For the Sake of Iowa Football, Abolish Big Ten Divisions

For years, because the convention’s West division champion routinely walked into Indianapolis in early December, returning house with nothing greater than an additional recreation on its schedule and a giant fats L, I remained steadfast that the Large Ten’s present alignment was not as lopsided because it appeared.

I believed the East division’s high alignment complainers, Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State, have been simply crying as a result of they occurred to be in the identical division because the dominant Buckeyes. And because the East/West break up that perception has some benefit. It isn’t just like the three have routinely knocked off Ohio State on their strategy to Large Ten glory (since 2014 the Buckeyes have gained the division 5 occasions, whereas the Nittany Lions, Spartans, Wolverines have one title every).

Nicely, girls and gentleman, given how final season ended and seeing the present soccer state of affairs in Iowa Metropolis and past, I believe it’s nearly that point.

The Large Ten must scrap divisions for the higher well being of the convention, however extra importantly for the higher well being of Iowa soccer.

Because the groups out East get stronger (particularly Michigan, who’s seemingly virtually at Ohio State’s degree now) it’s apparent the league as a complete would profit with some kind of round-robin format pitting the 2 finest Large Ten groups in opposition to one another in Nap City. And In the event you’re not sure I counsel you watch the Illinois-Michigan State recreation from this previous weekend.

The Illini, who so far have been operating away with the Large Ten West, laid an egg at house in opposition to a massively shorthanded, embattled, and final place Spartans group in a 23-15 loss that in all probability ought to’ve been worse had MSU head coach Mel Tucker not had his head sewn to the sphere turf throughout the last two minutes of the fourth quarter.

Even worse, by the point December third rolls round Illinois could have losses to perennial convention doormat Indiana and certain the highest four-ranked Wolverines who they meet in Ann Arbor subsequent week. If the Illini one way or the other blow this factor, the West division shall be represented by both Iowa (loss to Michigan and blowout loss to Ohio State), Wisconsin (loss to Michigan State and blowout loss to Ohio State), Minnesota (blowout loss to Penn State), or Purdue (loss to Penn State).

Within the meantime both the Buckeyes or Wolverines will lose out on a journey to Indy with a possible 11-1 report.

I’ll admit nevertheless that I don’t actually care an excessive amount of that convention realignment will assist the league as a complete. I hate each Large Ten member faculty not named Iowa to the purpose that when bowl season comes round I would like all of them to lose by 50. To see Michigan or Ohio State get screwed in any manner makes me completely satisfied so I am not going to die on this hill for the convention’s sake.

The extra impactful end result for abolishing the unbalanced East/West alignment helps enhance Iowa soccer.

Eradicating divisions would pressure Kirk Ferentz to compete yearly with all 13 of his convention counterparts. Immediately competing with the Buckeyes, Wolverines, Spartans, and Nittany Lions would put extra strain on Ferentz to evolve his program whether or not by teaching modifications, overhauling the offense fully, recruiting higher athletes, or all the above after which some.

Ask your self, as a present member of the Large Ten West who’s Iowa aiming to be higher than yr out and in — Illinois or Ohio State? The Illini, who lastly have their act collectively for the primary time because the days of Ron Zook, are a yearly fixture on the Hawkeyes’ schedule whereas the Buckeyes have performed Iowa simply twice since 2013. 

Is that this program extra about being higher than Minnesota, who hilariously haven’t gained even a slice of a convention crown since 1967 or Michigan, the defending Large Ten Champion, who seems to be to be on its strategy to one other potential title and CFP berth? Iowa performs the Gophers yearly for Floyd of Rosedale whereas the Wolverines and Hawkeyes have tangled simply thrice within the common season since 2014.

The reply is obvious: Ferentz’s program is being constructed to be simply ok to beat its mediocre divisional counterparts however not Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State. It is evident by way of the product on the sphere in addition to by his unwillingness to evolve with the remainder of main school soccer.

To be honest, Iowa has owned every of its yearly West rivals not named Wisconsin just about because the East/West break up. However as for the Ohio States and Michigans of the convention? Sure, the Hawkeyes have overwhelmed every inside the previous seven years however within the grand scheme of issues these victories meant virtually nothing aside from a enjoyable night time to recollect and a YouTube clip I can ceaselessly watch.

Since 2014 the Hawkeye commonplace has been: Win the Large Ten West and no matter occurs in Indianapolis occurs.

Did Iowa win the Large Ten in 2015? No, however at the very least they gained the West.

Did the Hawkeyes win the convention crown final season? They weren’t even near successful the title recreation, however hey there is a Brothers in Indy!

It’s this mentality and low bar that’s serving to maintain again the Hawkeye program from successful issues that really matter on a nationwide degree. 

In the event you’re nonetheless not satisfied, see the 2021 Large Ten Championship Sport or the Michigan and Ohio State video games this yr as a result of they have been enjoyable and in no way massively miserable. 

Simply consider a world proper now the place the 5-4 Hawkeyes are at present residing in a tie for fifth place within the convention standings, three video games out and already eradicated from a title recreation spot. They’d be enjoying out the string on a really disappointing marketing campaign which may result in some massive modifications within the offseason.

As a substitute, Iowa really has a considerably reasonable shot at reaching Indianapolis getting into the season’s last three weeks due to the comedy of errors that’s the Large Ten West.

It’s ridiculous and it’s hurting Iowa soccer

As a result of if the Hawkeyes one way or the other repeat as division champions it is going to be held up by the Ferentzes as progress. As a motive that regardless of the father-son duo is doing is one way or the other “working.” And as a motive to not make the required modifications on offense this offseason. A motive to not evolve into the twenty first century like most big-time school soccer applications would.

I can simply see Papa Ferentz’s quotes following a number of 6-3 and/or 9-6 defeats subsequent season:

• ”I don’t know in case you understand this however we gained our division final yr. . .”
• “Nicely, we did attain the championship recreation final season”
• “Nicely, final yr appeared to be a reasonably profitable season and I make greater than you peasant journalists anyhow, so. . .”

OK, that final one may solely be partially correct however the sentiment stays: Reaching Indianapolis, regardless that the Hawkeyes’ offense stays one of many nation’s worst items (see the ultimate 27+ minutes of the second half at Purdue), shall be held up as some kind of grand achievement when it actually means nothing greater than one other blowout loss on a nationwide stage and a hangover that simply gained’t stop the morning after on the lengthy trek heading west on I-74.

Proper now it looks like there are two fully completely different Large Ten conferences. One is competing for nationwide titles and one other is competing for a participation trophy in early December.

To ensure that Hawkeye soccer to compete with the massive boys, the Large Ten must abolish the divisions now.