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Wisconsin

Eternal Return

Eternal Return

HB Heisman
Oct 15, 2009
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One thing that is really weird to me -- the way the national media says that Wisconsin is having a down year. I know that they have no big wins, I get that, all of the wins are against mediocre to bad teams, but their only 2 losses are to #4 Alabama and #9 Iowa. They are 7-2 and, IMO, better than NW and will probably be 10-2 at the end of the regular season (after beating NW). It's not that UW is definitely good or definitely bad, it's that it's tough to know how good or bad they are at this point because of their schedule. They lose to Alabama -- a team considered to be the best in the nation even when they have 4 losses -- and Iowa, but now that Iowa is ranked as high as they are ... does that loss look that bad? Are they really "horrible"? They're 7-2 and yet somehow considered inferior to Penn State and Michigan, both 2-loss teams -- my guess is UW could beat both of them.

Don't get me wrong, I hate the Badgers and I take some delight in them being disrespected to the degree that they are this year, but the truth is that they seem to have a very good team. As good as they were last year? No, but certainly no slouch and probably better than NW, PSU, and Mich. I suppose as they keep winning they'll move up the rankings and hopefully help Iowa move up, too, but I'm just shocked that they were so easily dismissed after losing to Iowa to open the B10 season. I understood at the time--Iowa was supposed to **** or be mediocre--but now that the Hawks are 8-0 and ranked in the top 10 I would think there would be a correction of some sort and a look at UW as a pretty good team. Trust me, I can't believe I'm writing this. I hate WI, but if I'm being rational (and I'm trying to be) then I don't see how UW is getting so little respect.
 
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Their in the B1G and not named Ohio St or Michigan...blue blood bias at its finest. MSU and Iowa are perfect so far. Penn St Wisconsin and Nortwestern only have 2 losses.

Watch if Alabama gets their second loss this weekend to LSU they will only drop 11-12. If Alabama wins...LSU is still in the top 10.

Okie St beats TCU they won't move up much from 13.
 
All Wisconsin does is win. It seems they are often overlooked, yet there they are..in the Rose Bowl time and time again.
 
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Bucky is solid, but I'm not so sure they will beat NW. NW, outside of Stanford,doesn't have alot of quality wins. Im sure PF has reminded them a win over Wisky could really boost their resume for a better bowl. I see a tight game in this one....But go NW...would love nothing more than to see them take a little pressure off the Hawks...
 
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Part of it with Wisconsin this year is that they don't pass the "eye test". Their strength has always been the offensive line and dominant running game. They are really way down in that area and there is no argument against that compared to other years.
 
the24fan said:
Bucky is solid, but I'm not so sure they will beat NW. NW, outside of Stanford,doesn't have alot of quality wins. Im sure PF has reminded them a win over Wisky could really boost their resume for a better bowl. I see a tight game in this one....But go NW...would love nothing more than to see them take a little pressure off the Hawks...
Click to expand...

I know Wisky is down this year, but I can't help but think they will handle NW. Just looking at how each performed against Iowa.
 
HawkeyeinOmaha said:
I know Wisky is down this year, but I can't help but think they will handle NW. Just looking at how each performed against Iowa.
Click to expand...


That is possible.
However, I just have a gut feeling NW will give Wisky all they want. I think we caught NW at a good time. We definitely had a solid win there but I dont think anyone expected us to handle them with that ease.
I still see very tight, contested game between these two
 
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Wisconsin is lacking the dynamic running back...they most often have.

I like Northwestern...
 
revkev73 said:
Wisconsin is lacking the dynamic running back...they most often have.
Click to expand...

Corey Clement is back and went 10-115 and 3 TD against the vaunted Rutgers. He may or may not be dynamic, averaged 6.5ypc on 147 carries last year, and 8.2(!) on 67 carries in 2013.
 
Wisconsin is solid, but they've lost to the only 2 good teams they've played this year so far.
 
Wisconsin has this year the same struggles Iowa has...generally speaking. Strong enough lines, solid defense. But a bit challenged offensively via graduation and injuries.

A more dynamic QB and Clement's injury were key factors in Iowa's win there.

But, long term...

The underlying thing about them is...we really don't know if Cryst can maintain yet there.

I still believe as I did before this year started...Wisconsin's coaching turnover, Nebraska's grease fire hire, Illinois' change, and now Minnesota losing Kill - all may work in Iowa's favor down the road. The upper midwest schools except for Iowa are effectively reeling with turnover in the last year - it's a mammoth opportunity for Iowa.

And here we have the year we're having THIS year - a perfect storm dream opportunity for Iowa.
 
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bagdropper said:
Wisconsin has this year the same struggles Iowa has...generally speaking. Strong enough lines, solid defense. But a bit challenged offensively via graduation and injuries.

A more dynamic QB and Clement's injury were key factors in Iowa's win there.

But, long term...

The underlying thing about them is...we really don't know if Cryst can maintain yet there.

I still believe as I did before this year started...Wisconsin's coaching turnover, Nebraska's grease fire hire, Illinois' change, and now Minnesota losing Kill - all may work in Iowa's favor down the road. The upper midwest schools except for Iowa are effectively reeling with turnover in the last year - .
Click to expand...
I agree I don't think Paul chryst is going to be able to maintain what Wisconsin was. He has zero charisma. He just doesn't have "it". Not a guy with presence or a guy that will wow people.

I think the same thing with the Minnesota guy. Tracy Claeys is, by all accounts a super nice guy, a good coach and very likeable. Those are all great traits for a coordinator position.

But for the face of the program, for both Minnesota and Wisconsin, they just aren't impressive enough individuals that carry enough swag in my opinion.

I just don't see either one of those two guys sitting in recruits living room and wowing them and their family like some other coaches. Even Ferentz comes off as extremely bright, articulate and genuine and you can just tell he's a quality individual and leader. I just can't say that about those other two
 
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Eternal Return said:
One thing that is really weird to me -- the way the national media says that Wisconsin is having a down year. I know that they have no big wins, I get that, all of the wins are against mediocre to bad teams, but their only 2 losses are to #4 Alabama and #9 Iowa. They are 7-2 and, IMO, better than NW and will probably be 10-2 at the end of the regular season (after beating NW). It's not that UW is definitely good or definitely bad, it's that it's tough to know how good or bad they are at this point because of their schedule. They lose to Alabama -- a team considered to be the best in the nation even when they have 4 losses -- and Iowa, but now that Iowa is ranked as high as they are ... does that loss look that bad? Are they really "horrible"? They're 7-2 and yet somehow considered inferior to Penn State and Michigan, both 2-loss teams -- my guess is UW could beat both of them.

Don't get me wrong, I hate the Badgers and I take some delight in them being disrespected to the degree that they are this year, but the truth is that they seem to have a very good team. As good as they were last year? No, but certainly no slouch and probably better than NW, PSU, and Mich. I suppose as they keep winning they'll move up the rankings and hopefully help Iowa move up, too, but I'm just shocked that they were so easily dismissed after losing to Iowa to open the B10 season. I understood at the time--Iowa was supposed to **** or be mediocre--but now that the Hawks are 8-0 and ranked in the top 10 I would think there would be a correction of some sort and a look at UW as a pretty good team. Trust me, I can't believe I'm writing this. I hate WI, but if I'm being rational (and I'm trying to be) then I don't see how UW is getting so little respect.
Click to expand...

The bath they took in the BT Title game last year vs. OSU did not help their case, nor the case for the BT West division.

But, looking at head-head records, I think the East division is 'only' a couple wins up vs. the West. If they get 4 or 5 wins better than the West, I think it's fair to say the East is 'weak'; if they only are 1 or 2 wins better, then it's more perception than fact. A middle-level MN team literally SHOULD have beaten Michigan at home, if they had ANY clock-management skill in the last half minute of that game; 1st and goal at the 1 yard line and they DON'T 'down' the ball to get 2 or 3 plays in??? That was lunacy....
 
bagdropper said:
Wisconsin has this year the same struggles Iowa has...generally speaking. Strong enough lines, solid defense. But a bit challenged offensively via graduation and injuries.

A more dynamic QB and Clement's injury were key factors in Iowa's win there.

But, long term...

The underlying thing about them is...we really don't know if Cryst can maintain yet there.

I still believe as I did before this year started...Wisconsin's coaching turnover, Nebraska's grease fire hire, Illinois' change, and now Minnesota losing Kill - all may work in Iowa's favor down the road. The upper midwest schools except for Iowa are effectively reeling with turnover in the last year - it's a mammoth opportunity for Iowa.

And here we have the year we're having THIS year - a perfect storm dream opportunity for Iowa.
Click to expand...
Completely agree, what is bad for Nebby, Wisc., Minny, etc.....is super good for Iowa.
 
icu81222 said:
I agree I don't think Paul chryst is going to be able to maintain what Wisconsin was. He has zero charisma. He just doesn't have "it". Not a guy with presence or a guy that will wow people.
Click to expand...

Agreed. When I see Chryst on the sideline, his demeanor looks like a perfect OC and a terrible head coach. Peter principle in action.
 
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Wisconsin is on the way down. BB is gone and their goes recruiting for them.
Christ isn't a good recruiter.
Kill is gone and too bad for Minnesota. He had a nice team last year and was building a contender.
Nebraska is a dumpster fire.
NW with Pat ( I hate Iowa) Fitzgerald is no threat.
We have taken them to the woodshed the last two years.
I see Iowa going on a nice run for the foreseeable future and we will
dominate the west.

As far as the East.
OSU and MSU took advantage of Michigan and PSU being down.
I think this will start to balance out as Michigan and PSU have gotten
Two good coaches and recruiters.
These games will come down to who gets to play who at home.
 
Steve Waite said:
Wisconsin is on the way down. BB is gone and their goes recruiting for them.
Christ isn't a good recruiter.
Kill is gone and too bad for Minnesota. He had a nice team last year and was building a contender.
Nebraska is a dumpster fire.
NW with Pat ( I hate Iowa) Fitzgerald is no threat.
We have taken them to the woodshed the last two years.
I see Iowa going on a nice run for the foreseeable future and we will
dominate the west.....
Click to expand...

I think it is to early to conclude that Paul isn't a good recruiter. Under the circumstances, he has put together a nice incoming class.
Although he was not at Pitt very long, he and his staff brought in some very nice recruits.
 
ichawk24 said:
Agreed. When I see Chryst on the sideline, his demeanor looks like a perfect OC and a terrible head coach. Peter principle in action.
Click to expand...

Time will tell whether he is a great head coach. On game day at least, he is the anti-Pellini.
 
ichawk24 said:
Corey Clement is back and went 10-115 and 3 TD against the vaunted Rutgers. He may or may not be dynamic, averaged 6.5ypc on 147 carries last year, and 8.2(!) on 67 carries in 2013.
Click to expand...


He is not what they have had in the past BUT he is far better than what they have been using. Two qualifiers....it was Rutgers he did this against and he is still not going to start according to the papers up here. I don't think he is all the way back yet and I believe part of this is conditioning and part of it is mental. It will be interesting to see how they do at Maryland. There O line outside of the Rutgers game has had a hell of a time opening holes and they do not have a Melvin Gordon this year. Clement is good but he is not Melvin good. I think the game at Maryland is going to be closer than many think.
 
Qued18 said:
Their in the B1G and not named Ohio St or Michigan...blue blood bias at its finest. MSU and Iowa are perfect so far. Penn St Wisconsin and Nortwestern only have 2 losses.

Watch if Alabama gets their second loss this weekend to LSU they will only drop 11-12. If Alabama wins...LSU is still in the top 10.

Okie St beats TCU they won't move up much from 13.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately - I think this is accurate
 
The West division in the Big 10 is disrespected as much as the North division in the old Big 12 was. The 3 best Big 10 teams are in the East, OSU, MSU, and PSU. That's what the so called college football experts say. Wisconsin getting their butts handed to them both in last yrs. championship game and this yr. game against Alabama didn't help. Until a team in the West beats a team in the East, whether it be during the season or in the championship game, nothing will change. Iowa has a good chance to change that. Maybe this year but also with their schedule next yr.
 
The West division in the Big 10 is disrespected as much as the North division in the old Big 12 was. The 4 best Big 10 teams are in the East, OSU, MSU, UM, and PSU. That's what the so called college football experts say. Wisconsin getting their butts handed to them both in last yrs. championship game and this yr. game against Alabama didn't help. Until a team in the West beats a team in the East, whether it be during the season or in the championship game, nothing will change. Iowa has a good chance to change that. Maybe this year but also with their schedule next yr.
 
83Hawk said:
And won the three before that. How many Rose Bowls has Iowa been to in the past 20 years?
Click to expand...
To be fair, two of Iowa's orange bowls were on the same level as a Rose bowl. Under the old system, they would have been a Rose bowl as well. Also, the one year Bucky went to the Rose Bowl, they were 7-5. OSU and PSU were on vacation that year!
 
Joes Place said:
The bath they took in the BT Title game last year vs. OSU did not help their case, nor the case for the BT West division.

But, looking at head-head records, I think the East division is 'only' a couple wins up vs. the West. If they get 4 or 5 wins better than the West, I think it's fair to say the East is 'weak'; if they only are 1 or 2 wins better, then it's more perception than fact. A middle-level MN team literally SHOULD have beaten Michigan at home, if they had ANY clock-management skill in the last half minute of that game; 1st and goal at the 1 yard line and they DON'T 'down' the ball to get 2 or 3 plays in??? That was lunacy....
Click to expand...

That's a really good point, their loss against OSU last year. I didn't think about that.
 
grosie#2 said:
The West division in the Big 10 is disrespected as much as the North division in the old Big 12 was. The 4 best Big 10 teams are in the East, OSU, MSU, UM, and PSU. That's what the so called college football experts say. Wisconsin getting their butts handed to them both in last yrs. championship game and this yr. game against Alabama didn't help. Until a team in the West beats a team in the East, whether it be during the season or in the championship game, nothing will change. Iowa has a good chance to change that. Maybe this year but also with their schedule next yr.
Click to expand...

As of this weekend, the West's combined W/L record is 19-18.
The East is 18-19.

That, my friends, is just TOTAL DOMINATION of the East division over the West....
:confused:
 
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icu81222 said:
Wisconsin's defense is legit.

Wisconsin should be ranked this coming week.

I think Wisconsin will beat Northwestern.
Click to expand...
Yeah but I don't want them to. The sos with them is already moot at this point. Besides, if Iowa gets to the BTCG and isn't facing an undefeated Ohio State, it doesn't really matter that they beat a 10-2 Wisconsin team.

So I'd rather say, 'f*** Wisconsin...lose a game so Iowa can clinch the West. Thank you'.
 
EvilMonkeyInTheCloset said:
Yeah but I don't want them to. The sos with them is already moot at this point. Besides, if Iowa gets to the BTCG and isn't facing an undefeated Ohio State, it doesn't really matter that they beat a 10-2 Wisconsin team.

So I'd rather say, 'f*** Wisconsin...lose a game so Iowa can clinch the West. Thank you'.
Click to expand...

I agree and right now a 10-2 Northwestern team is a bigger signature win anyways. Go Cats.
 
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