ONCE IN A (PROGRAM)LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY?
Posted 06-06-2010 at 02:47 PM by HNCEO
Entering the 2010 football season, the Iowa Hawkeyes are in a unique position for its program’s history. They won their first BCS level bowl game since the 60s, have a 2-yr win total of 20 games and winning percentage 80%, thus they are beginning to earn back the respect on the national college football landscape, and approaching the ability to claim elite status.
When Kirk Ferentz began to execute his vision early in the 21st century, the hawks were known as the bullies of the Big Ten, which is driven by playing physical, and disciplined football. That status softened as the program declined in 2006 and 2007, perhaps due to the staff going outside its comfort zone in terms of player recruitment (such as focusing too much in one geographic area, discussed later) and development. All great leaders make mistakes, but those that have longevity recognize the errors and accept blame. Kirk and his staff did exactly that and re-focused on what made his program great and one of the most feared programs in the Big Ten. Now the Hawks coming off their dominance of Georgia Tech (don’t listen to Paul Johnson, that was a tail kicking, the pick 6 saved some of the embarrassment) in the 2010 Orange Bowl, the black and gold has the opportunity to firmly establish itself as a feared program in the Big Ten Conference and become one of the nation’s elite. Think about that Hawk fans, our beloved program which has its inherent disadvantages, is on the verge of something historic.
The 2009 season was an unforgettable season, no doubt. Many programs never experience a season like that (ehem, Iowa State), those are reserved for the USCs, the Texas, and the Ohio States who achieve them on a regular basis. Now there are occasional lighting in a bottle seasons like Kansas in 2008 (2007 season) who beat the then ACC champ Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl….their coach won several national awards, their starting QB was only a sophomore, and many thought they are were on the verge of a sustained run, but where are the Jayhawks now? Well they had many contributing seniors on that ’07 roster, but still finished 8-5 in 2008 after a waxing of the Golden Goofs in the Insight Bowl. Then some early NFL entrants hit, the now Senior QB and head coach were not on the page, some internal strife boiled over and now are on a new football coach, looking forward to basketball season, which is par for the course in Lawrence. What can the Hawkeyes learn from the Jayhawks…its simple; the talent has be there but so do the intangibles. The stars were aligned in 2007 for the Jayhawks and plenty of talent returned from that team but leadership from the coaches and players were lacking which lead to their struggles in 2008 and 2009.
Other non-traditional powers have had great extended runs like Colorado in late 80s and early 90s….you could throw Washington in there as well during that same period. What did those runs have in common? Traditional powers in their conferences, Oklahoma and USC were down in those years. Rarely is the success sustained for these non-traditional powers like our beloved Hawkeyes. Okay the Hawks are just 2 years removed from a non-bowl 6-6 season, but with a 10-win 2010 (which is a reasonable expectation), Iowa would have a 10-year record of 78-39, a winning percentage of 67%.
Why is the opportunity to be elite happening now and why may it not happen again? It’s a combination of factors, a perfect storm if you will….obviously starting with the on-field success in 2009 capped by the 2010 Orange Bowl domination of Georgia Tech is a big component. That season fed off of Shonn Greene’s historic 2008 campaign, which put the hawks back on the national map and in the minds of all sought after high school running backs (hello Marcus Coker). The momentum is there, and is continuing in the offseason as most publications have Iowa in the Preseason Top 15.
THE REASON FOR THE PROGNOSITICATIONS & WHY THEY WILL BE PROVEN RIGHT:
Sure the off-season accolades are a result of the 2010 season but more of the depth of the program, and the talent at each position. The hawks have NFL caliber talent at several positions and it is not concentrated just in the senior class plus the depth of the skill positions may be the best in Ferentz area. One final component on a micro level that is not easily noticed on roster trends and via on the field play….Ferentz and his staff personally know how to handle success and the pressure that comes with it, but most importantly they know how to handle the players’ state of mind under these circumstances. Success is a good problem to have but as we have seen the problem can be not so good if entitlement begins to seep back in like it in 2006 into 2007….this staff will not let that happen again, so don’t expect 2007 to repeat itself anytime soon or for any Kansas like decline to begin.
THE OPPORTUNITY NOW & IN THE FUTURE:
The hawks have the opportunity it may never have again due to several factors: the proverbial non-traditional power typically has peaked with a big BCS-level bow win and the faded back into mediocrity. Each year of success compounds on the prior successes creating great program dynamics, chemistry and national perception (leading to recruiting momentum). Speaking of recruiting, the last time the Hawks were in run like this, they raided the state of Illinois for its best talent, well we know how that turned out (Tony Moeaki and Dace Richardson performed the best but severely limited to injuries, while the other 3 from Illinois in 2005 were busts)….living in Chicago, there are great high school programs, but tell me how Chicagoland high school players translate into great college players and even great pro players….not many, Coach Ferentz found this out the hard way and are now focusing more on Ohio, the east coast, and re-emphasizing the state of Florida. The Hawks can have recruiting success in these states due to the on-filed performance, a 6-6 team not so much. Lastly and perhaps most vital is Big Blue’s struggles….Michigan is in the midst of its worst stretch in its program history., and the verdict is still out if Rich Rod can get it done (is it the Lickliter-Iowa relationship?? We’ve seen first hand what alienating a proud program alumni base can do). With a duplication of 2009 season, the Hawkeye football program has a chance to its establish itself as 2nd best behind Ohio State, and continue rolling down the college football highway at 65.
The 2010 football season is only 94 days away Hawk fans, but in the last 60 days there have been some victories for the Hawkeyes in picking up 3 solid recruits, all at great position of need. This is not abnormal to have 3 players committed in early June for the next class, but having 2 out of state definitely is and is evidence of the momentum the Hawkeye program is gaining. Austin Blythe was going to be Hawkeye. But the other two (WRs Marcus Grant and Jacorey Shepherd), were identified by the Iowa staff early as hard working, talented kids who will put the dedication of the program first and will swear by the Hawkeye code: “the body says stop, the black and gold spirit cries never!”
When Kirk Ferentz began to execute his vision early in the 21st century, the hawks were known as the bullies of the Big Ten, which is driven by playing physical, and disciplined football. That status softened as the program declined in 2006 and 2007, perhaps due to the staff going outside its comfort zone in terms of player recruitment (such as focusing too much in one geographic area, discussed later) and development. All great leaders make mistakes, but those that have longevity recognize the errors and accept blame. Kirk and his staff did exactly that and re-focused on what made his program great and one of the most feared programs in the Big Ten. Now the Hawks coming off their dominance of Georgia Tech (don’t listen to Paul Johnson, that was a tail kicking, the pick 6 saved some of the embarrassment) in the 2010 Orange Bowl, the black and gold has the opportunity to firmly establish itself as a feared program in the Big Ten Conference and become one of the nation’s elite. Think about that Hawk fans, our beloved program which has its inherent disadvantages, is on the verge of something historic.
The 2009 season was an unforgettable season, no doubt. Many programs never experience a season like that (ehem, Iowa State), those are reserved for the USCs, the Texas, and the Ohio States who achieve them on a regular basis. Now there are occasional lighting in a bottle seasons like Kansas in 2008 (2007 season) who beat the then ACC champ Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl….their coach won several national awards, their starting QB was only a sophomore, and many thought they are were on the verge of a sustained run, but where are the Jayhawks now? Well they had many contributing seniors on that ’07 roster, but still finished 8-5 in 2008 after a waxing of the Golden Goofs in the Insight Bowl. Then some early NFL entrants hit, the now Senior QB and head coach were not on the page, some internal strife boiled over and now are on a new football coach, looking forward to basketball season, which is par for the course in Lawrence. What can the Hawkeyes learn from the Jayhawks…its simple; the talent has be there but so do the intangibles. The stars were aligned in 2007 for the Jayhawks and plenty of talent returned from that team but leadership from the coaches and players were lacking which lead to their struggles in 2008 and 2009.
Other non-traditional powers have had great extended runs like Colorado in late 80s and early 90s….you could throw Washington in there as well during that same period. What did those runs have in common? Traditional powers in their conferences, Oklahoma and USC were down in those years. Rarely is the success sustained for these non-traditional powers like our beloved Hawkeyes. Okay the Hawks are just 2 years removed from a non-bowl 6-6 season, but with a 10-win 2010 (which is a reasonable expectation), Iowa would have a 10-year record of 78-39, a winning percentage of 67%.
Why is the opportunity to be elite happening now and why may it not happen again? It’s a combination of factors, a perfect storm if you will….obviously starting with the on-field success in 2009 capped by the 2010 Orange Bowl domination of Georgia Tech is a big component. That season fed off of Shonn Greene’s historic 2008 campaign, which put the hawks back on the national map and in the minds of all sought after high school running backs (hello Marcus Coker). The momentum is there, and is continuing in the offseason as most publications have Iowa in the Preseason Top 15.
THE REASON FOR THE PROGNOSITICATIONS & WHY THEY WILL BE PROVEN RIGHT:
Sure the off-season accolades are a result of the 2010 season but more of the depth of the program, and the talent at each position. The hawks have NFL caliber talent at several positions and it is not concentrated just in the senior class plus the depth of the skill positions may be the best in Ferentz area. One final component on a micro level that is not easily noticed on roster trends and via on the field play….Ferentz and his staff personally know how to handle success and the pressure that comes with it, but most importantly they know how to handle the players’ state of mind under these circumstances. Success is a good problem to have but as we have seen the problem can be not so good if entitlement begins to seep back in like it in 2006 into 2007….this staff will not let that happen again, so don’t expect 2007 to repeat itself anytime soon or for any Kansas like decline to begin.
THE OPPORTUNITY NOW & IN THE FUTURE:
The hawks have the opportunity it may never have again due to several factors: the proverbial non-traditional power typically has peaked with a big BCS-level bow win and the faded back into mediocrity. Each year of success compounds on the prior successes creating great program dynamics, chemistry and national perception (leading to recruiting momentum). Speaking of recruiting, the last time the Hawks were in run like this, they raided the state of Illinois for its best talent, well we know how that turned out (Tony Moeaki and Dace Richardson performed the best but severely limited to injuries, while the other 3 from Illinois in 2005 were busts)….living in Chicago, there are great high school programs, but tell me how Chicagoland high school players translate into great college players and even great pro players….not many, Coach Ferentz found this out the hard way and are now focusing more on Ohio, the east coast, and re-emphasizing the state of Florida. The Hawks can have recruiting success in these states due to the on-filed performance, a 6-6 team not so much. Lastly and perhaps most vital is Big Blue’s struggles….Michigan is in the midst of its worst stretch in its program history., and the verdict is still out if Rich Rod can get it done (is it the Lickliter-Iowa relationship?? We’ve seen first hand what alienating a proud program alumni base can do). With a duplication of 2009 season, the Hawkeye football program has a chance to its establish itself as 2nd best behind Ohio State, and continue rolling down the college football highway at 65.
The 2010 football season is only 94 days away Hawk fans, but in the last 60 days there have been some victories for the Hawkeyes in picking up 3 solid recruits, all at great position of need. This is not abnormal to have 3 players committed in early June for the next class, but having 2 out of state definitely is and is evidence of the momentum the Hawkeye program is gaining. Austin Blythe was going to be Hawkeye. But the other two (WRs Marcus Grant and Jacorey Shepherd), were identified by the Iowa staff early as hard working, talented kids who will put the dedication of the program first and will swear by the Hawkeye code: “the body says stop, the black and gold spirit cries never!”
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