ESPN has them as the second worst FBS team this week. I guess I didn’t realize they were that bad. Coupled with how we looked against Iowa State does anyone think there is a reason to be worried? Michigan game will be a good measuring stick.
How Good is Northern Illinois?
- Thread starter Kirk is God
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I think they lost to Illinois State, an FCS team, by 4 points. not a good signfor us.
The offense is definitely still a work in progress, but then again when isn't it?
coupled? Iowa could have hung 80 points on NIU if they wanted. That's not Kirk's style, I do think ISU will be better than expected given their special teams play and decent defense. The fact that the passing game stepped up to the plate when the running game wasn't effective says this team has some upside.
Why is that not good for us? We could have scored 100 on them. What is wrong with you.
I cannot answer your second question, sorry. the list is way too long for me to type into this forum.
NIU was wretched.
Permanently a member of McGee's Bottom 10.
Can't tell much of anything about us from that game.
Permanently a member of McGee's Bottom 10.
Can't tell much of anything about us from that game.
We needed 2 blocked FGs to beat UNI in 2009. They could be Luther ******* college, what's it matter? Iowa looked much improved for a week 1 season opener.
Why do people get so hung up on this? Who cares? Has zero bearing on the season.
Why do people get so hung up on this? Who cares? Has zero bearing on the season.
Illinois St did make the FCS Natty game last year. Still though, you’d have to assume NIU is a bottom 5 team in FBS.
Ever been to the driftless region of NW Illinois around Galena? It's beautiful.
I could follow this up with "How good is ISU?". Did Iowa just struggle to put up 16 points against a good defense or an average defense? Does it matter? Does anyone believe that Western Michigan is as good or better than Oklahoma and Michigan? The results vs Michigan would have you believe that. In state rivalries and early season contests can skew perceptions.
Yessir I have. I agree. Love the history of that area also. My wife loves the shops.
If UMass is 131 at 2-0 and smoked Rutgers... where is Rutgers?
Many, many moons ago, I hiked in Southern Illinois. Went to Shawnee National Forest and even went onto SIU's campus. I was a skinny 17 year old then. Beautiful down there. Biggest peaches I ever pulled from the tree too.
I think Diaz is but it takes someone to get him the ball.
I would say Iowa St is probably a lot better than everyone thought they would be. I think they will surprise a lot of people in the big 12 this year.
Michigan is probably still very solid but I think Kirk will have the boys ready to go. I think they can win.
Classic Iowa message board sentiment year after year after Iowa struggles with a crappy noncon opponent. Just substitute “Iowa St” with that season’s MAC or FCS team. Throw in “So and so would compete in the B1G West” and the delusion is complete.
I don't think ISU is a last place team in the Big12 if that's what you mean, but Iowa rarely looks good in that game. Other than it being a rivalry game there's really no explanation for why it's so ugly. Part of it stems from the fact that Iowa's offense has been so abysmal that a lot of games have looked like that. That doesn't really explain this year though.
Both teams pounded the rock, or at least tried to shortening the game. Less possessions, less points. I actually think the ISU game was simply well played in a style both coaches prefer, there were zero turnovers from either team in the game. (Disregarding the TO on downs at midfield) i know im in the minority but I thought both teams played a decent game and I believe state will look like a good win by the end of the year.
There were 24 games involving top 25 teams last week. Only one of them involved the winning team (Iowa) scoring less than 17 points. The only one from the week before was Michigan and that was an ugly shat show vs Western Michigan that they should have lost. Iowa has played too many games exactly like that against ISU and lost 3 of 4 prior to last week because the offense couldn't perform. Even last week when it seemed obvious that ISU wasn't going to allow Iowa to beat them on the ground (especially on first down) Iowa spent the better part of that game trying to do exactly that.
This is the year with Diaz, RVZ, DJV, and Ostrenga that Iowa should be able to counter that effectively. When they did pass on first down they were effective. They needed more of that.
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