Since Kirk Ferentz took over at the University of Iowa in 1999, there have been many changes both throughout the landscape of college football and within Iowa City itself.
But a few things have remained unchanged. For example, Iowa has prided itself on excellent defense and special teams, a staple that has finally begun to garner the national recognition and respect that it deserves. Conversely, also unchanged albeit with wavering results over the years, is Iowa's plodding, ugly, black sheep of the family offense. A staple that is also finally garnering national recognition but for all the wrong reasons.......
However, another statistical anomaly has also persisted through Kirk’s tenure, one that has only been broken twice in 23 years.
And that is what I'm dubbing (for lack of a better term) the Iowa State Threshold.
I bring this up every year, and yet few people ever seem to truly grasp what it means, but it goes something like this:
Simply put, if Iowa beats Iowa State......we are guaranteed 8 or more wins on the year. This has happened every single time under Kirk Ferentz save for a tumultuous 2006 season where we went 6-7. (In that same regard, it can be said, that we are guaranteed of at least going to a bowl as well)
On the other side, if we lose to Iowa State, then basically our record is up for grabs, and only once has Iowa ever finished with more than 7 wins following a loss to our rivals to the west. That being the groundbreaking 2002 season, which in and of itself continues to be more and more of a lightning in a bottle season rather than some kind of established trend at Iowa under Ferentz.
And I bring this all up again because as we enter Saturday's game, given our offense's historic struggles, things are not exactly pointing in our favor to end up on the right side of the ISU Threshold..........
That's why I suggest that this year, perhaps moreso than in most any other year, is a must-win for Iowa and for Ferentz and his staff. A win could at least stave off the wolves, albeit temporarily given the fact that our offense is not going to fix itself over night especially under the current coaching staff.
A loss, however, could signify much darker days ahead, and very soon, for Ferentz and the Iowa program.
But the choice is entirely theirs to make. We just get to sit here and watch it unfold.......
But a few things have remained unchanged. For example, Iowa has prided itself on excellent defense and special teams, a staple that has finally begun to garner the national recognition and respect that it deserves. Conversely, also unchanged albeit with wavering results over the years, is Iowa's plodding, ugly, black sheep of the family offense. A staple that is also finally garnering national recognition but for all the wrong reasons.......
However, another statistical anomaly has also persisted through Kirk’s tenure, one that has only been broken twice in 23 years.
And that is what I'm dubbing (for lack of a better term) the Iowa State Threshold.
I bring this up every year, and yet few people ever seem to truly grasp what it means, but it goes something like this:
Simply put, if Iowa beats Iowa State......we are guaranteed 8 or more wins on the year. This has happened every single time under Kirk Ferentz save for a tumultuous 2006 season where we went 6-7. (In that same regard, it can be said, that we are guaranteed of at least going to a bowl as well)
On the other side, if we lose to Iowa State, then basically our record is up for grabs, and only once has Iowa ever finished with more than 7 wins following a loss to our rivals to the west. That being the groundbreaking 2002 season, which in and of itself continues to be more and more of a lightning in a bottle season rather than some kind of established trend at Iowa under Ferentz.
And I bring this all up again because as we enter Saturday's game, given our offense's historic struggles, things are not exactly pointing in our favor to end up on the right side of the ISU Threshold..........
That's why I suggest that this year, perhaps moreso than in most any other year, is a must-win for Iowa and for Ferentz and his staff. A win could at least stave off the wolves, albeit temporarily given the fact that our offense is not going to fix itself over night especially under the current coaching staff.
A loss, however, could signify much darker days ahead, and very soon, for Ferentz and the Iowa program.
But the choice is entirely theirs to make. We just get to sit here and watch it unfold.......