ADVERTISEMENT

Educate the Nole.. Who is Iowa’s biggest rival?

Who is out?

  • Nebraska

    Votes: 25 18.7%
  • Iowa State

    Votes: 40 29.9%
  • Minnesota

    Votes: 19 14.2%
  • Other

    Votes: 50 37.3%

  • Total voters
    134
Wisky bro. WTH

We didn’t play Nebby or ISU for what 300 years. Why would they be a rival?
[/QNewby.
I just can't consider ISU a rival. I mean, outside of bragging rights, the game has actually mattered like twice in the last, heck, ever.
 
Wisconsin. Iowa and Wisconsin generally fight over the same identity in the B1G. In football you can draw a straight line from our performance against Wisconsin to how successful our season was. It just doesn’t seem like there’s enough room for both of us to be successful in football. It’s the most important game of the year, almost every year.

Nebraska is just annoying, so it’s funny when they lose.
 
Minnesota - our oldest traditional rival, but they aren’t holding up their end of the bargain in the main sports. They hate us though. Just listen to them chant about us when we AREN’T there.

Iowa State - noisy little brother, but our main rival in basketball.

Wisconsin - Like looking in the mirror. Had the best of us in football for the last four years until this year. VERY even records in series against. Similar heights in athletics, excluding post-1980 Rose Bowls. Similar fan bases too. Feels like war every time and very satisfying to beat them, but they do things the right way and I can’t hate them.

Nebraska - Had a habit of ruining their seasons early in years past, or getting blown out. Was competitive when they joined the conference, and were d-bags, top down. Now get dominated and are even more douchey. Wrestling team are top 10 but goons when we they win their two, sometimes three, matches against us. Insufferable trash talking hot heads. Same with their delusional football fans. #1 Rival for me because they talk so much constant and outlandish BS. I get the most schadenfreude out of beating them.

EDIT: So maybe Wisconsin is our fiercest rival and Nebraska our most hated rival? Sound about right, @StormHawk42 and @UNIHawkfan?
 
Last edited:
This is all very confusing.

You people can't even agree on who your biggest rival is!

No wonder this board is such a shi!tshow.
My post above explains it, but it’s complicated. It’s no coincidence we have the most rivalry trophy games in all of college football, and the oldest one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: torbee
There’s another element: geography. It’s not a perfect explanation, but I think most ISU hate is located around Des Moines, most Wisconsin hate in the East, most Minnesota up North, and the most Nebraska hate in Western Iowa.


100%. Nebraska wasn't even in my radar until Pelini and Frost, as well as their fans. If debbie had normal fans I would just be whatever about them.

Illinois fans are pretty fair weather and obnoxious in these parts. They just take time off until they are viable again.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Menace Sockeyes
I don't like the Quad Cities, the pizza is worse than Casey's (blame the Illinois half), most of the HROT posters from Mississippi River dumps seem like dill holes, and it's Illinois by a country mile (or whatever the **** Torbee thinks the phrase is).

Oh, I hate all other Big Ten teams (even the probationary members), but nothing beats punching Illinois in the face plate.
 
You are correct sir.

@runkpanole , good post, this is eye opening! This makes me question if Iowa fans even know what a rival is!

While I agree funk, we must address the bigger issue that is @runkpanole thread title. Why is he "the Nole" ? That thread title Is exclusionary of his fellow Noles on the board that do a lot of work trying to make nice with these Iowa folk.
 
You are correct sir.

@runkpanole , good post, this is eye opening! This makes me question if Iowa fans even know what a rival is!
I think the problem in understanding is that you’re stuck on a peninsula with two other MAJOR state schools. I mean, we can’t tell if Miami or Florida is yours, but you’ve got less options. Our other major state school isn’t in our conference, and they’re the most underperforming Power 5 athletic department in America.

Nebraska would run away with this had they been in the B1G for the majority of our lifetimes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tunadog
You are correct sir.

@runkpanole , good post, this is eye opening! This makes me question if Iowa fans even know what a rival is!
giphy.gif
 
  • Like
Reactions: Menace Sockeyes
While I agree funk, we must address the bigger issue that is @runkpanole thread title. Why is he "the Nole" ? That thread title Is exclusionary of his fellow Noles on the board that do a lot of work trying to make nice with these Iowa folk.
I should have said this Nole or Noles. You are correct, sir.

This thread has indeed taught me some things.
 
  • Like
Reactions: NoleinATL
It's wisconsin or minnesota. Great 3 way rivalry. I'd give the edge to Minnesota, although we match up really well with wisconsin.

But I grew up in Sioux City in the 90s. I hate Nebraska with a fiery rage. I loath them and their obnoxious rube fans.

Iowa State is little brother. Their fans are annoying and it's fun to insult them, but no one is impressed when you beat little brother at anything.
 
There’s another element: geography. It’s not a perfect explanation, but I think most ISU hate is located around Des Moines, most Wisconsin hate in the East, most Minnesota up North, Quad Cities (obviously) Illinois and the most Nebraska hate in Western Iowa.
Very true. I’ve lived in DSM area most of my life and I had no idea most from the actual IC area consider Illinois the big rival until I was much older.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Menace Sockeyes
You really are ignorant...

You’re just mad that wrestling isn’t in on the radar of most sports fans.

It’s a dying sport.

From a recent article:
WILSON: Many NCAA Division I college wrestling programs may face a grim future

“So how much of an alarm bell is Old Dominion dropping wrestling for the collegiate mat community?
Pretty loud, we’d say...”

“Old Dominion sits in an area where wrestling is a significant sport and produces plenty of collegiate talent. The annual Virginia Duals are located nearby.

But none of that matters to the “consultant” who recommended wrestling get the boot. The usual numbers were cited, with the drop in D-1 programs from 146 in 1981 to 89 in 2007 to 75 now, and the whole Title IX business, all too familiar to wrestling fans.
 
100%. Nebraska wasn't even in my radar until Pelini and Frost, as well as their fans. If debbie had normal fans I would just be whatever about them.

Illinois fans are pretty fair weather and obnoxious in these parts. They just take time off until they are viable again.

Agree on Illinois fan assessment, but has been a while since they were viable in football. Also after Tom Davies, when they've been good at basketball we've totally sucked and vice versa.
 
It's hard to say, and to a large degree it depends what part of the state you live in. People from western Iowa spent much of their lives hearing about how awesome Nebraska is. They still do, but now it's just pathetic and sad. Many people from the QC grew up with a good hatred for Illinois when Illinois was consistently pretty good. Over the past decade or so, Iowa has been better than Minnesota. Last year the Gophers thought it was their turn but left Kinnick with a loss. Iowa State's football program is on the rise but still hasn't beaten Iowa for a while and their basketball program looks to be falling off. Wisconsin is the team that has typically been a notch above Iowa in both football and hoops and, while I can't speak for others, that was definitely the most satisfying win for me this season.
This is correct. I am from the eastern part of the state and didn’t give two craps about ISU until moving to the Des Moines area. Where I live in particular is akin to Israel and Palestine with the volume of ISU and Iowa residents. Really annoying. Yet with all that said, to me, Wisconsin is our most relevant rival.
 
I am frankly shocked at what I'm reading here about Nebraska fans. I've been to so many away games in my life,
and I've never, never come across other teams' fans as decent as the Huskers. In our famous win over them back in the day, AT Lincoln, I heard nothing but congratulatory remarks, and I assure you I'm as loud and rude as they come when it's game on. Even had a couple of their fans give me what was left in their bottle or thermos. Have run into them here in Atlanta for televised games, and they are a loud, large and vocal booster group, but always friendly and knowledgeable.

As appalling as it might sound, I've found only one fan base that even comes close to Nebraska....Alabama.
 
Wisconsin but mostly out of envy for me. Very similar schools but they have had our effing number for over a decade. Fight over many of the same recruits.

But losing to ISU or Nebraska hurts a lot worse.

Losing to ISU hurts because for most of the last 40 years, it's embarassing nationally.

Compare it to FSU/UF/U...any of them losing to the other is embarassing within the state, but not nationally. All three are almost considered a "good" loss most of the time.

Reminder, this is the best season in ISU's history...they won 9 games and still haven't won a conference title in over 100 years.
 
I am frankly shocked at what I'm reading here about Nebraska fans. I've been to so many away games in my life,
and I've never, never come across other teams' fans as decent as the Huskers. In our famous win over them back in the day, AT Lincoln, I heard nothing but congratulatory remarks, and I assure you I'm as loud and rude as they come when it's game on. Even had a couple of their fans give me what was left in their bottle or thermos. Have run into them here in Atlanta for televised games, and they are a loud, large and vocal booster group, but always friendly and knowledgeable.

As appalling as it might sound, I've found only one fan base that even comes close to Nebraska....Alabama.
Hubris is a word that comes to mind. Delusional is another. This is compounded by their AD, after having early success against Iowa, stating that they would have to review Iowa as a program to determine if beating Iowa was worthy of not firing their then coach Bo Pelini. It wasn't. They haven't beaten us since, and their comeuppance feels fanf*ckingtastic. You probably liked them because you were good when you played them and they felt they got beat by a fellow good team. Their problem is that that they still think of themselves as having a helmet factor akin to Bama and Notre Dame, despite being mediocre to bad for 20 years. Again, delusional. Militantly so.*

*edited to note the stated reason for the AD reviewing Iowa's program
 
Last edited:
Losing to ISU hurts because for most of the last 40 years, it's embarassing nationally.

Compare it to FSU/UF/U...any of them losing to the other is embarassing within the state, but not nationally. All three are almost considered a "good" loss most of the time.

Reminder, this is the best season in ISU's history...they won 9 games and still haven't won a conference title in over 100 years.
And they won that conference title with a 2-0 conference record.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JWolf74 and SSG T
It's wisconsin or minnesota. Great 3 way rivalry. I'd give the edge to Minnesota, although we match up really well with wisconsin.

But I grew up in Sioux City in the 90s. I hate Nebraska with a fiery rage. I loath them and their obnoxious rube fans.

Iowa State is little brother. Their fans are annoying and it's fun to insult them, but no one is impressed when you beat little brother at anything.
This is correct.

I can't even believe ISU is getting votes. They are irrelevant.
 
I am frankly shocked at what I'm reading here about Nebraska fans. I've been to so many away games in my life,
and I've never, never come across other teams' fans as decent as the Huskers. In our famous win over them back in the day, AT Lincoln, I heard nothing but congratulatory remarks, and I assure you I'm as loud and rude as they come when it's game on. Even had a couple of their fans give me what was left in their bottle or thermos. Have run into them here in Atlanta for televised games, and they are a loud, large and vocal booster group, but always friendly and knowledgeable.

As appalling as it might sound, I've found only one fan base that even comes close to Nebraska....Alabama.
Simple explanation; You weren’t wearing a Tigerhawk...or the logo of any B1G team, I bet.
 
There’s another element: geography. It’s not a perfect explanation, but I think most ISU hate is located around Des Moines, most Wisconsin hate in the East, most Minnesota up North, Quad Cities (obviously) Illinois and the most Nebraska hate in Western Iowa.
Definitely. I am a Mississippi River boy myself. Illinois was good when I was younger. Hated them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Menace Sockeyes
I’m w/ Runk on this...we’ve been “guest” on your board for a year+ and you guys don’t chatter about Wisky much.
I would say we all have our "traditional" or "regional" rivalry. However, the ISU game is a high rated rivalry in most Hawk fans mind across the state.
 
You really are ignorant...
You’re just mad that wrestling isn’t in on the radar of most sports fans.

It’s a dying sport.

From a recent article:
WILSON: Many NCAA Division I college wrestling programs may face a grim future

“So how much of an alarm bell is Old Dominion dropping wrestling for the collegiate mat community?
Pretty loud, we’d say...”

“Old Dominion sits in an area where wrestling is a significant sport and produces plenty of collegiate talent. The annual Virginia Duals are located nearby.

But none of that matters to the “consultant” who recommended wrestling get the boot. The usual numbers were cited, with the drop in D-1 programs from 146 in 1981 to 89 in 2007 to 75 now, and the whole Title IX business, all too familiar to wrestling fans.
Yeah, “dying”...

On Jan. 31, No. 1 Iowa vs. No. 2 Penn State became the most-watched wrestling telecast in BTN history as well as the day’s highest-rated college sporting event across all networks.

https://btn.com/2020/02/04/no-1-iowa-vs-no-2-penn-state-wrestling-sets-btn-record/
 
Iowa State-Is the casual fan rivalry. For most non casual Iowa fans it's a game where if we win we let out a huge sigh of relief. If we lose we prepare for a year of ISU thumping their chests.

Illinois-if you live in the QC's it's still semi-relevant. For the rest of us it's a series that has long lost its importance.

Wisconsin-Pre Barry Alvarez this wasn't really a rivalry. But he turned their program around and they passed us on the B1G pecking order. That really hurts me to say.

Nebraska-If you live on the Western 1/3 of the state this is the game that matters. Their arrogance about Iowa that has bit them in the ass has caused the other 2/3 to take notice. But not to make this the end all be all game.

Minnesota-This is the historical rivalry. Old timers will point to this one. Of the 4 trophy games this one seems the most legit and actual history to it. Not we play them alot so let's make a trophy.


Me personally the game I really want to win is vs. MI. But that's from living in AA for 6 years.
 
Yeah, “dying”...

On Jan. 31, No. 1 Iowa vs. No. 2 Penn State became the most-watched wrestling telecast in BTN history as well as the day’s highest-rated college sporting event across all networks.

https://btn.com/2020/02/04/no-1-iowa-vs-no-2-penn-state-wrestling-sets-btn-record/

“The usual numbers were cited, with the drop in D-1 programs from 146 in 1981 to 89 in 2007 to 75 now”

Menace,

If so many Iowa fans are passionate about the “sport” of wrestling, why are only a few posters taking issue with my comments and assisting you with your defense?

This very thread illustrates that there is a high level of indifference to wrestling.
 
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT