Miller: Will Big Ten Scheduling Usher End of CyHawk Game?

[JonDMiller]

Well wouldnt it help isu if they didnt play us? Maybe they could get one more win and get to more bowl games. Wouldnt that make more money if they got to a bowl game every other year?

Yes, and I wrote that ISU fans could benefit from the same things Iowa could benefit from by scheduling a win

There is not necc. more $$ in getting to a bowl game every year, as books like Death to the BCS have pointed out. The guaranteed benefit is the extra practice time, that is good for the program and future results.

 

[DuffMan]

Just playing an FCS team, a mid-major, and then ISU each and every year is going to get boring real fast.

Not when we have 9 conference games.

I'd rather have FCS, Mid Major, ISU, 9 B10 games than I would...
FCS, 2mid Major, ISU, 8 conference games

 

[eyekwah]

With a little research I found that ISU has 4 home conference games scheduled for 2015 and five away. Iowa is schedule to play at Ames in 2015. With a 9 game B1G schedule, Iowa would have two slots for non-conference games. One is already filled, Pitt on 9/19/2015.

What I also found was that five B1G teams have away games scheduled for 2015, Iowa vs ISU, NE vs Miami of FL, MN vs Colo St, OSU vs Va Tech and PU vs Cincy. That means a minimum of three of Iowa's conference opponents (osu may not be on the schedule) are in the same situation, needing 7 home games. There isn't a way where the five teams with non-conference away games can be given 7 home games when they are playing each other within conference.

The B1G conference has to minimize the impact for the greatest number of schools. As we saw with Purdue becoming Iowa's protected rival it will adopt a solution that minimizes the impact for the most schools.

 

[Hawkfromnorwalk]

Not when we have 9 conference games.

I'd rather have FCS, Mid Major, ISU, 9 B10 games than I would...
FCS, 2mid Major, ISU, 8 conference games

Most years since 2000 we have had a pretty steady list of BCS schools on the non-con schedule including Nebby, Kansas State, Arizona State, Syracuse, Arizona, and Pitt. There were only two or three seasons where Iowa had no BCS team on the schedule. I would only advocate dropping ISU if we were guaranteed another BCS team in their place. If that couldn't be done, then yes, keep ISU.

 

[DuffMan]

Most years since 2000 we have had a pretty steady list of BCS schools on the non-con schedule including Nebby, Kansas State, Arizona State, Syracuse, Arizona, and Pitt. There were only two or three seasons where Iowa had no BCS team on the schedule. I would only advocate dropping ISU if we were guaranteed another BCS team in their place. If that couldn't be done, then yes, keep ISU.

Yes you are correct I meant to type,

FCS, Mid Major, BCS, ISU, 8 Conf games.

Irregardless you can't argue that replacing ISU with a random BCS team would be more exciting for fans, or better for the team financially.

 

[TecmoBowl]

Jon, I'm glad you referenced Johnson county in terms of the cy-hawk game. Not hard to see that local business owners love the impact from that game far more than a team such as Arkansas State coming to Kinnick.

The schedule somewhat lines up already for ISU. In years they have 7 home games, ISU plays Iowa on the road. In the opposite years which they have only 6, they open with UNI and Iowa @ home...favorable gates(especially with the new revenue deal vs Iowa) to offset losing a home game.

One thing lost in the shuffle for ISU is the fact that Oklahoma and Texas have now been split up with home and road. I know the last time ISU played OU(2007), they drew just over 50,000. Texas(also 07) was a hair under 50. Getting one of those every year in JTS appears to provide a full house as well. Nebraska crowds might not be missed as much people think.

 

[JonDMiller]

Yes you are correct I meant to type,

FCS, Mid Major, BCS, ISU, 8 Conf games.

Irregardless you can't argue that replacing ISU with a random BCS team would be more exciting for fans, or better for the team financially.

In 2002, Iowa's lone regular season loss was ISU...had they not lost that game and none of the others, it would have been better for the fans and better financially, hypothetically playing in the NC game.

In 2007, Iowa was 6-6 with a loss to ISU and didn't go to a bowl game. Not being in a bowl was not better for the fans, that game had an impact on that.

Look, I am not going to go to the mat for either of these arguments because they are more than a tad specious, but it CAN be argued by guys like you and I that enjoy the debate

 

[Hawkfromnorwalk]

In 2001, Iowa's lone regular season loss was ISU...had they not lost that game and none of the others, it would have been better for the fans and better financially, hypothetically playing in the NC game.

In 2007, Iowa was 6-6 with a loss to ISU and didn't go to a bowl game. Not being in a bowl was not better for the fans, that game had an impact on that.

Look, I am not going to go to the mat for either of these arguments because they are more than a tad specious, but it CAN be argued by guys like you and I that enjoy the debate

2002.

Just sayin.

 

[Hawkfromnorwalk]

Guess that solves this mystery...

Iowa official: 9-game Big Ten schedule shouldn’t impact Cy-Hawk series | TheGazette

 

[DuffMan]

In 2001, Iowa's lone regular season loss was ISU...had they not lost that game and none of the others, it would have been better for the fans and better financially, hypothetically playing in the NC game.

In 2007, Iowa was 6-6 with a loss to ISU and didn't go to a bowl game. Not being in a bowl was not better for the fans, that game had an impact on that.

Look, I am not going to go to the mat for either of these arguments because they are more than a tad specious, but it CAN be argued by guys like you and I that enjoy the debate

I mean that's all fine and dandy, but there is no guarantee if we played another BCS school in the place of ISU those years we win. Since 2002 our record against non conf BCS schools (not counting bowls) is 4-3. Our record versus ISU is 6-3. Historically we OWN ISU.

ISU is a much softer game year in and year out than any other BCS school I can think of. If you want to get rid of ISU and add directional U for a guaranteed win thats fine, it does make a bowl game more likely, but you can't argue it's more exciting.

You also can't really make the argument that a 9 game conf season with 2 cupcakes and ISU is more difficult than the schedule we've already playing (1FCS, 1MidMaj, 1BCS, ISU, 8 Conf). Again we've scheduled non conference BCS games besides ISU regularly for some time. Our record against them since 2002 is 4-3 (57% winning percentage). Our record against the B10 overall in that same time is 46-26 (64% winning percentage).

In fact, I'd make the argument that our schedule gets EASIER when we go to 9 conference games provided we no longer schedule non conference BCS teams outside of ISU.

 

[JonDMiller]

I mean that's all fine and dandy, but there is no guarantee if we played another BCS school in the place of ISU those years we win. JDM: Which is why I admitted it was specious

In fact, I'd make the argument that our schedule gets EASIER when we go to 9 conference games provided we no longer schedule non conference BCS teams outside of ISU. JDM: Without nine game schedule, there are going to be spans where Iowa doesn't play Ohio State for four years in a row. In a nine-game slate, it would only be two year gaps. So that can certainly be debated a different direction.

 

[TecmoBowl]

In 2001, Iowa's lone regular season loss was ISU...had they not lost that game and none of the others, it would have been better for the fans and better financially, hypothetically playing in the NC game.

I'm not so sure they play for the national championship in 2002 despite going undefeated. Maybe 50/50 chance at best.

Miami and Ohio State went undefeated that year. Miami had all the national attention at that time, so I can guarantee Iowa wasn't taking their spot. Considering OSU was still a helmet school despite some of the struggles under Cooper...they could very well have gotten the nod over Iowa as well. National media isn't too enamoured by Iowa...you've talked many times about this.

 

[eyekwah]

Guess that solves this mystery...

Iowa official: 9-game Big Ten schedule shouldn’t impact Cy-Hawk series | TheGazette

Not really. There are already 5 teams with road away non-conference games in 2015. Iowa has three of those conference teams on its schedule for sure, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Purdue; OSU has an away non-con game. You can't guarantee 5 home conference games to those five teams when they are going to face off against each other.

Let's take the case of Iowa and Nebraska. They will play each other for sure. That means in 2015 one of them only gets 6 home dates unless one party drops the away game. Now add that same scenario to Iowa vs Minnesota and Iowa vs Purdue. Only two of those teams can get 7 games. To complicate matters it is likely OSU is an opponent for one or more of these teams, PU for sure.

You can bet none of these teams are going to accept just 6 home dates.

 

[528646]

I cringe everytime someone brings up dropping ISU. It looks cowardly. I'm sorry, but it does.

The whole "nothing to gain, everything to lose" argument is just totally lost on me. I'm sorry, but if we lose to Moo U in any given year, we probably weren't destined for greatness that season anyways.

Here's a novel solution - rather than suggesting we drop the game like a bunch of chickens, why don't we just continue to beat their brains out every year and enjoy the extra tick in the win column?

And I sincerely hope all the "droppers" realize if the series is ever dropped and there is even the slightest hint of an appearance that it was somehow initiated from the Iowa side, we would never, ever, ever, ever in a million years hear the end of it. The pain of having to deal with Clone fans for 365 days after they beat us would pale in comparison.

 

[scourt]

I cringe everytime someone brings up dropping ISU. It looks cowardly. I'm sorry, but it does.

The whole "nothing to gain, everything to lose" argument is just totally lost on me. I'm sorry, but if we lose to Moo U in any given year, we probably weren't destined for greatness that season anyways.

Here's a novel solution - rather than suggesting we drop the game like a bunch of chickens, why don't we just continue to beat their brains out every year and enjoy the extra tick in the win column?

And I sincerely hope all the "droppers" realize if the series is ever dropped and there is even the slightest hint of an appearance that it was somehow initiated from the Iowa side, we would never, ever, ever, ever in a million years hear the end of it. The pain of having to deal with Clone fans for 365 days after they beat us would pale in comparison.

Agree 100%. I posted this sentiment earlier only you said it much better.

 

[eyekwah]

I cringe everytime someone brings up dropping ISU. It looks cowardly. I'm sorry, but it does.

I understand your position, but the discussion originally started out as the potential impact of a nine game conference schedule on the game. The proposition is that Iowa "maybe" unable to continue the series. If you look forward it is possible that the series cannot continue. So far it appears that the series will continue.

I know there is a division in the fan base over the series. Your in one corner and another group in another. For me I would like to rotate ISU on and off the schedule. Iowa has started a series with Pitt and I would like to see if Iowa could rekindle one with Notre Dame. Iowa has played Syracuse in the past as well. With the possibility of just 3 non-con games playing ISU every year just isn't that appealing.

 

[Clonehomer]

As a cyclone fan, I would lean towards playing 2 out of every 4 years or something to that extent. With the 9 game schedules, it really only leaves one spot for home and home series in the non-conference. So, if there were 2 years on and then 2 years off it will give both schools the chance to play better competition outside of conference while still allowing the series to continue.

The schedules lining up will be the biggest sticking point in all of this. But, other than the ND games, the big10 really doesn't have many rivalries outside of conference play. So would it really be that difficult of a deal to allow Iowa to have their 5 home games on opposite years of Iowa State? I would think that if Iowa were to request it that it wouldn't be that hard to get done. The question is whether Iowa would want to make that request.

 

[94HawkMA]

I cringe everytime someone brings up dropping ISU. It looks cowardly. I'm sorry, but it does.

The whole "nothing to gain, everything to lose" argument is just totally lost on me. I'm sorry, but if we lose to Moo U in any given year, we probably weren't destined for greatness that season anyways.

Here's a novel solution - rather than suggesting we drop the game like a bunch of chickens, why don't we just continue to beat their brains out every year and enjoy the extra tick in the win column?

And I sincerely hope all the "droppers" realize if the series is ever dropped and there is even the slightest hint of an appearance that it was somehow initiated from the Iowa side, we would never, ever, ever, ever in a million years hear the end of it. The pain of having to deal with Clone fans for 365 days after they beat us would pale in comparison.

What do we have to gain by continuing a home and home series with the clowns when we go to a 9 game conference schedule? Also, why would we care about what clone fans have to say at all. If you care what they say, you think they are relevant, which they are not.

 

[ohhawk]

Is your program viewed (and remembered) in better light by national media, polls, potential recruits, bowl selection committees, etc by going 10-2 with a light non conf. schedule or by going 7-5 against a schedule that included some tough non conf opponents?

I would suggest most (outside of your own fans) don't remember or care much about your close losses and tough non conf schedule when the dust has settled.

My vote goes to keeping the non conf games on the soft side and in front of the home crowd for the opportunity for a better pay off later in the season. That seems to be how most programs are playing it more often than not these days. There will be enough tough games when the conference season begins.

CyHawk game.......going into your opponent's stadium most often as the favorite in an instate rivalry is not a soft game for the favored team. We can do without it if we go to 9 conference games.

 

[gohawks71]

Please let us drop them ... I absolutely see no use in the National picture of playing them and face it, it doesn’t matter how nice our it is to have a little rivalry with them, the nation doesn’t care because they are never good enough to give us credit for beating them. Don’t get me wrong, I like ISU and root for them every time they play except for when they play the Hawks but they do us no good and if we lose to them, we end up with egg on our face (i.e. 2002).