More Nebbie Dysfunction

[Fryowa]

Saw they just fired their DC. Its hard to build stability and culture when you burn through multiple coordinators on both sides of the ball, as well as position coaches, all in less than three seasons. Giving Rhule that extension is looking worse by the day.

I'd love to see the number of ADs, head coaches and assistants they've had since Solich got shit canned vs. Iowa in the same time period. I'm too lazy to compile it right now but I'm guessing my curiosity will get the best of me over lunch.

Wisconsin is heading right down the exact same road. They shoulda learned...it's their fault because nebraska was always right there showing everyone what a bad idea it is to play musical staffs.

 

[HawkeyeHypnosis]

I read on one of their boards that their fans are sick and tired of the 3-3-5 defense they have been running.

 

[CP87]

I read on one of their boards that their fans are sick and tired of the 3-3-5 defense they have been running.

I would counter them by pointing out that in recent history, Wisconsin and ISU have both had elite defenses using a similar scheme. I think it is much more about fundamentals, or lack thereof, than it is about scheme. And that falls on coaching, culture, and development.

 

[Fryowa]

Their DC that just got fired came from the NFL where 99% of your scheme is defending the pass.

99% of your scheme in the B1G should be defending the run. Rhule doesn't know what he's doing as CEO. He doesn't hire the right people.

Matt Rhule is one of those guys who says all the right things in front of cameras but can't translate what he says into results.

 

[kameltoez102]

I would counter them by pointing out that in recent history, Wisconsin and ISU have both had elite defenses using a similar scheme. I think it is much more about fundamentals, or lack thereof, than it is about scheme. And that falls on coaching, culture, and development.

The 3-3-5 can be a great defense but you need very specific personnel skills for a few key positions. For example you need a D Lineman that can eat up space a double teams. Iowa State has Orange this year to fill that position. Nebraska lacked that. Iowa State has also had some very versatile linebackers. Nebraska's linebacker play was lacking. Two big deficiencies which hurts. It's going to be hard to generate any type of defensive consistency if you keep switching coordinators and schemes.

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

Marc Morehouse said something on his podcast this week that resonated. It was about the 2014 Iowa Nebraska game. I'd argue that was the last "bad" year for Iowa football. 7-6, sloppy football, way below expectations. Morehouse said something about at that pivot point, Nebraska fired its 9 or 10 wins coach, while Iowa "shook hands with 8-4." And that Nebraska would have been better off shaking hands with 8-4, too.

I think Minnesota has done a good job at shaking hands with 8-4. That's a stable program. Say what you will about Fleck, but there is real substance behind the salesman. He's built a culture, they have an identity, they know how they want to play, not a ton of drama, he attracts good assistant coaches...if he wasn't being authentic I think kids would sniff that out.

Wisconsin and Nebraska are now looking up at Minnesota. I don't know if Rhule or Fickle are the right guys (although I think their backgrounds suggest they are qualified), but those programs would probably be best off sticking with an identity based on physical line play and shaking hands with 8-4, instead of chasing....whatever it is they are chasing.

 

[Fryowa]

Marc Morehouse said something on his podcast this week that resonated. It was about the 2014 Iowa Nebraska game. I'd argue that was the last "bad" year for Iowa football. 7-6, sloppy football, way below expectations. Morehouse said something about at that pivot point, Nebraska fired its 9 or 10 wins coach, while Iowa "shook hands with 8-4." And that Nebraska would have been better off shaking hands with 8-4, too.

I think Minnesota has done a good job at shaking hands with 8-4. That's a stable program. Say what you will about Fleck, but there is real substance behind the salesman. He's built a culture, they have an identity, they know how they want to play, not a ton of drama, he attracts good assistant coaches...if he wasn't being authentic I think kids would sniff that out.

Wisconsin and Nebraska are now looking up at Minnesota. I don't know if Rhule or Fickle are the right guys (although I think their backgrounds suggest they are qualified), but those programs would probably be best off sticking with an identity based on physical line play and shaking hands with 8-4, instead of chasing....whatever it is they are chasing.

2015 was the year I took my then 6 year old to his first Hawkeye game as his birthday present. I was expecting a blah season based on 2014, and even though we were undefeated going in, I still expected it to fall apart.

Paid $98 on StubHub for front row seats at the Maryland game, north 40 yard line, home side. You could buy tickets like that for less than a hundo back then.

That game ended up my favorite of all time. Desmond King ran the pick 6 back right in front of us, my kid got a cool picture with Tevaun Smith after one of his catches, and CJB tossed a ball back and forth with him a few times right before Tyler Weigers went in to kneel it out. Greatest time of my life and it cemented my kid as a die hard Hawk fan like all of us. Rode the train to and from the game, ate breakfast at the Coralville, IHOP beforehand, and got to see his eyes light up when he walked in Kinnick the first time.

Shit like that is why I'll always be a fan. Man I wish it was 2015 again. That kid I took to the game is 19 years old now and lives on his own working 45 hours a week, hopefully in about 10 years (if I'm still alive) I'll get to take his kid to one.

 

[ssckelley]

The problem is the fan base, they still think of themselves as a blue chip program when that is long gone. They need to accept who they are and stop firing their head coaches. It all started when they fired Solich then when they got lucky with Pelini after the Callahan fiasco but then they decided he wasn't good enough. They keep looking for their next Tom Osborne and all they keep doing is making their program worse.

I fear this happens at Iowa. I cringe thinking about what could happen after Ferentz does retire. We've been spoiled by Hayden Fry and Kirk Ferentz when a couple of bad moves and this program could be another Nebraska.

 

[Fryowa]

The problem is the fan base, they still think of themselves as a blue chip program when that is long gone. They need to accept who they are and stop firing their head coaches. It all started when they fired Solich then when they got lucky with Pelini after the Callahan fiasco but then they decided he wasn't good enough. They keep looking for their next Tom Osborne and all they keep doing is making their program worse.

I fear this happens at Iowa. I cringe thinking about what could happen after Ferentz does retire. We've been spoiled by Hayden Fry and Kirk Ferentz when a couple of bad moves and this program could be another Nebraska.

A new coach is always a crap shoot for any team. Where the problem is when you just start firing guys over and over thinking it's going to help. That's the thing that has nebraska and Wisconsin where they're at.

Honestly for Wisconsin they'd be smart to hang onto Fickell for a while and let him try to figure it out. The instability thing is a slippery slope and once you commit to playing musical coaches there ain't no going back.

 

[HawkPowerlifter]

The problem is the fan base, they still think of themselves as a blue chip program when that is long gone. They need to accept who they are and stop firing their head coaches. It all started when they fired Solich then when they got lucky with Pelini after the Callahan fiasco but then they decided he wasn't good enough. They keep looking for their next Tom Osborne and all they keep doing is making their program worse.

I fear this happens at Iowa. I cringe thinking about what could happen after Ferentz does retire. We've been spoiled by Hayden Fry and Kirk Ferentz when a couple of bad moves and this program could be another Nebraska.

Nebby has made several bad moves in their coaching changes, but even more, much like aforementioned they have lost their identity and culture. You can't tell that to their delusional fanbase, or at least they will never admit it even though secretly they see it.

The same has basically happened at Wisconsin. Both should be models of what not to do, and a glaring warning to Iowa how they move forward whenever KF does decide to hang it up. Maybe we extend KF and keep him with a lifetime contract? LOL.

I've come to terms (especially now with the NIL) Iowa is never going to be a consistent national title contender. I can see the program rising up every ten years and having a special team, but I think we can potentially make the CFP from time to time.

Iowa is one of 5 programs that has averaged 8 wins over the last 10 years (Michigan, tOSU, Bama, Georgia) I think are the others. I would guess there are tons of programs who would love to have this. IF anything, Iowa under KF has become of modem of consistency, which can be a curse. Sometimes you have to be grateful for what you have. (Look at Wisconsin/Nebraska to remind us)

 

[NorthKCHawk]

There are some really great thoughts here. Iowa, and Minnesota to a lesser extent, have developed a core culture centered around hard work, trenches, and discipline. Shaking hands with 8-4 doesn't mean settling. It means, we will view 8-4 as a successful season knowing that every few years we will win 10 or 11. Nebbie's problem is that they are shooting for 11 wins and that is not realistic given how deep a hole they have dug. Rhule may or may not be the answer for them, but I think extending him and giving him more time to string together 7-8 win seasons is about the smartest thing to do. Starting over again is the definition of insanity.

 

[ChosenChildren]

Do you think Rhule was a serious candidate at Penn State?