Now that we've all had a few weeks to simmer down, I'm curious if any fans have tried to objectively reflect on just what happened to cause such an embarrassing performance. Most of us would agree that Stanford was simply better across-the-board. Perhaps nothing more need be said. Would the same sentiment also apply to the previous three bowl blow-outs: Oklahoma, LSU, and Tennessee? Were those opponents so flat-out superior that the Hawkeyes never had a chance? Or is it fair to consider other factors?
Beyond the obvious reasons for disappointment--recruiting disadvantages being huge--to what extent has Iowa was victimized by lackluster game planning? Does "New" Captain Kirk really believe in anything new at all? Is it always good enough to play straight-up football, relying entirely on effort and execution, regardless of opponent strengths and weaknesses? No creative strategies needed. No special plays required to help turn the game. No chances taken because the risks outweigh the rewards? This really came to mind when listening to Coach Sabin talk about the onside kick Alabama executed in the championship game. This guy is a brilliant game day strategist, aided and abetted of course by a superior roster. Still, under the same circumstances, would the Good Captain have even conceived of such a play in a big game, let alone had the guts to call it (Sabin admitted it was a risky call in a tight game but he took that risk because he trusted in his kicker, etc.; he had also considered OPENING the game with that play, then decided to hold onto it for possible later use).
I'm not suggesting that an onside kick should have been used in the Rose Bowl or that successfully executing such a play would have changed the outcome. It's a bigger question than that, speaking to the core strength of ultra conservative coaching strategies. In that context, it's quite interesting how much anger has been extended to the Stanford band and so little angst has been extended to the preparation (or lack thereof) for this huge game (not to mention the other three previous bowl embarrassments). Perhaps that's as it should be. Perhaps it's unfair to ask these questions of a coaching staff and program that has probably delivered more bang for the buck than we have a right to expect. Perhaps I am simply thinking unrealistically about how Iowa might perform better on the big stage. Perhaps I should simply be grateful for the exciting regular season we just witnessed, and the potentially exciting one to come. Perhaps. Thoughts?
Beyond the obvious reasons for disappointment--recruiting disadvantages being huge--to what extent has Iowa was victimized by lackluster game planning? Does "New" Captain Kirk really believe in anything new at all? Is it always good enough to play straight-up football, relying entirely on effort and execution, regardless of opponent strengths and weaknesses? No creative strategies needed. No special plays required to help turn the game. No chances taken because the risks outweigh the rewards? This really came to mind when listening to Coach Sabin talk about the onside kick Alabama executed in the championship game. This guy is a brilliant game day strategist, aided and abetted of course by a superior roster. Still, under the same circumstances, would the Good Captain have even conceived of such a play in a big game, let alone had the guts to call it (Sabin admitted it was a risky call in a tight game but he took that risk because he trusted in his kicker, etc.; he had also considered OPENING the game with that play, then decided to hold onto it for possible later use).
I'm not suggesting that an onside kick should have been used in the Rose Bowl or that successfully executing such a play would have changed the outcome. It's a bigger question than that, speaking to the core strength of ultra conservative coaching strategies. In that context, it's quite interesting how much anger has been extended to the Stanford band and so little angst has been extended to the preparation (or lack thereof) for this huge game (not to mention the other three previous bowl embarrassments). Perhaps that's as it should be. Perhaps it's unfair to ask these questions of a coaching staff and program that has probably delivered more bang for the buck than we have a right to expect. Perhaps I am simply thinking unrealistically about how Iowa might perform better on the big stage. Perhaps I should simply be grateful for the exciting regular season we just witnessed, and the potentially exciting one to come. Perhaps. Thoughts?
