What would make you happy Sat?

[QChawks]

Just winning?


These games are almost a no win situation. You do anything but win by 30+ points and it seen as a just doing what you're supposed to do.

And if by some chance you lose, well....

Hawkeyereport will certainly be entertaining.

For me, success Saturday will be showing we can be running team that is capable of keeping teams honest by the pass. I want to see a dominant front 7 from our D and aggressive play calling.

These are the kind of games good teams go for the kill early. Bad teams let lesser teams hang around.

If you want Hawkeyes fans to believe there is something good coming after these last few crap seasons you better show us something to rally behind or get excited about.

 

[LincolnHawkeye]

Well according to all the BTN experts, we're only supposed to win by 3, so I'd say anything more than that would be good

 

[John.Kasich]

Kirk, GD, and Brian being abducted by aliens on their way to the stadium.

Hopefully with a heavy involvement of anal probing.

 

[rfgiowa]

Ebbs and...

 

[B1G]

Just win, unless they really struggle. A blowout would be nice but wouldn't really tell us much.

 

[Phenomenally Frantastic]

Ferentz retiring and saying he is taking Greg Davis with him. hey you asked.

 

[ABYPFCS]

Not sure what playing a team like Illinois St achieves other than a probable win. I, will be certainly watching, but probably won't draw much from the game.

 

[HawkandTackle]

Just win.

 

[Pepperman]

I want the running game to look good. I'm thinking 5-6 YPC would be appropriate against an FCS team. If the Hawks can do that, then they will be able to pass and mix in play action. If the running game struggles mightily and Iowa barely wins, it will be a bad omen for the rest of the year.

To be blunt, I'd like to have the game end and say "we could have won that game without even throwing a pass"...

 

[iahawkeyes17]

Cold beer at the tailgate and a win on the field even if it's by a point.

 

[SDHawkDoc]

40+ point win.
Back ups getting lot of PT and the third stringer throwing a 50+ yd TD to a deep reserve WR.
Since you asked.

 

[Vroom_C14]

Big win - FCS shouldn't be close to D1.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

I'd be satisfied with a win. I'd be happy with a solid victory in which the outcome is not in doubt in the 4th quarter.

 

[hawks127]

First off, for people to buy tickets and go to the game. Looking at the Iowa website - its pretty sad how many tickets are left for this opener....but then yes, just win.

 

[Cougar63]

Big win - FCS shouldn't be close to D1.

FCS is division one

 

[Phenomenally Frantastic]

Big win - FCS shouldn't be close to D1.

UNI just last year?

 

[Vroom_C14]

FCS is division one

D1-AA

 

[Vroom_C14]

UNI just last year?

Well aware of that - but shouldn't be close.

 

[09Hawk]

For what its worth, Illinois State is a very good FCS team. Good FCS teams are better than bad FBS teams. I would like to see Iowa win by 2 touchdowns and just feel like they were in control the entire game.

 

[bagdropper]

FCS is division one

And the FBS 85 scholly limit and transfer rules enabled it where the top FCS programs can compete with a large portion of the FBS. It just took a generation to take effect.

I think if Iowa comes out with emotion, they'll be fine. But as always, Al Davis said it best...just win, baby.

 

[millah_22]

Are they offering that at Kinnick now to attract more fans?

It sure would help season ticket renewal numbers

 

[ddare132]

I would like to see more energy / excitement with the players and coaches. I want to see them get a little coyote out there. IMO everyone should have something prove. make a statement, dont care who they are playing punch em in the mouth.
From the offensive perspective I'd like to see more explosive plays and aggerssion across the board.
From the defense perspective I'd like to see some big time hitting, but more importantly keeping the QB from making plays with his feet.

I'm ready for some Black and Gold..... I'd go to the game if I had the extra money and someone to go with...

 

[Hawkeye_4_Life]

Have a large enough lead to allow the younger "talent" get some game experience under their belt late in the...oh wait, that doesn't happen at Iowa.

 

[Wingman137]

I'd like to see a win with a 100 yard game out of the RB position.

 

[Section8]

I would like to see more energy / excitement with the players and coaches. I want to see them get a little coyote out there. IMO everyone should have something prove. make a statement, dont care who they are playing punch em in the mouth.
From the offensive perspective I'd like to see more explosive plays and aggerssion across the board.
From the defense perspective I'd like to see some big time hitting, but more importantly keeping the QB from making plays with his feet.

I'm ready for some Black and Gold..... I'd go to the game if I had the extra money and someone to go with...

Kinda how I look at it. O/D lines moving people around. WR's catching the ball 10 plus yards downfield. Aggressive RB's. Excitement. Hitting. Few errors. Coordination between players and coaches. If doing that is enough to score more points than the other team... fine. You know, football things. Baby steps.

 

[crHawkeye92]

I'm looking for a few explosive plays and obviously a win

 

[J_Heater]

Comfortable win, no injuries, good fishing on Lake Roosevelt, smoked Baby back ribs while I read the melt down of the miserables of how we weren't impressive in a game those same posters thought we would lose.

 

[gotaloadon]

First game.............. steady improvement throughout the game. A W at the end of the game but I want that feeling that it wasn't close from mid first quarter on.

I just want to see some solid football for a change without the critical mistakes at critical times. Is that too much to ask for?

 

[ISUhawk]

Huge improvement in our running game with powerful interior line and slam bang blocks by our healthy fullbacks. Also much better punting game and winning the field position game. The victory will then be automatic as we control the clock big time.

 

[ottumwan in tx]

40+ point win.
Back ups getting lot of PT and the third stringer throwing a 50+ yd TD to a deep reserve WR.
Since you asked.

I don't think GDGD knows how to score period, let alone 40 points

 

[larrygreenwallswildride]

ISU is going to put the Hawks in a tough spot. They are gunning for IA to make a statement to the FCS.

Not so dissimilar from NIU's visit to IC.

 

[HawktimusPrime]

Big win - FCS shouldn't be close to D1.

Exactly this, if Iowa wants to prove their changes have meant anything, than a big win against an FCS is the only scenario that is acceptable.

 

[HawktimusPrime]

Just win, unless they really struggle. A blowout would be nice but wouldn't really tell us much.

It would be a step in the right direction though. According to many on here, Illinois State is a possible loss, which IMO is unacceptable with Iowas resources.

 

[C/Seahawk]

First off, for people to buy tickets and go to the game. Looking at the Iowa website - its pretty sad how many tickets are left for this opener....but then yes, just win.

Its not sad...its good. With attendance down, season ticket sales down, the coaches and athletic department are forced to address the issues that have plagued this program for years. It was easy for the program to ignore these issues while attendance and donations were still strong. Its pretty clear from numerous interviews this off-season, that KF is finally looking at his program with a critical eye, which I'm not sure has occurred in a while. Furthermore, eliminating games against lower division opponents is long overdue, its too bad the mandate had to come from the B1G commissioner's office, this scheduling practice should have been put out to pasture years ago, but Wyoming Barta and KF love it like ice cream. Its unappealing for the fans and it puts Iowa in a no-win situation. First, this game has no regional let alone national appeal. Second if we win we were supposed to, so no big deal. Third, if we lose...it only magnifies our shortcomings and makes us look like clowns.

As for what would make me happy this weekend....a convincing win(by convincing I'd settle for a two score victory, ie at least 10 point margin), controlling both sides of the line of scrimmage and allowing some backups to get playing time in the fourth quarter. Anything short of that will be a disappointment. I don't care how good Illinois St is, the fact is they're an FBS school that should be completely outclassed by Iowa. With that being said, I anticipate being disappointed Saturday afternoon.

 

[HawkeyeinOmaha]

Iowa blowing them off the field with a dominant performance by Beathard would make me very happy. Not talking about expectations. Just what would make me happy.

 

[TS568]

Any win would be huge: Illinois State is one of the best teams on our schedule this year.

 

[JRHawk2003]

For me its establishing the run and just cramming it down their throats all afternoon long.

250+ yards on the ground. Just run run run....

 

[paladinhawk]

If LeShun runs like l'il Shonn...

 

[DavenportHawk8]

I want to see two things:

CJB control the offense and take some gambles throwing the ball.

Rushing attack: Want to see us pound the ball successfully and get 250+yds rushing


Final thing I would like to see is Special Teams improved.

 

[win1forthe]

I want to see at least 70% completion percentage and a minimum of 3 TDs from the QB position. I want to see at least one RB with 100 yards and at least 3 TDs from the RBs. I want to see 0 sacks allowed. I want to see an average of at least 42 yards per punt. I want to see at least 2 turnovers created by the defense, at least 3 sacks by the defense (that's without blitzing) and I want to see a true nickel defense on 3rd and long. And I want to see a win by at least 40 points. That's all.