I’m just going to come right off the top rope and say that watching PJ Fleck settle for a feckless field goal because he didn’t want to get blanked at Kinnick Stadium was an All Time victory cigar moment
for me. It might be my favorite moment in the Ferentz/Fleck era of this rivalry. I just can’t stop thinking about it. Do you know how much we have to be in his brain for him to sigh, shrug his shoulder and “take a win” (as Brad Nessler and Gary Danielson so hysterically put it on the broadcast) down 34-0 going into the 4th quarter?
The whole situation is so spineless it makes me cackle. You just had your best drive of the day against and Iowa defense that is one giant gnat at a BBQ (10-plays, 59-yards) and facing 4th and 6th at the Iowa 16 down 34-0 and you…wait, wait, wait…you HAHAHAHahahaHAHAHAHA… you kick a field goal for a freaking moral victory?
We’re playing for the pig and you’re down big and you’re taking moral victories?
Things are tough in land of 10,000 lakes.
I can only imagine how many times the Fleckster has watched Kayden Wetjen’s Row The Boat celebration at this point.
Just fantastic, fantastic stuff. I know I said in the recap a couple of weeks ago that beating the hell out of a lifeless Wisconsin team isn’t fun for me anymore because I’m a sicko and enjoyed my college version of the Bears vs. Packers…but what you’ll never hear come out of my mouth is that I’m tired of punching the Gophers right in the nards – something Kirk Ferentz has now done 20-times in his career (20-7 record all time) and eight times in the PJ Fleck era (8-1 with a scoring difference of 245 to 128).
Ski-U-BLEH am I right?
How did Nebraska lose to this team?
The world may never know – but what I DO know after what unfolded throughout this entire weekend – the AP Poll non-inclusion included – is that the boys are boppin’, Phil Parker is the Sorcerer Supreme, something NASTY happens when the Hawks wear the Black Coffins, Mark Gronowski better keep the whiskers, our offensive line and plethora of talent at the runningback position might be up there for All-Time units in the Ferentz Era and we have one HELLUVA opportunity ahead of us.
An opportunity to get the 10,000 pound gorilla off our backs and end the Twinkie discussions. An opportunity to force everyone’s hand (well, outside of Pat McAfee – shouts to The Brand) to ACKNOWLEDGE the one team they almost always would rather jeer than cheer…the Iowa Hawkeyes.
It’s probably a smidge hyperbolic and extremely short sighted to say it (especially if he’s going to hang on until the contract ends), but Oregon may be one of the final MUST WIN games in the Kirk Ferentz Era. They HAVE to find away to jump all over the Ducks in Iowa City just like they did this past weekend against Minnesota. They HAVE to play THAT way. They cannot let Oregon come into Kinnick and hope to play conservative keep away again. We’ve seen that gameplan play out against a worthy opponent twice this year and those 8-total points is what is keeping Iowa from having a truly remarkable season. Oregon is GETTABLE. College Football is GETTABLE. You cannot have two weeks to prepare and come out flat or nervous against the Ducks.
You have to be the aggressor in all three phases from the opening kick, just like you were against the Gophers. You cannot punt on offense.
You have to be the bully, once again.
BE THE BULLIES AGAIN.
There is NOTHING to lose from going All-In and yet, we have everything to gain by letting it all rip. Letting all the pieces fit together and trusting your staff and your players to go out there and put on a performance for the ages. And the best part of all, is that Iowa City will be right there with you in unison; screaming and chanting and fighting with you.
We all know what happens when Kinnick Stadium turns into a Fight Club.
Like the great Liam Neeson once said, “Good Luck”.
If you lose fighting tooth and nail, fine. FINE!. Oregon is a damn good football team and Dan Lanning is one of the best coaches in this game. This is going to be difficult. It’s supposed to be difficult. But the situation is primed for a classic Iowa/Kinnick shocker.
PLEASE KIRK I BEG YOU TO TAKE IT.
The schedule still has potential road bumps, but if you can’t steal this one against a Top-6 Football team, the rest of that schedule doesn’t really matter. You’ll be playing for the rights to play either in Tampa or Orlando or New York – not in the 12-team playoff which is absolutely on the table still.
It’s absolutely on the table.
It’s weird to even think about. But the path is there and with the way all three phases are competing now, there’s no question in my mind that Iowa is a Top-15 college football team right now despite coaches and the national medias unwillingness to admit it.
MAKE THEM.
PUSH THEM.
FORCE THEM.
Get right in the bye week. Put together an aggressive game plan and ATTACK. Put Kinnick Stadium into a frenzy and go out there and put everyone on notice that despite two losses by 8-total points, the Iowa Hawkeyes are a problem.
And then let all of us who have questioned you as we wandered through the quarterback/offensive desert cry as we watch you emotionally celebrate one of the best wins of your career with a locker room full of players you clearly love.
Let’s do this.
