While last Saturday was tough if not completely unexpected, it strikes me how much fun this season had been up to that point. Our beloved team was considered *a national contender,* complete with all the media analysis and scrutiny that goes with the position. Everyone from national pundits down to the most casual fans of other schools could be split into believers or doubters, but EVERYONE had an opinion and Iowa was mentioned in any conversation of top teams and playoff predictions. We were on and in the running for national showcase shows, watching other top 5 games that may hold significance for next week's ranking, and casually bantering on how many all-time great players were on this squad and where it might rank in program history. Impostor syndrome be damned, Iowa and its fans were rubbing elbows with the blue bloods and got a sweet taste of the high life.
Sure, after Saturday the shine is off. The spotlight and excitement is gone. And it certainly sucks to watch a maybe-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity swirl down the drain after the perceived hard part was over. But it was sure freaking fun to believe and hope for a while. Grateful for the season we've had. And who knows? Just maybe, with enough recruiting momentum, experience, and scheme course correction, there's another dream season waiting ahead.
Go Hawks!
Sure, after Saturday the shine is off. The spotlight and excitement is gone. And it certainly sucks to watch a maybe-once-in-a-lifetime opportunity swirl down the drain after the perceived hard part was over. But it was sure freaking fun to believe and hope for a while. Grateful for the season we've had. And who knows? Just maybe, with enough recruiting momentum, experience, and scheme course correction, there's another dream season waiting ahead.
Go Hawks!
