Miller: Hawkeyes Show Signs of Life in Win vs UNI


I always like optimism, but how much does playing a D1-AA team have to do with showing signs of life? I mean, surely the narrative for this team can't be that their opponents have gotten progressively better and that this week they rose to the challenge? I'm being Debbie Downer, but I just don't know how much they improved vs got an easier opponent. In the average season, wouldn't most of us call UNI the worst team on the schedule? If they hadn't given Wisconsin a game, wouldn't they likely be the worst team on the schedule this year?
 
I always like optimism, but how much does playing a D1-AA team have to do with showing signs of life? I mean, surely the narrative for this team can't be that their opponents have gotten progressively better and that this week they rose to the challenge? I'm being Debbie Downer, but I just don't know how much they improved vs got an easier opponent. In the average season, wouldn't most of us call UNI the worst team on the schedule? If they hadn't given Wisconsin a game, wouldn't they likely be the worst team on the schedule this year?

I hate to agree because I don't want to admit it, but.. I agree.

I'm glad we got the win, but we only beat them by 11 points, at our house! I know this is enough to make many cavort and dance with glee, but so far this year, the Hawks just don't have it. Despite UNI's valiant game against Wisconsin (I'm thinking Wis really had a down day last week LOL) I think that was a fluke. UNI isn't that good, and today they showed just how lightweight they are. And we managed to win by just 11. I'm still in terror when I think of having to actually complete in our own conference. Thank heaven it is a pretty soft conference right now, and we don't have to play a couple of the top teams in it.

But glad we have another W in our column! And I think UNI needs to stay right where they are in their own conference and level of play. It's exactly where they belong!
 
I always like optimism, but how much does playing a D1-AA team have to do with showing signs of life? I mean, surely the narrative for this team can't be that their opponents have gotten progressively better and that this week they rose to the challenge? I'm being Debbie Downer, but I just don't know how much they improved vs got an easier opponent. In the average season, wouldn't most of us call UNI the worst team on the schedule? If they hadn't given Wisconsin a game, wouldn't they likely be the worst team on the schedule this year?

No, in the average year UNI is not the worst team on the schedule in any shape or form. They are certainly better than some of the MAC or even Sun Belt teams that Iowa and other B1G schools play. UNI is no cake walk. They've shown it before by beating ISU, almost beating Iowa in 2009 (remember that season?) and playing Wisky close at Camp Randall, some B1G teams can't do that. Yes, Iowa should beat them every time, but they aren't chopped liver. It's a win for Iowa and a step in the right direction.
 
I hate to agree because I don't want to admit it, but.. I agree.

I'm glad we got the win, but we only beat them by 11 points, at our house! I know this is enough to make many cavort and dance with glee, but so far this year, the Hawks just don't have it. Despite UNI's valiant game against Wisconsin (I'm thinking Wis really had a down day last week LOL) I think that was a fluke. UNI isn't that good, and today they showed just how lightweight they are. And we managed to win by just 11. I'm still in terror when I think of having to actually complete in our own conference. Thank heaven it is a pretty soft conference right now, and we don't have to play a couple of the top teams in it.

But glad we have another W in our column! And I think UNI needs to stay right where they are in their own conference and level of play. It's exactly where they belong!

Look at the Whisky score and rethink that thought. TIA
 
Look at the Whisky score and rethink that thought. TIA

Naw.. I still think Wisconsin had a ****** day and nearly got upset. And UNI isn't as good as they, therefore, had looked on paper. And I don't think Wisconsin is going to turn out to be quite as good as many of us had thought they might be, before this season opened. We'll see as the season progresses for them.

As to us, I'm glad we got this win, wouldn't have surprised me if we'd lost today again, and I still don't expect a very good year, but you never know.

But I still don't think UNI was/is as good as I'd expected them to be. And I still think they need to stay exactly where they are.
 
Naw.. I still think Wisconsin had a ****** day and nearly got upset. And UNI isn't as good as they, therefore, had looked on paper. And I don't think Wisconsin is going to turn out to be quite as good as many of us had thought they might be, before this season opened. We'll see as the season progresses for them.

As to us, I'm glad we got this win, wouldn't have surprised me if we'd lost today again, and I still don't expect a very good year, but you never know.

But I still don't think UNI was/is as good as I'd expected them to be. And I still think they need to stay exactly where they are.

Wisky is turrible
 
I think you sure could be right. Might be a long year for them too.

And since we don't have to play them this season, I think we would most certainly have beaten them soundly if we'd have had them on our schedule! ;)

Wish we did play them
 
I think you sure could be right. Might be a long year for them too.

And since we don't have to play them this season, I think we would most certainly have beaten them soundly if we'd have had them on our schedule! ;)

Like. Keep in mind we may play them in big ten title game.
 
Won by 11 but I felt like the game was never in doubt in the second half once we scored on our first drive would have liked to beat them by more but we're not that good and they are pretty good for their division.

I'm starting to think this defense can keep us in games as long as we don't play a good offense and since the Big Ten sucks, we probably won't (maybe Michigan but I still have faith that an Iowa team can at least keep a team with such a one dimensional QB in check) I don't know if we have enough offense to win against better teams but I expect nothing but close games again all year (What do you expect? It's Iowa.)

Watching the rest of the Big 10, there isn't a team that is by far a favorite and it's weird to think that we could win our division. We could also finish with a losing record though and today really did nothing to push my opinion one way or the other.
 
Would have to agree with Miller Hawks did show some signs of life Saturday with the win over UNI. Plenty too work on for sure, but the Big Ten is really weak this season anything is possible!
 
I always like optimism, but how much does playing a D1-AA team have to do with showing signs of life? I mean, surely the narrative for this team can't be that their opponents have gotten progressively better and that this week they rose to the challenge? I'm being Debbie Downer, but I just don't know how much they improved vs got an easier opponent. In the average season, wouldn't most of us call UNI the worst team on the schedule? If they hadn't given Wisconsin a game, wouldn't they likely be the worst team on the schedule this year?

"Signs of life" does not mean things are awesome. It just means we are no longer flat lining. That I agree with. The next two weeks we will see if we can be upgraded to stable condition.
 
Top