Iowa has a tough road in BTT

[HuckFinn]

Tell me how Iowa is going to overcome Wiskys plodding style this season?

Yawn

 

[HuckFinn]

So because Iowa has not one a nattie in MBB or football, neither sport is any good? God some perspective is needed for some. Do you how F ing hard it is to win a nattie? Just statistically speaking, its 1-100 before you take into account cheating, SEC, weather, academics, Bill Self's bagman, etc.

If you are measuring Iowa's success by Nattie's, well, expect a lifetime of sadness and disappointment in watching Iowa's two major sports.

If, however, you acquired some perspective and realistic assessment of the sports world, you would see Iowa is fortunate to have two very good, albeit quite flawed, HCs. Both took over programs that were in various states of dumpster fire and both turned their programs into consistent winners. Both men are amazing at recruiting under the radar talent and turning them into studs. Both have coached players to just about every conceivable individual award available to a player in their sport, short of a Heisman (and KF has a second place finisher there too).

Look, unless you count the NIT or meaningless bowl games, every good team in both sports loses their last game, except for one team. If you want to focus on that, go for it. I prefer to focus on the wins, losses, successes, and failures along the way, knowing that in both sports, our fandom is far, far more fortunate that the vast majority of programs out there, and certainly we are in much better shape than ANY of our many rival programs (except maybe Wisconsin).

Falling short of winning it all is perhaps the one constant in sports. Failure is what makes sports great. If you want to know the outcome and have a happy ending, go see a musical.....

Musical? Happy ending? Alexander Hamilton died.

 

[HuckFinn]

64 year old here. Been listening/watching Hawk FB and BB since the mid 60s.
Iowa grad, never miss a FB game whether it's in person, TV, Sirius, terrestrial radio, or the internet.
Been to every B1G stadium sans Nebby. Seven bowl games and Indy in 2015....blah blah.

I'm a homer, pure and simple. Losses hurt more than being giddy with a win.

However, I've never lost perspective that Iowa will never be continually elite in either sport.

What I settle for is being relevant, and occasionally, catching lightening in a bottle....final four (was in college in 1980), undefeated regular FB season, chance at the FB playoffs...(which is why 1970, 1987 and 2015 are particularly painful for me). The occasional shooting of par on a hole keeps the duffer coming back to the course afterall.

I'm satisifed with who I've rooted for and spent tens of thousands of dollars being entertained by.
We have pedigree, are relevant, and thank Gawd, aren't Iowa State!

Go Hawks.

Sound like me, but I am older than you are. More good and bad memories.

 

[PCHawk]

If you are referring to me challenging those who concede that we never can be a national champion……… yes I have felt that way towards those who feel that way. I am a little more reserved than Hayden Fry. He would rather just punch people in the face who think that way. His words not mine.

Not to get confused with Woody Hayes who just decided to go punch an opposing player in the face during a live game……… sorry had to throw out a little humor there. I was watching that game when it happened.

Seriously, I have realized that it’s best to enjoy the game come what may. It’s a win win to just be with friends and family and have a good time with them.

Sure I was disappointed that LSU took the lead after they were trailing the whole game. Didn’t help that the LSU fan and his family turned around and thanked us for Iowa making it fun, with less than a minute left to play. None the less we were polite to them and we did. Have a great time being there and going to the theme parks the day before. Who could have predicted how that game would end??? I was very polite to them as we walked away with that win under out belts. Got to be honest though I still laugh at the look in that guys face when we won on the last play of the game.

I still find satisfaction in the Bears and Cubs National Championship. There is just something satisfying about it even after all these years. The same would be true for Iowa if it ever happeneds.

I understand that there would be those who would expect more and would expect more each year, not me. Just give me the one and I will be good. I would
relish it for ever. Is it impossible? I don’t think so. Is it likely? I don’t think so, but will I ever just give up? Nope. I like our chances if our offense in football could do a dramatic uptick. Maybe next year will be better. It has to doesn’t it??? Gawd I hope so.

I used to let loses ruin my day. I don't know if it's getting older, having kids, or a combination of both, but I'm a lot better with it now. I'm still not great but I'm a lot better. It's just so dumb to get worked up over something you aren't even a part of and have no control over. It's still tough not to tho.

I just don't like when people say "expect more" and "give up" when talking to fans. Mostly those people act like they would be satisfied if they would just reach the next level. Those are probably the same people who aren't satisfied with where the wrestling team is. Fans like that want Nick Saben fired right now.

 

[Gibsonian]

64 year old here. Been listening/watching Hawk FB and BB since the mid 60s.
Iowa grad, never miss a FB game whether it's in person, TV, Sirius, terrestrial radio, or the internet.
Been to every B1G stadium sans Nebby. Seven bowl games and Indy in 2015....blah blah.

I'm a homer, pure and simple. Losses hurt more than being giddy with a win.

However, I've never lost perspective that Iowa will never be continually elite in either sport.

What I settle for is being relevant, and occasionally, catching lightening in a bottle....final four (was in college in 1980), undefeated regular FB season, chance at the FB playoffs...(which is why 1970, 1987 and 2015 are particularly painful for me). The occasional shooting of par on a hole keeps the duffer coming back to the course afterall.

I'm satisifed with who I've rooted for and spent tens of thousands of dollars being entertained by.
We have pedigree, are relevant, and thank Gawd, aren't Iowa State!

Go Hawks.

Well said Seth. Besides the alumni thing (jealous), we are on the same page although you are a little bit longer in the tooth than I!

 

[ajdwhs87]

64 year old here. Been listening/watching Hawk FB and BB since the mid 60s.
Iowa grad, never miss a FB game whether it's in person, TV, Sirius, terrestrial radio, or the internet.
Been to every B1G stadium sans Nebby. Seven bowl games and Indy in 2015....blah blah.

I'm a homer, pure and simple. Losses hurt more than being giddy with a win.

However, I've never lost perspective that Iowa will never be continually elite in either sport.

What I settle for is being relevant, and occasionally, catching lightening in a bottle....final four (was in college in 1980), undefeated regular FB season, chance at the FB playoffs...(which is why 1970, 1987 and 2015 are particularly painful for me). The occasional shooting of par on a hole keeps the duffer coming back to the course afterall.

I'm satisifed with who I've rooted for and spent tens of thousands of dollars being entertained by.
We have pedigree, are relevant, and thank Gawd, aren't Iowa State!

Go Hawks.

Well I think being a homer is the opposite. Minmizing the losses or issues and emphasizing the wins and good parts. You seem to have a totally realistic mindset. We can be solid and jump up to be somebody once in a while.

As far as the thread title, what bad can come from a tough road? Weaker doesn't prepare you as well, weaker is worse on the tourney resume, weaker can give you false expectations while a tougher road shows how good you really are. Bring it on whatever type of road it is.