Kirk's Time to Circle the Wagons Speech!

[76Hawkeye]

I cannot recall a time in all of Hawkeye Football history where there has been so much dissention, distraction, and dowright apathy toward an Iowa team as they prepare for a bowl game. Don't get me wrong, the dissention and apathy is agruably much deserved. The excitement is at or near an all-time low, fans just don't really have any confidence in this team or coaching staff right now. After the final five weeks of the season, don't blame any fan that feels that way.

Now to my point, if I was Kirk, it would be time to circle the wagons here.
If I were Kirk my speech over and over to the team would go something like this:

Really guy's, it's us against the world here. Fans are down and out, our star player was selfish and no longer with us, all the rumors written about us with in-fighting involving coaches and players, and everyone saying we quit on this season, that we were uninspired and unimpressive. We are in it alone and no one is giving us a chance. We have got nothing to lose, practice hard, play with chip on their shoulder and we as coaches will open up our game plan and put you in the best position to succeed. We will beat the HELL out of Mizzouri! The only people that have your backs, is the teammate in front of you and behind you. Trust in one another, rely on one another and play with no fear. Again, it's us against the world men! Its now or never, especially for you Seniors! How do you all want to go out, people that call you quitters or people that call you winners! BREAK THE DAMN ROCK!

The concern here is about the ability of our coaching staff to motivate. The jury is still out on that one!!

 

[Cosity82]

Normally I don't mind typos and whatnot, but you had me scratching my head for a minute there...decent=dissent, or even more fitting for where you use it, dissention.

 

[CAARHawk]

Yeah, I don't see that speech going anywhere with this team. I think just a good old sit down with different groups of players is the way to go. It has to start with the coach letting the players know that he understands what they are going through and that he has their backs. He also needs to let them know that he really cares.

Finally, he needs to address the situation in a way that lets the players know he has some responsibility. His team is broken. One raw, raw speech isn't going to fix that. But I also don't think he can just go about things like normal.

 

[76Hawkeye]

Whatever we did after the WIS game and before the MSU game worked! Let's do that again, only this time play for full four quarters! After WIS game, it was the team against the world! Status quo will no longer work with this team and should not longer be accepted by the fan base! I do agree that Kirk showing he has their backs and shoulders responsibility will go a long way!!

 

[BSpringsteen]

I agree that targeted talks is the way to go...

But this team also lacks any real leadership. Interesting in that Jon declared Ricky as one of the best leaders in recent memory at Iowa.

Not Miller's fault, but clearly not the case. Teams with great leadership don't allow this to happen.

DJK would have never been allowed to live with a non player.

 

[BSpringsteen]

People need to stop looking at the MSU game as some sort of epiphany.

Our offense worked, but it did against Wisconsin too. MSU was driving multiple times, and Cousins made horrible throws right to our defenders that either went for a score or set up a very short field.

The season was lost after Wisconsin, MSU was an anomoly.