Today's game is a make or break game for Iowa

[okeefe4prez]

Look, I don't want to call it the most important game in program history, but it is close. If we win this showdown, the sky is the limit next year. If Brian calls a typical game and we are held to under 200 yards in a close loss where the defense carries the team, Nate Stanley's confidence will be forever shaken and we will be lucky to win 5 games next year. So while it may not be the most important game ever bince no playoff berth or Big Ten crown is on the line, it is absolutely the most pivotal game we will ever watch, more important than Wisconsin 2010, which started a tailspin, or PSU 2008, which put us on a rocket ship to the moon.

 

[HaydenHawk56]

I think we are challenged either way.....win or lose.....for taking the next step.

 

[Stanzi]

How we look today is definitely going to define the optimism/pessimism level heading into next season. If we see the offense running like we know it can that will be promising. If we see the garbage offense we saw for 2/3 of the season then people are going to be really down and attendance will suffer.

 

[okeefe4prez]

How we look today is definitely going to define the optimism/pessimism level heading into next season. If we see the offense running like we know it can that will be promising. If we see the garbage offense we saw for 2/3 of the season then people are going to be really down and attendance will suffer.

Always kind of hated the old cliche "he's not a rookie anymore" or "he's not a freshman anymore" but at this point, we've gotta apply it to Brian. Only problem is that with this much prep time, he can lean heavily on the elder statesman, Ken O'Keefe, to draw up a game plan so we won't know how much of this is his versus how much is plagiarized.

 

[uihawk82]

Look, I don't want to call it the most important game in program history, but it is close. If we win this showdown, the sky is the limit next year. If Brian calls a typical game and we are held to under 200 yards in a close loss where the defense carries the team, Nate Stanley's confidence will be forever shaken and we will be lucky to win 5 games next year. So while it may not be the most important game ever bince no playoff berth or Big Ten crown is on the line, it is absolutely the most pivotal game we will ever watch, more important than Wisconsin 2010, which started a tailspin, or PSU 2008, which put us on a rocket ship to the moon.

That is a lot of hype, hyperbole, and some trolling. This is a bowl game after a season of underperforming coaching performance. I think many of us saw enough talent that if it was let loose in new and novel ways the team could have won 9-10 games. A really bad loss today if it happens from the normal dull offense will signal a staleness, a sameness. If they try a lot of novel stuff and turn it over or mess it up then at least they are trying and experimenting.

This is not even close to the most important game in program history. Those games were back in Hayden's early years when they were trying to climb out of 18 bad seasons.

 

[1hawkeye1]

Meh, it's an exhibition game that means nothing.

 

[okeefe4prez]

That is a lot of hype, hyperbole, and some trolling. This is a bowl game after a season of underperforming coaching performance. I think many of us saw enough talent that if it was let loose in new and novel ways the team could have won 9-10 games. A really bad loss today if it happens from the normal dull offense will signal a staleness, a sameness. If they try a lot of novel stuff and turn it over or mess it up then at least they are trying and experimenting.

This is not even close to the most important game in program history. Those games were back in Hayden's early years when they were trying to climb out of 18 bad seasons.

Oh really? So if Nate Stanley gets blitzed 30 times and we don't have a single screen pass in the playbook and the kid gets lit up every time he drops back, you think he will be just a psyched for 2018 as if he comes out and puts up 500 yards and 5 TDs in a blowout win? Your crazy dude.

 

[uihawk82]

Oh really? So if Nate Stanley gets blitzed 30 times and we don't have a single screen pass in the playbook and the kid gets lit up every time he drops back, you think he will be just a psyched for 2018 as if he comes out and puts up 500 yards and 5 TDs in a blowout win? Your crazy dude.

Oh it can affect my outlook but it doesnt mean this game is a program maker or buster. We can get beat by 14 points today and still have a really good season next year which is the way of Ferentz. You know the history.

 

[BigD]

Meh, it's an exhibition game that means nothing.

This is correct. It is totally meaningless in the world of college football. The only meaning here is for the fense sitters who have been barely supporting KF. With a loss it could put them into the “it’s time for KF to go” and with a win it may get them to put one foot down on the “keep KF around for a little longer” side of the fense.

Middle of the week, odd time of the day for a game. Mainly Iowa and Boston College fans will be the only ones interested in this hapless game. It will do nothing for recruiting unless there is some two and a half star - three star recruit in the New York area that hasn’t had any scholarship offers.

I will watch and cheer for my team because it is what Hawkeyes fans do every year.

 

[BigD]

That is a lot of hype, hyperbole, and some trolling. This is a bowl game after a season of underperforming coaching performance. I think many of us saw enough talent that if it was let loose in new and novel ways the team could have won 9-10 games. A really bad loss today if it happens from the normal dull offense will signal a staleness, a sameness. If they try a lot of novel stuff and turn it over or mess it up then at least they are trying and experimenting.

This is not even close to the most important game in program history. Those games were back in Hayden's early years when they were trying to climb out of 18 bad seasons.

All true, sad as it is. It won’t matter if Stanley really does an outstanding job (see Purdue game after Ohio State win) and really lights it up. KF will play his conservative mindset play calling to start out next season. This same lazy mindset cost Ohio State the game. Arrogant OSU coach comes in with an attitude we can easily win playing a straight normal defense. If he would have played eight in the box like everyone else did then Ohio State would have totally shut down our offense and then wore down our defense and easily pulled away for rna win. The arrogant bastard got what he deserved when they lost to us.

 

[BigD]

I do hope we win and big.

 

[chadfrey]

With most of the recruiting in the books already for this cycle, the importance of this bowl game is very diminished. It will determine the mood for the offseason, not much more.

 

[seepig]

Well we are seeing a D that can't get off the field in a bowl game. Dilly Dilly!

 

[uihawk82]

Well we have an ice bowl which isnt meaning much especially when BC is blitzing and throwing the kitchen sink at us.

 

[seepig]

wow lookie here 97 yard drive to put a bullet in our heads

 

[seepig]

OUr D is getting their asses kicked

 

[seepig]

So is our offensive line....glad we shuffled those coaches in the off season

 

[seepig]

Our coaches are blubbering idiots! good job giving BC an opportunity to score again before half

 

[okeefe4prez]

If Brian calls a typical game and we are held to under 200 yards in a close loss where the defense carries the team, Nate Stanley's confidence will be forever shaken and we will be lucky to win 5 games next year.

Hey O'Keefe - we put up 200 yards of offense and won. Thoughts?

 

[seepig]

Well can never bitch about a W! Great . second half and good adjustments by Brian. I don't pretend to know how we can stay in games going entire quarters and halfs without first downs or yards. I also can't figure out how we can stay in games with the worst 3rd down conversion percentage I've ever seen either. TO's played a huge part however and typically KF teams don't shoot themselves in the foot.