**Official Iowa vs. UCLA Football Thread - 8:00pm - Fox Sports**

[The Full Monte]

I'm going to regret getting involved, but I highly doubt 20+ year DC and asst coach of the year forgot how to coach suddenly. Player talent and execution is the issue.

I don’t disagree, but if there is one thing we have seen as a weakness in an otherwise incredibly good string as defensive performances year after year…it’s the rate of generating QB pressures when blitzing.

And before Halo Goes Halo, no…”Phil doesn’t suck!” It’s simply pointing out that while his defenses are consistently better than most year after year…that is a singular aspect which Iowa isn’t as good.

 

[Uli Kunkel]

We all knew the defense was due for a step back after the run they were on. The real crime was Brian and what he was allowed to inflict on the offense for YEARS after his incompetence was known. The defenses that was were wasted, and the current state of the offense is due to this. Ultimately it is what will tarnish Kirk's legacy.

 

[Renegade_ofFunk]

This isn't related to tonight, but the Big Ten is going to be at a huge competitive disadvantage going forward and they need to get the CFP up to 20 or 24 teams.

No matter how nice travel is on private planes and staying in 4 or 5 star hotels, the 2+ time zone thing is real and it's going to continue to be a thorn in the side of the league every single year. Coast to Cost sounds fun and might get you tons of TV money, but you are going to have teams that lose games they really shouldn't. Look at the records already this year.

The SEC goes no further west than Austin, TX. No further north than Columbia, MO. No further east than Clemson, SC. No further south than Gainsville, FL. The longest flight is barely 2 hours.

You have Big Ten teams traveling from fucking Seattle / Eugene / LA to NYC. 5+ hour flights. Making teams play a Saturday night game and then have to travel 4-5 hours to play a short week Friday night game is fucking stupid. I could see it if you had a pussy ass league like the Big XII where the players might not even be sore but having physical Big Ten teams do it is just dumb.

Chesterson’s fence.

It’s almost like the people that originally set these conferences up geographically decades ago knew what they were doing.

 

[douglasbader]

Tonight also felt like the future of what Iowa Football is going to feel like in the years going forward. Sure, there will be that one season every decade or so where where everything comes together and you truly contend for a CFP bid (if they stay at 12 teams) and a couple others where you might flirt with it, but the vibe felt like a non-serious distraction rather than a serious game.

It's along the lines of how NIL and tv contracts have made Iowa Basketball feel the last few seasons. The games are at odd times and in odd places and doesn't carry any weight as opposed to when the games were at expected times in expected places with lots of weekend games with good crowds and atmosphere.

I don't know, I just liked the old way better. Lots of classic Big Ten teams with games 90% of the time at 11am and 2:30pm and the very rare night game that really felt special. Now it seems like half you games are at night (5 with a possible 6th this season) or on weird days (2 on Friday this season)

It basically feels a lot like what I've felt Pac12 after dark games felt like. There is no real weight to them. Half full stadiums, odd start times, random announcers.

I miss the old Big Ten with 8 of your 12 games at 11am.

 

[Kamala]

It's not an excuse and it is a big deal. The evidence already proven by players that are bigger, faster, stronger and in far better shape and way more used to the travel than college teams. NFL has a mountain of documented evidence of how long travel effects performance.

Is There Still a Disadvantage for NFL West Coast Teams Traveling East? | Sports Insights

For years we have heard NFL fans and analysts unequivocally state that NFL West Coast teams struggle when traveling cross-country. This argument

www.sportsinsights.com

That article isn’t about “travel” affecting performance. It’s about travel from the West Coast to the East affecting performance. There is no such correlation on travel the other way

 

[Mr. Hawk]

I believe the team was late tonight for some reason. Arrived about 45 min after UCLA. Unloaded the bus at 4, just two hours before kickoff. Not sure if that's normal but the other people there thought it was.

The only thing I ever really care about is Iowa getting beat physically, which they absolutely were. The (preseason vaunted) defense just got abused physically can schematically.

If I were Beth, I'd make it clear that Kirk is a figurehead next year to get him his wins, and someone else is put in charge of making the team physical and tough again. Kirk just wants to cry and relive old memories with former players.

Sitting with faggoty UCLA fans that have watched poor tackling and non-physical football for more than a decade, it sucks because 10-15 years ago Iowa would have absolutely curb stomped them. On defense, even last year. Kurt knows its over, and its affecting the team.

I can live with a loss if we clearly beat the shit (physically) out of the other team. We rarely do that anymore. Next year could be really ugly.

 

[douglasbader]

That article isn’t about “travel” affecting performance. It’s about travel from the West Coast to the East affecting performance. There is no such correlation on travel the other way

That's a single article and there are many more. There is absolutely correlation on travel 2+ time zones overall.

 

[Mr. Hawk]

Also, random observations. Skip if you don't care about my opinions:

• I believe Castro is still solid, but also I think he's playing not to get injured. Just a feeling. He's a great player, but just sort of mailing it in right now. Either way, we'll miss him at CASH even if he's now doing it at 75%. He knows he's gonna get paid and he's not about to screw that up. I honestly don't blame him. I watched him pre-snap tonight more than anyone else. He gets it. He and Higgins are calling signs that 98% of the college football world can't make.
• X is soft and always will be. @Fair and Balanced
• Higgins sort of the same as Castro, but very talented (totes obvi). But Jackson still has the hunger, even if he's less talented. I like him. I wish we had him for another year.
• A lot of NIL needs to be spent on the DL.
• Harris still really gives a shit and I like that. We'll miss him and Castro the most.
• KJ gives a shit, and I've come to appreciate that dude about as much as any Iowa RB since Greene. Of course he's talented, but he's giving 100% on every play. He never stops. You need that in a RB. It's a unique position for several reasons.
• I don't hate Stratton.
• Cade cannot ever start a game for Iowa again.
• KF is done at this point. But he also built something. I'm glad Beth will make the decision instead of Garta. The focus needs to be on bringing in the next Kirk. I would absolutely support Lavar or Seth. Unless they are a lethal badass, I'm not among the faction that says we need someone outside the Iowa group. See Consin, Wis, and Fickel, Luke. It's a warning. Let's avoid it.
• The UCLA game experience has three realities: First, every chick is hotter than every chick anywhere else. It's a fact. On campus and at the game, I didn't even see a chick that was "big boned" even though most of the less discerning among you would still oogle because you have no standards. Even at Iowa, there are tons of tall, skinny, blondes. But for every one of them, there are five that are...well...larger. Hotness just abounds at UCLA. USC, not so much. Second, it's the gayest experience ever. They had some homo doing dorky chants that 10% of the UCLA fans engaged with. Other than what was happening on the field, the fans are unengaged, and mostly just there to be gay. Despite the hottest chicks ever on the face of the Earth, I left the game feeling way more gay than I felt coming in. And I don't like that. Third, my son remarked how different it was from the Kinnick experience. Those of us who have watched games in Kinnick for the last 20 years (and especially the last 5-7) have no clue how cool it is compared to everything else. We are lucky and that place (for real games) is on a level that most college football fans will never experience.

 

[BBK]

Despite the hottest chicks ever on the face of the Earth, I left the game feeling way more gay than I felt coming in.

I recommend you let everyone within an earshot know your ass is only for shitting

 

[kenos]

I recommend you let everyone within an earshot know your ass is only for shitting

And 15 years after Bruno, the people who were the butt of the joke are now the foot soldiers of MAGA.


Anyway, the program needs a reset. The '97 team was in a better place than this one is -- Hayden at least had a few studs to make it interesting. If Johnson goes -- and he should -- this team has a whole lot of nothing on both sides of the ball next year. It's 1998 all over again unless they hit it big on the transfer market, and I wouldn't hold my breath for that one.

Hand it to LeVar, see if you can raise the energy and NIL levels, and see what you can do.

 

[nolookpass]

Also, random observations. Skip if you don't care about my opinions:

• I believe Castro is still solid, but also I think he's playing not to get injured. Just a feeling. He's a great player, but just sort of mailing it in right now. Either way, we'll miss him at CASH even if he's now doing it at 75%. He knows he's gonna get paid and he's not about to screw that up. I honestly don't blame him. I watched him pre-snap tonight more than anyone else. He gets it. He and Higgins are calling signs that 98% of the college football world can't make.
• X is soft and always will be. @Fair and Balanced
• Higgins sort of the same as Castro, but very talented (totes obvi). But Jackson still has the hunger, even if he's less talented. I like him. I wish we had him for another year.
• A lot of NIL needs to be spent on the DL.
• Harris still really gives a shit and I like that. We'll miss him and Castro the most.
• KJ gives a shit, and I've come to appreciate that dude about as much as any Iowa RB since Greene. Of course he's talented, but he's giving 100% on every play. He never stops. You need that in a RB. It's a unique position for several reasons.
• I don't hate Stratton.
• Cade cannot ever start a game for Iowa again.
• KF is done at this point. But he also built something. I'm glad Beth will make the decision instead of Garta. The focus needs to be on bringing in the next Kirk. I would absolutely support Lavar or Seth. Unless they are a lethal badass, I'm not among the faction that says we need someone outside the Iowa group. See Consin, Wis, and Fickel, Luke. It's a warning. Let's avoid it.
• The UCLA game experience has three realities: First, every chick is hotter than every chick anywhere else. It's a fact. On campus and at the game, I didn't even see a chick that was "big boned" even though most of the less discerning among you would still oogle because you have no standards. Even at Iowa, there are tons of tall, skinny, blondes. But for every one of them, there are five that are...well...larger. Hotness just abounds at UCLA. USC, not so much. Second, it's the gayest experience ever. They had some homo doing dorky chants that 10% of the UCLA fans engaged with. Other than what was happening on the field, the fans are unengaged, and mostly just there to be gay. Despite the hottest chicks ever on the face of the Earth, I left the game feeling way more gay than I felt coming in. And I don't like that. Third, my son remarked how different it was from the Kinnick experience. Those of us who have watched games in Kinnick for the last 20 years (and especially the last 5-7) have no clue how cool it is compared to everything else. We are lucky and that place (for real games) is on a level that most college football fans will never experience.

What position will Castro play in the NFL? He's not big enough to play LB and his coverage skills are below average. If he was that highly rated by nfl scouts after last year, he wouldn't have came back to Iowa. Seems like a classic tweener.

 

[CamelTones]

I don’t disagree, but if there is one thing we have seen as a weakness in an otherwise incredibly good string as defensive performances year after year…is the effectiveness of QB pressures when blitzing.

And before Halo Goes Halo, no…”Phil doesn’t suck!” It’s simply pointing out that while his defenses are consistently better than most year after year…that is a singular aspect which Iowa isn’t as good.

Yeah, I’m not saying Phil is a bad coach. He’s had a rough couple games this year. Iowa brought back 5/7 of their front 7 and they’ve been dominated in the run game 3 times now. In their last 3 road games Iowa has only forced 3 punts. The only UCLA punt yesterday was because Garbers missed an open reveiver.

It’s possible having a weak second corner is having an impact on the run defense.

It should also be pointed out Iowa has only turned the ball over in 4 games this year. They’re 0-4 in those games. Every single turnover is by the QB. I believe every single turnover has led to points as well.

 

[StinkyMcFadden]

Schulte and Nwankpa are the two least physical safeties in the history of college football.

 

[CamelTones]

Iowa only ran 46 plays in the entire game. 31 ended up being runs. I know some were called pass plays where the QBs scrambled, but you have to attempt more than 15 passes. Some of it was on Sullivan, he pulls it down too quick. You gotta let the peacock fly.

 

[CamelTones]

Jackson Stratton leading Iowa down the field to take the lead would have been a cool story but holy fuck it would have been annoying anytime a QB struggled and dip shit fans wanting the coaches to put him in.

 

[Hawk&Balls]

@Fair and Balanced.

You look at the last 2 and a half years and most games you would wonder if he even played. Dude is invisible in the field.

 

[Debit One]

Taking a timeout before the two minute warning fucked them. You can pass with no downside then. 26 years and he can’t figure out clock management.

Disagree, sir.

If you take the two TOs after the 2 minute warning there is 1:45 - 1:50 on the clock when TOs plus 2 minute warning are exhausted.

Taking the two TOs before the 2 minute warning gives you 10 - 15 extra seconds.

 

[Gushawk]

Our LB and DT depth are very, very bad. Not a lot to be jazzed about heading into next season. Few addition by subtraction situations to be even a little hopeful about beyond Schulte and Cade.

 

[HerkyHopeful]

A DE who can get pressure would make things look a lot different. There's no one this year. Evans was the only one last year.

DL has no depth and those guys are dead at the end of games

 

[CamelTones]

Instead of worrying about the TOs, maybe Harris and Castro could have covered something other than air on 3rd down. Iowa came out of that timeout completely confused pre snap.

 

[Thomas Wolsey]

Gill is literally the first wr since mo brown who seems like a big ten wr.

Sorry terry

Ihmir, Charlie Jones (I know), Smith, McNutt and even DJK were all good giant douche WR. It isn’t very many, but it isn’t that hard to remember.

 

[HerkyHopeful]

I also not discounting the retardedness of playing a night game on Saturday followed by a short week traveling to the west coast. It's retarded scheduling for college guys.

 

[demmert4]

Disagree, sir.

If you take the two TOs after the 2 minute warning there is 1:45 - 1:50 on the clock when TOs plus 2 minute warning are exhausted.

Taking the two TOs before the 2 minute warning gives you 10 - 15 extra seconds.

Agree to disagree. Going from 2:10 to 2 minutes is negligible and it allows them to pass with an incompletion not mattering at all. If you wait till two minutes, they probably run the ball to burn the last timeout. They’re making a fourth down decision with 1:55 instead of 2:00.

end of the day, who cares. Our best two DBs blew a coverage anyway. And you might be right from a statistics standpoint as well that it’s better to save the time. It just seemed guaranteed they were passing for a first down the second Kirk called the timeout last night.

 

[Herbie2]

Eh sounds like a big fucking excuse to be honest. 3 extra hours on a plane isn’t THAT big of a deal. Everyone will get used to it and it won’t even be talked about.

The time zones excuse is greatly overstated.

Unique game start times and total travel time are legit concerns, but let's say you went from Florida to Oregon and were playing in adjacent time zones, is that better than going for Nevada to Indiana with 2 time zones in between? Of course not.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

Castro hasn't been bad, he's just been invisible most of the year. That's one of my bigger disappointments. We know Schulte and Nwanpka are just sort of meh.

 

[Alan Lomax]

I do not like them being beat up. They got beat up, again.

 

[champion_thedrinker]

I only caught bits and pieces of the first half, did they shut down the rpo for fear of Sullivan getting hurt?

 

[Greg Obrecht]

Schulte and Nwankpa are the two least physical safeties in the history of college football.

Yoo must have missed that bone jarring tackle at the goal line last night. That was a thing of beauty.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

Old man yells at cloud time. College sports enjoyment will be waning for all of us sooner rather than later, I would guess. Georgia just spent $38.5 MILLION on girls softball facilities. Girls. Softball.

 

[Alan Lomax]

Old man yells at cloud time. College sports enjoyment will be waning for all of us sooner rather than later, I would guess. Georgia just spent $38.5 MILLION on girls softball facilities. Girls. Softball.

Outside of Iowa being a bunch of pussies, this year’s football season has been highly entertaining.

 

[CamelTones]

I only caught bits and pieces of the first half, did they shut down the rpo for fear of Sullivan getting hurt?

Every time he got tackled something almost got dislocated. UCLA was rather violent towards him.

I admire him for trying to pick up first downs, but he was putting himself in harms way way too much.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

Outside of Iowa being a bunch of pussies, this year’s football season has been highly entertaining.

 

[ivan_drago]

I went and had fun.

 

[Kerky]

Every time he got tackled something almost got dislocated. UCLA was rather violent towards him.

I admire him for trying to pick up first downs, but he was putting himself in harms way way too much.

UCLA was what we all wished Iowa was, punishing with every tackle and making a statement each time you ventured into their territory.

Before the season started I thought it was good fortune getting UCLA instead of USC. I was wrong.

 

[LifelongHawk]

Going from 2:10 to 2 minutes is negligible and it allows them to pass with an incompletion not mattering at all.

No it doesn't. The TO was at 2:11 on 3rd down, if they throw incomplete the 2 minute warning is after 4th down.

 

[LifelongHawk]

Whodathunk, turns out our best quarterback was the scout team linebacker.

 

[kenos]

Whodathunk, turns out our best quarterback was the scout team linebacker.

Brilliant recruiting since 2018.

 

[demmert4]

No it doesn't. The TO was at 2:11 on 3rd down, if they throw incomplete the 2 minute warning is after 4th down.

I had a response to this type out before I realized I should probably go fuck myself because really, who cares (I started it and take full responsibly) and the two minute time out is dumb as shit. I apologize to Halo

 

[Fair and Balanced]

You look at the last 2 and a half years and most games you would wonder if he even played. Dude is invisible in the field.

I wasn’t.

 

[Fair and Balanced]

I’m so sick of Iowa being eternally precipice

Stop this.

 

[BillyBob]

BDB needs to act this offseason or Iowa football is gonna spiral and turn into Iowa basketball

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Iowa Football needs a DEI hire

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Throw in your boy Nwankpa too.

x has actually improved, but that’s because he’s been awful prior

 

[Monster]

Yeah, I’m not saying Phil is a bad coach. He’s had a rough couple games this year. Iowa brought back 5/7 of their front 7 and they’ve been dominated in the run game 3 times now. In their last 3 road games Iowa has only forced 3 punts. The only UCLA punt yesterday was because Garbers missed an open reveiver.

It’s possible having a weak second corner is having an impact on the run defense.

It should also be pointed out Iowa has only turned the ball over in 4 games this year. They’re 0-4 in those games. Every single turnover is by the QB. I believe every single turnover has led to points as well.

There ya go.

 

[L. Wade Childress]

Old man yells at cloud time. College sports enjoyment will be waning for all of us sooner rather than later, I would guess. Georgia just spent $38.5 MILLION on girls softball facilities. Girls. Softball.

It only takes a couple rich lesbians to make a huge jump on the women’s side.

 

[Renegade_ofFunk]

That game reminded me of Iowa playing earlier Matt Campbell Clones teams. Except Kirks team was Iowa State last night

Iowa would make a couple dumb mistakes early to keep ISU in the game (like the double pass from 2019 or whenever it was) but ultimately the bill would come due and Iowa would win by a much narrower margin that they should.

UCLA was the more talented and physical team and I’m not sure it was close. The scoreboard was in no way indicative of what actually happened.

Hopefully they can win out and get a manageable bowl opponent to get some positivity back for portal season.

 

[Monster]

UCLA's def line was one of the best I've seen in years.

 

[The Dad]

This year’s Hawkeye D is more New Halo than New Halo.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

UCLA's def line was one of the best I've seen in years.

It was men against boys. 93 was eating up double teams all game

 

[Greg Obrecht]

UCLA was erroneously labeled as bad after their loss to Indiana. Then they had the misfortune of playing LSU, Oregon, and Penn St. They’d be a 6-3/7-2 type team with a more manageable schedule.