KF in close games - full list of scores since '99

1977Hawkeye

1977Hawkeye

Well-Known Member
After this weekend's tough loss, I couldn't help but feel that it seems like we lose the close games more often than not. It's easy to feel that way after a tough loss I suppose, so I decided to go back through our schedules since '99 and compile a list and see what has really happened.

My criteria for a close game is those decided by 7 points or less (1 possession) where one team or the other could have won or tied the game if they could have made one last TD drive, come up with a big stop, etc. Sometimes the final score isn't truly indicative of the game, but I thought this was a good criteria to go with.

I'm not sure if there's any real patterns or trends here, other than the fact that we are a little below .500 in close games. By my count, 25-29 in the KF era.

I also noticed that we seem to usually have a good 4-5 close games or so almost every season. 2002-04 we were great in close games. 2005-08, not so much.

These games really make all the difference for weather it can be considered a great year or not. Getting the ball to bounce your way or making the big play in these tight games really makes or breaks your season.

Just thought I'd post this list:

1999:
@ISU L 10-17
@NW L 21-23
Indiana L 31-38
Minnesota L 21-25

2000:
W. Michigan L 21-27
MSU W 21-16
Wisconsin L 7-13
@PSU W 26-23
@Minnesota L 24-27

2001:
PSU W 24-18
@MSU L 28-31
Michigan L 26-32
@Wisconsin L 28-34
@ISU L 14-17
Texas Tech W 19-16

2002:
@Miami (OH) W 29-24
ISU L 31-36
@PSU W 42-35
Purdue W 31-28

2003:
Michigan W 30-27
@Wisconsin W 27-21

2004:
ISU W 17-10
@PSU W 6-4
Purdue W 23-21
@Minnesota W 29-27
LSU W 30-25

2005:
Michigan L 20-23
@NW L 27-28
Florida L 24-31

2006:
@Syracuse W 20-13
@Indiana L 28-31
Wisconsin L 21-24
Texas L 24-26

2007:
@ISU L 13-15
@Wisconsin L 13-17
Illinois W 10-6
MSU W 34-27
Minnesota W 21-16

2008:
@Pitt L 20-21
NW L 17-22
@MSU L 13-16
@Illinois L 24-27
PSU W 24-23
Purdue W 22-17

2009:
UNI W 17-16
Arkansas St. W 24-21
Michigan W 30-28
@MSu W 15-13
NW L 10-17
@OSU L 24-27

2010:
@Arizona L 27-34
Wisconsin L 30-31
@Indiana W 18-13
@NW L 17-21
 


I think the Stanzi to McNutt "7 got 6" play burned up the rest of our karma. Since that game, in close contests, we are 1-5, with a dropped TD pass being the only reason we're not 0-6. Ick.
 


hawkfan2679 said:
I think the Stanzi to McNutt "7 got 6" play burned up the rest of our karma. Since that game, in close contests, we are 1-5, with a dropped TD pass being the only reason we're not 0-6. Ick.
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Get a freakin life... holy cow. How much time did you waste on that effort?????
 






5 out of the last 6 (L) is very surprising when the general perception seems to be that this team has been very clutch under stanzi the last 2+ years. obviously not all of those were offensive possessions with the opportunity to win, but it's a suprising # none the less.
 


1977Hawkeye said:
Uh, it took me 10 minutes? Maybe it would have taken you all day, I don't know.

I love when message board posters tell someone else on the board to get a life. LOL.
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that's because it is easier for some jokers to say F-U or get a life rather than spend the 10 minutes you did to actually craft a somewhat informative post.

does it tell anything? i'm with you- dunno... but it's interesting to look at and sparks more response than get a life.
 






PlanoHawk said:
that's because it is easier for some jokers to say F-U or get a life rather than spend the 10 minutes you did to actually craft a somewhat informative post.

does it tell anything? i'm with you- dunno... but it's interesting to look at and sparks more response than get a life.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I don't get why some people need to go out of their way to be douches.. I just posted it for those who might be curious. I was curious myself to answer of the question "Are we really that bad in close games, or is it only my bitterness talking since we've lost some close games this year?"

It does appear that we could do better in the close games, but the law of averages seems to have worked out fairly well. We win some, we lose some. Before the last 5-6 close games on the list, it was probably just about dead even. It hasn't gone our way lately.
 


Since 2004 we are 3-10 on the road in close games. The 3 wins were a goal line stand against a bad Syracuse team, the miracle at Michigan State last year, and the win against Indiana that felt like a loss. We are not very good in close games because that requires good execution in the 2 minute offense. The only wins I can recall where we did win the games on the last drives were the Cap One Bowl vs LSU and Michigan St. last year, in other words we need a miracle to win.
 


This is great information. Thank you. This is more interesting to read than a bunch of whining and complaining about play calling.

Throw out 99 and 00 (bad teams; rebuilding years).

We are 23-22 since then. A little above .500. About what I would hope for.
 


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