Nice dig at Alford. Alford has matured and I would take him back in a heartbeat.
As for Iowa football, my main beef is that our season ticket prices should be more in line with NU level programs than the UM/OSU/PSU level programs because last time I checked, NU's win-loss record during the Fitz regime is pretty close to Iowa's. I know I haven't ranted about it forever, but I'm still steaming about ticket prices relative to the product following the stadium renovations at the end of the 2004 season. The Hawks have been very mediocre with one great year where we made a lot of great plays in close games. $700+ for one season ticket between the 20s and 40s is a joke and after this season, I think the Athletic Department is going to have to do some Ron Guenther type book cooking (free tickets to Cub Scouts, etc.) to fill the seats in the lower tier games due to this pricing regime. I think the fan base is pretty loyal, but over $100 a pop for decent tickets and the average team we have seen post Project Ticket Gouge could alienate the fans, especially in this economy. I obviously don't expect the Hawks to win every game, but we're paying prices that were set when the boys were coming off three consecutive 10 win seasons and I think the guys buying tickets should be treated at least 9 or 10 Ws as the norm, rather than a bunch of 6 or 7 win seasons with a few treats sprinkled on top of the turds.
Hayden >>>>> KF.
You need perspective. In other words, you obviously didn't sit through 20 losing seasons.
And yet, during that period, games routinely sold out, and there was seldom much ******** about ticket prices. And there shouldn't be. Living in Florida, and not being "wealthy", I LIVE for the idea that I can even MAKE it to a game in Kinnick once every 5 or 10 years. Bowl trips to Florida are once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. So...when we make Florida bowls in 2002, 2003, 20045, 2005, 2008 and 2009, people like me get a little spoiled, perhaps.
And yet, I have NEVER, since the Hayden Fry days, "assumed" we were anything better than an 6-5 team any given year. There are just too many intangibles.
But now, with KF, 7-5 years are practically a "major" disappointment, save for 2001, when we'd experienced the "lows" coming off Hayden's retirement. The last Alamo Bowl was seen as a "gift" by many. The 2008 season was ohsoclose (4 losses by a combined 12 points), and that was in the midst of a QB "battle". 2009? Again, what "might have been" if Stanzi doesn't get hurt. This year? I guess I am still "shocked" how few people realize what we "lost", both to graduation and early NFL exits, PLUS a slew of injuries. And yet...it's pretty hard to be enthused by the way we played against Indiana and Minnesota, PLUS the way we lost at Northwestern. Arizona was "expected" by many, and it's hard to argue that we got outplayed by Wisconsin or OSU. Certain coaching decisions will always be criticized when we lose. Only idiots continue to rehash those decisions when we win.
I guess I will always laugh inwardly at folks who actually believe we "belong" at the "team-to-beat" position in the Big Ten. Unless/until we see 5 or more CONSECUTIVE seasons with BOTH OSU and Michigan not playing in the Big Ten championship game will we be able to say at least ONE of those is NOT "the team to beat" in most years.
The last Big Ten team to go through pre-bowl undefeated? OSU in 2006. The last to "go all the way"? OSU in 2002.
In other words, if the "average" fan doesn't "expect" a loss or two EVERY season, then we aren't really talking about the "average" fan as it relates to IOWA football.
