West - This year and future
- Thread starter SnohomishRed
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I believe the fumbled play happened I the first half. It was a great play by Nate Meier to force the OL to step on the QBs foot.
Both had pretty easy draws but Iowa playing @Wisconsin, NW, And Nebraska makes it a bit tougher.
Both had pretty easy draws but Iowa playing @Wisconsin, NW, And Nebraska makes it a bit tougher.
Elite programs or ones that expect to become elite don't worry about scheduling nuances involving programs like Iowa.
Middling programs worry and wring their hands about perceived scheduling inequities of other middling programs.
Beat the teams in your division and cross divisional games won't matter. Elite programs would view a slightly more difficult conference schedule as an opportunity to still get a playoff bid should you lose a game rather than lessening your chances of back-dooring your way into the conf championship game
Show up on Saturdays and beat the team across from you and quit worrying that Iowa might be playing Rutgers.
Middling programs worry and wring their hands about perceived scheduling inequities of other middling programs.
Beat the teams in your division and cross divisional games won't matter. Elite programs would view a slightly more difficult conference schedule as an opportunity to still get a playoff bid should you lose a game rather than lessening your chances of back-dooring your way into the conf championship game
Show up on Saturdays and beat the team across from you and quit worrying that Iowa might be playing Rutgers.
But there are no games for the next 20 Saturday's. Gotta find something to have discussions about. Your point is still dead on. No one needs to apologize for winning every game on their schedule. I would think Husker fans would love to have been 12-0 last year with or without an easy schedule. Just like Iowa fans would have loved for the Hawks to be half as dominant as Nebraska in the 90's.
it is obvious the conference is trying to maximize its exposure, prestige and finances by trying to match up big-boy programs more frequently in cross divisional games and despite last years season the conference doesn't view Iowa as fitting the "big-boy" image
the same thing happened with protected rivalries when it was the legends and leaders .. Michigan-OSU, Nebraska-Penn State ..... Iowa-Purdue
Are we talking big boy programs of today or big boy programs of decades ago? Nothing like trying to bring life back into a couple dormant programs like Penn State and Nebraska. It didn't help as they both just carry a name of yesteryear. Maybe some day they can join the big boys again. But for now, they are stuck with Iowa in mediocrity.
No it was with 7 minutes left in the game. It was completely unforced, Stave just flat out tripped on his OG when he was turning around.
I stand corrected on the timing off it. 7:51 left. But if you watch number 34, he blows the play up, forcing the RG to take an open step. Nate actually wraps up the RB for a loss. Either way, it's not really a big deal in the grand scheme. Gotta get some breaks to win 12 in a row.
Realistic? Anywhere from 7-5 to 11-1. I'm not even gonna entertain the idea that Iowa goes 12-0 again.
Anything less than 10 overall wins will be another huge disappointment. The 1st teams are really solid on both sides of the ball. Any injuries to the DL or secondary and bad things will happen.
I'm going to say 10-2, 7-2 in conference. 9-3 if Penn State is any good and beats Iowa in Happy Valley.
NW and Wisconsin more than likely don't win the division because of schedules. Minnesota has a favorable schedule but play the top east teams on the road. I think one of Nebraskas more crucial games could be the NW game to start conference play.
Yeah, I know, just go undefeated and who cares? But crap doesn't always work out that way. Sometimes the ball bounces the wrong way, or there is a blown call at the worst possible moment, or a player on the other team makes a ridiculous play to beat you. Or sometimes your team just comes out flat. My point is when we do lose a game to a divisional opponent (because it will happen), I want roughly the same chance to 'back in' to a championship that any other team in our division has. That isn't the case at this point in time.
fair enough ... considering we play in arguably the worst division of any power 5 conference I don't think we should be nitpicking about cross divisional games
I haven't heard one peep from Michigan fans lamenting that they have to play a cross divisional rival that went 12-0 during the regular season and OSU plays a team coming off a 5-7 campaign
none of us gave a rip that in some years Kansas or Iowa State didn't have to play Texas or Oklahoma in cross division games .. but suddenly we are ready to march on the BIG offices demanding justice
frankly if we aren't elite and just pretenders I would rather find it out mid season playing the likes of OSU or Michigan than riding a weak *** schedule to the Rose Bowl and then proving to the world on national TV that you have no business playing in that game against an elite team
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It's not the worst division in Power 5 football. That narrative is tired and outdated.
Nobody 'demanded justice' because there was a regular rotation of cross-divisional opponents in the Big 12. Over the course of 4 years, everybody played all cross-divisional opponents once at home and once on the road (championship game excluded).
If only one game defined a season. You're saying you would rather lose midseason and not make the big ten title game, than to actually accomplish something in the regular season and have one dud game?
It wasn't a dud game. It was a dud schedule that allowed Iowa to masquerade as a top team and then reality hit when you stepped on the field against Stanford.
Was MSU not an elite team last year because of one game? Was Nebraska 2001 not an elite team? You don't magically fall into a 12-0 season. As discussed in this thread, there are differences in schedules and some schedules are definitely easier than others. But you're kidding yourself if you think any mediocre team could go 12 games without losing in a Power 5 conference. Perfect regular seasons don't happen often for a reason.
Sure you can. Just look at Kansas in 2007. The Jayhawks weren't anywhere close to an elite team but KU went 12-1. How? ISU sucked and CU, KSU and NU all were going through down seasons that ended with coach firings. They played a cupcake noncon and played the three bottom teams from the South in crossover.
KU's only loss that year was to 12-2 Missouri.
Missouri was good but also nowhere near elite. They played a very similar schedule to Kansas except they actually had to play Oklahoma, and OU beat them.. twice.
Actually 2015 Iowa is very similar to 2007 Missouri.
Heck, were there only two "elite" teams last year? Bama and Clemson? Stanford and even OSU could make a case as well.
Was the west as bad as the North in 2007 when Kansas went undefeated? Kansas beat a #5 ranked VaTech team in its bowl game so they have case of having been a non fluke for that year. They lost by less than a TD to Mizzou.
I still don't think you just fluke your way to 12-0 and within a foot of winning the big ten title game. I do wish Iowa had used the right cleats during the Rose Bowl so they may have kept it closer early. Lots of skating around and falling.
So back to this year and the future. What do Minnesota and NW have coming back? I know NW should be better on offense and is usually pretty decent on D. Minnesota apparently has a top 3 NFL QB coming back. (Why he is ranked so high, I'm not sure). Iowa has to go to Minneapolis where things haven't turned out to well 3 of the last 4 trips.
Was the west as bad as the North in 2007 when Kansas went undefeated? Kansas beat a #5 ranked VaTech team in its bowl game so they have case of having been a non fluke for that year. They lost by less than a TD to Mizzou.
I still don't think you just fluke your way to 12-0 and within a foot of winning the big ten title game. I do wish Iowa had used the right cleats during the Rose Bowl so they may have kept it closer early. Lots of skating around and falling.
So back to this year and the future. What do Minnesota and NW have coming back? I know NW should be better on offense and is usually pretty decent on D. Minnesota apparently has a top 3 NFL QB coming back. (Why he is ranked so high, I'm not sure). Iowa has to go to Minneapolis where things haven't turned out to well 3 of the last 4 trips.
No need to be sorry. I don't think anyone is going to feel guilty about the season Iowa had. We are just hoping Kirk doesn't do Kirk and follow it up with a letdown.
Ok, so what I've gathered is that if UN gets their talent to perform, they win the division most years. If Iowa upgrades their recruiting, they will win the division most years.
Really as simple as that.
And if both do what you suggest, most years it will come down to Iowa or Nebraska. Can't discount Wisconsin, but if Nebraska performs and Iowa recruits then it does seem to be more of a two horse race.
To add, if both succeed at aforementioned, then it won't be America's weak link anymore.
Thread settled?
Sure, for me it is. It would be great if the west developed a couple of big dogs like the east does. Not sure we'll ever match tOSU or Michigan under Meyer and Harbaugh, but if we can push them and win a few that would be great for the conference.
Absolutely correct. Iowa last year was a paper tiger. Vastly overrated and it was proven int he Rose Bowl. They will win some games this year and their fans will spout off about how elite they are. They will only be fooling themselves.
I thought Iowa played a team in green that beat a VASTLY OVERRATED team by 3 in the B1G championship game. Now I remember the green team BEAT the bucknuts so THE OSU didn't get to the game. Not sure if Iowa will be there this year but will lay odds OS won't . By the way Stanford would have rolled anyone from the B1G. We will try to soften Mich up for you so they will only get you by10.
Whatever makes you feel better about getting blown out I guess.
And this is why we play the games. No matter what your schedule is, you still have to play the games. Nebraska had the worst luck of any season I have watched. It would drive any fan base crazy how you lost your games and what could of been. For the Hawks, they have to play mistake free to have a season like last year.
No matter what your schedule is, what your record is, is all that matters. Messages boards are where we can determine what our record would of been if our schedule was easier or tougher, or even better luck.
That is what makes college football so great! It can drive you nuts.
Anyway, good luck this season.You are starting off with a great recruiting class.
One question, how is your defensive line coming along? Davis twins showing progress?
No matter what your schedule is, what your record is, is all that matters. Messages boards are where we can determine what our record would of been if our schedule was easier or tougher, or even better luck.
That is what makes college football so great! It can drive you nuts.
Anyway, good luck this season.You are starting off with a great recruiting class.
One question, how is your defensive line coming along? Davis twins showing progress?