NIU very early tidbit...

[DexterMorgan]

NIU loses their top wide out.

NIU has receivers?

 

[Hawknick]

I'm not down on NIU I am just enthused about the Iowa team. Few teams will be able to stop them when they are motivated and executing plays well. They will on this game.

 

[DP5555]

I'm not down on NIU I am just enthused about the Iowa team. Few teams will be able to stop them when they are motivated and executing plays well. They will on this game.

I'm sorry I'm just not sure where you're getting this enthusiasm. I want the kool-aid you're drinking. I certainly hope you're right.

The reality is Iowa is never too far away from winning or losing. I know Ferentz likes to say "Things are never as good as they seem, and things are never as bad as they seem". I will agree with you in regards to the fact Iowa has the pieces to be a sleeper team if they put it all together. However, I'm far from convinced they are capable of doing that given the results we saw this past year. The offense was as bad as I've seen.

 

[Billso]

Anyways this is one that I will be pumped for. This one and the Western Michigan game. I am ready to punish both of those teams.

How far we have fallen...

 

[olddude]

I'm sorry I'm just not sure where you're getting this enthusiasm. I want the kool-aid you're drinking. I certainly hope you're right.

The reality is Iowa is never too far away from winning or losing. I know Ferentz likes to say "Things are never as good as they seem, and things are never as bad as they seem". I will agree with you in regards to the fact Iowa has the pieces to be a sleeper team if they put it all together. However, I'm far from convinced they are capable of doing that given the results we saw this past year. The offense was as bad as I've seen.

Million dollar questions.
I am hoping BF can put together a serious 2 deep. If that happens, even if we sustain an injury or two, we will still be able to protect a new qb and nobody will be able to stop our backs. I have faith in what I saw from a young DL, that they will be better. They had some sand kicked in their face and do not want that again, now they know what it takes. BUT as I said Iowa's record this year will come down to the OL and it's ability to protect and to create holes.

 

[vosov]

I'm sorry I'm just not sure where you're getting this enthusiasm. I want the kool-aid you're drinking. I certainly hope you're right.

The reality is Iowa is never too far away from winning or losing. I know Ferentz likes to say "Things are never as good as they seem, and things are never as bad as they seem". I will agree with you in regards to the fact Iowa has the pieces to be a sleeper team if they put it all together. However, I'm far from convinced they are capable of doing that given the results we saw this past year. The offense was as bad as I've seen.

I think I am generally considered one of the "kool-aid" drinkers, but this is pretty spot on.

 

[WinOneThisCentury]

NIU returns most of their offense, including almost their entire offensive line. That being said, they lose a big chunk of their defense, including 2-3 of their defensive linemen and I believe a couple of their linebackers. They are going to have a very hard time stopping the running game in the first game out. If Scherff and Donnal are back and healthy, it will come down to whether we can outscore them. They will score points on us...but, our defense is now a year older and the only loss of significance is Hyde. We will be better there. I'd say it's a toss up game based on Lynch and their nucleus on offense. It's in Kinnick, we have a chip on our shoulder, and there is pressure on the Iowa coaching staff...that's all good for Iowa. Once again, if we have those two healthy...and the TE's we have, Hamilton and CJ...we are going to be a big group to deal with.

 

[TychoBrahe]

I got quite drunk at that game...actually, well before the game...and changed into my newly-acquired Hawk shorts on the sidewalk on Iowa Avenue. A car approached, honking like hell. Thank God it was ColoradoHawkeye and not ICs finest.

I like to think I've grown up. Then again, objectively, I could not POSSIBLY regress from that particular point in time!

I remember that that game was on a very hot and muggy night, that it was clear from the start that U Miami was never going to lose this game, and that we would be lucky not to be blown out. I think we lost 24-7, but the game was never that close. Kinnick looked great that night, but man it was hot and muggy out. And we lost. Really, not so memorable after all, I guess. I can't remember a single play from that game.