*****N Illinois vs Iowa Game Thread*****

[10001110101]

So transferred our tickets to my 16 yr old granddaughter (no Pics) and her bf. (Too damn hot for us old folks) she has the tix in her apple wallet but cannot open it.
Says "must use a mobile device". The U in its desire to be a money grubbing institution has no one to assist on this on a saturday..GDammit..

It's the young people's job to know how to do this stuff.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

After two Hank Brown series…
NIU - 10
Iowa - 0

Probably. MAC teams/fanbases have an even greater deep-seated obsession with the B10 than Iowa State and their fans have with Iowa.

It's just not as well-publicized.

Visiting MAC message boards over the years, though, has enlightened me.

This is NIU's entire season, today.

 

[2D]

Whatever happens, happens. Go Hawks!

 

[Iron Doc]

Fortunately, there is a less than zero chance of losing to NIU.
There used to be a poster on here known as eyesofhawk. I'm sure he would have enlightened us regarding how to bet this game.

 

[Grayhair1981]

This is close to Christmas for me. Smorgasbord of games. Football is back!
My hopes for the Hawks today:
1) win
2) don't lose anyone to injury
3) don't care about the margin-just enough for me to be convinced the Hawks were clearly the better team.
4) one or more WR shows he is a P4-caliber player
5) young LBs show hope of developing into great players
6) I don't care which QB plays how much. I just want whoever THE guy is to make plays with his arm and feet.
Not unreasonable, I hope

 

[10001110101]

Whatever happens, happens. Go Hawks!

 

[MFinn]

Is the spread really 31.5? If I was still a betting man, I would have loaded up on that.

 

[BigOHawk1]

I demand that we win this game.

Thank you

I demand that we win this game.

Thank you.

Make it a double set of demands!

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

But only so much.

Otherwise it makes it harder to win.

Per Captain Kirk, himself

The only comment I recall Kirk ever making on this topic is about being balanced. Could you be more specific?

 

[KuwaitHawk]

Probably. MAC teams/fanbases have an even greater deep-seated obsession with the B10 than Iowa State and their fans have with Iowa.

It's just not as well-publicized.

Visiting MAC message boards over the years, though, has enlightened me.

This is NIU's entire season, today.

NIU is a Mountain West team.

 

[Passing Is For COMMIES]

So tired of talking about the QBs.. I wanna watch em and make a decision then. Can we fast forward 90 mins?

 

[Lionhawk85]

With no clear #1 QB, it is imperative that both Brown and Hecklinski be allowed to throw the ball to see who is the better passer and makes the best decisions. This is the perfect game for it. I will be shocked if Lester doesn't give each of them plenty of pass attempts.

Great call. This is the ultimate game within the game I think. Lester will want to open it up and this is the quintessential type of game where KF seems to prefer run heavy. Which will win out!?

and in fairness, the most effective way to win this game, imo, is to go run heavy against a smaller/less physical opponent on a ridiculously hot day in a game you cannot afford to mess up. But that said - they gotta figure out who the starter is going to be long term and watching a QB hand the ball off to a dominating running game does not help AT ALL!

Let these WRs and TEs have a day, KF!!

 

[eyesofhawk]

The only comment I recall Kirk ever making on this topic is about being balanced. Could you be more specific?

"Throwing the ball around (too much) makes it harder on the defense, harder to win." -- KF

Could provide the link, but busy betting theses games

 

[Moral]

I hate these late games. Ready for this shid to start.

 

[3-D_chess]

Still in disbelief that Indiana won the national title for some reason.

Their coach = actual HOF material

 

[2D]

Hawk Walk with Hank and Heck. Heck looks absolutely locked in.

 

[r_desihawk]

is lutmer inked as punt returner? who has kickoff returns?

 

[Manfredi]

I hate these late games. Ready for this shid to start.

You're really gonna hate next week

 

[Passing Is For COMMIES]

opener should always be at 11am

 

[pocha444444]

"Throwing the ball around (too much) makes it harder on the defense, harder to win." -- KF

Could provide the link, but busy betting theses games

Are you satisfied with the percentage that Lester's Iowa offenses have run the ball these past two years? Which is at a higher clip than BF's offenses, and a higher running % than pretty much every other offense in CFB other than the service academies.

 

[Passing Is For COMMIES]

"Throwing the ball around (too much) makes it harder on the defense, harder to win." -- KF

Could provide the link, but busy betting theses games

 

[Morrison71]

Gary Dolphin just gave a crazy stat, Iowa’s defense has given up less than 20 ppg every year, for the last 11 years.

 

[QChawks]

Gary Dolphin just gave a crazy stat, Iowa’s defense has given up less than 20 ppg every year, for the last 11 years.

Imagine what we could do with an offense

 

[Iowameat]

Go HAWKS!

 

[DBHawkSoCal]

Imagine what we could do with an offense

No, too sexy. 9-3 with these numbers is what Kirk is all about

offense - 15ppg
Defense 14.9ppg

looking at the other Big10 games….some opening game slop, but most part the offenses looked decent.
Can Iowa look as competent ? If we’re <=13 at half….against a team that’s one of the worst in country….hard to say.
But it will go a long way to calming a lot of our nerves if offense can put on a good show

 

[Manfredi]

I was unaware they changed the targeting rule about missing time the next week if it was in the secend half. Wonder what else I missed?

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

"Throwing the ball around (too much) makes it harder on the defense, harder to win." -- KF

Could provide the link, but busy betting theses games

Okay. That’s fine. I believe you.

Reading into the context, I think I understand what KF is saying. And I agree with it to a large extent.

 

[eyesofhawk]

The only comment I recall Kirk ever making on this topic is about being balanced. Could you be more specific?

View attachment 1422103

13:01

 

[MacMiney]

Gary Dolphin just gave a crazy stat, Iowa’s defense has given up less than 20 ppg every year, for the last 11 years.

Thanks B1G West.

 

[Hawksfor3]

Probably. MAC teams/fanbases have an even greater deep-seated obsession with the B10 than Iowa State and their fans have with Iowa.

It's just not as well-publicized.

Visiting MAC message boards over the years, though, has enlightened me.

This is NIU's entire season, today.

You "Troll" the MAC boards? You rascal.

 

[eyesofhawk]

Okay. That’s fine. I believe you.

Reading into the context, I think I understand what KF is saying. And I agree with it to a large extent.

Just posted the link without yet seeing your latest post.

Appreciate your not questioning the validity of the quote

 

[Hawksfor3]

then wut?

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

13:01

When was that interview? Was Kirk referring to Luke Fickell, or someone else, right before he made the comment about throwing the ball around all over the place?

And I agree with Kirk. You cannot win in the Big Ten without being able to run the football. I don’t believe that contradicts what Kirk has traditionally said in the past about wanting to be balanced in terms of his offensive approach.

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

Just posted the link without yet seeing your latest post.

Appreciate you not questioning the validity of the quote

Yeah, no problem. Go Hawks!

 

[Franisdaman]

Gary Dolphin just gave a crazy stat, Iowa’s defense has given up less than 20 ppg every year, for the last 11 years.

actually, it's 10.

What a 10 year run for Phil Parker when it comes to giving up less than 20 points/game (no other program comes close)

Dec 31, 2025 Update: Original Post (on Aug 5, 2025):

www.on3.com

 

[HawkeyeGenius]

opener should always be at 11am

 

[Andrewrayhons]

Its almost time boys!

 

[Franisdaman]

22 years....

 

[Franisdaman]

 

[Hawksfor3]

None of this today.