What will it take for Iowa to become an Elite program?

[laidbackdude2011]

I don't understand why some of you think we can NEVER get high caliber recruits. What because we're in Iowa? Nebraska did it. Tuscaloosa is no Chicago. Recruits will go anywhere if you have a winning program that increases their chances of being drafted.

We simply need to win and win big. Once we are considered elite, recruits will come to Iowa. I would not say that we will NEVER get the best recruits.

 

[Ray1125]

For some reason Iowa doesnt wake up for bad teams sometimes.

That's not just Iowa, that's all teams. Problem for Iowa is, overall talent level and depth. If Iowa doesn't wake up, they can be beaten more easily than, say, if Ohio St has a bad game. Iowa is closer in talent level/playmakers/depth to Appalachian St than to Florida St. Iowa has to play to their potential or overachieve, game in & game out.

Why do you think Ferentz has a .500 record vs Iowa State in 18 or whatever years? Because if Iowa doesn't take them seriously, a rival who plays "up" in a rivalry game, then they can and have been beaten because they don't have the talent/depth to not take them seriously and still win.

 

[scopeandtime]

Herman is making 2.8 million a year. We've got another 1.7 million we are willing to put toward coaching. We also have a tendency to stick with coaches over the long haul. Sounds like a great looking opportunity to me.

Haha, youre delusional.

 

[gojojo]

Iowa has never been elite nor will it ever be elite. A great run in the late 50's, mid 80's, and early this century. But to think we could ever be on the level of Alabama and Ohio state is foolish.

And please stop with the Stoops talk. That's never happening and neither is Bilema. Kirk is here for at least another 5 years and we don't want Bilema.

 

[kinnick09]

1. WIN
2. Schedule opponents the fanbase and most importantly the players will get excited and inspired to play.

Simple formula, if you think about it.

 

[thewop]

Haha that's exactly what I was thinking! How about start playing teams in non-conference that are consistent Top 30 or so teams. Give the fan base and players some exciting games to look forward to. I don't think many people get excited about playing Miami (of Ohio), Central/Western Michigan, NDSU, etc. If we lose? Who gives a crap. We lost anyway

Exactly, a loss to an SEC team not named Vanderbilt can be forgiven if you win the rest of your games. We can't lose a non-conference game against any of the teams you listed and be forgiven.

 

[naturalmwa]

If Kirk is handicapping Brian, does Brian take a HC job else ware if the opportunity arises?
I think Herman would be a top choice for a lot of programs around the country. I dont see him at Houston forever.
BB would be a perfect fit. Aggressive recruiter, gutsy play calling and he knows the Iowa way.
How would you guys feel about Stoops? Would he consider coming to Iowa? Would you want him? I feel he will be on the hot seat after this year.
Its crazy talking about a new coach after this huge extension, but the top choices for me in no order would be- BB, BF, Stoops and Herman

I agree with the crazy part.

 

[ZaHawks]

KF will never take us to the next level. Had a great regular season last year due to CJ and a weak schedule. Got handed our lunch when we played the elite teams. Some 2 stars become great but you can't have an elite team with so many 2 star recruits.

 

[naturalmwa]

Herman is making 2.8 million a year. We've got another 1.7 million we are willing to put toward coaching. We also have a tendency to stick with coaches over the long haul. Sounds like a great looking opportunity to me.

Both of your points go out the window the moment you fire Kirk. You now have a program with a multi million dollar liability, a divided team and fan base who wont stand by a guy one year removed from the program's best season. New coach talk is toxic nonsense. People who engage in it should be understood as fools.

 

[bigfridaynite]

Some of these posters need to join the Alabama fan club you can sleep better and have a got day almost every Saturday

 

[bdg8]

Herman is making 2.8 million a year. We've got another 1.7 million we are willing to put toward coaching. We also have a tendency to stick with coaches over the long haul. Sounds like a great looking opportunity to me.

He will have whatever job he wants when he wants. It would take way more than money and stability to land him

 

[Run&Blade]

Some serious ballers.

The Iowa way is great but when you play it close to the vest all the time you are going to get beat or out worked.

The elite teams work and condition just as hard as Iowa's two star warriors and are just as well coached. The difference is they have serious ballers. You cannot teach speed or ridiculous athleticism.

 

[ScoutRefugee]

Lol no. And even so don't you guys realize you don't have the built in advantages to be elite? I'm talking 90000 seat stadium, truck loads of booster money, top national facilities, great fan base, and above all else an emphasis on winning. Ferentzs results at Iowa would get him fired at a real school not a lifetime contract and bronzed statute outside the stadium

Ok. This entire post is garbage.
An extra 17k fans don't win football gamea or recruits.
We have top notch facilities.
We have a great fan base.
The only thing one could argue is the booster point but I have to assume that's about cheating?
As soon as prop 48 was done, so was Nebraska football being an elite program. It's a slow decline, to be sure but you are in decline. Come back here when you win your first BIG title. Then you can talk that garbage.

 

[husker_kid32]

Ok. This entire post is garbage.
An extra 17k fans don't win football gamea or recruits.
We have top notch facilities.
We have a great fan base.
The only thing one could argue is the booster point but I have to assume that's about cheating?
As soon as prop 48 was done, so was Nebraska football being an elite program. It's a slow decline, to be sure but you are in decline. Come back here when you win your first BIG title. Then you can talk that garbage.

Your fans, stadium, and facilities are second rate compared to blue bloods. It is what it is.

 

[nelsonj22]

I'm sry but there is no way for iowa to become "elite". Very good once every 5-8 years but if you think iowa is winning the big 10 or will be in the play offs in the next 10 years you are setting yourself up for disappointment. Last year was a fluke not the norm

 

[ClarindaA's]

Lol no. And even so don't you guys realize you don't have the built in advantages to be elite? I'm talking 90000 seat stadium, truck loads of booster money, top national facilities, great fan base, and above all else an emphasis on winning. Ferentzs results at Iowa would get him fired at a real school not a lifetime contract and bronzed statute outside the stadium

Let's see...he's put up a way better track record the last 15 years than anything your school has done....

 

[nelsonj22]

Let's see...he's put up a way better track record the last 15 years than anything your school has done....

Who did iowa beat last year that had a heart beat?

 

[ScoutRefugee]

Your fans, stadium, and facilities are second rate compared to blue bloods. It is what it is.

Then why can't Nebraska win a BIG title or make a playoff? And Riley is only going to accelerate your fall faster. Sorry, it is what it is. Lol.

 

[ScoutRefugee]

Who did iowa beat last year that had a heart beat?

I don't know...6 or 7 more teams than Nebraska did.

 

[ScoutRefugee]

Penn St, MICH and OSU all consider themselves blue bloods. It's all debatable, of course but at least those programs can say they have won a BIG title.

 

[nelsonj22]

I don't know...6 or 7 more teams than Nebraska did.

Ok so you compare what was Iowa's best year in a decade to Nebraska's worst and think that matters? Neb sucked last year and iowa still barley beat them. Iowa is still 2-3 since neb showed up in the big 10

 

[ScoutRefugee]

Ok so you compare what was Iowa's best year in a decade to Nebraska's worst and think that matters? Neb sucked last year and iowa still barley beat them. Iowa is still 2-3 since neb showed up in the big 10

No. It doesn't matter. But Nebraska has a lot more mediocre seasons to look forward to. I'm surprised you don't realize that. Mike Riley is a horrible coach.

 

[ScoutRefugee]

Do you Nebraska fans seriously think Mike Riley will get you guys to a BIG title game? That's a serious question. I'd like to hear your honest opinion.

 

[ClarindaA's]

Who did iowa beat last year that had a heart beat?

Not just talking about last year...

 

[nelsonj22]

No. It doesn't matter. But Nebraska has a lot more mediocre seasons to look forward to. I'm surprised you don't realize that. Mike Riley is a horrible coach.

Hmmm let's see they just beat and oregon team that would put up 50 on iowa and iowa just lost to an fcs team while being way over ranked. Yep MR sure doesn't hold a flame to the great KF ( Who by the way has a .59 win percentage at iowa) God I wish neb would of stolen him instead of hired MR

 

[nelsonj22]

Do you Nebraska fans seriously think Mike Riley will get you guys to a BIG title game? That's a serious question. I'd like to hear your honest opinion.

Also after such a great iowa season and a uterly horrible nebraska season neb still out recruited them with an average star ranking of 3.14 to 2.71, but your right MR really sucks

 

[ScoutRefugee]

Hmmm let's see they just beat and oregon team that would put up 50 on iowa and iowa just lost to an fcs team while being way over ranked. Yep MR sure doesn't hold a flame to the great KF ( Who by the way has a .59 win percentage at iowa) God I wish neb would of stolen him instead of hired MR

That's not your older brother's Oregon team. It was a nice win for sure. But lets not pretend that it was a top 5 Oregon team. Mike Riley might have more in common with KF than either of us want to admit.

 

[ScoutRefugee]

Also after such a great iowa season and a uterly horrible nebraska season neb still out recruited them with an average star ranking of 3.14 to 2.71, but your right MR really sucks

Blue bloods don't avg 3.14 star rankings in the recruiting arena. That gets people fired at true blue blood programs. You're a pretender.

 

[nelsonj22]

That's not your older brother's Oregon team. It was a nice win for sure. But lets not pretend that it was a top 5 Oregon team. Mike Riley might have more in common with KF than either of us want to admit.

No it is not oregon from 2 or 3 years ago but they are still a fairly good team with crazy speed, and yes they do have more in common than we want to admit but Riley has balls were ferentz plays it safe.

 

[Nebraska Power]

Do you Nebraska fans seriously think Mike Riley will get you guys to a BIG title game? That's a serious question. I'd like to hear your honest opinion.

I will answer that. I think he will. Say what you want, Nebraska has recruited better (Look at rankings, and if they don't matter than why do the teams that dominate the rankings seem to end up with the championships) has a better fan base (just look at the Sell out streak) and will spend more (Just look at what they have done when it comes to dollars spent on recruiting) than anyone in the West. I think MR has a plan and it will work with the advantages I mentioned. Obviously Iowa and KF got the better of him last year. And it may continue, I hope not. Only time will tell, but I like the way things are moving forward. See you on Black Friday!

 

[nelsonj22]

Blue bloods don't avg 3.14 star rankings in the recruiting arena. That gets people fired at true blue blood programs. You're a pretender.

Hmmm I'll take #28 in the country with a couple studs off of a 6-7 year any day. Can you imagine what it would be with a 12-2 season? At least top 15 not 46

 

[ScoutRefugee]

I will answer that. I think he will. Say what you want, Nebraska has recruited better (Look at rankings, and if they don't matter than why do the teams that dominate the rankings seem to end up with the championships) has a better fan base (just look at the Sell out streak) and will spend more (Just look at what they have done when it comes to dollars spent on recruiting) than anyone in the West. I think MR has a plan and it will work with the advantages I mentioned. Obviously Iowa and KF got the better of him last year. And it may continue, I hope not. Only time will tell, but I like the way things are moving forward. See you on Black Friday!

If I was Nebraska, I'd seriously consider that NDSU coach. That was a well prepared, well coached team and 5 years in a row is no accident. That guy can flat out coach. I'd take him in a NY minute if we weren't wedded to KF til death do us part. But we have our moron AD to thank for that. Can't do much about it now.

 

[ScoutRefugee]

Hmmm I'll take #28 in the country with a couple studs off of a 6-7 year any day. Can you imagine what it would be with a 12-2 season? At least top 15 not 46

It's fine. It's just not blue blood fine. Look at Harbaugh. His first recruiting class (2nd year) is top 5 or 6. That's what typically happens at a blue blood program.

 

[JRHawk2003]

Iowa won't be an Elite team. They simply do not have the recruiting base. We have a small state and have to share it with another Power 5 program. We have good fan and financial support, so a Top 25 level team, with some Top 10 finishes and a really good team two or three times a decade is a good benchmark.

Dropping the 85 man rosters to 65 wouldn't hurt either. It wouldhelp take away the advantages of the OSU types.

 

[eyeohuh]

The 2016 class was filled prior to the 12-2 season lol. Iowa will get there upgrade in recruiting starting in 2017. Just like were seeing

Hmmm I'll take #28 in the country with a couple studs off of a 6-7 year any day. Can you imagine what it would be with a 12-2 season? At least top 15 not 46

 

[Nebraska Power]

If I was Nebraska, I'd seriously consider that NDSU coach. That was a well prepared, well coached team and 5 years in a row is no accident. That guy can flat out coach. I'd take him in a NY minute if we weren't wedded to KF til death do us part. But we have our moron AD to thank for that. Can't do much about it now.

You may be right, but only a fool would fire a guy after one year. I am 46 and may be old school, but unless a complete meltdown takes place you need to give a guy 4 years. Quite honestly the West is there for the taking from whoever steps up.

Question, Why in the World you guys scheduled NDSU anyway? Absolutely no upside. Just my opinion, but I would like to see Iowa Schedule some power 5 teams outside of Iowa State. This past weekend was huge for the BIG. Ohio State, Michigan State and Nebraska (and I am fully aware Oregon is not The same team as 2 years ago) all had solid wins. Add that to Wisconsin beating LSU and a BIG TEN guy living in Birmingham Alabama could not be happier. The SEC crowd is finally shutting up.

 

[nelsonj22]

If I was Nebraska, I'd seriously consider that NDSU coach. That was a well prepared, well coached team and 5 years in a row is no accident. That guy can flat out coach. I'd take him in a NY minute if we weren't wedded to KF til death do us part. But we have our moron AD to thank for that. Can't do much about it now.

Craig bohl won 3 of those

 

[ScoutRefugee]

You may be right, but only a fool would fire a guy after one year. I am 46 and may be old school, but unless a complete meltdown takes place you need to give a guy 4 years. Quite honestly the West is there for the taking from whoever steps up.

Question, Why in the World you guys scheduled NDSU anyway? Absolutely no upside. Just my opinion, but I would like to see Iowa Schedule some power 5 teams outside of Iowa State. This past weekend was huge for the BIG. Ohio State, Michigan State and Nebraska (and I am fully aware Oregon is not The same team as 2 years ago) all had solid wins. Add that to Wisconsin beating LSU and a BIG TEN guy living in Birmingham Alabama could not be happier. The SEC crowd is finally shutting up.

I've already stated that our AD is a moron. I have to assign the scheduling garbage to him as well.

 

[CaliHawkFan]

What is everyone's definition of elite? 10+ wins 80% of a decade? The ability to recruit top 20 classes consistently? Not many programs check this box. Three from my list I would consider new school powers: Clemson, Oregon and Stanford. We will see if they sustain.
- Alabama
- Ohio State
- Oklahoma
- Clemson?
- Michigan?
- LSU?
- USC?
- Notre Dame?
- Texas?
- Oregon?
- Stanford?

 

[33hawkfan]

Iowa already had their window to really move up in the college football world and blew it. Michigan, Nebraska and Penn St were down, Ohio St didn't take full advantage of their talent under Tressell. There was a big window for Iowa to really establish itself as an elite B10 team, we missed it though, MSU and Wisconsin took advantage of it, we didn't.