Iowa’s loss to Minnesota: ‘Something’s not going right’
MINNEAPOLIS – There was at least one thing that turned out favorably Saturday for Iowa football.
There wasn’t a bowl representative in sight at TCF Bank Stadium. Those scouts who followed the Hawkeyes throughout the season weren’t to be found Saturday. With a little luck on Iowa’s side, they might have forgotten to tune in, too.
Iowa's Marcus Coker sulks on the sideline after fumbling the ball, in the fourth quarter against Minnesota, Saturday, Nov. 27, 2010, at TCF Bank Stadium, in Minneapolis, Minn. (Press-Citizen/ Matthew Holst)
The No. 24 Hawkeyes turned in a performance that was fit for a pig, slopping around and watching Floyd of Rosedale get away after a 27-24 loss to Minnesota in front of 50,805.
“They were more ready to go than we were today,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. “They got what they deserved and we got what we deserved.”
The Hawkeyes (7-5, 4-4 Big Ten) will ultimately wind up with a bowl trip for what they accomplished during the first two months of the season when they won six of their first eight games and crushed an 11-1 Michigan State team that tied for the Big Ten title.
But Saturday marked Iowa’s third consecutive loss and only a dropped touchdown in the end zone against Indiana saved the Hawkeyes from a winless November.
“Something’s not going right (and) we don’t know what it is,” senior tight end Allen Reisner said. “Something happened on the way up here. We didn’t have our heads in it, I guess. Those are not characteristics we have on our football team. We beat ourselves today.”
Iowa made it difficult to argue that point at times. The Hawkeyes failed to cover an on-side kick, botched a center exchange and extended a Minnesota (3-9, 2-6) drive when they had 12 players on the field for a punt.
Iowa turned the ball over twice, accumulated 218 yards offense and gave up 216 on the ground – both season-worsts for the Hawkeyes.
“When you lose three games, you’re looking for answers,” Ferentz said. “When you lose one game, you’re looking for answers. Apparently, we haven’t found them.”
The latest defeat had a familiar feel. The Hawkeyes led with five minutes to play – Iowa has led or been tied at the 5:00 in all 12 games – and could neither get a clinching stop on defense nor a go-ahead response on offense.
When asked if there was something unplugged or broken with his team, Iowa senior defensive end Adrian Clayborn said: “Our will to win, I guess. … The fourth quarter, we always lose it.”
This one, though, might have gotten away from the Hawkeyes at the start. They were down 10-0 before they touched the football.
“Not being ready to play,” Clayborn said. “They had their Senior Day and they were ready to go and we just rolled out like we were supposed to win.”
Minnesota hadn’t scored against Iowa in the previous two meetings, getting blanked 55-0 in 2008 and 12-0 last year. The Gophers drove 58 yards for a field goal on their opening possession. Then they recovered an on-side kick and drove 58 yards again, reaching the end zone on a 14-yard run by MarQueis Gray.
Iowa was climbing uphill most of the game. Derrell Johnson-Koulianos caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Ricky Stanzi and returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown.
The Hawkeyes had just three possessions in the game when they picked up more than 26 yards. Stanzi completed 10-of-22 passing for 127 yards and two touchdowns. His second scoring pass came on an 18-yard slant to Marvin McNutt that gave Iowa its first lead at 24-20 with 11:35 remaining.
But the Hawkeyes once again couldn’t preserve a late lead. Minnesota chopped up 77 yards on six plays. Adam Weber completed a pass to Gray for 19 yards and another to Da’Jon McKnight for 40 against an Iowa secondary that featured a pair of reserve cornerbacks. Gray ran through two tackles on third down to move the chains and Duane Bennett scored on a six-yard run on the next play to put the Gophers ahead with 4:31 left.
Iowa’s last opportunity to answer fell to the turf when Minnesota cornerback Troy Stoudermire put a helmet on the football as freshman running back Marcus Coker tried switching hands on a 12-yard run and jarred the ball loose. The Gophers recovered and ran the last 4:14 off the clock.
“The critical errors we’ve had have come at the worst-possible times and in the worst-possible scenarios,” Iowa offensive lineman Julian Vandervelde said.
The loss dropped the Hawkeyes into a three-way tie for fourth in the Big Ten. Iowa is one of four teams in the league with seven victories and Illinois could join that group with a win next week at Fresno State. The Hawkeyes could wind up just about anywhere on the Big Ten bowl ladder from the Outback to the Ticket City Bowl.
The Hawkeyes haven’t helped their cause in the last three weeks.
“At the end of the day, we’re 19, 20, 21, 22 (years old),” Clayborn said. “We’ve got to grow up and be men. I don’t think we did that in November.”
Category: Iowa Hawkeyes Football
This teams’ effort vs NU, Indy and MN was disgusting. Minnesota was the worst game I’ve seen in at least 11 years. Outside of DJK not ONE Hawkeye showed up to play. NO effort, no heart, no glory and not one sign of Hawkeye Pride. In a season that has gone from disappointing to embarrassing today’s loss was a HUGE F.U. from the team to the fans.
My bowl plans have been cancelled. We won’t spend another penny to support a team that doesn’t care enough to try.
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Our offense has been pathetic since MSU. That is not against the players, although last weekend they stayed in Iowa City, but a reflection on leadership. O’keefe needs to watch some SEC tape while Kirk needs to watch Iowa’s tape and see the plays his coordinator is choosing and when…
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I agree. I think O’Keefe is the most unimaginative offensive coordinator in college football. I don’t think we need a spread offense, just new play calling
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true that
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Good Point. An unlucky end for Indiana or the Hawks are Zero for November. Who would have thunk it before this most anticipated season I can remember? Who would have predicted that our primary running back in the last game of the regular season was a true freshman. The middle linebacker also a true freshman. Player attrition at key positions hurt, as well as coaching errors and some motivational issues that prevented the team from responding at crunch time. I think these are very good kids, but leadership may have been absent from the coaching staff to the end of the bench.
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all through the player comments, I see the same statement “not ready”….the coach is getting paid $4million/year to have them read EVERY GAME..totally the coaching’s fault as all the losses hvae been..
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That was NOT a Norm Parker coached defense. The only 6 seconds of Hell occurred TO Iowa nearly every time Minnesota snapped the ball. Now off to the Toilet Bowl
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You need LB’s from Hell to support 6 seconds of Hell. Unfortunately we did not have the experince, size, and strength this year.
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People are acting like Iowa is loaded with talent. That’s not true. We don’t have the talent and leadership that we had at the beginning of the years. Iowa’s the type of program that needs to stay healthy to have a decent season.
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KF said the HAWKS weren’t ready to play, isn’t that why he is getting paid 3 plus million dolars a year to do? He deserves all the blame!!!
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After losing your last two, which should have been the last three, and knowing you are facing a Sr. day, there is NO WAY POSSIBLE a team should ever be unprepared.
As for where the blame lies, I get your point, but I feel more like spreading it around. Where was that large group of Sr’s. – is this the note they wanted to end the season on? Didn’t the inspiration of last year’s Sr’s. like Edds and Angerer mean ANYTHING to these guys?
Than there are all the special teams gaffes. I’m not one for firing all the coaches, but somebody had better tell me fast why our special teams coaches, after one of the most bumbling season-long efforts ever, haven’t been handed their walking papers?
As for KFz, after this has happened, the least he can do is come right out and say, “This starts with me – I didn’t get the job done,” and then both tell us AND SHOW US what he is going to do about it.
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I went to a high school playoff game and both teams were running the wildcat, there was over 100 points scored in the game. Marvin McNutt is a quarterback turned wide reciever, we have Paul Cheney, DJK, and other talent..after a few 3 and out’s this year I would have pulled run some other plays OR tried anything to get the Offense moving…where is the will to win, imagination and intellect on Offense? Do you think Nick Saban and other top coaches would let players go 3 and out AND start slow on Offense????
100% truthful, I enjoyed watching the high school teams Offense more than Iowa because of the play calling and I’m no fan of the wildcat…but it’s the ability to move the ball that matters.
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This starts with the head coach and coordinator. They are not innovators, they rely on the same 10 plays (20 if you count the reverse of the 10) and continue to give away games. Think OSU when we intercepted Pryor at the end of the second quarter with a minute plus on the clock and 2 TO’s. What did we do? Took a knee and had to kick off to start the second half. That doesn’t put confidence in your players.
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Obviously there is a disconnect from the coaches to the kids, we lost the kids that lead from within. K.F. couldn’t connect with a 20 yr old and he admitted it about DJK. Let me get this right, the head coach is so disconnected from his #1 offensive threat that he won’t let him talk to the press and struggled to start him.
Everyone knows whats holding them back, it the same coaching staff that got them the opportunity and they will keep protecting them!
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Story of the game: Ferentz getting outcoached again. Honestly, how many times do the opponents onside kick or fake punt before our special (ed?) teams catch on?
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How many teams onside kick 5-minutes into the first quarter after a field goal?
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Teams that are 2-9 and have nothing to play for.
Needed to be awake for that but, like punts by EIU and Wisky, we weren’t.
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Chuck,
Perfectly executed surprise onside kicks are the hardest to recover. If Ferentz knew for a fact that iw was coming, he would put more guys up there.
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Good point, Chuck. Poor Minnesota had two weeks to prepare, it’s senior day, playing for Floyd in their “bowl” game and no coach. They had NOTHING to lose. Every Iowa coach should have known we see every trick play in the book. As usual, we were TOTALLY predictable and our only “spice” was that terrible reverse that LOSES yards every single time..
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Just a flat out average program… average players, average coaches.
Last year, Iowa got EXTREMELY lucky to beat Indiana (let me repeat that, Indiana), Michigan State, UNI (let me repeat that, I-AA UNI) and even needed to recover an on-side kick vs. something called Arkansas State.
This year, Iowa showed its true colors and finished 6-6 (7-5 thanks to the Hooiser drop).
You can blame the coaching staff all you want but look at the players too. For example, Clayborn may be the most overrated player in the history of Iowa football.
Let’s all get used to it … take a look at the schedule next year and the Ticket City Bowl is the BEST we can hope for.
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I don’t think the player talent on this team is average but definitely under-performing. That is the most uncharacteristic and disturbing thing about this team when compared to years past. Iowa will still send more guys to the NFL than any of the average teams across the country.
The coaching staff is way above average in at least one category this year-pay.
Agree about the Indiana game and all of the close games. A lot of those games shouldn’t have even been close.
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Right now the athletic ability on this team is average. I was flipping between the Iowa game and Florida State/Florida game. The speed of the game is like night and day. Both those teams have a lot of athletic guys that can fly.
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This was a 12-0 season turned from chicken salad into chicken s**t by 2 things: injuries on defense, but more overwhelmingly, negative thinking and negative expectations that led to the lack of will to pay the price to win.
“Win or die fighting.”
–Homer…”The Iliad”
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Try II
Iowa’s not an average program. Were obviously not an elite program. Were not the only program who’s dissappointed with our season. Texas, Alabama, Florida, Southern Cal, Penn State, are all having dissappointing seasons. Last year, Iowa had the swagger that they can finish in the 4th quarter. This year, we have lost that swagger. Last year we just had a more talented, deeper football team. I believe 4 guys on last year’s team, are now starting in the NFL.
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The most over rated Iowa players are highly recruited guys who never proved that they can play at this level. Remember the 2005 Recruiting Class. Jake Christensen and a few other players become busts. stats for Defensive Ends can be misleading. You have to look at game film. Sometimes you play against QB’s who tend to hold on to a ball too long and you get coverage sacks. Some quarterbacks are almost impossible to sack, because they know when to get rid of the ball.
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Oh, I wouldn’t just blame the players. Who’s calling a second reverse when the first one didn’t work? I feel bad for Coker because he had a hell of a game and it looked to me he was trying to secure the ball. Minnesota got lucky on that play and got it stripped. One second more, Coker is down and Iowa continues the drive.
I think the whole coaching staff needs to take a look at the Special Teams and the Leadership and the heart. They get paid the big $ to HELP the players become better than average and no one has stepped up to the plate this year.
So much talent, so little wins.
Say we go 7-5 and get paid 3 million $? Does that sound fair? It’s their job to develop these players and make them competitive and no one is fitting the bill.
One disappointed hawk fan.
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DUH! Sally should not let them og to a bowal this season!
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This has been the most disappointing season that I can remember with any of Iowa athletics. As we all sit here and rack our brains to what went wrong with this season, I will will give you my theory. Is it a matter of talent?…I say no. We have enough talent to compete with anyboby. However, this year’s disappointment stems from the fact that this team lacked leadership and accountability from both the players and especially the coaches. This was demonstrated by the fight that occurred in the locker room last week after the Ohio St. game. The players clearly did not have each other’s backs nor did they care enough about each other. That is the reason why we could not pull out victories. From the beginning of this game you could see that the player’s heart’s were not in it, which is saddening. Best defensive line in the country? Not today, especially when your supposedly best lineman is finding himself 8 or 9 yards downfield trying to make tackles while either falling on his back or being driven back by offensive lineman. The senior class will look back on this one day and find out that they were very individually selfish. I hope the coaches and lower classamn can learn from this one day and not make it happen again!
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College football is so even now that the team with the mental edge will win every time. Attitude is the key in that, and we let ***** attitudes take over the mindset between games, whether wins or losses this year. Instead of worrying about whether we’re going to recover mentally from a tough loss, or not get too cocky after a lopsided win, just worry about trying to score when we have the ball, even if we’re 3 pts up, it’s first down at midfield, and 42 seconds left in the 1st half. When we have the ball, try to score, no matter what the situation. Go out there and really have some fun and try to score. This conservative don’t try to score, but run 3 dive plays off left tackle with 42 seconds left is gutless! Some may criticize Beilema for his attitude in games this year. I say go for it. Have some fun. Third and fourth stringers, go out there and try to dominate the other team and score a touchdown. Bobby Stoops at OK has the same attitude. The OK/OKST game was full of gutsy calls that really get players up to play, not 3 dive plays off guard with 42 seconds left before half at midfield. That’s trying not to lose. Go out there and try to win by out-surprising them on execution, and being ready for any surprise from them. Have fun! Love it!
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I agree with Rob G, anyone that thinks these people deserve to go to any bowl are NUTS!! In addition to that if you still think they deserve to go to a bowl you are a sado-masochist for putting these undeserving people thru a pathetic weeks of toilet bow peactices! This team was an embarrassment to all true Hawkeyes. They played with ZERO emotion since their loss to Bucky! I blame the coaching staff for showing NO FIRE EVER on the sideline AND never any creativity on defense OR offense. Hayden used to throw in an “exotic” once in a while just to keep the other team honets and think we might do it. Now with Ferentz they all know we do nothing tricky! nothing! Once of the SADDEST season I remember in Hawkeye football for many many years… Oh well I am Wishawk and I’m going to the Rose Bowl with my badger buddies… sadly..but I’m going they aren’t even giving me Iowa crap anymore, they sort of feel sorry for me, you know?
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I love that “aww, shucks, I don’t know what is going on” attitude by our multi-millionaire coach. I guess he’ll be scratching his head all the way to the bank.
I can tell you what it is about, leadership. After 5 of 6 losses to Northwestern when each year Iowa was the better team, and this team continuing to underperform when they should be better, it’s time to look in the mirror, Kirk. I think Ferentz is a good teacher of the game, but a poor motivator and a poor leader. If you are going to make $3.75 million per year, you better be all three. Iowa should cut bait and fire this chump. I’d rather use less tax payer dollars on a young upstart then a guy that you’ll get an occassional good season, an occasional bad season, and a bunch of mediocrity in between.
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Try II says:
This year, Iowa showed its true colors and finished 6-6 (7-5 thanks to the Hooiser drop).
While I agree there was some luck last year, they made their luck. While this year they did not. When you look at their losses, they were tied with AZ late in the 4th Qtr and ahead in the other 4 games and lost close ones. I think they are somewhere in between the records of the last two years. Stanzi was a disappointment in that although he didn’t throw as many INT’s, how many times this year did he miss a wide open receiver? But most of all, it was O’Keefe’s desire to throw the ball and not control the game with running game, especially late in games and lack of focus and preparedness by the head coach. Also, no one on D stepped up and took Angerer’s place to lead the defense. As I said in my last post, no leadership; either from the coaching staff or the players.
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Asking James Morris, Troy Johnson, and Micah Hyde to replace the production of Pat Angerer, A.J. Edds, and Amari Spievey is a pretty tall task. Spievey might be the best corner that Ferentz had ever coached. If we were going to have a great season, we needed to stay healthy. Because were Iowa and it’s hard to get a bunch of 4 and 5 star prospects to come here. Great teams have great leadership from the players. Texas, Alabama, and Florida are all struggling to replace the talent and leadership that they had on last year’s teams.
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Needed somewhere to vent frustration regarding this years football season. Some valid comments written by others. I did not watch the game vs. MN but what a major disappointment to a very disappointing season that started with high expectations. To lose to a very weak MN team just added to the gloom. My son and I went to the Hawks/Arizona game in Tucson earlier in the year, 1st half not good, second half all of us 15 thousand Hawkeye fans were going absolutely crazy-good when DE Binn intercepted the 4th quarter pass and returned it for a touchdown to tie the score. Unfortunately Iowa gave up long 4th quarter TD drive and lost. Similar to other games this year in which they gave up 4th quarter drives and lost. The condition of Norm Parker could have affected the defense, certainly hope the best for him. Ferentz has done some good things over the last decade but by his own admission has gotten “out-coached” in several games – too many times this year, maybe he should give back a portion of his large contract until he no longer gets “out-coached”. Obviously hope they win bowl game but even if they do it won’t be enough to always consider this season a big disappointment. Looking forward to wrestling, beat MN.
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TO QUOTE THE COACH “IT IS, WHAT IT IS”!!!!!!! Parker had a foot amputation,the fans had another BCS dream amputation,and Capt Kirk gets another $$$$$ extension.At least Miami knows what a 7-5 season means.
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I’ve been watching Iowa football for 50 years and I have never seen worse special teams play. All of Iowa’s breakdowns can be attributed directly to the coaches. Our vanilla defense (ever heard of a blitz, a nickel, a run stunt, an all-out pass rush where we weren’t playing for the QB to run,linebackers ….first man out of the backfield). Trying to run the ball and clock with 8:00 left and, yeah, 9 guys in the box (can’t Stanzi get out of that play?), no ARob (Kirk left him in when we were ahead by 30). What was with handing them the ball at the 40 on every kickoff? Why not just onside kick the ball everytime? When you play up on kick return, play onside kick first! Can the special teams coordinator count to 11? Kirk…don’t yell at the ref when they call illegal substitution, fire your special teams coordinator! Don’t field the ball on a kickoff when it is a foot from going out of bounds. Why are we so flat? Carry the ball with the outside arm. O-line was standing up off the ball. All things a coaching staff should prepare for and didn’t. The funny thing about it is that I’m a Hawkeye fan so I’ll stand behind our guys no matter what. Pull you head out coaches and let’s get on with it. You still have a chance to win your last game.
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This team was DOA in Minneapolis, and even worse quit. Teams like Ohio State that win or tie for conference lead 6 years in a row do so because of a roster of only 4 and 5 star players and good coaching. Teams like Iowa with 3 star players and a couple of 4s, only get to compete for the title occasionally, and only with superior coaching. This year in particular the coaching has failed. I like Ferentz, but: time to step up and deal with a predictable Lickliteresqe offense and defense, either through the playbook or personnel. I do wonder though if he has ever delivered an Evashevsky like inspiring, motivating pre-game or half time speech.
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All indications show that at least Fran won’t let under performing behaviors happen on the hard court. (i.e. otherwise pine time.)
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Some lessons:
1. You have to play 60 minutes of football, not just the middle 40. For the last two seasons, they have looked asleep at the beginning of games, which led to dramatic positive endings last year, and failure this year. The Hawks haven’t shown that gut-check will to win in the tight endings they have found themselves in every game since Wisconsin.
2. For gawd’s sakes, do something different just once in awhile. I’m an old geezer (PS/Econ ’66) with no football playing experience since high school, and I can tell you what the Hawkeyes are going to do on the the next play whether offense or defense. If your predictable, your easily beatable–even by a much less capable team.
3. Right now (& since the heart-rending loss to Wisconsin), the Hawkeyes are just going through the motions. There is no will to win. They lost their dream in the Wisc. game–a B10 championship–and they haven’t found a new goal to pursue. Life always gives you heartbreak, the true champions are the ones who adapt and succeed.
All these problems go directly to coaching and, while I believe Coach Ferentz & his staff are the best since the Evasheski days, they, too, are not motivating their players or adapting to their situation. They’ve got to step up their game, or the players’ game will suffer–badly–in any bowl game they may play.
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Iowa’s not the only predictable offense. I can tell you what Auburn and Oregon are going to do. I know that Peyton Manning is going to throw the ball more than 75 percent of the time. The best offenses are when defensive coaches know what’s coming, but they can’t stop it. No matter what fancy offensive plays a team runs, football is still about blocking and tackling.
Coaches can only do so much. Good teams always have good players with high IQ and leadership skills. They always have coaches on the field.
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First sign yesterday was on first MN series, their rb knocked the crap out of Sash on a run. Knew then we’d lose this one.
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You come prepared to play ball or not. Obviously MN had nothing to lose with their record and everything to gain. Wait till NE comes to the league next year. The Big 12 has been a superior conference for a number of years so consider yourselves warned when the Huskers arrive on the scene.
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i’m w Try II
A V E R A G E
Yuck it up clones, better yet, go into hibernation knowing you will ROUTE us in Story Co. Next year
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These players quit on the coaches, which means their is a problem with the coaches….changes have to be made within the coaching staff.
The one player that showed up to play (DJK)didn’t even get to start for an unspecified reason…he’s the best receiver in Iowa history, inspite of the fact that he lost paying time for stupid reasons….we need more players with his attitude, and less coaches with the attitude that caused us to lose the last 4 games…yes, the Indiana game should be counted as a loss as we got out-coached by a coach that will be fired, and out-coached by an interim coach in Minnesota.
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I appreciate everyone’s opinion on here and completely understand why you think the way you do. I probably agree with 99% of all of it, but to think DJK deserves more credit, for lack of a better word, and that he was the only one giving it his all, isn’t right. I’ve seen DJK at several practices not giving it his all and totally mock the coaches. ALL Coaches! I bet the coaches would love to start him every game but when you act like a jerk you are going to develop a reputation that sticks. I would definately agree they should make more plays for the him because he is one of the best on our team. I am not defending playcalling at all because I’m sick of how boring it is to watch Iowa, but DJK should not be put ahead of other players as a hard worker and definately not put ahead of Kirk who has earned and deserves credit. Just as he earns and deserves credit for being outcoached as he has plenty of times in his career. Hawks need to play all three phases well to be a title contender and we have played poorly in all phases. Ironically the two games we were outcoached in the most NW, MN are two games that most likely won’t make a difference in our Bowl Game , Outback either way, just makes it hard for us fans to travel to Tampa after losing both of those games. GO HAWKS
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I’ll bet Michigan St wonders, “How the hell did we lose to that team??”
I wonder the same thing.
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Were the smallest offensive line in the Big Ten. We need to get bigger and smash people.
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I’m wondering, where was that kind of performance on the road. We played really good vs. Ohio State but the negative memories haunted us from the other games. Yesterday we just played like crap and the memories haunted us.
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I know the Hawks will go to a bowl because for one reason the big11ten and the U of I wants the money, but I would hope the players vote not to go because if they are truly university students 1st they should be smart enough to know they do not deserve to go to a bowl game.
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Fat chance that will happen….school wants the dough and the players don’t have the stones to do that. Plus, they want to go on vacation too. They’d be dancing in the streets of ames and put eyeliner on the sheep if they ever went 7-5. One man’s Shantytown is another man’s Shangri-la.
One other irresitable thought: AUBURN…BEST DARN TEAM MONEY CAN BUY
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Not much to laugh about here but that made me laugh!
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That would say a lot about the team. You all ***** that they have given up and quit and now you are asking them to by turning down a bowl game. Any real competitor would want to show that they belong out there and that is what the bowl is for. You can say they do not deserve it, but they won 7 games and the bowl commitee says that that is good enough. Any body that says that they don’t deserve to go to a bowl are the people that realy do give up. Disapointing season for sure, but hopefuly they will have a positive bowl outcome. Go hawks
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too much hype from the fans and the press. Too many people hurt and backups not getting it done. Too many poor plays called by the coaching staff and way too many times not being able to anticipate what was or needed to happen.
Now with all that being said, we lost 5 games by a total of 18 points, this is not a bad team, this is a good team that lost it’s MO JO.
I look for them to be 10-2 next year and I look for Ferrentz to put someone on the staff who can see what a teams needs to do and also what a team needs to make sure the other teams can’t do.
The players played good enough to be 11-1 if not for dumb coaching mistakes.
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The first series of the game did say alot about was going to happen. The defense didn’t look like they wanted to be there. They looked a step slow, got pushed around and the front 7 couldn’t get off blocks. Somewhere along the line they lost the physical nature that is their signature and a lot of that is just will, determination and want-to. I feel bad for Clayborn, he came back for all the right reasons and I love the kid but it is going to cost him. His draft status is sinking. Over the last few weeks he has had many one-on-one matchups against Tackles that should not be able to handle him.
Kirk has a way of preparing a team for a bowl game. Remember Drew Tate’s senior year debacle – they put it together to play well against Texas in the Alamo Bowl – albeit, a loss. That was after a bad loss to end the season in Minnesota too.
The Senior class has had a great career – they deserve to go out with a bowl win. Here’s wishing they find some swagger and confidence before then.
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I hope our coaches will at least take a page from the Minn coaches and let this team play for fun. Let them get some passion, open up the playbooks and go out swinging as they say. Our coaches have proven they can gameplan for every team and keep them within 5 minutes from winning.
Let the team have fun out there, have some passion, and open it up. They really don’t have anything to lose and they should have some fun.
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The thought popped into my head as I lay there hours after the Ohio State game… we do not have an experienced enough LB core to support our defensive scheme. Offense is fine, and has people open all over the field. Running game can pick up yds anywhere b/t 3-20 yrds on any given play…but, if the opponent breaks the line they are almost guaranteed 6-12 yds every play. Think about the LB’s of past, and how they fit into the scheme. Unfortunately this year Tarp has been injured, and Morris (now more experienced) was not the bullet we need once the DL does its job. That’s just my opinion, but it seems kind of logical. The end. Go Hawks!!
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Problem 1. KOK- too predictable, too vanilla, college game has changed! And Iowa doesn’t have enough skilled players to say Hey we’re running this play- stop it! KOK must go!
Problem 2. I love Norm parker- but must say his health issues are becoming too frequent and becoming a distraction, and whoever was “stepping in” is not very good! I’d hate to see parker go, but if he’s not healthy- D will be average like this year
Problem 2a/b- average linebackers along with four man rush and no blitzing. we just killed our d-line with no help from linebackers- they had no energy by 4th Q.
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Disappointing season but still a hawk. I predicted 7-5 this year. We had the same personnel that barely won games last year and we were fortunate to be 11-2. Could have easily been 3-9 or 2-10. This year everyone buys into the media hype and forgets we are not Ohio State, Alabama, or Oklahoma. We will occasioanlly win big but not consistently win titles. Be happy with winning seasons and occasional titles. I live in Gamecock country and the famous saying is wait till next year. Ferentz is a darn good coach and we get alot out of the players we have. To all of the haters, be careful what you wish for. Remember what has occurred with the basketball program. 10 years of misery. Still love the hawks. Quit being haters and support your team. It is ok to be frustrated but keep things in perspective.
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Minnesota, hats off to thee!
To thy colors true we shall ever be,
Firm and strong, united are we.
Rah, rah, rah, for Ski-U-Mah,
Rah! Rah! Rah! Rah!
Rah for the U of M.
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AZhawkeye, merchawk, Herhawk….many really great comments. I too have beem a loyal hawk since mid 50′s. Even though I’ve lived in Madtown for 20 years and Love Gabe Carimi (hopefully winner of Outland Trophy!), Bret and the Badgers, anyone here in Madison knows I bleed Black and Gold!! Hawks are my 1st true love and always will be!!! I feel that when the Badgers did that fake punt and then went on to win the game it was THE changing point in BOTH teams season! My beloved Iowa Hawks went one way (down)and the Badgers went the other (up)! I think if we had stopped that guy from making the 1st down on that fake punt, it would be US in position to go to Pasadena right now instead of my son and all his high school coaching buddies from around Madison getting ready to go to Pasadena! I love Ferentz, I really do, I love his emotion after a big game, he is not afraid to show his tears, the mark of a real man. BUT I am very bugged by his LACK of ANY fire on the sideline! EVER!!! Is he human, does he not get mad and shout and yell to fire up his team or light up a ref or anything that shows fire and emotion to win!!!! (not as nutty as Stoops is in AZ). All he does is stare ahead, chew his gum and clap! clap chew clap chew clap chew clap chew clap! I am worried about our future recruits liek Gordon from Kenosha Bradford switching to our nemesis Badgers, Bret Beliema(sp) is a young, vibrant firey fiesty coach who excites the sidelines , the kids , the fans etc! I don’t see that fire on the Iowa sidelines from our coaches, why is that? I LOVE THE HAWKS and I attend events here in Madtown with our I-Club Chapter so don’t call me a fair-weather fan either!!! Kirk, call a blitz sometimes, you might like it…. Hayden used to run “exotics” try one once in a while…you might like it, get a good kicker have try-outs from the student body maybe…you might like it! GO HAWKS PLEASE GO! See my Hawk buds in Philly in March to watch a REAL FIERY GREAT COACH lead our National Champ wrestlers to another Victory!!! Onward to Philly!!!
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