We are where ...

[PlatypusMessiah]

I’m not sure I can remember Iowa loosing to any air raid team and that includes USC when they ran it. I like that the run plays they have out of it are designed to see how good your MLB is. That side of the ball I feel great about. Our special teams are real special this year.

I don’t even think Hill has to be an A or a B QB to be in this game, but he does have to be a C. This is not a Leonard defense. But I’m real unsure after last week if Hill can get to a C in one week.

 

[Motigerhawk]

I think everybody expected 5-1 but also expected the offense to be just a little bit better.

But after Hill goes 6-21 against Purdue with no completions to any WR, how can yo expect Iowa to score against Wisc? And if Iowa loses to Wisc, that may hand the division to Wisc.

The only thing that can save the team is the Iowa defense has to shut down Wisc's offense completely.

And score a couple TDs

 

[Teddy]

Well, Iowa has beaten Wisconsin 2 of the last 3 years. Deacon Hill was crazy wild with some of his throws, well most of his throws. Last week doesn't compel the same result this week.

 

[vork22]

Coaching matters. KF has had two decades plus to institute his daffy duck system of winning games. Wisky's coaches, while good, are still instilling how they win with their new, and yes more talented, team. Iowa has more than a puncher's chance because they know the formula, as crazy as it is.

I still think Iowa loses, but its more based upon being in Camp Randall as opposed to Wisky being that much better.

All great points. Stranger things have happened I suppose.

 

[okeefe4prez]

I don’t even think Hill has to be an A or a B QB to be in this game, but he does have to be a C. This is not a Leonard defense. But I’m real unsure after last week if Hill can get to a C in one week.

Drew Tate's career started 2-2 and included a blowout loss at Arizona State and a middling game in Ann Arbor. I was pretty nervous coming out of that Michigan game, but I'll be damned if Drew Tate didn't waltz out there every week with an attitude that he wasn't gonna lose. I think Deacon has that streak in him as well.

Deacon ain't Drew Tate, but I think he's gonna be a different guy every week who shows incremental improvement week over week like Tate did. He can win this game.

But then again, I wouldn't have a problem with Wisconsin getting sent to the annual East-West slaughter in Indianapolis. I'd take 11-2 with a decent bowl win over 11-3 with the season ending on a 42 point loss in the title game and a blowout in a bowl game we should have never been slotted for that we backed into by virtue of winning the west. The deviation between Iowa and Wisconsin and the powers in the east has gotten pretty stark the past few seasons.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Who the hell is a big playmaker on offense for Iowa?

All Jr in passing game and KJ in run game. Stop them and you totally stop Iowa.

If I'm a DC playing against Iowa the rest of this yr I'd be as disrespectful as it gets. I'd have 8 or 9 guys in the box every damn play. I mean within 5 yards of LOS and blitzing most of the plays. Force Hill to make a quick fast accurate decisions and stuff the run. I've never been a coach at any level but defending Iowa would be about as easy as it gets strategy wise

 

[PlatypusMessiah]

Drew Tate's career started 2-2 and included a blowout loss at Arizona State and a middling game in Ann Arbor. I was pretty nervous coming out of that Michigan game, but I'll be damned if Drew Tate didn't waltz out there every week with an attitude that he wasn't gonna lose. I think Deacon has that streak in him as well.

Deacon ain't Drew Tate, but I think he's gonna be a different guy every week who shows incremental improvement week over week like Tate did. He can win this game.

But then again, I wouldn't have a problem with Wisconsin getting sent to the annual East-West slaughter in Indianapolis. I'd take 11-2 with a decent bowl win over 11-3 with the season ending on a 42 point loss in the title game and a blowout in a bowl game we should have never been slotted for that we backed into by virtue of winning the west. The deviation between Iowa and Wisconsin and the powers in the east has gotten pretty stark the past few seasons.

I know what you are saying about the B1G championship game. It's no fun being de-pants like that on a Saturday night with all the football eyes on you. I've had the opinion since Black Friday last year that the players didn't want any part of it either last year and just played a real clunker of a game against Nebraska to avoid it last year. That's the only regular season game I've ever said that about this century.

But I want to play those games. How else do you win a conference championship unless you play in that game? Sometimes all you need is a chip and a chair. The program is currently struggling with road games (in particular) against top 10 opponents. So maybe a more neutral site game would be a starting point in figuring it out.

Maryland goes out and gets beat by 20 and yet somehow walked away with a narrative of they are great after last week after hanging with tOSU for a half. Sometimes you can loose and still win. Were we to win the West, we'd probably be 11-1 and in the talk for a NY6 game, win or loose. So sign me up.

 

[okeefe4prez]

I know what you are saying about the B1G championship game. It's no fun being de-pants like that on a Saturday night with all the football eyes on you. I've had the opinion since Black Friday last year that the players didn't want any part of it either last year and just played a real clunker of a game against Nebraska to avoid it last year. That's the only regular season game I've ever said that about this century.

But I want to play those games. How else do you win a conference championship unless you play in that game? Sometimes all you need is a chip and a chair. The program is currently struggling with road games (in particular) against top 10 opponents. So maybe a more neutral site game would be a starting point in figuring it out.

Maryland goes out and gets beat by 20 and yet somehow walked away with a narrative of they are great after last week after hanging with tOSU for a half. Sometimes you can loose and still win. Were we to win the West, we'd probably be 11-1 and in the talk for a NY6 game, win or loose. So sign me up.

If we had Cade and he was the guy we were hoping to get and if the o-line had materially improved in the offseason I would want every part of that game in Indy. Those things are off the table and I've seen enough beatdowns in that game to know that I don't want to play a big dog trying to earn style points for playoff seeding with this particular team. Plus, I absolutely loathe the fact that it is indoors. I have said since it started that if it was held at Soldiers Field in Chicago, Illinois that Wisconsin or Iowa would have a shot, but inside where it turns into a track meet all hope is lost.

Additionally, after what I witnessed at the hands of Standford in the Rose Bowl, I'm not sure how I really feel about NY6 games any more that aren't part of the playoff. I don't like this team's odds in either the title game or a NY6 game and would gladly take 11-2 right now over an 11-1 regular season followed by back to back insanely tough games. Maybe I would take the title game if it led to a bowl game against USC and their QB decided to sit it out and I knew we were going in full strength. The offense is just so bad and I don't want to see any more of those games with 40-20 TOP and the defense getting systematically broken from the midpoint of the third quarter until the opposition calls off the dogs inside of 4 minutes to play in the game. I can't stand watching our defense get worked like that.

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

If we had Cade and he was the guy we were hoping to get and if the o-line had materially improved in the offseason I would want every part of that game in Indy. Those things are off the table and I've seen enough beatdowns in that game to know that I don't want to play a big dog trying to earn style points for playoff seeding with this particular team. Plus, I absolutely loathe the fact that it is indoors. I have said since it started that if it was held at Soldiers Field in Chicago, Illinois that Wisconsin or Iowa would have a shot, but inside where it turns into a track meet all hope is lost.

Additionally, after what I witnessed at the hands of Standford in the Rose Bowl, I'm not sure how I really feel about NY6 games any more that aren't part of the playoff. I don't like this team's odds in either the title game or a NY6 game and would gladly take 11-2 right now over an 11-1 regular season followed by back to back insanely tough games. Maybe I would take the title game if it led to a bowl game against USC and their QB decided to sit it out and I knew we were going in full strength. The offense is just so bad and I don't want to see any more of those games with 40-20 TOP and the defense getting systematically broken from the midpoint of the third quarter until the opposition calls off the dogs inside of 4 minutes to play in the game. I can't stand watching our defense get worked like that.

Let me ask you guys this. I think it is fair to say there is a significant portion of the fan base who don't want the Hawks to lose or want to see them embarrassed, but have reached a point from an entertainment perspective that they want to see change in 2024 above all else. I'm not even saying they are all calling for anyone's job, just that they want to see real change on the offensive side of the ball.

Assume the offense stays pathetic. If change is your objective, probably the worst scenario is Iowa losing to Wisconsin, winning the rest, and then realistically getting an 11th win over a hollowed out opponent in a bowl game?

Say Iowa wins Saturday, and finds itself in Indy. Assume it's another four first downs kind of performance, and the broadcast has to fill a ton of deadtime during the slaughter, so inevitably talk a ton about Brian, the nepotism and the contract. Yes, this topic has been discussed on national broadcasts before, but this is a Big Ten title game. It wasn't really on the radar when Iowa played in Indy two years ago.

Does the second scenario - a four first down kind of output in prime time during the BTT game - make a change any more likely?

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Let me ask you guys this. I think it is fair to say there is a significant portion of the fan base who don't want the Hawks to lose or want to see them embarrassed, but have reached a point from an entertainment perspective that they want to see change in 2024 above all else. I'm not even saying they are all calling for anyone's job, just that they want to see real change on the offensive side of the ball.

Assume the offense stays pathetic. If change is your objective, probably the worst scenario is Iowa losing to Wisconsin, winning the rest, and then realistically getting an 11th win over a hollowed out opponent in a bowl game?

Say Iowa wins Saturday, and finds itself in Indy. Assume it's another four first downs kind of performance, and the broadcast has to fill a ton of deadtime during the slaughter, so inevitably talk a ton about Brian, the nepotism and the contract. Yes, this topic has been discussed on national broadcasts before, but this is a Big Ten title game. It wasn't really on the radar when Iowa played in Indy two years ago.

Does the second scenario - a four first down kind of output in prime time during the BTT game - make a change any more likely?

Great take with good questions.

Everything revolves around getting inside KFs head. And the fanbase as a whole. Is KF looking to keep going? Is he going to call it a career after this yr? If KF comes back and stubbornly brings BF back no matter what will fan base sell out every game and continue to support the program like they have? There's just some interesting dominos to see and the first one to me is how does the rest of this season go?

 

[okeefe4prez]

Let me ask you guys this. I think it is fair to say there is a significant portion of the fan base who don't want the Hawks to lose or want to see them embarrassed, but have reached a point from an entertainment perspective that they want to see change in 2024 above all else. I'm not even saying they are all calling for anyone's job, just that they want to see real change on the offensive side of the ball.

Assume the offense stays pathetic. If change is your objective, probably the worst scenario is Iowa losing to Wisconsin, winning the rest, and then realistically getting an 11th win over a hollowed out opponent in a bowl game?

Say Iowa wins Saturday, and finds itself in Indy. Assume it's another four first downs kind of performance, and the broadcast has to fill a ton of deadtime during the slaughter, so inevitably talk a ton about Brian, the nepotism and the contract. Yes, this topic has been discussed on national broadcasts before, but this is a Big Ten title game. It wasn't really on the radar when Iowa played in Indy two years ago.

Does the second scenario - a four first down kind of output in prime time during the BTT game - make a change any more likely?

I don't think Brian is a bad X and O guy, but I seriously think we need to jettison any semblance of carrying WRs on the roster if we are going to keep him. If we ran 4 and 5 TE sets with star players I think we would generate a lot of buzz and have at least a middling offense instead of a cellar dweller offense. I do not believe that Brian will be fired as long as Kurt is still there and the team is solid. If we win 11 games, Kurt will have bought himself another few years of inept offense. It's our identity at this point. We just have to embrace it.

 

[dagdaj]

All Jr in passing game and KJ in run game. Stop them and you totally stop Iowa.

If I'm a DC playing against Iowa the rest of this yr I'd be as disrespectful as it gets. I'd have 8 or 9 guys in the box every damn play. I mean within 5 yards of LOS and blitzing most of the plays. Force Hill to make a quick fast accurate decisions and stuff the run. I've never been a coach at any level but defending Iowa would be about as easy as it gets strategy wise

After watching the B10 in 60, Erick All has my vote for offensive MVP. Williams was very good against WMU. Johnson had the best performance of a back all season on Saturday.

All is exactly what you expect of a TE developed at Iowa. Arguably the most consistent "linemen" on offense. And can catch.

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

Great take with good questions.

Everything revolves around getting inside KFs head. And the fanbase as a whole. Is KF looking to keep going? Is he going to call it a career after this yr? If KF comes back and stubbornly brings BF back no matter what will fan base sell out every game and continue to support the program like they have? There's just some interesting dominos to see and the first one to me is how does the rest of this season go?

So do you think there is zero chance Goetz makes the call herself? I'd lean towards no right now. But I think a national embarrassment in the Big Ten title game might cause some fairly influential folks to nudge her to take action.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

So do you think there is zero chance Goetz makes the call herself? I'd lean towards no right now. But I think a national embarrassment in the Big Ten title game might cause some fairly influential folks to nudge her to take action.

She's a wildcard. She could put her foot down technically she holds the final say. How much can she and is she willing to flex since she's technically still an interim AD? does that even matter? Again it just depends how things play out. If Iowa loses say 2 more games this yr and falls short of Indy with the worst O in college football with more games like the last one something just has to give right? That scenario seems most likely. But even if they end up in Indy and get smashed in title game as you'd described that won't be good at all either.

With her still being fairly new and not having gone back yrs and yrs with KF she should have an easier time of standing up to him about BF. But that only matters if KF wants to come back next yr at all. Which I'm not convinced of. If things go off the rails it could make the decision just that much easier for him

 

[dagdaj]

She's a wildcard. She could put her foot down technically she holds the final say. How much can she and is she willing to flex since she's technically still an interim AD? does that even matter? Again it just depends how things play out. If Iowa loses say 2 more games this yr and falls short of Indy with the worst O in college football with more games like the last one something just has to give right? That scenario seems most likely. But even if they end up in Indy and get smashed in title game as you'd described that won't be good at all either.

With her still being fairly new and not having gone back yrs and yrs with KF she should have an easier time of standing up to him about BF. But that only matters if KF wants to come back next yr at all. Which I'm not convinced of. If things go off the rails it could make the decision just that much easier for him

I think this is a pretty good assessment. Only way I see it where anyone (AD or other University bigwig) does anything "major" (and by major, I mean specifically addressing Kirk) is if they lose to WI, IL, MN, NE AND either NW or Rutgers. Maybe, something major happens still if they beat both NW and Rutgers. But, I doubt it.

The thing is though, they don't have to do anything major. I don't have a full understanding of Brain's contract status. I don't pay too much attention to the fine print. If it's truly win 7 and score 25, he returns to his regularly scheduled pay and regularly scheduled contract. To me, that would mean if he doesn't hit those numbers. He's got NO contract. To keep him on, a new one would have to be negotiated.

So, yeah....conceivably any AD or other University brass could potentially hide behind "Oh, Kirk....we love you. We adore you. You're the best. My grandson is named Kirk. I keep pictures of you in my wallet. We want you to stay. Would you like a new set of snow tires? Also, we're thinking about a bronze statue of you outside the north entrance at Kinnick."

And just refuse to offer Brain a new contract. Force his hand and put the ball in his court. It would be ugly. No doubt. But, it gives them a little something to hide behind. No telling what he does then. If Fry's to be believed, it gets ugly and he quits.

Maybe the contract amendment is actually brilliant and Goetz is setup to the the fallgal. Do the dirty work. Start afresh. Maybe if she walks the tightrope somehow and it doesn't get ugly, she earns the gig outright or the panache and punches her ticket to be the pick of the litter for any other school looking for an AD/president or whatever. I've no idea what her ambitions are. I hardly know anything about her.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I think this is a pretty good assessment. Only way I see it where anyone (AD or other University bigwig) does anything "major" (and by major, I mean specifically addressing Kirk) is if they lose to WI, IL, MN, NE AND either NW or Rutgers. Maybe, something major happens still if they beat both NW and Rutgers. But, I doubt it.

The thing is though, they don't have to do anything major. I don't have a full understanding of Brain's contract status. I don't pay too much attention to the fine print. If it's truly win 7 and score 25, he returns to his regularly scheduled pay and regularly scheduled contract. To me, that would mean if he doesn't hit those numbers. He's got NO contract. To keep him on, a new one would have to be negotiated.

So, yeah....conceivably any AD or other University brass could potentially hide behind "Oh, Kirk....we love you. We adore you. You're the best. My grandson is named Kirk. I keep pictures of you in my wallet. We want you to stay. Would you like a new set of snow tires? Also, we're thinking about a bronze statue of you outside the north entrance at Kinnick."

And just refuse to offer Brain a new contract. Force his hand and put the ball in his court. It would be ugly. No doubt. But, it gives them a little something to hide behind. No telling what he does then. If Fry's to be believed, it gets ugly and he quits.

Maybe the contract amendment is actually brilliant and Goetz is setup to the the fallgal. Do the dirty work. Start afresh. Maybe if she walks the tightrope somehow and it doesn't get ugly, she earns the gig outright or the panache and punches her ticket to be the pick of the litter for any other school looking for an AD/president or whatever. I've no idea what her ambitions are. I hardly know anything about her.

Well with Goetz I think she's got the gig. It's just a formality of going through their drawn out process before naming her officially it. The only thing more surprising to me if say she doesn't get the job would be if KF is coaching Iowa next yr with a totally new OC hired from outside the program.

The whole contract deal with BF is garbage because assistant coaches are pretty much on 1 yr deals anyway. If he doesn't meet the criteria it just means his current deal is ripped up and they'd have to renegotiate his terms which they'd have been able to do anyway. By no means did it say he'd be fired and not able to be brought back. End of the day the main result of the stupid contract is terrible PR for the program. There's reasons why no other program out there has anything similar to it and we've found most of them all out already. Barta is such an idiot.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I know what you are saying about the B1G championship game. It's no fun being de-pants like that on a Saturday night with all the football eyes on you. I've had the opinion since Black Friday last year that the players didn't want any part of it either last year and just played a real clunker of a game against Nebraska to avoid it last year. That's the only regular season game I've ever said that about this century.

But I want to play those games. How else do you win a conference championship unless you play in that game? Sometimes all you need is a chip and a chair. The program is currently struggling with road games (in particular) against top 10 opponents. So maybe a more neutral site game would be a starting point in figuring it out.

Maryland goes out and gets beat by 20 and yet somehow walked away with a narrative of they are great after last week after hanging with tOSU for a half. Sometimes you can loose and still win. Were we to win the West, we'd probably be 11-1 and in the talk for a NY6 game, win or loose. So sign me up.

In addition, you can always sell it to recruits.

 

[ChosenChildren]

Wisconsin is going to blitz Hill over and over again.

Get the ball to the tight end and the backs out of the backfield to neutralize the blitz. Pass the ball on running downs and run the ball on passing downs.

Give up this idea that we can throw to our receivers. It isn't going to happen against Wisconsin. He will be on his back before the ball is released.

 

[SwirlinLingerie]

Wisconsin is going to blitz Hill over and over again.

Get the ball to the tight end and the backs out of the backfield to neutralize the blitz. Pass the ball on running downs and run the ball on passing downs.

Give up this idea that we can throw to our receivers. It isn't going to happen against Wisconsin. He will be on his back before the ball is released.

One thing I hadn't thought of before. The Badgers are probably intimately aware of Hill's greatest weaknesses - what he really struggled with in practice. So absolutely no advantage in having a QB without much tape on him...

 

[Hawkboys]

One thing I hadn't thought of before. The Badgers are probably intimately aware of Hill's greatest weaknesses - what he really struggled with in practice. So absolutely no advantage in having a QB without much tape on him...

That was before BFer got a hold of him. They have no clue what he can and cannot do now!!