The Iowa Hawkeyes

[jts20]

I think it's about time the wackiest team this year gets their own thread. This team is seriously the most bi polar team in the history of CFB. On one hand they lead the country in double digit wins over teams in the BCS top 25(or did as of last week or so) and on the other hand beat UNI, a 1-AA team, on two blocked FG's and beat Ark. State by 3. Ricky Stanzi looks like a division 3 QB in the first 3 quarters against Indiana, then looks like a friggin heisman candidate in the fourth, starting off the quarter going 3-3 for 177 yards and 2 TD's.

I've payed attention to Iowa ever since they beat Florida in the Outback Bowl. They're a very hard working team that plays the right way and have one of the best coaches in the country.

That being said, WTH is wrong with them? Do they like to cut it close against the weak teams and manhandle the better competition? Can anyone get a read on this team? Obviously they're good. They're still undefeated but this seems to be a very polarizing topic on these boards.

[BigDofBA]

The don't suck but they aren't anywhere near as good as their BCS ranking indicates.

They had to block two FG's to beat Northern Iowa at home, they trailed Indiana in the 4th, and they were lucky to beat a mediocre Michigan State team.

They have one good win.

[BryantLee]

Quote: Originally Posted by BigDofBA

The don't suck but they aren't anywhere near as good as their BCS ranking indicates. They had to block two FG's to beat Northern Iowa at home, they trailed Indiana in the 4th, and they were lucky to beat a mediocre Michigan State team. They have one good win.

Thats a comment of ignorance from someone who hasn't actually watched Iowa football.

First of all Iowa was never in danger of losing to Indiana, they had two bad quarters when playing into a 30 mph wind. When they were with it, they scored 28 unanswered points and win by double digits. And second Michigan St. is alot better than people think and play extremely tough at home.

And how do you consider they have one good win, when they beat #5 Penn State on the road by double digits, beat now #22 Wisconsin on the road by double digits and beat now #18 Arizona by double digits. Ok they beat Arkansas State by only 3 but that was coming off of the big win against Penn State. Iowa isn't the only team in college football to struggle after a big win.

They have one of the toughest schedules in college football and have won every game. They deserve to be where they are and deserve to be ahead of Texas by far but luckily for the BCS favoritsm that Texas gets, they are benefiting with a #2 ranking. If Iowa wins out and has 4 wins against the AP Top 25, three being on the road and go undefeated in a BCS conference that is way tougher than the Big 12 and are snubbed from the NC game, then the system is a joke.

[jts20]

Quote: Originally Posted by BryantLee

First of all Iowa was never in danger of losing to Indiana,

I was watching the game thanks to the B10/ESPN contract for the noon games. If Tyler Sash doesn't get that pinball interception and return it to the house then Indiana goes up 28-7 and I don't think Iowa picks themselves up off the mat. That lucky pick 6 gave them an adrenaline boost they needed.

I agree with everything else you said though. People saying they have played a weak schedule is ignorant at best. They played a harder OOC then Florida or Texas and went to Happy Valley and Camp Randall and won by double digits. Texas played a joke of an OOC and Florida played an even more laughable OOC, even FSU is a joke that almost lost to a 1-AA team and can hardly win games in the ACC. If it wasn't for Ponder they are 3-5 at best probably only 2-6.

[BryantLee]

Quote: Originally Posted by jts20

That lucky pick 6 gave them an adrenaline boost they needed.

I think the boost they needed was getting that wind in their favor. And they can have those 7 points we still win by 11. Kudos to Kirk Ferentz for not taking ball in the opening toss and playing the wind.

[dunnyduns]

Quote: Originally Posted by BryantLee

I think the boost they needed was getting that wind in their favor. And they can have those 7 points we still win by 11. Kudos to Kirk Ferentz for not taking ball in the opening toss and playing the wind.

If you give Indiana the 7 points then you'd have to take 7 off for the Hawkeyes as well so, that would would have made the final victory margin of the game 4 points not 11.

But, what the poster was saying is it's possible IU scores a touchdown there and makes the score 28-7 and Indiana with the momentum. Instead Iowa gets the bounce and the touchdown return and the score is instead 21-14 with the momentum then in Iowa's favor.

Who knows if Iowa goes on the run to end the game without that interception return because if they are down possibly 31-7 instead of just 24-14 going into the 4th quarter and Indiana most likely goes into more pass oriented defenses and who knows if Iowa gets the long passing touchdowns that propelled them to the lead. The interception helped change the whole complexion of the game.

[lilbently]

I like Iowa a lot because they do remind me of the 02' Buckeyes where they just always seem to win, its not pretty but they get the job done. I think they have a great defense and have good coaching which results in the players playing all 4 quarters (Indiana simply quit after 3 quarters) and finishing games.

However I don't think Iowa will finish undefeated. I think the Buckeyes get them in Columbus. I know they won @ PSU which is a great win, but its 2 great defenses going up in that matchup. I think it will be a low scoring game, and Tresselball might actually work in this game. I can't wait for that matchup, but if anyone is ot beat Iowa the Buckeyes have the best chance..

And I'm tired of people saying Iowa plays no one and has no wins, hell some guy on here said PSU didnt even count lol. They beat then #5 Penn State on the road by double digits. Oregon beat #5 USC @ home by double digits and now everyone is high on Oregon, yet no one talks about what Iowa did on the road to Penn State. They also beat 2 other ranked teams also by double digits in Wisconsin & Arizona.

They have played one of the toughest schedules in the country, yet people look at the Big 10 as weak and give Iowa no credit when they have dominated 3 ranked teams.

This team has definently surprised me I remember seeing highlights from the UNI game and thinking wow Iowa is going to suck this year. They are a scary team and I think can play with Florida and Texas.

[TheShizNo1]

09 Hawkeyes = 02 Buckeyes

[legendkiller5]

Being down 2 scored in the 4th quarter isn't being in danger of losing? Alright.

I think the bigger play was that absolute bs no touchdown call that took 6 away from Indiana.

With that being said, I think there problem is they play to the level of their competition. If they played a top-tier team, I think they would compete. Probably.

Lastly, I don't know how you can say they deserve to be ahead of Texas, Bama or Florida. You aren't going to impress a lot of people who see more than the box score when you're having to play from behind against Arky St, UNI, MSU and Indiana.

[Maxattax3]

Quote: Originally Posted by BryantLee

They deserve to be where they are and deserve to be ahead of Texas by far but luckily for the BCS favoritsm that Texas gets, they are benefiting with a #2 ranking.

What are you talking about? Texas has to go undefeated to get a shot at the Big12 championship let alone the National Championship.

Also, Texas would smash Iowa right now. Probably pretty badly if any form of the Iowa team that played Indiana last Saturday showed up.

Also, Iowa gets plenty of BCS love. They always have good preseason rankings. Usually too good of rankings for what kind of team they have.