The Iowa Hawkeye football team is good. Undefeated good. Top Ten AP and Coaches Poll good. #5 College Football Playoff Rankings good. It's time for Iowa fans to enjoy this season and stop the routine. The routine, I am writing about, is RANK, REACT, and REPEAT.
After every Iowa victory this year, Iowa fans have speculated if and where the Hawkeyes would be ranked. We break down the X's and O's of the previous victory, debate whether the Hawks covered spread by enough (or if they did not cover it at all), and check scores of other B1G teams and future opponents. Then we take to our favorite way of debating how good the Hawks are, maybe a local watering hole, a text thread, a message board, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
Then the rankings are released. Hawkeyes fans react. Hawks win. The process is repeated.
This was not as big of a deal when AP and Coaches Polls were released on Sunday afternoons (how could there be a huge reaction when all eyes are on your fantasy football team) but now there is the Playoff Rankings. A big show on ESPN on Tuesday nights 6:00CST. Now the topic of an undefeated Iowa is raising national attention. Many sports radio talk show hosts do not see Iowa as a worthy #5 in the nation. And we react. This time, though, it's twice a week.
Our first reaction is to argue the talking heads point. To compare ourselves to other ranked teams by head to head, common opponents, strength of schedule, and other usual criteria. Then we take to social media to blast the talking heads.
Two days later, our reaction turns from defense to doubt. Is Iowa good? Can we beat (next opponent)? Is Beathard healthy enough?
Let's look at the reaction of defense and doubt up to kickoff after College Football Playoff Rankings were released:
WEEK 11 (FIRST PLAYOFF RANKING OF SEASON)
IOWA #9
DEFENSE: Undefeated and 2 road wins versus Top 25 teams.
DOUBT: Can Iowa stop Indiana's offense? Indiana did play Ohio State to the final minute. Their quarterback is worrisome.
WEEK 12
IOWA #5
DEFENSE: Undefeated, 2 road wins versus Top 25 teams, strength of schedule is better than Baylor, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Oklahoma State, and easily beat a team that played Ohio State to the final minute.
DOUBT: Is Iowa a #5 team in the country? Minnesota played Michigan State tough. Is CJ too banged up to play all four quarters?
WEEK 13
IOWA #5
DEFENSE: Undefeated, 2 road wins versus current Top 25 teams, shouldn't fall in rankings with win, #6 in both AP and Coaches Polls, beat Iowa State by more than Oklahoma State
DOUBT: Weather. Mother Nature could dump anywhere from 2-12" on Iowa City for Senior Day. Is cold weather going to effect CJ's groin and passing game?
It's time to stop the routine and embrace the glory of this Hawkeye football season. Two ways we can do so:
1. Don't feed the monster and stop letting the talk shows troll us for our responses. Sports talk show hosts, like Colin Cowherd (see link below), give their strong opinions for ratings.
Colin Cowherd blasts Iowa's schedule
Cowherd, himself in the past, has said that if his numbers are good in a market, he will speak well of a team/program and if they are low, he will bash them. Both scenarios, he gets a response and listeners increase. Recently, in defense of his previous statement, he has said that this is no longer the case because Fox Sports has given him a guaranteed contract but, let's be real, his ego is driven by numbers, not dollars.
2. Stop doubting this team and embrace the excitement. Iowa football has been on national television week in and out and is being talked about daily on college football shows. This is incredible for recruiting.
And
The excitement can be contagious. The 1981 Iowa Hawkeyes went to the Rose Bowl. I was 5 and I became a Hawkeye fan for life. My daughter is 5 and my son is 4 and they are excited for every Hawkeye football game now. We are raising a new generation of Iowa Hawkeye fans and it is fantastic.
Let's break the routine. Let's start a new one.
Go Hawks!
Our first reaction is to argue the talking heads point. To compare ourselves to other ranked teams by head to head, common opponents, strength of schedule, and other usual criteria. Then we take to social media to blast the talking heads.
Two days later, our reaction turns from defense to doubt. Is Iowa good? Can we beat (next opponent)? Is Beathard healthy enough?
Let's look at the reaction of defense and doubt up to kickoff after College Football Playoff Rankings were released:
WEEK 11 (FIRST PLAYOFF RANKING OF SEASON)
IOWA #9
DEFENSE: Undefeated and 2 road wins versus Top 25 teams.
DOUBT: Can Iowa stop Indiana's offense? Indiana did play Ohio State to the final minute. Their quarterback is worrisome.
WEEK 12
IOWA #5
DEFENSE: Undefeated, 2 road wins versus Top 25 teams, strength of schedule is better than Baylor, Ohio State, Michigan State, and Oklahoma State, and easily beat a team that played Ohio State to the final minute.
DOUBT: Is Iowa a #5 team in the country? Minnesota played Michigan State tough. Is CJ too banged up to play all four quarters?
WEEK 13
IOWA #5
DEFENSE: Undefeated, 2 road wins versus current Top 25 teams, shouldn't fall in rankings with win, #6 in both AP and Coaches Polls, beat Iowa State by more than Oklahoma State
DOUBT: Weather. Mother Nature could dump anywhere from 2-12" on Iowa City for Senior Day. Is cold weather going to effect CJ's groin and passing game?
It's time to stop the routine and embrace the glory of this Hawkeye football season. Two ways we can do so:
1. Don't feed the monster and stop letting the talk shows troll us for our responses. Sports talk show hosts, like Colin Cowherd (see link below), give their strong opinions for ratings.
Colin Cowherd blasts Iowa's schedule
Cowherd, himself in the past, has said that if his numbers are good in a market, he will speak well of a team/program and if they are low, he will bash them. Both scenarios, he gets a response and listeners increase. Recently, in defense of his previous statement, he has said that this is no longer the case because Fox Sports has given him a guaranteed contract but, let's be real, his ego is driven by numbers, not dollars.
2. Stop doubting this team and embrace the excitement. Iowa football has been on national television week in and out and is being talked about daily on college football shows. This is incredible for recruiting.
And
The excitement can be contagious. The 1981 Iowa Hawkeyes went to the Rose Bowl. I was 5 and I became a Hawkeye fan for life. My daughter is 5 and my son is 4 and they are excited for every Hawkeye football game now. We are raising a new generation of Iowa Hawkeye fans and it is fantastic.
Let's break the routine. Let's start a new one.
The haters hate and the Hawkeyes celebrate.
Go Hawks!
Go White Sox!
ReplyDeleteBaba booey
ReplyDeleteOhio St Who...Can't wait to play Michigan St in the Big Ten Championship!! Go Hawks
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