit. The biggest talk out of camp ferentz is nfl draft picks but the elephant in the room is why the team doesn’t win at a much higher level when they are in college? Who cares what they do once they leave

Clever name, this OldHawk. Thjs guy is really OldCyclone12. (I assume 12 is for I.Q)
You are right about one thing. Beef up the non-conference schedule by dropping the Losers from the West. (ISU).
Replace them with a traditional power.

 

[BigD]

Well it's closer to eight wins a year than seven and that's dragging 1-10 and 3-9 through the mud.

Do you want his average wins per year with 1999 and 2000 deleted?

Facts. They'll kill your argument.

“Well it’s closer to eight wins a year” damn guy your starting to sound like an Iowa State fan.

 

[revkev73]

Nate played plenty well enough to win against Wisconsin. Two special teams turnovers, including one in our own red zone cost us the game.

Concur.

Iowa has gotten into the ritual of finding various ways to scuttle the ship against Wisconsin for what, several years? Since the fake punt game?

 

[NikeHawk21]

Concur.

Iowa has gotten into the ritual of finding various ways to scuttle the ship against Wisconsin for what, several years? Since the fake punt game?

Wisconsin actually gave us one in 2015. They fumbled on the one yard line and had like 4 turnovers at least.

I would say they pretty much dominated us in 2017 outside of two Josh Jackson pick 6’s.

 

[InGoodCo]

Look you admit it in your comments. It could be better. That’s all I am saying. There are segments of the fan base that are totally happy with endless 7-5 seasons. To find that satisfying is basically defying the true sense of the spirit of competition. I have already said more than once if Kirk could make 7-5 his low point and have more 10-2 and 9-3 seasons and beat Wisconsin out for the division title, THEN I would feel much better about things. Much, much, better.

It could be better. But it's pretty good. I don't think anyone is "happy" with 7-5 seasons. Honestly I don't. Most also don't think it's a fireable offense either. The fact is, in the last 10 years, KF has won more than 7 games in 7 out of the 10 years. Hard to call him a 7-5 coach and hard to call people out for being satisfied with 7-5 when he's consistently above that mark recently and including this season. I'm 100% with you tho - as good as Iowa has been, which is one of the best programs in the country, they should have more division titles to speak of.

But you see that as KF HOLDING Iowa back. I see it as KF being the reason that they are as successful as they are. I don't think either one of is completely wrong. He isn't infallible, I just appreciate the program he's built.

 

[Northside Hawk]

I use the word cult because in a religious cult the followers are always trying to excuse, justify, and rationalize their point of view.

Just admit it you are happy with 7-5 seasons. If you weren’t you would be calling for his head. If that’s what you like that’s fine. Peole have a right to like what they want to like. I’m ok with an occasional 7-5 season, but I honestly feel Kirk should be doing better for what he has been paid. Again, that is just MY opinion. Doesn’t mean I am right. Maybe you are right and I am wrong, but that is how I feel. I would like to at least go into a season feeling legitimately that this could be the year. Kirk doesn’t give me that feeling and next year sure as hell isnt even going to come close with the loss of his TE’s. Even if both would have stayed our QB’s doesn’t have it in big games. He’s a good kid and a average B1G quarterback. Average in the B1G isn’t any thing to be ashamed of.

Next season is just going to be another average Kirk season. I am just not excited to watch us beat up on inferior sub P-5 teams, squeak out narrow victories against weak average conference teams, and then lose the games that determine who the divisional champ will be and then play some middle of the road conference team in bowl game. What I just stated is Kirk football in a nut shell.

Again if that is satisfying to you then that is freedom to feel that way. I just happen to feel that the teams in the West dictates that we should be doing better that what we have been doing. Especially since history over the last twenty-five years shows these team used to be our bitches. Somethings wrong with that picture.

You have to go back further than 25 years to find the time when Wisconsin and Northwestern were our bitches.

The best point you bring up is the non con. I would love to see national powers come in here and play. The 1980's alone saw Arizona, Nebraska, UCLA, Penn State, Colorado and Oregon.

I would love to see it tougher but I don't coach the team, direct the athletics, or count the beans. I can be a fan however.

I have explained in the past why Kirk is so polarizing. It's because when his sytems works it looks so foolproof you wonder how he ever loses. When was the last time we lost a game where the other team was simply better? 2016 Penn State? 2017 Wisconsin?

 

[SteveGarvey1]

Sir again - that is only in the independent poll taken by USA Today, co-sponsored by AMWAY. The official coaches poll had a deadline - and when that deadline is reached, the poll is published and made official. All you need to do is check ESPN, SI.com, CBSSports, NBCSports, and a host of others. They all agree on the official coaches poll - and they have it right. Iowa 25th, Miss. St. 26th. Yes, you can quit paying attention to that other poll.

Better tell Chad Leistikow that, since he reported the Iowa 26, Miss St. 25 as fact in the DM Register that's it's the final AMWAY coaches' poll.