Can Iowa ever be elite?

[CaptainCrunchies]

Question for the room guys. In your lifetime do you forsee a national title in football. Can Iowa compete with Ohio State and Michigan on a yearly basis like Michigan State has done for the last decade?


It used to be the big 2 but now the depth of the conference is deeper IMO. Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin are the big boys in the western conference but are seen a tier below Ohio State and the Michigan schools. I know we cant compete with them recruiting wise right now but if west division crowns keep coming the recruits will follow.

I wanna see a glorious championship in football, fingers crossed.

 

[Gladeskat]

Question for the room guys. In your lifetime do you forsee a national title in football. Can Iowa compete with Ohio State and Michigan on a yearly basis like Michigan State has done for the last decade?


It used to be the big 2 but now the depth of the conference is deeper IMO. Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin are the big boys in the western conference but are seen a tier below Ohio State and the Michigan schools. I know we cant compete with them recruiting wise right now but if west division crowns keep coming the recruits will follow.

I wanna see a glorious championship in football, fingers crossed.

No.

 

[terrehawk]

No.

Says a northwestern guy. LOL

 

[amahawk]

It would be tough. Maybe just outside the highest level.

 

[Gladeskat]

Says a northwestern guy. LOL

I'd say we know a thing or two about odds and risk management.

 

[Eternal Return]

I'd say we know a thing or two about odds and risk management.

I think it's just sour grapes that you were left out by the OP (who said "Iowa, NB, and WI"). Ha!

 

[Hawkirish]

I'd say we know a thing or two about odds and risk management.

I think it's just sour grapes that you were left out by the OP (who said "Iowa, NB, and WI"). Ha!

I'd say chances are slim the Hawks win a NC but the odds of that happening are greater than NW winning a big 10 western division championship.

 

[hawkcub]

I wish people would stop acting like MSU is taking over the B1G. They have had a great last 3 years. The three years before they were very good except for 1 year. Wisconsin has done the same thing. Even Iowa has done it.

History has taught us these 3 teams will compete most years and even be better in some years with the elites. But unfortunately the recruiting advantage and name recognition of the Big 2 wins out. MSU rise can be attributed to the struggles of MI. I see them taking a step back.

I'd love us to be the team in the B1G for a decade. But history shows we are a good but not great program.

 

[InsaneHawk]

Question for the room guys. In your lifetime do you forsee a national title in football. Can Iowa compete with Ohio State and Michigan on a yearly basis like Michigan State has done for the last decade?


It used to be the big 2 but now the depth of the conference is deeper IMO. Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin are the big boys in the western conference but are seen a tier below Ohio State and the Michigan schools. I know we cant compete with them recruiting wise right now but if west division crowns keep coming the recruits will follow.

I wanna see a glorious championship in football, fingers crossed.

I think it's possible, but unlikely. We all know that Iowa has disadvantages which OSU and Michigan do not have to deal with that puts Iowa automatically behind the race; however, by recruiting the right kids, building them up, and drastically reducing attrition, Iowa can stay on par and could find the right opportunity to put a National Title together. Who knows, maybe they do that this year?

 

[HerkyFan]

Everything must align for the Hawks to win a National Title. While it could happen it is still a long shot. Expecting Iowa could do it consistently enough to be truly elite isn't realistic.

 

[GBR_Atlanta]

I absolutely think Iowa can do it, and right now is a great time. Hawks have a great squad, and the West isn't spectacular right now. Hawkeyes handle their business and they are a game away from the playoff. I'm hoping my Huskers make it difficult for you

If you come back with another great year, that will be even better for recruiting.

Also, is anyone watching MD and MSU on BTN? Goodness this season can't start soon enough.

 

[CO_hawk]

Probably not going to happen. But all we need is our Cam Newton or Brad Banks, so who knows. I don't think we'll be recruiting at the level of the playoff regulars to win one.

Unfortunately Kirk has proven over time that he can't maintain 10 win seasons. And I truly believe that the playoff is a beauty pageant that takes a couple of years to get in to. So check maybe this year might be out best chance in the near future.

 

[anon_i8nzeu2gbf0ba]

Well, look at recent history. In 2009 Iowa played a brutal schedule and was in the Big Ten driver's seat and a candidate for the national title before a 9-0 start was jolted by the Stanzi injury which resulted in an upset loss to NW and an OT loss @ OSU.

In 2010 Iowa had a tremendous amount of talent but, again, blew several close games...including another one to OSU in the final minute in Iowa City. That Iowa team certainly had the talent to win a Big Ten and national title.

And if those two seasons turned out as they could have, there would have been no downturn.

Then in 2015 Iowa goes 12-0, loses one of the most heartbreaking games in Iowa history in the Big Ten title game and never recovers, losing again in the Rose Bowl. So Iowa was within a whisker of another Big Ten title and a spot in the four-team playoffs last year.

The upcoming 2016 season looks like Iowa will again be a Big Ten title contender and, along with it, have another shot at the playoffs.

So Iowa has been on the cusp of becoming a regular in the conference and national title discussion over the last several years. If the Hawkeyes push through all the way to a conference title and playoff berth this year, then I see no reason why Iowa can't be right up there with Ohio State and Michigan on a regular basis.

 

[markfromj]

Iowa can win a national title, but cannot be "elite".

 

[CO_hawk]

A title run once every 7 years is not going to do it. Got to maintain consistency to catch the eye of the nation.

 

[J-Prof]

Why - in this thread - are we acting like Michigan is an elite team? The Wolverines haven't won a Big Ten title since the shared title with Iowa in 2004, right?
They've won one national title since the late 1940s. If Michigan is the standard for an elite team, then so is Iowa (and Wisconsin and Michigan State).
Ohio State, sadly, is the only elite team in the Big Ten.
To the original question - yes, Iowa can become an elite team. But, if the Hawkeyes don't make the BT title game this year, the odds become a lot tougher.

 

[terrehawk]

I'd say we know a thing or two about odds and risk management.

"We".....

 

[Kurt Warner]

I agree, Michigan is not an elite team. Ohio State is. It's the media that keeps trying to make Michigan elite.

 

[PHXIowaClub]

Odds that Iowa can win a national title are extremely slim. They're going to have to beat a Top 10 team in the B1G Championship Game, and then beat two Top 5 teams in a row. Winning one of those games against superior talent is hard enough, but 3 in a row???? Only way it happens is if Iowa gets a "Cam Newton" type QB that can completely dominate the college game.

Michigan has not done much in the past decade but Harbaugh is going to get it done. Ohio State, Michigan, & Michigan State are in a great position to compete for Top 10 finishes year in and year out. Penn State is on the outside looking in but will get their full scholarship status back next year I believe.

Out West, Iowa, Wisconsin, & Nebraska should compete each year to get to the B1G title game. Iowa needs to show that they can have continued success for more than 2 years in a row. If they can do that, they're in a great position to get to a B1G title game and a great bowl every 2 or 3 years.

Now if Texas or Oklahoma were to join the B1G down the road and come into the B1G West, that changes things a bit.........won't go there in this thread.

 

[KinnickCrawler]

I don't know if I would say we'll contend with Michigan and Ohio State, but there are clearly going to be three recurring favorites in each division.

The East will have Michigan, Michigan St., and Ohio State in the thick of the race each year. I definitely think Iowa can be in that group with Wisconsin and Nebraska each year in the West.

How the staff is able to use our recent success to recruit new talent will go a long ways towards deciding if we are at the top or the bottom of that pecking order.

 

[Birky]

I'd say we know a thing or two about odds and risk management.

This is true, but it pales in comparison to what you ladies know about not being an elite football program.

 

[ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAWK]

Yes Iowa can win the Nat Title. They've almost done it 4 times in just my lifetime & they have won it in the 50's. I'm getting to the point where I almost expect it to happen.

 

[ichawk24]

You just have to get really lucky with the right coach. Any P5 school can become elite, just very unlikely. Snyder had KSU on the edge of elite, the jerk at Baylor had them on the edge of elite, Gary Patterson at TCU took a G5 team to the edge of elite. Dantonio has MSU temporarily elite.

 

[unoHawkeye]

What do we consider "elite"? If Iowa can maintain success in terms of winning the West, then I think we would be able to maintain the improved level of recruiting that we've seen in the 2017 class. From there, with the developmental ability shown by the staff, the sky is the limit.

The thing holding Iowa back, aside from location, is the fact that in the developmental program, there are always going to be years where we lose a lot and are going to be super inexperienced. For example, next year we'll be primed for about an 8 win season, unless Wiegers really steps up, as do the defensive backs.

 

[Big Hawk D-Port]

Yes Iowa can win the Nat Title. They've almost done it 4 times in just my lifetime & they have won it in the 50's. I'm getting to the point where I almost expect it to happen.

If Shonn Greene comes back in 2009 and Stanzi doesn't get hurt, Iowa is playing Mark Ingram and Alabama in the National Championship in Pasadena. Not sure they would have won but it realistically could have happened.

 

[ROCKY MOUNTAIN HAWK]

If Shonn Greene comes back in 2009 and Stanzi doesn't get hurt, Iowa is playing Mark Ingram and Alabama in the National Championship in Pasadena. Not sure they would have won but it realistically could have happened.

Absolutely. Not sure Alabama could've beat that Iowa team either. Our defense was too nasty. And Greene was as good as Ingram.

 

[laidbackdude2011]

No

For a several reasons:

1. Iowa is not consistent. I like KF I really do but having a stellar season every 4-5 years is not going to cut it. After a good season, we need to consistently gave very good players in the pipeline so that we are always a top 20 team. The hype is good for a year a two and then we are non existent for the next 3-4 years. We don't have the brand to be that way and people forget. ND Oklahoma and Florida can suck for 3 years and still bring in a top 25 recruiting class.

2. As referenced above, our recruiting just doesn't live up to a national contender level. Having 1-2 studs or constantly having to develop mediocre players will not cut it.

3. We must have more wins vs marquee teams. Face it or not but polls and popular opinion matters. CFP is partly subjective as there is a human factor. If we never can beat the LSUs, Stanfords etc we will always be in that 5-7 range and always on the outside looking in. There are 4 spots but 5 power conferences plus ND. So even if we win the B10 there's always the chance that we are left behind, especially if most think that we can't win a marquee matchup.

 

[Rustys Dad]

My two cents:

Iowa will always be a "sound" program.

It won't ever be elite (on a consistent basis - that's very hard to do nowadays)

We'll always run a clean program. We'll always be a mentally sound and hard-nosed program. I am 46 years old. Seen lots of good (and no-so-good) Iowa teams. In 1985 Iowa was outstanding. Last year we started 12-0 ...

I don't see Iowa completing for a national title. It's hard to get the absolute elite athletes that reside in SEC country. OSU and Michigan are turning their recruiting up a notch and their having success luring some guys away from SEC schools.

Iowa has always depended on the guys with chips on their shoulders. Our latest class has verbals from some outstanding players. And I think Iowa football will be very competitive for the foreseeable future ... Iowa doesn't bring in players with bad attitudes .. or players who aren't serious about school. Iowa creates Big 10 players. the elite schools simply recruits players who only have the NFL on their mind. Programs that are willing to look the other way in keeping players eligible, and turning a blind eye when said players bend the rules or break the law, etc.

Iowa doesn't and won't do that. At the end of the day ... it's the programs that are willing to bend the rules a bit in order to win ... programs willing to recruit and keep players of questionable character ... all in the name of Ws on the field.

That's not Iowa and it never will be ...

 

[mikesright]

Its possible for Iowa to get to a so-called elite level. Iowa is close to St Louis, Chicago, and Minneapolis, which are solid recruiting grounds in addition to the state of Iowa, which has been producing 10 plus div 1 recruits per year lately, which is nothing to sniff at.

In addition, the blue bloods in this sport can be wildly up and down. Look at Michigan in the Rich rod era, USC since Pete Carroll left, Alabama pre Saban post Bear Bryant or Oklahoma before Bob Stoops.

Iowa has good fan support, good facilities, and good coaching/admin that aren't going anywhere. We're not that far from getting to that elite level - but we're gonna need to consistently finish between 9-3 to 11-1 in the regular season rather than the 7-5 dips in order to gain that respect nationally and to throw our hat into the heated recruiting races. If Iowa has an elite year this year, and follows through with the momentum built in recruiting to 9-3 in 2017, then a couple of 10 or 11 win seasons - bam - you're elite and you have a chance at a Natty.

 

[HoustonHawkeye]

Yes/Maybe. To do it, we have to:

• Upgrade Facilities...Done
• Recruit better athletes...Appears that is happening
• Recruit/Develop Great Offensive Lines...done
• Recruit high character people that want to stay, even if they could be drafted...we have had good examples of this
• Need to keep our best coaches, get rid of weak ones?
• Need to push out players that aren't developing...I think we are getting better at this.
• Recruit a great defense...usually one of our strengths
• Recruit great QBs....We have been hit and miss with this in the KF area. Hopefully, Stanley is the start of great QBs coming.
• Have a strong presence in Iowa for walk on's... above average so far.
• Development Program...Chris Doyle rocks

 

[Scott559]

overall we have had top tier o-line, d-line play, lacked in the skill positions, hopefully that is trending in the right direction. if so who knows

 

[1711 Cardiff]

Dantonio is an Ohioan who coached at OSU under Tressel. He's basically taken Tressel ball with him to East Lansing while recruiting the heck out of Ohio.

 

[Hawkeyeinoregon]

Can they ever be elite? Why not? Inches away last year and who knows if the Hawkeyes would of won in the BT championship game they wouldn't of given Alabama a better game than MSU did riding high on a 13-0 record

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Can Iowa have an elite team - sure. But it's a long shot.

Can Iowa be an elite program? No. Iowa does not have the recruiting base to sustain long term greatness.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

There is no clear cut definition of "elite program". It's more of "I know it when I see it".
Take 'bama as the prototype and look at some of the key traits. Consistently top ten, most of the time top five in rankings. Playing in the national title game multiple times over the past several years. Top 10 recruiting classes routinely. Storied tradition.

It's a very high bar, that's why it's elite. And even 'bama had a time in recent memory in which they were far from elite. Look at usc, they were clearly elite. Until they suddenly weren't.

Iowa is just not going to be able to maintain any consistency at that high level over a 5 year period, let alone 10 or more.

They can have great years, that's been demonstrated. They may even get into the playoffs at some point, although I think their best shot was last year and they're not likely to be that close again for a while.

 

[RonnieHarmonshands]

Question for the room guys. In your lifetime do you forsee a national title in football. Can Iowa compete with Ohio State and Michigan on a yearly basis like Michigan State has done for the last decade?


It used to be the big 2 but now the depth of the conference is deeper IMO. Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin are the big boys in the western conference but are seen a tier below Ohio State and the Michigan schools. I know we cant compete with them recruiting wise right now but if west division crowns keep coming the recruits will follow.

I wanna see a glorious championship in football, fingers crossed.

Unfortunately no. Iowa needs to attract more game breaking play makers on O and D. This type of player generally chooses SEC or OSU over Iowa.

 

[whatsup13579er]

Dantonio is an Ohioan who coached at OSU under Tressel. He's basically taken Tressel ball with him to East Lansing while recruiting the heck out of Ohio.

All while emulating what KF has done at Iowa. A winning model.

 

[bigfridaynite]

It is very hard for Iowa to replace players like CJ,King and Jewell not saying it. can't happen but they have developed to very élite players and Iowa fans should enjoy it.

 

[whatsup13579er]

There seems to be a few questions floating around this thread.

Can Iowa have an elite team? Absolutely. 2002 and 2009, to a lesser extent 2004, were elite teams. Those teams were loaded with NFL talent on defense and were good enough on offense to compete with anyone. As fun as 2015 was I just don't see the talent that those other teams had. Maybe history will change the way I see the 2015 team?

Can Iowa have an elite program? Probably not. Iowa is a developmental program. They need the majority of their recruiting classes to stick around and pan out to succeed. 2012's lack of success can be directly attributed to the 08 and 09 recruiting classes not working out. Having really good teams for 1-3 years every 5 years will not gain the respect of the media. The same media that seems to be doing everything possible to make Michigan elite.

Can Iowa win a National Title? Yes. Iowa will have a good shot at the B1G West pretty much every year. With the CFP, the B1G champ is almost a shoe-in. Once you make the CFP, anything can happen. 2002 Iowa finished the regular season #3. 2009 Iowa was #4 before the Stanzi injury. 2015 Iowa was #4 before their loss to MSU. In the last 15 years Iowa has had 3 teams that were legitimately in the CFP hunt. Would have made the CFP in 2002.

 

[Titanhawk2]

Winning a NC doesn't make you elite. So yes NC is possible, elite probably never