I was going to post earlier, but got entranced by some of the comments in some of the threads. Note the use of the modifier "some." There are some crazy sumbitches on this board....and the ones who are the craziest and rabid are, oddly enough, the ones who swear they don't care about this game. And I'm sure they have their responses to this post half-written, even though I haven't finished it yet.
Having said that....
* Congratulations to the Hawkeyes. They were the better team and deserved to win. When almost all of the dust had settled, They were down 7 points, had the ball on their own 11 with 3 minutes left and no timeouts, and they won the game. Yes, of course I can think of several things ISU could/should have done to prevent it, but Iowa made the plays and ISU didn't.
* Wadley was the best player on the field, and I would have said that before the play that tied the game. Cyclone radio re-hash people said after the game he's one of the five best players ISU will face this season, and I certainly hope that's the case. Again, you can talk about missed tackles -- just as some are talking about missed tackles by Hawkeye defenders on Montgomery -- but there's a reason some runners benefit from missed tackles.
* Stanley was the difference. Great game considering his experience and the situation -- hostile, loud environment and having to come from behind a couple of times. Yes, he overthrew a number of receivers, at least two of which seemed certain to be TDs. Whether that's an anomaly or something he just can't do, I have no clue. But other than that, he played a nearly perfect game.
* I could go into a litany of mistakes the Big Ten officiating crew made that helped Iowa, but I'm seeing posts listing the things people think they did that helped ISU, so why bother? Most of the bitching on both sides involves pass interference and holding that weren't called that should have been or that were called and shouldn't have been. Happens every game. This game wasn't decided by a controversial call at the end, which is reason to be grateful.
* Likewise, I could list at least half a dozen plays that would have allowed ISU to win in regulation...and also at least a half a dozen plays that would have allowed Iowa to win in regulation. But that way lies madness.
* Obviously, ISU is a lot better than it was at this point last season. But I'm not ready to say that either of these teams is particularly good. It wasn't Oklahoma-Ohio State we were watching in Ames Saturday, that's for sure. Iowa's defense gave up 38 points and over 400 yards to one of the poorer offenses in the Big XII; ISU gave up several 90-yard TD drives to a team that isn't exactly an offensive juggernaut, either.
* It was a very entertaining game. It was generally a well played and clean game. It's over. Good luck the rest of the way.
Having said that....
* Congratulations to the Hawkeyes. They were the better team and deserved to win. When almost all of the dust had settled, They were down 7 points, had the ball on their own 11 with 3 minutes left and no timeouts, and they won the game. Yes, of course I can think of several things ISU could/should have done to prevent it, but Iowa made the plays and ISU didn't.
* Wadley was the best player on the field, and I would have said that before the play that tied the game. Cyclone radio re-hash people said after the game he's one of the five best players ISU will face this season, and I certainly hope that's the case. Again, you can talk about missed tackles -- just as some are talking about missed tackles by Hawkeye defenders on Montgomery -- but there's a reason some runners benefit from missed tackles.
* Stanley was the difference. Great game considering his experience and the situation -- hostile, loud environment and having to come from behind a couple of times. Yes, he overthrew a number of receivers, at least two of which seemed certain to be TDs. Whether that's an anomaly or something he just can't do, I have no clue. But other than that, he played a nearly perfect game.
* I could go into a litany of mistakes the Big Ten officiating crew made that helped Iowa, but I'm seeing posts listing the things people think they did that helped ISU, so why bother? Most of the bitching on both sides involves pass interference and holding that weren't called that should have been or that were called and shouldn't have been. Happens every game. This game wasn't decided by a controversial call at the end, which is reason to be grateful.
* Likewise, I could list at least half a dozen plays that would have allowed ISU to win in regulation...and also at least a half a dozen plays that would have allowed Iowa to win in regulation. But that way lies madness.
* Obviously, ISU is a lot better than it was at this point last season. But I'm not ready to say that either of these teams is particularly good. It wasn't Oklahoma-Ohio State we were watching in Ames Saturday, that's for sure. Iowa's defense gave up 38 points and over 400 yards to one of the poorer offenses in the Big XII; ISU gave up several 90-yard TD drives to a team that isn't exactly an offensive juggernaut, either.
* It was a very entertaining game. It was generally a well played and clean game. It's over. Good luck the rest of the way.