a lot of excitement hinges on this Wisky game.

[jhawkinaz]

It has been a lot of fun watching this team so far this year, but I think most of us would admit that although we are excited, it is with a lot of guarded optimism. We want to believe something special can happen, but we still have our guard up for a let down.

I think this can be a fun season regardless of this week's outcome, BUT.........win this weekend and the guard is down! It will be time to fill up the kool-aid glass, get out the rose colored glasses, pull up the black and gold knee high socks, and send the kids outside to play during the game.

Come on Hawks......let's get this party started!!!

 

[Packer54]

Play with poise and confidence.......

 

[DrVenkman]

Iowa wins this one. Badgers are too complacent

 

[SoonerBeAHawk]

Iowa wins this one. Badgers are too complacent

I dunno, that 4 - 0 record is getting some attention.

We should have dropped a game in order to catch those Badgers really off-guard!

 

[fredjr82]

It's going to be a defensive struggle for the whole game. I think our offense is more effective than their O (especially with Clement being out) so I'll give the nod to the Hawks. That said Wisconsin's D has given up like 3 points in the last 3 games.

 

[soybean]

I believe that Beathard is the real deal. But Saturday is his chance to prove it against a Wisconsin defense that is the real thing. Losing to Wisconsin would not ruin this season, but beating them would vault the Hawks into the Top 25 and the national conversation. This game is really kind of a big deal.

 

[SoonerBeAHawk]

If Iowa wins I'm going to be spending way too much time on this board.

 

[DrVenkman]

Iowa is going to knock Stave out of the game.
In a nice way of course. Dont want to come across as mean-spirited.

But they will knock him out and Iowa wins. Iowa will be ready.

 

[swihawk]

I believe that Beathard is the real deal. But Saturday is his chance to prove it against a Wisconsin defense that is the real thing. Losing to Wisconsin would not ruin this season, but beating them would vault the Hawks into the Top 25 and the national conversation. This game is really kind of a big deal.

THIS.... ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[cidsports]

Is Beathard the real deal on the road? He is 2-0 on the road, as a starter.

Wisconsin is young at RB ... do they have the real deal there?

Iowa won in 2005 and 2009. This game is a better version of the 2007 game, B1G opener for Iowa; and Iowa has a better QB, than 2007.

Iowa lost 17-13 in that game. Look for Iowa to have more offense, defense and hopefully special teams, than 2007 or 2014.

peace

 

[Carlton]

Iowa is going to knock Stave out of the game.
In a nice way of course. Dont want to come across as mean-spirited....But they will knock him out....

Dr's TARGETING! Intent is irrelevant. ( :

 

[whatsup12579er]

I felt going into the Pitt game that it would show us a lot about the make up of this years Iowa squad. It showed some flaws but it also showed us a lot of positives. I feel kind of the same way about this game @Wiscy. Going on the road against a ranked opponent who is currently the bully of the B1G West. If Iowa can come out of Madison with a W, KF will win back a large portion of the fan base that he has lost over the last few years. This is a huge game for the future of the program. I hope KF and Co. is treating it as the springboard game that it can be.

 

[cedarvalleykid14]

I'm not sure Wisconsin's defense can or will play any better than Pitt's did against Iowa. Before the Pitt game, many shrewd observers were saying Pitt's MSU style of brutally physical play and complicated/disguised coverages would expose Iowa. When that didn't happen, the same people said, well, it was just Pitt and Pitt ain't that good. OK. We'll see, but my money's on CJ and his Hawkeye band every Saturday, including this Saturday in Madison.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

It has been a lot of fun watching this team so far this year, but I think most of us would admit that although we are excited, it is with a lot of guarded optimism. We want to believe something special can happen, but we still have our guard up for a let down.

I think this can be a fun season regardless of this week's outcome, BUT.........win this weekend and the guard is down! It will be time to fill up the kool-aid glass, get out the rose colored glasses, pull up the black and gold knee high socks, and send the kids outside to play during the game.

Come on Hawks......let's get this party started!!!

Agree, but .....

Something special has happened. We have a good team that hits hard and makes plays. This team has taken thousands of Hawk fans off suicide watch, and the KF posters at the Post Office have come down. We seem to have an offense, a defense and special teams, all at the same time - what? We have a QB, we have a kicker, we have a punter! We have lots of very good players!

If we lose to Wisky in Madison, I won't lose any sleep (unless we get beat by 4 td's).

If we win .......... Wow!!!!!!!! Watch out Bucky, the Hawks are playing with house money!

!

 

[citizenHawk]

Biggest game for the Hawkeyes in some time. Gotta play like mean dogs off the leash.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

If Iowa wins, I expect attendance for the Illinois game to be close to a sell out (more than likely not one due to lack of season tickets).

A loss (anything but a blowout) still won't completely deter fans from showing up for that game next week though. They'd just be missing out on a huge opportunity to almost completely win back the fanbase with a win.

At this point, I don't think we'll see any more home games under 60,000 unless we start piling up the losses again.