The Insight Bowl is going to be a good game.

H

Hawksel

Well-Known Member
On one side, you've got a 10-2 Missouri team. Talented enough to beat some very athletic teams this year (i.e. Oklahoma). In addition to this, their offense may be well suited to go against our defense, and their defense is talented.

So they're no joke as an opponent, but I question how motivated they may be to play in this bowl game against a 7-5 Iowa team that has had a rough off season, and will be without the services of its starting running back and wide receiver.

On the other side you have an Iowa team coming off a disappointing season despite having the talent to play with pretty much any team in the nation. Conventional wisdom has been that this off season controversy would mean an easy win for Missouri, and if the Hawkeyes show the same effort they gave during their last game at Minnesota, I think the conventional wisdom would be right.

However, I think while Coach Ferentz teams have a historical tendency to disappoint their fanbase against "weaker" teams, there are three situations where they have performed well historically, even if they don't always pull out the win.

1.) Bowl games
2.) Big games against teams with superior records (Hawks as underdogs)
3.) Games where they are responding to criticism or crisis.

All of these circumstances are present in this game. I'm sure Coach Ferentz knows that a bowl win, while technically meaningless in the grand scheme of things, would symbolically do a lot to help the program right now. I mean, ask yourself which program, Missouri or Iowa, has the most to gain from winning this game now. It's circle the wagon time.

I look forward to the game and seeing how Iowa responds.
 


I like our chances. The negative feeling going into the game is only as negative as the fans make it. Mizzou is a good team, but no way will the tigers pull an easy win.

Keep in mind, Mizzou beat Iowa St 14-0. Far from impressive.
 


This should be a good game if the Hawkeyes show up. While Mizzou is a very explosive team they are also susceptible to a good defense and tough offense. Look at what Nebraska did to them on the ground. I think this is where having Marcus tote the rock is going to be a plus. They don't have a back like him in the Big 12.

The secondary point to having Marcus tote the rock is the fact that many of his former HS teammates which Hawkeye fans would love to play at Iowa in the coming years are going to see their boy as the feature back on National TV. Don't think they won't be watching.

KOK should feed him and feed him often. Don't get me wrong, Mizzou is a very good team. They are fast on both sides of the ball and we will need to tackle, but Gabbert doesn't throw as accurately as other QBs we have faced when he is on the run, but no doubt he can run and he can throw the ball. We need to get him moving while still containing him to reduce his accuracy. One comparison that I would make in this one regard would be to Daryll Clark. Gabbert's throws can have a tendancy to sail on him when he is scrabbling trying to make a pllay on the move. Again, Gabbert is defintely dangerous and a much better QB than DC, but I wanted to give you a visual by using DC as we saw some of his passes float into the arms of the Hawkeyes when he was under pressure in 2008-09.

If Marcus is down from his fumble at the end of the MN game, he is going to get his opportunity to shine and pay dividends for the Hawkeyes in this game and in recruiting.
 




It will be a good game between two teams that have different styles. I think Iowa has a few things going for them:
1. Missouri looks to be the outright favorite which means we have the underdog mentality
2. Its a bowl game which means Iowa will show up. Remember the Texas game from a few years back
3. All the players are going be ****** off
 


The players are not going to be *******off, they should've been that the last 4 games of the year. They are going through a collosal mess now, which will carry over to practice and the bowl game. This will be Mizzou by 14. NOt sure how we can think anything is going to motivate them. The thoughts of Jan. 1 bowl games did not.
 


bucksnducks said:
The players are not going to be *******off, they should've been that the last 4 games of the year. They are going through a collosal mess now, which will carry over to practice and the bowl game. This will be Mizzou by 14. NOt sure how we can think anything is going to motivate them. The thoughts of Jan. 1 bowl games did not.
Click to expand...

Ok, what is MO motivated by then? They were actually a BCS ranked team. They are playing in a bowl that ISU and MN played in last year.

Think about it from that POV.
 




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