Sure, but the fans who don’t join and then ***** about Iowa not landing bigger fish in the portal don’t have much of a leg to stand on
Anyone Else Concerned That Staff Isn't Even Trying to Lure High End P4 Transfers Out of the Portal?
- Thread starter IowaLaw
- Start date
I worked hard for 45 years to enjoy my retirement. Paying 20 year olds millions of dollars is not smart.
Many of them, how many I have no idea, are transferring because they don't belong in P4 football. OTOH, many players at the FCS level have proven that they can play at the P4 level. So no, I don't care if a kid is from Elon or Georgia if he's a good fit for the Hawkeyes.
I agree with IowaLaw. We play in the best and most prestigious conference in the country (placing in the top third consistently) but act like we’re UTEP. We’re way too good of a program to not even attempt to lure some big fish in the portal.
How do you or Slaw know they aren't attempting to land a big fish or two?
Either direct or indirect the consumer always pays ultimately.
That's fine but keep your mouth shut about the product on the field.
4,500 D1 players in the portal??
Well that is simply nuts.
Well that is simply nuts.
Thought those moronic idiots that call Gronowski "gronk" would stop when season ended. I guess morons will keep being morons!!!!!
Just MY opinion but I wonder if Beth isn’t out shaking the money trees. Old snaggle tooth Barta was good at one thing. Raising money.As one dumbass we all know would say, thank you for this matter.
To the OP, I'll say, no, I'm not worried.
This is the way KF runs the program and it's all connected. Developmental program, play for each other, we're not sexy, win with defense and a running game. Strength, toughness, win in the trenches kind of football. Cultivate underclassmen to keep them in the program so they can perform as juniors and seniors. Keep the guys you have and supplement with the portal.
That's how you build team chemistry. Guys that give 110% for Iowa and for their teammates. You put a team like that on the field and good things happen.
Iowa is not going to win the talent battle. They're not a blue-blood, and the don't have a billionaire booster. So, you win with development, experience and chemistry.
Iowa has an identity and they stick to it. And, they are doing very well outside of the top 10 or 15 programs in the country.
Let Nebraska, Michigan State, Maryland, Minny, etc. rebuild their team every year in the portal. That's not the Iowa way.
This is the way KF runs the program and it's all connected. Developmental program, play for each other, we're not sexy, win with defense and a running game. Strength, toughness, win in the trenches kind of football. Cultivate underclassmen to keep them in the program so they can perform as juniors and seniors. Keep the guys you have and supplement with the portal.
That's how you build team chemistry. Guys that give 110% for Iowa and for their teammates. You put a team like that on the field and good things happen.
Iowa is not going to win the talent battle. They're not a blue-blood, and the don't have a billionaire booster. So, you win with development, experience and chemistry.
Iowa has an identity and they stick to it. And, they are doing very well outside of the top 10 or 15 programs in the country.
Let Nebraska, Michigan State, Maryland, Minny, etc. rebuild their team every year in the portal. That's not the Iowa way.
@Passing Is For COMMIES - I commend you for offering one of the few logical and reasonable responses. It's always refreshing on a board loaded with the bovine and the snowflakes. With that said, here's where you're wrong:
-"the portal's only been open a week." Right, and the regular season ended 6 weeks ago...at which time the staff, like all staffs, did an audit of the roster and narrowed down the positions of need. Hell, Indiana's staff are a little distracted by still playing in the playoffs, yet they already nabbed 9 commits from the portal (all from FBS schools like Miami, Notre Dame, and TCU). Nebraska has already come into our state and took 2 Iowa State transfers along with 6 others. Wisconsin has 18 commits (guys from Ohio State, USC, Florida State, etc.) and Illinois has 7. Like it or not, recruiting moves at lightning speed and the Hawks had no excuse for falling behind.
-"I'm a fan of multi year FCS guys." Why? If the underclassmen FCS guys were Power 4 level recruits, they likely wouldn't be FCS underclassmen, they'd be at big schools. The fact that a kid is a "FCS freshmen all american" is kind of an oxymoron because the top 2,000 or so freshmen weren't playing at the FCS level. Typically, the whole point of going after FCS kids is because they've already had time to develop from a low rated recruit to a legit Big 10 caliber player by their junior or senior year.
-As for the James Madison kid, I hope he develops into a stud. I'm not begrudging the staff for going after him. My point was it's a bad sign that James Madison was the biggest named portal school we've gone after yet. Add to that, the kid didn't even start at James Madison. You would think the Hawks would set their sights a little higher than a backup at a group of 5 school, right? There are a hundred Power 4 OL starters in the portal and probably a hundred more starters from the group of 5. We got none of them.
-Wetjen was not a portal recruit so he wasn't mentioned. He was a walk-on transfer who wasn't even recruited by the staff. He paid his own way to come to Iowa.
-If you want to argue that Sam Phillips was a good use of the portal this year when the Hawks were desperate for help at WR, be my guest. Sadly, the 5'7 WR played in 13 games yet had just 16 catches. The Hawks were looking for and needed MUCH better production out of their portal WR acquisition.
Just because you're 2nd or 3rd string at a P4 school doesn't mean you're a "high end P4 transfer".
I think we can all agree that taking the top end talent off board as we just aren’t going to compete with the highest end money seekers.
That being the case, I arguably like the staff’s approach of all-American FCS/MAC level pursuits because it kids that 1) have a chip on their shoulder and are hungry to prove their ability at the higher level, 2) don’t have baggage attached like many other transfers do, and 3) often have more years of eligibility left to still keep our developmental approach alive and well, and 4) are likely less expensive so we can focus on retaining existing players. All things that fit the Iowa culture better than an average-talent player transferring away from another P4 school and or those that are simply chasing $$$.
so short answer, nope, I’m not concerned and in fact think the approach is a solid one for Iowa.
That being the case, I arguably like the staff’s approach of all-American FCS/MAC level pursuits because it kids that 1) have a chip on their shoulder and are hungry to prove their ability at the higher level, 2) don’t have baggage attached like many other transfers do, and 3) often have more years of eligibility left to still keep our developmental approach alive and well, and 4) are likely less expensive so we can focus on retaining existing players. All things that fit the Iowa culture better than an average-talent player transferring away from another P4 school and or those that are simply chasing $$$.
so short answer, nope, I’m not concerned and in fact think the approach is a solid one for Iowa.
Disappointing portal so far. However, it is a big deal to keep the guys you have. Other teams tend to lose way more than we do.
Given the lack of top end talent we've pursued I'm thinking we're spending money on keeping our guys. Also our 2026 recruiting class is big time!
Given the lack of top end talent we've pursued I'm thinking we're spending money on keeping our guys. Also our 2026 recruiting class is big time!
The iowa coaches have their set of metrics when looking at these players. Of course they have the player's height and weight, maybe 40 time etc, and portal players should have their own highlight tape.
I would say this running back from SDakota iirc with 3 years left and who was a big producer in the run game would be a good get based also on other metrics, is he breaking tough tackles, showing very good moves and vision.
We sit here reading posts and we dont have that info. I will go with the coaches decisions because their jobs are on the line
They got a good-looking kicker, safety, and I lineman. Solid pieces to supplement what they have coming back. I think they have done fine so far
How do you know they don't buy tickets to games and subscribe to the B1G network? Stop being a cultist and use your brain for once Hunter.
1. Because I said so
2. Because you have no dog in the hunt
Who destroyed/divided the fanbase?
The person most likely is the Alford 2.0 you pray to.
Get a life loser.
LOL - Rico has a very, very great life. I can afford to support our team with more than just words.
You might want to ask yourself why we don't get very many of those kinds of recruits, while Indiana, a historical bottom feeder, is. One school is competing for a national championship, while the other can't beat Iowa State. We'll always have to settle for finding possible diamonds in the rough.
Blame the cheapness of Hawkeye fans
Iowa athletic department owes $50 million to the university. Just saying
You first.
They graciously accept your $15 donation.
He is one of those simps that believes that if you don't donate to the Swarm, then we have no right to criticize Iowa's athletics programs.
It's almost as bad as eyesofhawk............
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OP has a point. Our best portal additions have come from other power 4 teams. It is surprising that Iowa continues to prioritize outside the power 4 when there has been little to know success. Iowa is stuck in the middle of the B1G and can't seem to climb higher.