Iowa Football: Hawkeye Fans Dislike Brian Ferentz More than they Like Winning

It’s been a wild journey of a season for Iowa Hawkeye followers. After anticipating this group of Hawkeyes to push for a West division title however fall simply quick, fan sentiment has drifted meaningfully all year long. That may occur when your staff drops three straight within the month of October and dips under .500 on the season.

At that time, issues appeared misplaced for this season and Iowa followers had been extra excited by deciding who was in charge (and who needs to be fired), than really watching the nation’s worst offense. Then got here back-to-back wins in opposition to Northwestern and Purdue because the Iowa offense appeared to seek out its footing a bit.

And now the Hawkeyes discover themselves in a 4-way tie for second place within the West with an actual chance at reaching all of the targets set out for them firstly of the season. It might nonetheless take some luck, however three straight wins to shut out the season, paired with two losses in Illinois’ matchups in opposition to Purdue, Michigan and Northwestern and Iowa can be your 8-4 Massive Ten West champions.

However such a run would absolutely include enhancements from the offense and lots of “I instructed you so”s from head coach Kirk Ferentz. It might seemingly not include significant adjustments to Iowa’s offensive philosophy or employees this offseason. And that’s not what Hawkeye followers need to hear.

On this week’s Reacts ballot, we requested if Iowa followers would relatively see the Hawkeyes again in Indianapolis for a second straight 12 months or see adjustments to the employees this offseason. Considerably surprisingly, 60% of Hawkeye followers would relatively see offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz fired this offseason than win a second straight Massive Ten West crown.

It’s an fascinating quagmire made extra fascinating by the potential rematches that exist within the title sport. Ohio State took Iowa’s lunch cash within the horseshoe, however admittedly did so as a result of the Hawkeye offense appeared as misplaced as they’ve in years with six turnovers. Michigan, in the meantime, was not less than aggressive within the fourth quarter regardless of an abysmal day of manufacturing by means of three quarters from the Iowa O. Neither matchup is especially interesting after the Wolverines obliterated Iowa within the Massive Ten Championship Sport final 12 months.

However a West title is a West title and a second straight for the Hawkeyes would put Iowa in a brief checklist of reigning division champions within the Massive Ten whereas additionally making certain former Hawkeye Bret Bielema doesn’t put one other feather in his cap early in his tenure at Illinois.

Nevertheless, Hawkeye followers predict simply that as 74% of respondents are selecting Illinois to win the West.

Apparently, Hawkeye followers really feel finest about Iowa’s probabilities to win the West from amongst that group of groups sitting behind the Illini with Iowa getting 18% of the vote. That’s fairly a bit greater than both Wisconsin or Minnesota. The Illini beat all three groups to get thus far, however after stumbling at house to a not nice Michigan State staff every week in the past, the door has been opened.

What’s not clear from the polls is whether or not Hawkeye followers have extra religion within the Illini profitable two of their last three or simply much less religion that anybody else can win the wanted video games to take the throne. We as soon as once more requested followers what number of video games they anticipate the Hawkeyes to win on the 12 months and whereas the quantity is climbing, greater than 70% of respondents anticipate Iowa to lose not less than yet another sport, that means the outcomes for Illinois are irrelevant.

Regardless of the pessimism in regards to the general consequence the remainder of the way in which, Iowa followers appear comparatively optimistic about this week’s matchup. Regardless of the Badgers profitable 4 of the final 5 conferences inside Kinnick Stadium, practically 60% of Iowa followers are calling for an Iowa win on Saturday.

Notably, each Iowa and Wisconsin can have an honest thought of their destiny earlier than they kick off at 2:30. The Illini host Purdue at 11am with a win that means the winner of Iowa-Wisconsin would wish Illinois to lose their season finale in opposition to Northwestern to maintain the door open.

Whatever the consequence, being ready for an additional again door journey to Indianapolis in mid-November is significantly better than the place Iowa followers anticipated to be a couple of quick weeks in the past.