Positive news on Wegher from Marc Morehouse-

[homerHAWKeye777]

Perhaps everyone is forgetting that they have 13 player suspensions for the Iowa game. We wouldn't have had trouble with them at full strength, and we certainly won't with their roster so depleted.

I believe that the 13 was a typo. I haven't seen a single legit source that has been able to verify it. Three dismissals have been verified though.

 

[HawkPhreek]

We were damn close to losing last year to UNI. While we didn't lose, it's pretty foolish to just assume that we don't NEED a player to be an FCS school. What if we hadn't had Stanzi, or Moeaki, or Hunter (who blocked the 2nd FG) against UNI? After last season, I'm not going to make the assumption that we don't need a player like Wegher just because we are playing an FCS school.

Wow that is a lot of what if's. Well if we didn't have Stanzi Uni might have had six less points. Ok, this got way off topic. My point is Iowa does not NEED BW to win. It would be nice, but need is not the correct term. Next man in.

In my humble opinion you go to every game like your the team to beat. You hit them, get up hit them again, hit them again until they believe it.

 

[DodgerHawki]

He likely will not...

Things would be different if it were an injury keepin him out. Putting him back out on the field right away and jumping everyone else thats been doin the time wouldnt send a very good message to the team...IMO.

"jump everyone else" It wasn't like he just up and quit the team and then came back in the middle of the season. He went out of camp to deal with a life issue. Of course he should be placed behind Robinson and Hampton in the initial pecking order, but his return may very well allow Iowa to not burn redshirts on Coker and/or D'Andre Johnson.

I wouldn't be upset at all if Wegher is one of the kickoff returners against Eastern Illinois, and if Robinson gets hurt or needs a rest, I wouldn't be against him going in the game as a RB, especially if it means we save the redshirt on Coker and Johnson.

This situation is a bit different than a guy who simply quits the team and then decides he wants to go back. It should be treated with the unique situation that it is.

 

[joshmott123]

I believe that the 13 was a typo. I haven't seen a single legit source that has been able to verify it. Three dismissals have been verified though.

Even if this is the case, I'm still only marginally more concerned about the outcome. I definitely understand the hesitation to look past an FCS team, or any team for that matter, but realistically we should beat the crap out of them. It's clear that the voters in the major polls feel the same way because even though we squeaked out a close victory against UNI last year, we were treated as though we had suffered a defeat.

 

[chadfrey]

After last season, I'm not going to make the assumption that we don't need a player like Wegher just because we are playing an FCS school.

Amen. Well stated.

Get on board...we need everyone we have and they need to be healthy. Cut the crap out about how we will clobber them. I know they are preparing to win.

Well put. EIU Admin will like the paycheck. The coaches and players want to win the friggin' game.

Would you like me to list every Div 1 team that smacked every Div 2 team ever. You found one that won good work. Sure it would be great to have BW, but NEEDING him to win is not correct is all I was getting at.

Wow, guess you really put me in my place.

Now, HP, for some facts:

NCAA FCS(I-AA) began in 1978. Iowa is a whopping 7-0 against schools from FCS conferences. I'll give you that. However, Iowa has not played a Div II opponent during that time.

FCS teams winning over FBS teams is not as rare as you might think. I chose the Michigan game because Michigan was in the top 10 when the game was played.

There were five teams from the FCS who recorded wins against FBS teams last season. In addition, 11 games were one score or less and Florida trailed Jacskonville State until the final minute.

Iowa needed two blocked field goals in the last 30 seconds, something never been done before in college football history. So while we are 7-0 against I-AA/FCS, we're a fingernail from losing to the last FCS team we played. FWIW, UNI downed ISU by a point in 2006.

Do we have to have Wegs? Prolly not. Do we want more than one or two healthy backs? Heck yes.

And again, never underestimate anyone, ever.

 

[Maddog81]

Chad, like your son's name. Great and proud legacy.

Have to wonder, though ... any consideration to naming him John Hayden last January?

 

[tweeterhawk]

Morehouse tweet: Twitter / marcmorehouse: Positive signs on Wegher f ...

Followed by some replies to others saying he is in Iowa City.

He could be back in Iowa City for a variety of reasons. Until someone confirms that he is back playing football this year, I'm not sure it can be said with any certainty that the news is "positive," at least with regards to what most Iowa fans want to hear.

 

[CAARHawk]

It's Eastern Illinois, we don't NEED anything.

It is not about beating EIU. It is about letting the offense get rhythm. If you go in depleted at back you need to limit your playbook, which makes it hard for the offense to get up to speed where they will need to be in the following weeks.

Also, Wegher wouldn't be jumping anybody. After Robinson, we have freshmen and walk-on's. So, you put him officially on the third team behind Robinson and Hampton.

If you are saying you should have Paki in front of him. Paki is not really in the competition. So saying you are putting Wegher in front of him is highly questionable. Everyone else would involve a position switch or taking a red shirt.

Really is a perfect situation to be able to play Wegher and not worry about perceptions, because there really isn't anyone for him to jump.

 

[JCLP205]

Any word if Wegher actually back at practice? With Morehouse tweeting that "positive signs on Wegher front" would think that means that he is back with team or there are at least signs of him returning and not that he is just in IC because that does not indicate anything.. Morehouse must know more otherwise he would have just tweeted that he is back in IC and not that there are "positive signs'!

 

[LutherHawk]

If he is back, I hope the all is forgiven and he can get up to speed for Eastern Illinois.

We need to go into that game with more than one experienced and effective back. Let him be officially 3rd string, so when Hampton becomes eligible Wegher has to win playing time back. That is a way to address the time missed issue, without looking like it is being disregarded.

If we only go in with one experienced back, we will need to protect him and it will limit what the offense can do.

Why make any assumptions about if, where, how, and when Wegher should be integrated back with the time. We do not know the circumstances of his absence, when he will return, or how his teammates feel about it.
Keep in mind, he is not missing practice time due to poor attitude or disciplinary reasons...which would warrant having to 'earn' your way back.

 

[mthawk00]

You all realized that HawkPhreek can take EI as lightly as he wants to and it will not have any impact on the game, right?

 

[tweeterhawk]

 

[chadfrey]

Chad, like your son's name. Great and proud legacy.

Have to wonder, though ... any consideration to naming him John Hayden last January?

Nope. Kinnick was the best fit - in addition to Nile Kinnick, it also is a form of Kenneth...my father's name.

He's a good kid. He will commit to Iowa in 2028, sport to be determined.

 

[GO4ROZS]

You all realized that HawkPhreek can take EI as lightly as he wants to and it will not have any impact on the game, right?

Thanks for pointing this out. It cracks me up when people tell other fans to take "one game at a time" and similar sentiments. As if any of our attitudes affect the outcome of the game. Hopefully, the players don't take anyone lightly, but there's a big difference between players/coaches and fans.