Thoughts on Howe's article

I ready the article and I really don't see a problem with with it at all. I think he hits on some very good points (ie basketball excitement, and a feel of a wait and see on this football team)
 
I can say that I have never been this excited about a hawk team that I expect to only win 7 or 8
 
BearcatHawkeye said:
I ready the article and I really don't see a problem with with it at all. I think he hits on some very good points (ie basketball excitement, and a feel of a wait and see on this football team)
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that is more realism than apathy...apathetic means no concerns and indifference. we are concerned but because of some of the bright spots (cjf, jvb, new coaches, etc)...we are taking a wait and see approach which is not apathy (apathy is saying you dont care).
 
Foval21 said:
that is more realism than apathy...apathetic means no concerns and indifference. we are concerned but because of some of the bright spots (cjf, jvb, new coaches, etc)...we are taking a wait and see approach which is not apathy (apathy is saying you dont care).
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Right I guess I was meaning the level of care is a more wait and see because no one thinks this season is going to be a good one.
 
Foval21 said:
that is more realism than apathy...apathetic means no concerns and indifference. we are concerned but because of some of the bright spots (cjf, jvb, new coaches, etc)...we are taking a wait and see approach which is not apathy (apathy is saying you dont care).
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Bout time for you to get back to the class room. Where'e HawkeyeReed? Do you still have him in class or was he a alt.;)
 
I would say it's closer to a tempered excitement rather than apathy or lethargic. I know most are feeling 7-8 wins and sime (including myself) feel 9-10 is possible (win the ones we should and steal a game or two). But Howe used poor descriptive words in his article.
Until we stop selling out the stadium BEFORE the season starts, this fan base will always be excited. IMO
 
BlckNGldHwk said:
Dare I say it, but maybe Hawk fans are becoming more realistic in their expectations? We have wasted many an off-season banging the drum and getting excited only to have the season come and be disappointed. So now we have more realistic expectations and her excited when there is a reason to be excited, otherwise just sit back and enjoy the ride.
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fans have low expectations this year because we don't have a good team. 2 years ago we had high expectations because we had a really good team. just because we had a lot of injuries and lost some close games doesn't mean our high pre season expectations were unrealistic.

kinda a loser mentality to think that expectations become more realistic as they lower
 
I agree with Jon that I don't think Apathy is the right word. I don't have a problem at all with the article because there is at least some truth to the feeling that Iowa fans aren't expecting great things this year. Most know this is sort of a dare I say it "rebuilding" year. That can mean different things to different people and there will still be mass outrage when we lose a game this year. That said most Iowa fans that I talk to know that this isn't the summer before the 2010 season where looking at what we had coming back every Iowa fan had high hopes for a top ten finish and at the very least a run at the Big Ten title.
 
Before the coaching changes yes there definitely was some apathy, we all knew what was coming, every game. The onside kick by the opponent, a fake punt, running on 1st down or passing on 3rd and 1 or something stupid like that on opponents 10 yard line (Minnesota game)...However my level of excitement and a bunch of people I knows as well is not there this year. I'm talking about basketball so much more along with my group of friends due to Fran and his passion. I am hoping that the staff changes/shake ups are the answer to what seemed to be a somewhat mediocre/stale program. I think the article is fair and more of a question to the fanbase then anything else...
 
Rob Howe may want to buy a dictionary.

Wikipedia says:
Apathy is a state of indifference, or the suppression of emotions such as concern, excitement, motivation and passion.
 
ICHawk24 said:
Rob Howe may want to buy a dictionary.

Wikipedia says:
Apathy is a state of indifference, or the suppression of emotions such as concern, excitement, motivation and passion.
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It was creeping in a little but I agree right now now with the fresh blood that was brought in...
 
Howe did seem to be talking out both sides of his mouth a little bit.. He mentions lethargy and an apparent lack of excitement, but in the next sentence, he acknowledges that ticket sales are still strong and that the program is still fine.

Speaking for myself, I have felt a little bit of that lethargy the past couple of seasons now too - but it is not apathy. Apathy is what happened to the basketball program in the Lickliter era, where you KNEW that the team was going to blow and the outcomes of the games basically didn't matter anymore. You can't say the same for the football program, which seems to always have a chance at a good or great season.

On that note, as I mentioned - my current excitement for Hawkeye football isn't what it was in the pre-seasons from 2003-2006, and 2009-2010. But part of that can be that I'm in the middle of a major project at work, and also am in the middle of selling my house and moving, so my mind hasn't exactly been on football lately.

I am most definitely interested to see what the coach staff changes will do, though - it could be just what the doctor ordered. So I'm officially in wait-and-see mode and haven't written off the football program yet. Not by a long shot. I have hopes that this team can finally take care of business against the underdogs, and maybe steal a game or two that it shouldn't, and still win 8-9 games. But 6-6 or 7-5 wouldn't surprise me a bit.
 
JonDMiller said:
This is sort of my thinking, too. We've known since the winter that this season was more rebuild than reload. We've known the DL issues that Iowa will face, and I just think this team can only fly so high this year. Combine that with renewed excitement in basketball and I think folks are just being more realistic with this football season.

Apathy is not a word I would use were I describing this season. Apathy means people don't care, or at least, that is my thought of what it means. Perhaps it means different things for different people.
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Apathy means a lack of interest, excitement, or concern.

I don't think there is an overwhelming lack of interest from the committed fan base, but it is not a big year for the casual fan. But, even with the committed fans, there will be a lot of empty seats this year.

Excitement is definitely being tempered by low expectations.

Concern has given way to intrigue due to the coaching changes. Without those changes, this wouldn't be an apathetic fan base at all.
 
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That was a lot of words to really say nothing at all. Kind of disappointing as I think Howe is a good writer -- but my sense was that was just a 'filler' piece.
 
CAARHawk said:
Apathy means a lack of interest, excitement, or concern.

I don't think there is an overwhelming lack of interest from the committed fan base, but it is not a big year for the casual fan. But, even with the committed fans, there will be a lot of empty seats this year.

Excitement is definitely being tempered by low expectations.

Concern has given way to intrigue due to the coaching changes. Without those changes, this wouldn't be an apathetic fan base at all.
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Low expectations leads to low excitement, which eventually leads to apathy (although we're not nearly to that point yet). Rebuilding years are going to happen, but we could use another 9-10 win season to boost the excitement level again. Probably won't be this year, but hopefully soon.
 
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