Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Iowa Football: Will Anything Ever Change Under Kirk Ferentz?

Starting point is 00:00:00 it's the return of biz back with us today on lockdown Hawkeyes. We talked with Jace about everything going on with Iowa football. Are we looking at the same old situation? Will anything really change under Kirk Ferentz? We'll break it down today. Lockdown Hawkeyes. You are locked on Hawkeyes. Your daily podcast on the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Starting point is 00:00:25 Part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Hey, welcome in. I'm Trent Condon, that's Biz, and this is the Locked On Hawkeyes Podcast. Thanks for making Locked On Hawkeyes your first listen every day. We're available wherever you find podcasts, and you can also watch us on YouTube. While you're there, hit the subscribe button. Helps us get in front of more Hawkeye fans. Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Place your first $5 bet.

Starting point is 00:00:52 You'll get started with $200 in bonus bets guaranteed. Visit FanDuel.com to get started. Biz, good to see you. It was a week ago, off of bye week. Ohio State hanging around, hanging around. We've told the story all week long here on Locked On Hawkeyes. But in the end, kind of more of the same. How are you doing today?

Starting point is 00:01:14 Oh, I'm doing great, Trent, because since that game, my Mets have had a phenomenal couple weeks. So I've bounced back. I'm glad we're doing this on Friday and not on Sunday or Monday. I probably would have had a different attitude. But I'm doing well. The Hawkeyes, not so much. So start right there.

Starting point is 00:01:33 And it's something that I haven't tackled very much this week. But when you sent it to me, I mean, you said kind of same old crap, right? And it just kind of triggered something in my mind where, yes, we see the offense looking different. We see Tim Lester doing different things, but ultimately there isn't a ton different. I mean, we're not talking about an offense that's stretching the field. We're seeing the gap between Ohio State and the elites of college football in Iowa just continuing to grow. And it kind of grows. It can go one of two ways. Happy about your lot in life.

Starting point is 00:02:06 Look, Iowa football is still very successful. Happy for what it is because you look at many other programs and they would die for what Iowa football is. Or the new reality that this gap likely isn't going to change anytime soon unless something changes financially with Iowa football. So a lot of directions to go. Take it where you want, Biz. Yeah, I mean, the way I think I described it to you,

Starting point is 00:02:28 and I apologize because this is a family podcast trip, but same shit, different year. It's just, you know, at some point, apathy for these types of games set in because you just kind of know in advance what's going to happen. And, you know, shame on me for thinking that it was going to be different. And then what you saw last Saturday was the same thing we've seen for three straight years against good teams now.

Starting point is 00:02:53 You saw the standard bad quarterback play. You saw an inconsistent offensive line. The third quarter looked god-awful. You saw complete lack of playmakers, just inability, like you said, to stretch the field. But the most frustrating thing for me is you just saw coaching staff that in these types of games, I don't know what you want to say. There's coaches scared or coaches not to lose, however you want to put it.

Starting point is 00:03:19 The Iowa State second half and the Ohio State first half are just perfect examples of how to lose games. I mean, the Iowa State second half, we're so reliant on defense and special teams that we just basically say we're going to count on our defense and special teams to bail us out in these situations. The second half of the Iowa State game, we basically said, look, we don't think you can beat us offensively. We don't think you can get over 13. Nothing's good enough. And we saw what happened. And same thing with Ohio State. The first half, we were right in there. We did exactly what I asked. I think we were going to go into Ohio State and win. Nobody did. But I thought we could be competitive in this game. In the first half, we were competitive. And we

Starting point is 00:04:03 did all right offensively. We had our opportunities. When the opportunities arose, our coaching staff, for lack of a better term, chickened out. You only get so many opportunities against Ohio State. You're not going to beat Ohio State with 13 points or 10 points or none of that.

Starting point is 00:04:19 The moment we trotted out the kicker to kick a 50-yard field goal, I was like, this is over. We're not going to win with field goals. It's fourth and three at their 33. Go for it. And then you get the ball at the 50-yard line, and you have the debacle with the fake punt, timeout, punt, whatever it was.

Starting point is 00:04:39 Last year, when you have the best punter on earth, that might not be a bad idea because Torrey Taylor puts him inside the five. This year, what do you see against Iowa State game? When we needed a clutch punt down the stretch, he punts it to the 22. They go down and score. He puts that inside the 10. We win that game. Same thing here. We choose to punt. He shanks a punt. It goes 20 yards. And you're relying on good special teams, which we don't have this year. And you're relying on a defense to bill you out, which this defense has shown through five games is good, but it's not elite. It's a very good defense.

Starting point is 00:05:13 But it's not an elite defense. I mean, they're very good. You know, Phil Parker's defense is always going to be very good. But they're not the type of defense that's going to win us seven to three games this year. I mean, it's just, like I said, same shit, different year. I could go on and on. It's frustrating because, you know, that first half,

Starting point is 00:05:33 we had an opportunity to be in that ballgame. There's no reason that game couldn't have been a 7-7 game at the half. If we take some chances, I would much rather see us take some chances and get blown out than do what we did on Saturday, which is play not to lose, and then you get blown out anyway. So one thing I mentioned this week is the old four wheel for Kirk Ferentz. Hang around, make a play. It's broken.

Starting point is 00:05:57 It's broken for a couple of reasons. A, these top level teams are even better than they've been in the past. I mean, you look at this loaded Ohio State roster, you look at Michigan, they just won a national championship. These teams are a little bit different. I think their highest upside is even higher than it was before in some of these games. And on top of it, you mentioned playmakers and making plays and those kinds of things. Go back to those games and look at how they were able to beat those teams.

Starting point is 00:06:22 Yes, it was elite defense. Yes, it was good special teams. But you also had playmakers. You had Akron Wadley that could beat Michigan and do those kind of things. You know, the 55-24, that is a great anomaly. That was one of one. Everything else is, over the last 15 years, hanging around, hanging around. But then it got to the point.

Starting point is 00:06:40 They had Fant. They had Hawkinson. I mean, that team had talent. Right. I mean, we couldn't score 55 points if we played Ohio State for 16 quarters. That gap continues to grow, but the unwillingness to change, the inability to see that, maybe that's even more frustrating. You get it.

Starting point is 00:06:58 As people get older, they become more conservative. They believe in their values and their ideas even more, be it a football coach or any other walk of life. That's just the reality of the situation. But Rick Ferris is a smart football guy. How can he not see that this doesn't work anymore? And we have, what, let it get up to 127 to nothing in those games against right teams here recently. It's just, it's unbelievable to me that Coach Ferencz can't see that. Well, and the flip side of that, Trent, is I think good teams, the book is out on how to beat Iowa.

Starting point is 00:07:32 If you're a really good team, what you've seen, basically going back to that Michigan game three years ago, is just stay patient. I mean, all you've got to do – I mean, we're going to keep everything in front of us, but if you've got the talent that the Michigans or Tennessees or Ohio States have, you can nickel and dime us to death. And if you don't shoot yourself in the foot, if you don't commit penalties,

Starting point is 00:07:54 if you don't turn the ball over, you're going to beat us. And you're going to beat us slowly, methodically. I mean, Ohio State couldn't have been any more conservative that first half. They were going to not shoot themselves in the foot. Once they got up 14-0, they opened the playbook up and got a little more aggressive. That's how Michigan did it. That's even how Tennessee did it last year. Be patient. Be methodical. Take your 14-15 play drive. Like I said, we're a good defense,

Starting point is 00:08:23 but we're not an elite defense right now. And, you know, with the NIL era, we're probably never going to have a truly elite defense again. I mean, we're always going to be schemed well. We're always going to have, you know, we're always going to play smart football on defense, but we're never going to have absolute elite talent. And so I just think the book's out right now where good teams now understand

Starting point is 00:08:44 how to beat us because if they don't beat themselves, we're not going to win. That's taking it a step further from that. Something I've been saying now going back since last year is he mentioned the formula. And the formula also, I think a part of it is teams taking what they can. And if you're just more talented, eventually going to do it. But also understanding how bad this Iowa offense has become, they're not going to be able to beat you. Like you said, don't make those mistakes because, and if it turns out we have to punt the football, that's fine. Don't make the big mistake. And I think you're seeing teams become

Starting point is 00:09:17 more, less aggressive, do less of those things that Iowa can get the scoop and score can get the pick six can get that big turnover because they know that Iowa offense is doing absolutely nothing. So it's pretty simple, right? You need to get a playmaker at quarterback. You need to get more playmakers and easier said than done. Caleb Johnson is a fine running back. They have that, but it comes down to quarterback. There is no C.J. Beathard walking through that door. There's not even a Nate Stanley in that locker room right now. And because of that, I just think we're going to see more of the same when we take on these top-level teams. Well, fortunately, Trent, let's turn the page, I guess. The good news is we don't have to play any of those top teams the rest of the year.

Starting point is 00:09:53 Yep. We've got an opportunity here, and we'll talk about that coming up. But, I mean, you know, I still don't want to be all doom and gloom because I still think this team, you know, there's been some positives to this team. I'm still a big fan of Tim Lester. I think he is a significant upgrade over last year, and I think this team has a chance to still make this a decent year, but it's been, you know, up to this point, you know, the Iowa State game, the first half of the Minnesota game, the second quarter of the Minnesota game, I mean, there's just

Starting point is 00:10:23 been a lot of frustration. We need to come out and be really fun to see a clean, well-played four quarters of football. We just haven't seen that yet this year. And that's a recipe for losses. And it's going to continue to be a recipe for losses if we don't clean it up. No doubt. Well, we'll continue here.

Starting point is 00:10:42 We'll talk a little bit about the Washington Huskies. We'll take a look at them. And Step Boy makes his triumphant return. We'll do that as we continue Locked on Hawkeyes. Today's episode of the Locked on Hawkeyes podcast is brought to you by Z Biotics. Z Biotics pre-alcohol probiotic drink is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Here's how it works. When you drink, alcohol gets converted into a toxic byproduct in the gut.

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Starting point is 00:13:00 Over under sitting at 41. And a whole host of props available for you on the FanDuel Sportsbook app. Once again, $200 in bonus bets guaranteed when you place your first $5 bet at FanDuel. That's FanDuel.com. Trenton Biz back with you once again here on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. Thanks for making Lockdown Hawkeyes your first listen every day. All right, Biz. That was very educational, Trent.

Starting point is 00:13:29 I got to go get me some Z-Biotics. Yes, you do. I think both of us definitely need a little bit of that. 20 years ago, I probably should have went and got myself some Z-Biotics. Now I don't have to do it anymore. Well, let's get into Stat Boy. You made the call to the bat signal. You sent it out.

Starting point is 00:13:45 We need a little information. So what did Step Boy unearth this week? Well, as you know, we're playing a new team. When this type of new info comes up and you need some good nuggets to share with the masses, who do you go to, Trent? It's Step Boy. There's one person. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:14:01 with the masses. Who do you go to, Trent? It's Statboy. There's one person. And, you know, back by popular demand, I think this was actually back by singular request, wasn't it? Didn't you have one person request Statboy? Oh, there's been a few more. Social media, I get people, is Statboy still around? What's going on?

Starting point is 00:14:18 Did you guys get in a fight? The answer to that is no. He's alive and kicking. He's back. So, return to the Statboy. He's alive and kicking. Yes. And he's back. So return to the stat, boy. As always, Trent, when we have some new info to provide, we've got to hop in the old time machine and go back and let's talk about the legendary Iowa-Washington rivalry. So in the spirit of Major League Baseball playoffs

Starting point is 00:14:44 and how amazing the playoffs have been so far, this will be the take-it-all Game 7 of the Iowa-Washington rivalry. They've played six times in the past. Washington has won three. We've won three. So Saturday is winner-take-all Game 7. So let's talk about the six games in the past. I don't know if you've seen.

Starting point is 00:15:07 There's been a couple articles out this week. But game one was way back in 1937. It was famous for it was the very first varsity game ever played by who? Niall Kinnick. Niall Kinnick, exactly. So other than being famous for that, not much to report good from the Hawkeye side. Lost 14-0. Same old Iowa offense in that game.

Starting point is 00:15:30 We had less than 100 yards, four for 14, three interceptions. So some things never change. But Statboy did find an old newspaper. And the great thing about newspapers back in 1937, they didn't take the effort to actually write an article. They just put a straight up play-by-play in the paper. We won't bore everybody with the play-by-play, but the very first play of the game was indicative of how bad Iowa must have been as a team.

Starting point is 00:15:59 Here's the description of play one. Iowa won the toss and chose to defend the East end zone. Captain Homer Harris, which is a great 1937 name. Captain Homer Harris kicked off to the 29-yard line. And then the description ends with, it was a poor kick.

Starting point is 00:16:18 That's it. A little editorial there. It was a poor kick by Homer. Things went downhill from there. They lose 14 to nothing. So Washington wins game one. We then take a 26-year hiatus and decide in 1963 to head back out to Seattle and play again. The return trip.

Starting point is 00:16:38 A more favorable result for the Hawks this time. We win 17 to 7 against a good Washington team. 17-7 against a good Washington team. First touchdown of the game was scored by Paul Kraus, who later went on to build a fine family plaza,

Starting point is 00:16:54 as we all know, the lovely Kraus family plaza. Once again, offense not great. 6-19 passing. Also, special teams were not as good back then either. We punted eight times for a 26-19 passing. Also, special teams were not as good than either. We punted 8 times for a 26-yard average. Not good.

Starting point is 00:17:10 That team went on to go 3-3-2. Safe to say that'll never happen again. I believe we were 6-4-3. Maybe 88 or whatever. 3-3-2 is not easy to do.

Starting point is 00:17:25 We pulled it off in 1963. My question for you on that game, Trent, you should know this. Who was the Iowa football coach in 1963? Was it Jerry Burns? It was Jerry Burns. Good job. The next year, this is a home-and-home series. We get Washington for the first time ever in Kinnick in 1964. Washington's ranked number 10, and we whoop them, 28-18. So things are looking up for the Jerry Burns at that point.

Starting point is 00:17:55 We start the year 3-0, and then the wheels fall off. Oh, no. We go 3-6, and that is literally the beginning of the end for Iowa football. From starting 3-0 in 1964 to the time that Hayden arrives in 1980. You want to know an amazing stat, Trent? What do you got? We were never above 500. I heard about what it was, 17 consecutive years. Never! 17 consecutive years. Never.

Starting point is 00:18:27 17 consecutive years without a winning season. And I know it is not a winning start. We played some really good teams to start the years back then. This was not, you know, nowadays you get, you know, your Illinois State and there's a start. We didn't have those starts back then. So, yeah, that was the beginning of the end. Jerry Burns lasted a couple more years. He got canned.

Starting point is 00:18:44 Then we went through a laughable period of bad coaching. So, yeah, that win was the high point of the 60s, basically, for Iowa. We beat number 10, Washington, and then the wheels fell off. So we're up 2-1 now. The next two games, both neutral site games, both Rose Bowls, both not good. So first Rose Bowl, 1982 Rose Bowl. This is kind of the opposite end of where we were in 1964. Hayden has now come, made us into a respectable team again.

Starting point is 00:19:21 We go to that Rose Bowl. What happens? 28-0. 28-0. Who was the freshman star for Washington? Do you remember his name? Freshman star, Washington. I don't. If the name doesn't pop up right away, you're not going to remember it. Freshman running back, Jacques Robinson. Oh, no. Yeah, no. I was, I think, six at the time.

Starting point is 00:19:42 I slightly remember getting whooped in that game. That name, Jack Robinson, stuck in my head forever because he was a freshman, and I remember thinking he was going to be the next amazing running back. He was not. But looking at the – Stat Boy found some paper info on this one. And, you know, Hayden was never one to mince words on how things went. So Hayden's quotes on how the game went, that was a good old-fashioned rump kicking.

Starting point is 00:20:07 It was very embarrassing. So he didn't mince words about how bad the Hawks played that day. Here's your quiz question for that game. Who was the Iowa starting quarterback in that Rose Bowl? In the Rose Bowl, was it Pulaski? No. I'll give you a hint. His son.

Starting point is 00:20:29 Oh, Gordy. There we go. Good old Gordy Bohannon started. He got pulled for Pete Gales halfway through the game. Pete Gales. Neither Gordy or Pete had much success. Yeah. Offense was, again, some things never change.

Starting point is 00:20:41 Offense was inept. I evened it up at 2-2. Nine years later, same location, 1991 Rose Bowl. Once again, the Hawks unfortunately laying an egg in the Rose Bowl. 46-34 Washington. That score really is an indicative of how bad the game was for the Hawks. Down 33-7. First half was a comedy of errors.

Starting point is 00:21:04 Had a blocked punt return for a touchdown. Five turnovers. Just not good football. That Iowa team will always be near and dear to my heart. I was 14 years old. That was one of the first Iowa teams I really remember truly absolutely loving. Matt Rogers, the running back duo of 91 had Ben Mike Saunders. He was there, but he was not the duo. They had two running

Starting point is 00:21:30 backs that both ran for over 800 yards that year. One's probably my favorite running back of all time. Owen Gill? No. No. Good Lord, Trent. This is embarrassing. What do you got? You should know these two. Yeah, I know. Nick Bell and Tony Stewart. Oh, of course. Yeah, Tony Stewart I should Yeah, I know. Nick Bell and Tony Stewart. Oh, of course.

Starting point is 00:21:46 Yeah, Tony Stewart I should have got for sure. Nick Bell and Tony Stewart. I love Nick Bell. I told you, I'm not at the top of my game. I've had a trying morning this morning. Our good friend Lloyd really loved Nick Bell. Oh, I bet. He loved Nick Bell so much that when Nick Bell left, the next 43 was Cliff King, and he was a big Cliff King fan also

Starting point is 00:22:02 until he realized that Cliff King was not Nick Bell. Yeah, debacle of a game, but your quiz question from that game, Washington played two quarterbacks in that game. Name them. Mark Brunel. Mark Brunel was the starter. He played most of the game. His backup had one of the better names in 1990s football.

Starting point is 00:22:25 And he ended up being a good quarterback as well. Oh, boy. I got nothing on that one. Billy Joe Hobert. Oh, nice. Billy Joe Hobert. That's a great name. Yes.

Starting point is 00:22:37 He ended up being a decent quarterback as well. So the Hawks are down three games to two. We even it up in the legendary 1995 Sun Bowl. Yes. Sun Bowl win, 38-18. This was Washington's turn to implode. They were awful. Four turnovers, punt snap out the back of the end zone.

Starting point is 00:22:58 How awful were they? Here's the start of the game. I found if you Google Iowa 1995 Sun Bowl, you can actually find the Sun Bowl has a very detailed, like 15-page summary of the game that includes a play-by-play. And the play-by-play shows that the game started with a three and out by Iowa. Washington then fumbles the punt return. We recover. Next play, 58-yard touchdown by Cedric Shaw. Washington gets the ball. First play, fumbles. We get a field goal.

Starting point is 00:23:28 Iowa kicks off. Washington fumbles again. I'm not sure Washington was ready to play that game. We cruise to a 38-6 lead. They put up called meaningless touchdowns. Here's your quiz question for this one, Trent. Iowa had two kickers combined for five field goals in that game. Who were

Starting point is 00:23:48 the two kickers? Brian Hurley. Brian Hurley was the long kicker. He kicked 47, 49, 50. And the short kicker was the little walk-on, Zach Brown. Rudy. Good old Rudy. 33 and 34-yard field

Starting point is 00:24:04 goals. So, a quality day for Iowa field goal kicking. Five field goals by two different kickers. So, yeah, there it is. There's your stat boy summary. We're tied 3-3. So that really cranks up the importance. You know, when you get a game seven in Kinnick, you've got to put them away.

Starting point is 00:24:22 So game seven on Saturday. Let's finish this series. Stap Foy, very drunkenly one night back in college, he came up to me before it was the Yankees-Diamondbacks game seven. And he said, TC, we just got to sit down. We got to watch every pitch. Game seven, pure baseball. And for the rest of the night, he'd just come up to me and repeat,

Starting point is 00:24:44 pure baseball. So what I'm thinking here, we're getting pure baseball. And for the rest of the night, he'd just come up to me and repeat, pure baseball. So what I'm thinking here, we're getting pure football. That's going to be game seven tomorrow in Kinnick Stadium. I will say, for the first time in a decade, I watched from pitch one to the end of the game a couple times for the playoff games. There's been some fun playoffs and fun to have the Mets involved. The pitch clock is the greatest invention of all time.

Starting point is 00:25:06 It makes baseball watchable again. I mean, there's games, you know, there's just a speed to the big games that were not there. You're never going to have another Yankees, Red Sox, four and a half hour playoff debacle. So, yeah. So, pure baseball. Let's see some pure football on Saturday.

Starting point is 00:25:22 Pure football. We'll finish up here on the other side. We've got our picks of the week. As we continue, this is Locked on Hawkeyes. Today's episode of Locked on Hawkeyes is brought to you by Robinhood. With Robinhood Gold, you don't need a silver spoon to eat up the financial favors of the 1%. Robinhood Gold allows others to get the rates and perks usually reserved for the high society. Now the resourceful individual with

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Starting point is 00:26:33 is offered by Robinhood Gold LLC. Back with you one final time on the Lockdown Hawkeyes podcast. I'm Trent. He's Biz and it is time to make some picks. And you want to gloat a little bit more about your Mets, Biz? I do. I do. Yeah. As a Mets fan, I've spent 47 years assuming the worst, and it's been really fun to have a lot of positive things happen the last two weeks.

Starting point is 00:27:01 They have found ways to win games in some really dramatic fashion. And obviously that happened back in 1986. But since 1986, that's happened very few times. So at this point, I don't think they're a championship team. I don't think they can win the World Series. But at this point, they're playing with house money. You have a dramatic win against the Braves. You knock off the Phillies.

Starting point is 00:27:26 You've done everything you can at this point. Let's hope the magic continues, but if it doesn't, it's been a hell of a run. As a Mets fan, that only happens once every decade at most. I've enjoyed it. So I see Steve Cohen partying with the fans, having a great time. He's invested in the team. A lot of those investments outside of Lindor have not exactly gone swimmingly, but he cares. And as a Twins fan, and the news yesterday that the Polads are going to be selling the team,

Starting point is 00:27:53 I hope the Twins can get their Steve Cohen, a guy that's actually going to invest in the team. That would be nice. Well, and I know everybody talks about Steve Cohen being a multi-billionaire, which he is. But what I've loved about Steve Cohen is, as a Mets fan, it's sickened me for years how they've tried to keep up with the Yankees and do these quick fixes and buy the Bobby Bonillas of the world

Starting point is 00:28:13 and people like that. Cohen hasn't done that. Has he made some decisions that haven't worked? Yeah, but he hasn't you know, I was very happy this year that they didn't do anything dumb and go trade away their future to try to win this year. They made a couple smart moves and brought in a couple relievers and things like that, but they're playing for the long term.

Starting point is 00:28:33 Honestly, this is a year, maybe even two years ahead of schedule. I think they were looking at 2025, 2026 as the years. I don't think they're going to sign Pete Alonzo, and that is fine with me. I think the Mets absolutely got the best out of Pete Alonzo. I don't see Pete Alonzo getting better the next few years. So if they sign him, it's more as a sentimental pick than anything. But I don't think they'll sign him, and I think they'll continue to focus on young development,

Starting point is 00:29:02 and it's refreshing to see that. So, yes, he's got the money, but he's also got the brains to realize that you can't just go buy a baseball team. You've got to develop a team, and they've done that. So it's been 20 years since that's happened, and it's been fun to see the Mets actually develop and have a farm system and do things the right way. All right, let's wrap up here, Biz, with our pick of the week presented by FanDuel Sportsbook. And I don't remember what we even did in our first week of doing this.

Starting point is 00:29:32 Do you remember? We just randomly picked the Hawks game was all. And I think it was at Minnesota. And I think I picked Iowa to win and you picked the Gophers. So I did. You're ahead. You got the lead. All right.

Starting point is 00:29:43 Iowa currently a two and ahalf point favorite against Washington. Maybe it's old habits die hard, but I believe that this Iowa team, Kirk Ferentz's greatest quality is what he does in this situation. He's kind of back against the wall. Nobody believes in us. And because of that, I'll lay it here and I'll take the Hawkeyes. Yeah, this is an easy one. I mean, I'm not saying it's easy that Iowa's going to win,

Starting point is 00:30:03 but it's easy. I mean, based on past performance, this is easy to better the Hawks. I mean, like you just said, as much as Kurt France frustrates you, nobody does better in these types of games. And so, yeah, if you're looking at past performance and you just look at a big picture of it, you've got to bet Iowa here. We've always done well in these situations, and I think we'll do well again.

Starting point is 00:30:25 So give me the Hawks. I had one game that I had circled this week. Maybe you can help me out. It seems like the trap of all traps. Cal coming off that devastating loss, collapsing late against Miami, now has to go back across the country to Pittsburgh, who's undefeated, and Pitt, 5-0, is only laying a field goal. Something seems way, way off with this one.

Starting point is 00:30:47 I thought Pitt would be good. You're taking Cal, right? Well, I mean, it kind of tells you, right? Because I often figure. You've got to take Cal, I think, Trent. I can't wrap my mind around how this is only a three-point spread. That was the most baffling line of the week to me. So what are you picking?

Starting point is 00:31:04 Give me Cal. You know how I bet. You've got to pick Cal. I know. That one was probably the most difficult to wrap my mind around. You got anything circled this week? Well, for that game, I think Cal's that team this year that every game is going to be chaos. I think every game is going to come down to that. My pick, Trent, is simple. Give me Iowa State. And I'm doing it for two reasons. One, because I think Iowa State's going to win.

Starting point is 00:31:33 But second, I really, really hope this is the kiss of death for Iowa State. Because if you look at that Iowa State cycle, that schedule, if they win this week, they're going to be 10-0. And this has a feel – and I hate to say this, and it makes me sick to even talk about this, but this has the same feel as Iowa's 2015 season, where do I think Iowa State's a great team? No, but they have a favorable schedule, and they're taking advantage of that favorable schedule, and they're getting more confidence as the year goes on. You know, remember that 2015 year, we went to Wisconsin, pulled out an ugly victory. Same thing Iowa State did at Iowa.

Starting point is 00:32:08 Went to Iowa, pulled out an ugly victory. And then midway through the year, do you remember, Iowa went to Northwestern. Surging Northwestern that was actually ranked at the time. And I remember, I think we were 6-0 at the time. I remember everybody kind of thinking, well, this is kind of where the luck runs out. And we went there and stomped them.

Starting point is 00:32:25 Yeah. And from that point on, we just kind of thinking, boy, this is kind of where the luck runs out. And we went there and stomped them. Yeah. And from that point on, we just kind of got that confidence, and it was kind of a season of destiny, and we went 12-0. This feels really similar for Iowa State. God, I hope it's not. It makes me sick. But you watch the Big 12. The Big 12 is awful.

Starting point is 00:32:41 Last week, Baylor, I mean, got up 14-3 and then just decided, let's find every possible way we can to lose this game. The teams are so ridiculously undisciplined. Houston was like watching an NAIA team. I mean, and Matt Campbell is smart enough. Houston is a perfect example. He did to Houston what Ohio State does to Iowa, which is basically say,

Starting point is 00:33:05 we'll wait out. Eventually, you'll screw up and we're a better team than you. They did against Houston. He knew it. The score's 3-0 in the middle of the third quarter, but they were never any risk of losing that game because Campbell's a smart coach and he knows that these teams will make stupid mistakes. West Virginia's a perfect example

Starting point is 00:33:22 of that. They'll beat themselves in the foot. I think Iowa State goes in and stomps them. I think they win by double digits and I hope everything I just said is wrong. Me too. I hope they go shit the bed and you know they lose and I can laugh and say I was the kiss of death. So I think they're going to go there one day. I think Iowa State's I mean I don't want to sound like sour grapes. I said the Big 12 is awful, but Iowa State's good. And they're good and they're getting better. They're building confidence.

Starting point is 00:33:51 And are they 12-0 good? I don't think so. But looking at that schedule, they can be 12-0 good. I mean, they've got to beat the teams in front of them, and they've done it so far. And I think they go into Morgantown and just dominate that game. I think they're a significantly better team and way more disciplined than West Virginia. Yeah, that West Virginia squad can't stop the pass at all.

Starting point is 00:34:12 I mean, this is going to be, and with those two wide receivers, they're going to have a big, big day. I think West Virginia is going to run the football, but that's going to be it. And if that happens, you're right. Central Florida after that, Texas Tech, Kansas, Cincinnati, before their final two against Utah and K-State. Well, Biz, you live in eastern Iowa, so you don't have to deal with as many Cyclone fans as I do here in central Iowa.

Starting point is 00:34:32 Well, hopefully I just provided you with a kiss of death right there. Everything I said, I believe. I think Iowa State wins big. I think they're possibly the best team in the Big 12. I think they're probably a playoff team. But, God, I hope all that's wrong. Let's hope I jinxed them. So go Nears.

Starting point is 00:34:51 Well, Biz, you got to go paddleboard. So we're going to let you go. I got to go get ready for work. I have a question for you. Does Des Moines schools do a fall break? Some of them do, yes. Our kids don't have school Friday, Monday, or Tuesday. So Tara's actually off today, my wife.

Starting point is 00:35:09 Yeah, Jack, well, he doesn't go to school on Fridays. Ella has school, but they have a field trip today. But yeah, there's a couple of schools, including a public one. We have a five-day weekend for our kids. So it's supposed to be 90 today, so we're going to get out on the water and go out and celebrate global warming. We should definitely be out on the water swimming in mid-October.

Starting point is 00:35:30 That seems natural. A little bit different than growing up, isn't it? With that, Biz, we're out of time. Have a great weekend. Unfortunately, I will not be in Kinnick Stadium this weekend as my wife is working this weekend. Jack's got soccer, so five-year-old soccer takes precedent over Iowa football.

Starting point is 00:35:46 Ella's not old enough to watch her kids yet. We're getting close. We're getting close. We'll get there soon. If this was the early 80s and the old 80s, we'd all be home. Good lord, Trent. We also would be playing soccer. Yeah, exactly. Toughen

Starting point is 00:36:02 your kids up. You'll be fine. We'll see you at Kinnick. All right, Vince. We'll talk to you later. All right. Yeah, exactly. Toughen your kids up. You'll be fine. We'll see you at Kidding. All right, Vince. We'll talk to you later. All right. Go Hawks.

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