Similar programs - different directions - IA and MN

[tjgopher]

That had nothing to do with Floyd leaving, but it isn't necessarily a bad thing to be the only game in town.

There's a basic difference - and people don't fully understand it. So, I'll explain it.

A kid in Iowa dreams of growing up to be an Iowa Hawkeye. They want to be the next Chuck Long or Tim Dwight or Robert Gallery or Dallas Clark. So, when Kirk Ferentz walks into the high school and offers an Iowa kid a scholarship, Ferentz has just made that kid's dream come true. And, ONLY Kirk Ferentz can make that dream come true. A kid can't have his dream come true by committing to Notre Dame or USC. If Seantrel Henderson were a player at Iowa City West High School, he'd likely already be an Iowa commit.

A kid growing up in Minnesota dreams of growing up to be a Minnesota Viking. They want to be the next Fran Tarkenton or Chris Carter or Adrian Peterson or Brett Favre. So, when Tim Brewster walks in, he can only make this kids dream come true by helping him get drafted by the Vikings. And, any good college coach can make that kid's dream come true. He can go to Notre Dame or Iowa or Wisconsin and still have his dream. I know some would even argue he could go to those schools and have a better chance to becoming a Viking. Thus, a Seantrel Henderson is tough to nab, even if he lives ten miles from campus.

Until that culture in Minnesota changes (and it will take years, if ever), then keeping in state kids here is different than keeping them in Iowa, etc.

 

[Art Vandelay]

I'm sorry, but when one team is 7-0 and ranked in the top 10 nationally and they beat the other team (which is hovering around .500) 55-0 in their last meeting, it's absurd to say both team are headed in the same direction.

 

[frozengopher]

I like the argument that Iowans have absolutely nothing else in their market, let alone anything to look forward to in life, therefore the Hawkeyes are number one.

 

[tjgopher]

I like the argument that Iowans have absolutely nothing else in their market, let alone anything to look forward to in life, therefore the Hawkeyes are number one.

Say what you want, but that dynamic creates a large passionate Iowa fan base that we can not equal at this time. Basically for the past 30 years, that atmosphere has given them some great college football and not much else, while we've gotten some other things in life, but very little great college football. If I had my choice, I might take some great college football. Maybe a January bowl game every now and then. Maybe a Top Ten ranking every now and then. Heck, maybe even a Big Ten title (IA has five in those 30 years and is contending for a sixth).

 

[frozengopher]

I wasn't being sarcastic. I really do agree with that argument.

 

[tjgopher]

I wasn't being sarcastic. I really do agree with that argument.

Yeah, I was adding to the point. Also, that passion in Iowa fosters what I was describing earlier in regard to keeping kids at home. For many in Iowa, it is unthinkable for an Iowa kid to go play elsewhere. Not even an option. We're not there yet in Minnesota. Brewster is trying his damndest, but the culture hasn't shifted. It may, but it may take a long, long time.

We're lucky there aren't more good high school players in Iowa or they would really be stocked.

 

[CarterAveKing]

Distance

I grew up on a farm. Wanted to move to the big city. While 70,000+ isn't much, it's something for Iowa kids to look forward to. Or at least it's a different place than home. Twin Cities kids likely want to move out. That's why schools like River Falls, Madison, and Iowa City get City's kids (football players or not). Grass is always greener... Just saying recruiting kids to stay home sometimes means living 15 minutes from mom & dad, which few HS seniors dream about. On the contrary, I think Brewster can reassure some southern kids that they're not moving to the middle of nowhere, the Cities are a happenin' place.

 

[balds]

Reality

I'll be the first to give Iowa all the credit in the world. But in reality the difference between the two teams were really only lopsided in three of the past 10 years (2002 and 2008). They have simply executed and had a toughness we haven't had and thus won more games.

Head to head (to my recollection)

2008-enough said
2007 - Worst Gopher team in history would have won in Iowa City with any pulse on offense
2006-Win at Dome, Drew Tate meltdown
2005-Blowout in I.C.
2004- Lloyd misses a field goal to win it after Greenway tackles Barber for a loss
2003- Hawkeyes win, Maroney fumbles at 1 and corn fed hits a 90 yard FG before half
2002-Blow out at Dome
2001-?
2000- Gophers win at dome
1999-Gophers win at Iowa

With a few exceptions, Iowa has had similar talent as Minnesota, but they simply have done more with what they have. i.e. There is now way Iowa was the more talented team in 2004. I think they were playing with Tom Busch, who was like their third string fullback as their only healthy RB that day.

 

[Bronko Nagurski Gopher]

Literally nothing in that post was a troll, and you have again misspelled the name of our state and mascot in your anger. You seem to do that a lot, I bet it's embarrassing. Why are you so angry all the time, Bronko? Do you want to talk about it?

it has nothing to do with that post. it was the pile of crap you left behind last week. don't play stupid son.

p.s. ioweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee hogeyes

 

[tjgopher]

There is now way Iowa was the more talented team in 2004.

They won the Big Ten title in 2004. They were 7-1 in the league. We were 3-5 in the league. The all Big Ten teams from that year, the # of future NFL players on the field that day, and the records would lead one to believe Iowa was more talented.

 

[Assashian]

There is now way Iowa was the more talented team in 2004. I think they were playing with Tom Busch, who was like their third string fullback as their only healthy RB that day.

Sam Brownlee, who was the 6th string running back when the season started and a walk-on, was actually the starting RB for most of the season, including that game. Of course, they also had an All-Big Ten QB, great receivers, and an awesome defense. As someone else pointed out, they won the Big Ten that year, and also beat LSU in one of the best bowl games ever to finish the season in the Top 10. So, yeah, probably just a little bit better than a totally mediocre Minnesota team.

 

[dcboe]

Agree

I also live here in the heart of Pigeon country (Marion). Besides the points made earlier, Ferentz and his coordinators (and other top assistants) have been together since they were first hired. Same philosophies, schemes, goals, etc,. They are never changing and we have our 2nd head coach, 3rd offensive scheme and plenty of O & D coordinators.

 

[50PoundHead]

Thanks for poiting out the Iowa recruit talent level. I think they have some good stories about the lower-ranked recruit or walk-on who ends up starting. Every program does. But let's not let those stories cloud the fact that there are some awesome athletes down in Iowa City who can lace 'em up and go. This isn't a real-life "Little Engine That Could" story. This is a talented and well-coached team.

Iowa is a good team with a solid consistent system. When a recruit goes there, he learns the system from assistants who have been there and are an expression of the HC's vision.

Let's face it. Ferentz has a great vision. He's an O-line guy. He preaches and applies a brand of football that's all about being physical and knocking the other team around. For all the stress on "basketball on grass" and spread offenses, football still boils down to knocking the other team down more than you get knocked down. Ferentz understands that and has modeled his program thusly.