RobHowe
Administrator
Tickets Gone for WMU, Michigan St., Purdue, Minnesota Contests
Iowa Football Sells Out Four '23 Home Games
- Thread starter RobHowe
- Start date
Fryowa
Administrator
Cheaper tickets, and should be a "guaranteed" win. I have friends who've done it for those reasons because they aren't regular attendees or haven't gone at all before, and they want their kids to see a win.
I think the ticket sales being as great as they've been have a direct coloration to us landing Cade M and overhauling the O personnel wise. Had Iowa had either Padilla or Labas going in as the week 1 starter without a Caleb Brown or All and a couple O lineman added to the mix we wouldn't be seeing this....
We have preseason expectations of being west favorites by many. 8 wins with this schedule would be a disappointment. But that wouldn't have been the case had we not gotten Cade and the dominos that followed. Fans are reflecting that and are fired up. One way or the other it'll be entertaining to see some good football or a total shit show. No pressure BF.
InGoodCo
Well-Known Member
no doubt, the portal brings a lot of hope and optimism to the program this season and without a doubt, that is driving this, but sometimes as Iowa fans, we're a little too close to things and might not look at it with an objective lense so to speak. Iowa is 71-30 since 2015. When football programs win 70% of their games, they are going to sell out a lot of them and that would be at Iowa or anywhere after a 7 year run like that. I realize it's not up to our expectations and we all want more, but win 70% of your games and the offense could go out there and break dance on offense and we could punt on every 3rd down and Iowa would still have a monsterous crowd of faithful, because like, winning is still in. It will always be cool.
Totally agree. I just felt like after last yr had they not made some wholesale changes in the portal that tide woulda moved. Our home slate of games is really underwhelming to put it nicely. If this team wasn't expected to win 9 plus games and compete for the west you coulda seen some empty seats in Kinnick.
A weak slate of games, no offense and a mediocre record coming off of last yr would've been all the ingredients needed for it. I think Iowa didn't even raise prices this yr... Someone correct me if I'm wrong on that but it seemed like Iowa was even bracing for it. That said kudos to the KF. He was self aware of all that and so he hit the portal hard. Got fortunate to land Cade and everything fell into place from there.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
As much as the offseason was dedicated to BF bashing, and rightfully so, I think the vibe amongst the fans is pretty optimistic for the upcoming season. Favorable schedule, injection of portal talent on offense, all the appearances of another salty defensive unit, and a couple of good kickers to boot. Last shot at a West title. Might as well be the last one to get that trophy. Go Hawks!!
You just described me anyway. I'm totally optimistic. But boy oh boy is BF on a short leash of sorts. He has some major pressure on him to have this O clicking early and often. If not for his recent history we'd be more apt to give him a few games to let all the new faces get some game reps in before getting too fired up about it if they struggle. So long as they win of course. Now the whole BF dynamic to it all will be interesting. Say we beat Utah St like 17-3 and then ISU 20-10. I just find those sort of possibilities fascinating for BFs sake and how will the fans react to it all.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
Its not that I don't disagree that BF needs to get things rolling, and how, but I guess when you say he is on a short leash, with who? His dad isn't going to fire him or take away playcalling or anything else. He has a contract with stips, and if he doesn't hit the measureables or least get damn close, I suspect the new AD will force KF's hands. If you are talking about the fans, most have already written off BF. The boos will be out if there are close games at the outset, but KF's philosophy is "a win is a win." Don't expect BF to start throwing caution to the wind in order to try and hang 30 on the opening cupcakes.
That all said, it may be a smidge unrealistic to believe that the offense will come out on fire given a lot of new faces, including at QB. I am more interested in execution. Does everyone line up in the right place? Does Jones snap the ball on time? Does the OL get its blocking assignments right? Are dumb turnovers avoided? Does the offense look functional and efficient? If the answer to those questions is yes, I won't mind a few three and outs as the new crew gets their feet under them. I truly believe the offense will find its footing, but it may take some time.
Get what you're saying. I just mean amongst fans and possibly the new AD in regards to this weird contract he has. Because if O comes out slow the first 3 games or so then it's safe to say they'll only have a tougher time at getting it going against the tougher teams on the road and especially as the weather gets worse. But yeah we'll never find out what'd it'd take for KF to let him go. That wasn't ever happening I totally get that
I would like to be fair to BF in the sense that integrating this many new faces usually takes awhile to have things working smooth. To me a lot of that is on Cades shoulders. He's gotta stay healthy and have the offense down and know it inside out. Be able to get on a better page with Jones then Petras was in regards to just snapping the ball. Like you eluded to that was off all last yr and it mattered. I'm cautiously optimistic in that I see all kinds of potential with this team. But yet BF and KFs fingerprints are going to be all over it pulling back on the reigns. It'll be fascinating to see play out no matter what
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NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
BF has every tool available to him to be successful this season. And by successful, I just mean something approaching average. With this defense and STs, we don't need much more than offensive efficiency and competence.
If he cannot hit that rather modest expectation this season, with the influx of talent at key positions and returning experience, he is not a good coach. I will give him grace for the last couple of years, but it is put up or shut up time, Brian.
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
It's posts like this that will awaken AIRBHG or cause a rip in the space-time continuum that will cause McNamara to blow his knee on the third play from scrimmage in the season opener. Please understand our delicate position, delete this post and say ten Hail Marys. No, twenty.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
Come on, if we can't post some optimism in July, what the hell are we doing here. If anyone is tempting fate, its a post like yours specifically mentioning the unmentionable deity or the possible downing of our savior QB.
That all said, even if the terrible event that YOU posted about were to come to pass, this should still be a better offensive team than the one that took the field last year. The kid from Wisconsin has to be a better QB than Footsteps Petras, the OL is deeper and more experienced, and the skills players will be better. Iowa should win the West. Period. Whether it can make noise beyond that will most definitely require a big year from McNamara.
okeefe4prez
Well-Known Member
Come on, if we can't post some optimism in July, what the hell are we doing here. If anyone is tempting fate, its a post like yours specifically mentioning the unmentionable deity or the possible downing of our savior QB.
That all said, even if the terrible event that YOU posted about were to come to pass, this should still be a better offensive team than the one that took the field last year. The kid from Wisconsin has to be a better QB than Footsteps Petras, the OL is deeper and more experienced, and the skills players will be better. Iowa should win the West. Period. Whether it can make noise beyond that will most definitely require a big year from McNamara.
Didn't we lose like four o-linemen in a game against Penn State a few years ago? I don't remember because the game was such a monstrosity that I shut it off, but it was bad.
I'm very optimistic. This is only the second season in the last twenty where I am guaranteeing a win against Northwestern. The last time I made such a bold prediction was 2010, but I really feel this one.
NorthKCHawk
Well-Known Member
You are really going out on a limb with the NW prediction. We might win that one by forfeit.
On paper we should win the West. Everyone except Iowa, Minny, and Illinois has a new coach. The West should be weaker than normal while those programs begin to establish their identities. The crossover schedule is manageable. Iowa's offense has to be better. Its defense should be elite again, especially against the West.
I realize that games are not played on paper, but I think the only reason Wisky is barely getting the nod as the West favorite is too much emphasis on BF's stinkery the last two seasons. But, BF also has some history of producing adequate offenses, and with QBs with less proven pedigree than McNamara. Injuries and breaks play a huge part, but talent and coaching are the biggest factors. I like Iowa's chances this year.
JoeyLabasForPresident
Well-Known Member
That would obviously blow, but the backup should be an improvement on Petras and Padilla, and I cannot imagine a universe (I'm not that creative) where the OL is worse.
guffus
Well-Known Member
I think that was the 2012 season. After a misleading 4-2 start, Iowa just fell apart and lost its last 6 games in a row. It was Greg Davis first year as OC and the offense stunk from the beginning but got even worse after the PSU disaster. Still JVB managed to take 100% of all QB snaps all season long. Jake Rudock did not play a single down as backup.
That's all it would take too... Our secondary isn't very deep either you look past the first 5 names and I don't recognize anybody. Losing DeJean again for any amount of time would be bad too. Hope they practice in bubble wrap all of August.
guffus
Well-Known Member
Reminds me too of 2010 when Iowa lost all its LB and James Morris ended up playing middle LB as a freshman. That season ended on a down note too although Iowa did bounce back to beat Missouri in the bowl game.
