Early thought on 2016

[dbrocket]

I was just thinking how awesome this is and my mind briefly turned to 2016, when a (likely) 12-15 win Hawkeye team will enter the season returning most of its starters and significant contributors at other positions.

And it occurred to me that the expectations would be really high. And, when expectations are really high, some of us (most?) start to take things for granted. A season we would sometimes kill for is seen as a disappointment.

I do not want to do that. And it's not fair. Even with talent, chemistry is different year-to-year. It's tricky and it's a big part of why we're winning right now.

So, here is what I am promising myself:
1. I will not be disappointed in a 9-win 2016 season - even if that includes the bowl.
2. I will not be up-in-arms over an 8-win 2016.
3. If we win 10+ games, I will still be over the moon, even if everyone is saying it is expected.

I encourage you all to join me in that attitude when this ride eventually ends.

 

[markfromj]

Good post. Reminds me of 2010. Yes, disappointing, but by any calm measure was a good year.

 

[ICWestfan]

Schedule?

 

[dbrocket]

Schedule is tougher. I think we play Michigan and either Michigan St. or Ohio St. I don't remember which. But we really have a lot coming back. A lot of key Sophomores this year.

 

[soybean]

Sep. 3 Miami (OH) RedHawks
Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Sep. 10

Iowa State Cyclones
Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Sep. 17

North Dakota State Bison
Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Sep. 24 at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
High Point Solutions Stadium, Piscataway, NJ TBA
Saturday
Oct. 1 Northwestern Wildcats
Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA TBA
Saturday
Oct. 8 at Minnesota Golden Gophers
TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN
Oct. 15 at Purdue Boilermakers
Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN T
Oct. 22 Wisconsin Badgers
Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA

Oct. 29 --- Open Date --- ---

Nov. 5 at Penn State Nittany Lions
Beaver Stadium, University Park, PA
Nov. 12 Michigan Wolverines
Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA
Nov. 19 at Illinois Fighting Illini
Memorial Stadium, Champaign, IL
Friday
Nov. 25 Nebraska Cornhuskers
Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City, IA

 

[dbrocket]

Oh, that's WAY better. Michigan's tough and Penn St. is building, I think, but neither really scares me, if we're good.

 

[yerpHAWK]

Do we make the playoff next year undefeated, or do we fail the eye test? Not enuff power 5's in da non con

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Things have come together this year.
While we have multiple threads on schedule strength already, even the most ardent defenders would admit that no tosu, msu, or mich on the regular season docket is an advantage.

IF they pull off what would have previously been unimaginable and win the NC, I personally wouldn't be deflated by "falling off" to a 10 or even 9 win season next year.
Hell, even if they falter toward the finish this year and wind up losing a couple I will still consider it a very successful season given where they started from way back after the butt kicking they suffered in the bowl game to wrap up last season.

 

[ICWestfan]

I would be very disappointed if Iowa did not go undefeated in the preseason. That's a horrible OOC list.

 

[rivercityjazzman]

2016 schedule
9/3: Miami ("No! We're not The U!")
9/10: Cyclowns
9/7: the Bison from the north
9/24: at Jersey shore wannabes
10/1: The Purple Haze
10/8: at Goofers
10/15: at The makers of Boils
10/22: Stinking badgers
11/5: at the cowardly lions
11/12: Hawkeye hand-me-downs (Michigan)
11/19: at The Land o Lincoln
11/25: Bugeaters

 

[Florida Big Red]

Is that really your OOC schedule??? Good grief that's horrendous - and a shame since Iowa should have a pretty good team coming back.

 

[MplsHawk]

I would be very disappointed if Iowa did not go undefeated in the preseason. That's a horrible OOC list.

Its not a horrible OOC list. Could be tougher, but its not horrible. NDSU could be a solid test.

 

[millhawk]

Hey, we play the mighty cyclowns right? All their genius fans say they would win the BIG west right?

 

[Birky]

Is that really your OOC schedule??? Good grief that's horrendous - and a shame since Iowa should have a pretty good team coming back.

It is going to look like that for as long as the B1G plays 9 conference games. As long as Iowa is stuck playing ISU we will never see an interesting noncon opponent come to Kinnick again. That said, I wouldn't be shocked to have some fun neutral site games in the future?

 

[ICWestfan]

Its not a horrible OOC list. Could be tougher, but its not horrible. NDSU could be a solid test.

You're right, it isn't horrible, it's downright pathetic. Miami is 2-8, ISU is 3-6, NDSt is 7-2. I know that this season doesn't mean anything in regards to next as things obvioously change, but that is a terrible, terrible, freekin HORRENDOUSly bad OOC schedule. Iowa is going to be loaded next year and while NDSt might be the toughest team on that list, they'll get an ass-kicking the likes of which they haven't seen in some time.

 

[MplsHawk]

You're right, it isn't horrible, it's downright pathetic. Miami is 2-8, ISU is 3-6, NDSt is 7-2. I know that this season doesn't mean anything in regards to next as things obvioously change, but that is a terrible, terrible, freekin HORRENDOUSly bad OOC schedule. Iowa is going to be loaded next year and while NDSU might be the toughest team on that list, they'll get an ass-kicking the likes of which they haven't seen in some time.

The Hawks had better be well prepared for NDSU. By then NDSU will probably have won their 5th FCS national title in a row. The only reason they aren't undefeated this year is injuries. They have NFL talent on that team. We haven't always been well prepared to beat the teams we should in the OOC.

 

[frmrhwk57]

ICWestfan- you understand NDSU hasn't lost to a FBS team in the past 5 years right. They will be the toughest team on our non conference schedule. What is Debbie's OOC schedule. Sisters of the blind, sisters of the poor, and some D3 school our of western Kansas. That will be a tough one.

 

[ICWestfan]

ICWestfan- you understand NDSU hasn't lost to a FBS team in the past 5 years right. They will be the toughest team on our non conference schedule. What is Debbie's OOC schedule. Sisters of the blind, sisters of the poor, and some D3 school our of western Kansas. That will be a tough one.

The discussion isn't about Nebraska, it's about Iowa and their 2016 schedule. It's a terrible OOC schedule for Iowa. I am actually with Delany- kick the D1AA teams to the curb, throw them a bone monetarily, and pick up a D1 team (probably impossible at this time), and then move along.

 

[artradley]

The discussion isn't about Nebraska, it's about Iowa and their 2016 schedule. It's a terrible OOC schedule for Iowa. I am actually with Delany- kick the D1AA teams to the curb, throw them a bone monetarily, and pick up a D1 team (probably impossible at this time), and then move along.

Last year NDSU beat ISU by 20 on the road. Iowa beat ISU by 3 at home. It's a solid opponent. They've also beaten Minnesota, Kansas State, and Illinois State in recent years.

 

[mazda1]

Daring to peak at next year my major concerns would be pass rush, special teams, and replacing King.

We may see some shuffling on the o-line, but there are some sought after recruits that will be ready size wise and because of injuries we will have good experience coming back.

Defensively we should be able to stop the run, but the pass d will make or break that unit. If our receivers just catch the ball we should be okay on offense.

Special teams are the wild card. New punter, new kicker, and new returners. This unit could easily cost us a couple of games.

 

[Dauminator]

That's a great attitude to take, OP, and I think the right one.

As 2016 approaches, Hawk fans, remember 2010! And 2005. And . . . well, let's just stop there.

 

[StormHawk42]

Really wish we could go 2 on, 2 off for ISU. Good for the state for sure, but now with all the SOS talk, there's opportunity for so much more from a different P5 school.

Then again, conferences will likely look different again in 5-10 years. Maybe B12 folds and ISU goes to mid major status. Maybe the B1G shoots for 10 conference games. Who knows?

 

[Suterman]

I am always optimistic but I don't get mad if my expectations aren't met. On balance, an 8 win Iowa season is a good one. Anything more than that and we've had a great year, 7 is under performing a little.

 

[HerkyFan]

Hey, we play the mighty cyclowns right? All their genius fans say they would win the BIG west right?

Of course isu would win the west. Especially now that they will have fewer starters coming back than Iowa will. Haven't you heard, their newest savior the LanRAM is going to be back. Just ask clone fans of they aren't shy.