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Talent level Big 10 West

80s would have been a dandy of a series with the majority of the games true toss ups. 90s tilt HEAVILY toward Nebraska. The 90 and 91 Iowa teams were better in my opinion, but from 92-99...Nebraska was way, way better (92 and 97 would probably be good games with Nebraska likely winning - 92 Iowa was a tough out until little Hartlieb got hurt, 97 same thing - a tough out until injuries mounted - specifically Banks) In the 90s a couple of these hypothetical match-ups would hypothetically be really long days for Iowa.
part of the problem in the 90's was other schools started to hire Fry staff. coaches like Bill Snyder, Barry Alvarez. plus Fry's health was starting to go down hill, so he started to hire younger coaches to replace his long Time assistants to build a coaching staff around Bob Elliots who Fry was grooming to take his place.

Bob had a illness that prevented that from happening

the boosters and fans wanted Bob Stoops to take over but the AD Bowlsby wanted a yes man, and never offered Stoops and as most thought that Stoops would have taken the job as Iowa was his Alma Matter as he played under Hayden

so KF was picked and in 3 years Iowa was playing a bowl game then in year 4 they went 8-0 BT and a BT Championship. then in 2004 they won their 2nd BT Championship @7-1
 
Noticed you didn’t mention the 1970’s:rolleyes: Iowa would have lost 9 out 10 easily... 83, 84 and 89 NU.
85,86,88 Iowa.. 87 tossup..
I already said that the 60's AND 70's were the worst years in Iowa's history, besides every BT padded their win total against Iowa. in fact Purdue went 22 years with out losing to Iowa.
 
to get back to recruitings, to some the star rankings is the end all to showing how good they are.
to others its all about recruiting players that fit into their schemes. this is what Kirk does and does it quite well. all you have to do is look at where kids were rankec and how/where they are/were now.
CB Jackson was a 2* he only started one season his JR year and left as a 1st Team AA and a 2nd round pick
MLB Jewell was a 2* starting the last 2 games of his RSFR season then was a 3 year full time starter, left as a 1st Team AA now starting for the Denver Bronco's
OLB Niemann was a 2* and started as a True SO now is playing for the KC Chiefs
SS Bob Sanders was a 2* was a 3 time 1st Team all BT retired from the Colts
LB Greenway was a 2* retired from the Vikings and was their Franchise player.

there are others but my point is clear. its not always about what a player is ranked as it is more about how they are used and develop
TE Fant was just a 3* and is going Pro after his True JR year
TE Hockenson was just a 2* and is a 1st Team AA and is a major prospect to go Pro after his RSSO season.

All that development and still only average 7.5 wins per year over 20 years. While Nebraska, going through two of the worst coaching hires in it's history, averaged 8.3 wins per year over the same stretch.
 
All that development and still only average 7.5 wins per year over 20 years. While Nebraska, going through two of the worst coaching hires in it's history, averaged 8.3 wins per year over the same stretch.
the problem was quality/developed depth, even Fry said his starters can play with any one in the country. BUT if/when injuries occur and they start relying on backup to play starter minutes that's where Iowa stops being competitive.

even under Ferentz his starters can and did compete with the best in the country
but like under Fry injuries took their toll and undeveloped players were forced into the starting lineup.
in 2013 Brian and Davis the depth problem was addressed. also they are now getting OL and DL that don't need 50-60 lbs to be ready to play for example
Wirfs came in at 6'5 315 lbs and now weighs 325 lbs
Jackson came in @ 6'7 310 lbs and now weighes 325 lbs
RSFR Kallrenberg came in at 6'6 270 lbs and now weighs 295 lbs
in the 2019 class
Miller comes in @ 6'6 310 lbs
Endres comes in at 6'6 307 lbs
and both are 4*'s by 247 and ESPN.
on the DL these will join the team after RS'ing
RSSO Dixon 6'3 310 lbs
RSFR Shannon 6'1 305 lbs
RSFR Linderbaum 6'2 295 lbs

RSFR Waggoner 6'6 242 lbs as a DE
they are getting bigger and more ready to step in when injuries occur
even the LB'rs are coming in at 6'2 - 6'4 range.
 
All that development and still only average 7.5 wins per year over 20 years. While Nebraska, going through two of the worst coaching hires in it's history, averaged 8.3 wins per year over the same stretch.
the last 6 years these are the records
2013 8-5
2014 7-6
2015 12-2
2016 8-5
2017 8-5
2018 8-4.
for a 8.5 avg. the change in coaches has increased the avg by 1 win per seaso and its only going to get better.
 
the last 6 years these are the records
2013 8-5
2014 7-6
2015 12-2
2016 8-5
2017 8-5
2018 8-4.
for a 8.5 avg. the change in coaches has increased the avg by 1 win per seaso and its only going to get better.
1. Odds of being called to “Come on down!” on The Price Is Right — 1 in 36
2. Odds of being audited by the IRS — 1 in 160
3. Odds of being involved in a drunk driving crash — 2 out of 3
4. Odds of being born with 11 fingers or toes — 1 in 500
5. Odds of winning an Oscar — 1 in 11,500
6. Odds of finding a pearl in an oyster — 1 in 12,000
7. Odds of being drafted by the NBA — 1 in 3,333 for men, 1 in 5,000 for women
8. Odds of going blind after laser eye surgery — 1 in 5 million
9. Odds of being injured by a toilet — 1 in 10,000
10. Odds of dying in an airplane crash — 1 in 205,552
 
the last 6 years these are the records
2013 8-5
2014 7-6
2015 12-2
2016 8-5
2017 8-5
2018 8-4.
for a 8.5 avg. the change in coaches has increased the avg by 1 win per seaso and its only going to get better.

One out of the ordinary season skews your sample. Take out the one year and it is a sub 8 average. It is what it is.
 
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the problem was quality/developed depth, even Fry said his starters can play with any one in the country. BUT if/when injuries occur and they start relying on backup to play starter minutes that's where Iowa stops being competitive.

even under Ferentz his starters can and did compete with the best in the country
but like under Fry injuries took their toll and undeveloped players were forced into the starting lineup.
in 2013 Brian and Davis the depth problem was addressed. also they are now getting OL and DL that don't need 50-60 lbs to be ready to play for example
Wirfs came in at 6'5 315 lbs and now weighs 325 lbs
Jackson came in @ 6'7 310 lbs and now weighes 325 lbs
RSFR Kallrenberg came in at 6'6 270 lbs and now weighs 295 lbs
in the 2019 class
Miller comes in @ 6'6 310 lbs
Endres comes in at 6'6 307 lbs
and both are 4*'s by 247 and ESPN.
on the DL these will join the team after RS'ing
RSSO Dixon 6'3 310 lbs
RSFR Shannon 6'1 305 lbs
RSFR Linderbaum 6'2 295 lbs

RSFR Waggoner 6'6 242 lbs as a DE
they are getting bigger and more ready to step in when injuries occur
even the LB'rs are coming in at 6'2 - 6'4 range.

If you look at the whole picture, It is 2-3 years of average to below average, then 1 great season. rinse and repeat. That is the problem with depending on development of 2 stars, A) it takes time, B) sometimes the players don't develop. But if you get a class or 2 that does work out and a favorable schedule, boom 12 win season. But for the majority of the time, it's 6-8 wins. But if that works for you, cool. Just don't expect those of us with higher expectations to be satisfied with mediocre results.
 
One out of the ordinary season skews your sample. Take out the one year and it is a sub 8 average. It is what it is.

Oh here we go.

9
9
6
9
4
4

6.8

Now we get to choose an anomaly per rules. Mike Riley's 9 now gets to be a 7 (meeting avg, benefit of your doubt rounded up).

6.5

Is what it is, too easy.
 
If you look at the whole picture, It is 2-3 years of average to below average, then 1 great season. rinse and repeat. That is the problem with depending on development of 2 stars, A) it takes time, B) sometimes the players don't develop. But if you get a class or 2 that does work out and a favorable schedule, boom 12 win season. But for the majority of the time, it's 6-8 wins. But if that works for you, cool. Just don't expect those of us with higher expectations to be satisfied with mediocre results.

See above for rosters full of 'talent' and 4 stars. Is what it is.
 
Noticed you didn’t mention the 1970’s:rolleyes: Iowa would have lost 9 out 10 easily... 83, 84 and 89 NU.
85,86,88 Iowa.. 87 tossup..
I don't think the previous guy brought the 70's into the discussion. FWIW I would go with 10 of 10 in the 70s for Nebraska.

83 and 84 were two of Fry's better/best teams - salty - however, for obvious reasons, Nebraska gets the nod. That said, arguably Huskers toughest toughest game of those years would have been Iowa.

Iowa in a way is the same now as they were then. Good health makes them a tough out, key injuries = debilitating....1984 they had a 2 game lead with 3 to play for outright title....Long and Harmon got hurt = tie and 1 point loss. Long and Harmon were first round picks as skill players(un-matched since), plus a first round OT(the more things change...), plus NFL TEs(the more things change....), and a 10 year NFL receiver(an anomaly). The game would have been a shoot out ala the OB vs Miami. Salty is not what we would call the 84 huskers on Def. Iowa was not great on D in 84 but OK...83 was a stellar Iowa D. IMO 83 would have been a game in the 20s, 1984 with long and Harmon it would have taken high 30s or even 40s to put Iowa away...They beat Texas(with Long back) 55-17...Nebraska chased Texas for the #1 for a part of 1984.

It's fun discussing this era for the two teams I follow closely. I hope the series of the next 10 years is what we are speculating the 80s might have been like.
 
part of the problem in the 90's was other schools started to hire Fry staff. coaches like Bill Snyder, Barry Alvarez. plus Fry's health was starting to go down hill, so he started to hire younger coaches to replace his long Time assistants to build a coaching staff around Bob Elliots who Fry was grooming to take his place.

Bob had a illness that prevented that from happening

the boosters and fans wanted Bob Stoops to take over but the AD Bowlsby wanted a yes man, and never offered Stoops and as most thought that Stoops would have taken the job as Iowa was his Alma Matter as he played under Hayden

so KF was picked and in 3 years Iowa was playing a bowl game then in year 4 they went 8-0 BT and a BT Championship. then in 2004 they won their 2nd BT Championship @7-1
Typical Iowa made up trophies 2004 iowa lost to 7-1 michigan so while had same confer record they lost the head to head
 
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All that to say, Kirk Ferentz is equal to Bill Callahan and Mike Riley and below Bo Pelini on the success scale.
Pelini never finished in top ten (KF 5), won any conference championship (KF 2), or played in a BCS bowl game(KF 3). Truth be told, KF is above all - Scott Frost too. Ouch.

Wrong again, Ernie. The hole you've created is the size of a Mack truck, just like Sargeant ran through.
 
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Pelini never finished in top ten (KF 5), won any conference championship (KF 2), or played in a BCS bowl game(KF 3).

Wrong again, Ernie. The hole you've created is the size of a Mack truck, just like Sargeant ran through.

And the number of non winning seasons for Ferentz is more than those 3 "elite" head coaches combined.


We look to improve on poor results, you choose to embrace it.
 
And the number of non winning seasons for Ferentz is more than those 3 "elite" head coaches combined.


We look to improve on poor results, you choose to embrace it.

Ha. Keep searching then. If Frost doesn't improve there may not be another option as evidence of Riley debacle.
 
Ha. Keep searching then. If Frost doesn't improve there may not be another option as evidence of Riley debacle.

Iowa football, best known for:
200w.gif
 
I don't think the previous guy brought the 70's into the discussion. FWIW I would go with 10 of 10 in the 70s for Nebraska.

83 and 84 were two of Fry's better/best teams - salty - however, for obvious reasons, Nebraska gets the nod. That said, arguably Huskers toughest toughest game of those years would have been Iowa.

Iowa in a way is the same now as they were then. Good health makes them a tough out, key injuries = debilitating....1984 they had a 2 game lead with 3 to play for outright title....Long and Harmon got hurt = tie and 1 point loss. Long and Harmon were first round picks as skill players(un-matched since), plus a first round OT(the more things change...), plus NFL TEs(the more things change....), and a 10 year NFL receiver(an anomaly). The game would have been a shoot out ala the OB vs Miami. Salty is not what we would call the 84 huskers on Def. Iowa was not great on D in 84 but OK...83 was a stellar Iowa D. IMO 83 would have been a game in the 20s, 1984 with long and Harmon it would have taken high 30s or even 40s to put Iowa away...They beat Texas(with Long back) 55-17...Nebraska chased Texas for the #1 for a part of 1984.

It's fun discussing this era for the two teams I follow closely. I hope the series of the next 10 years is what we are speculating the 80s might have been like.

“ IMO 83 would have been in the game in the 20’s”RollingLaughRollingLaughRollingLaugh

One of the Best scoring offense’s in college football history and your holding Nebraska in the 20’s and the year before Nebraska wins by 35 points...

In 84 texas was 7-3-1 team going in to that bowl, Nebraska beat #11 LSU in New Orleans 28-10 and had the #1 scoring defense in the country and lost the National Championship by losing to Oklahoma in Lincoln late in the 4thQ.. I don’t think so try again..o_O
 
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Typical. No meaningful replies to those alarming facts. Nursing home food dribbling out UNL fans' mouth.
 
Derp Derp, Now let’s see the one for Iowa ?

Ohhh that’s right no one ever considered them a top program to begin with.Laughing
Bet ya they were at various points. Thing is it's just like you, nobody cares of ancient history! Final word is Iowa is the better program in today's cfb landscape! FACT!
 
“ IMO 83 would have been in the game in the 20’s”RollingLaughRollingLaughRollingLaugh

One of the Best scoring offense’s in college football history and your holding Nebraska in the 20’s and the year before Nebraska wins by 35 points...

In 84 texas was 7-3-1 team going in to that bowl, Nebraska beat #11 LSU in New Orleans 28-10 and had the #1 scoring defense in the country and lost the National Championship by losing to Oklahoma in Lincoln late in the 4thQ.. I don’t think so try again..o_O
I believe I confused 83 and 84...as is the 83 team playing in the 84 OB. Thus thinking the triplets team was 84, not 83 as said in the post.

With that clarification 83 Iowa still would have been ‘one’ of Nebraska’s toughest games...Miami perhaps the only exception. I don’t think Iowa could have kept up on the scoreboard. However, With that clarification, the 84 Iowa team would have been a handful w/o Harmon and Long, and a really , really tall order with them.

82 Iowa in game 1 is irrelevant. They were far too young to hang and the 35 point loss wasn’t that close. Later that year by time conference games got in the thick of the schedule, Freshman Long split time for a game or two after Sr Grogan proved he wasn’t the guy vs Neb, and won the job by conf play....The trajectory of the program changed. kind of like Nebraska this year....a frosh qb takes lumps, learns and ends up getting his sea legs, and like Long will end up a Heisman contender. One difference, Martinez will be One in his sophomore year IMO, long scratched some votes out as a Jr, and was a historically close runner up as a senior.

That’s the best second effort I got ;)
 
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Pelini never finished in top ten (KF 5), won any conference championship (KF 2), or played in a BCS bowl game(KF 3). Truth be told, KF is above all - Scott Frost too. Ouch.

Wrong again, Ernie. The hole you've created is the size of a Mack truck, just like Sargeant ran through.

In his 23-year career (20 at UI), Kirk Ferentz has had more success than any coach at Nebraska in the past 21 seasons. No shit.

As for conference championships, it's an apples-to-oranges comparison until 2011, when the Big Ten finally split into divisions. Pelini won two Big XII division titles and a Big Ten division title in his seven years at Nebraska. In his eight years in the Big Ten divisional system, Ferentz has one divisional title. FYI, Bill Callahan did that once, in 2006.

(Granted, Pelini is a miserable SOB, and KF seems like a good human being. So that's nice.)

Scott Frost has been a head coach for three seasons, two of which were losing seasons. He's 23-15 in those three seasons. KF was 12-21 in his first three seasons at Maine, two of which were losing seasons. He was 11-24 in his first three seasons at Iowa, again notching two losing seasons in three.

KF's conference championships were earned in a conference that didn't play a title game, but they are still an impressive feat, given that one of those titles was earned with an undefeated conference season, something no Iowa coach had done since Howard Jones' 1922 Hawks went 5-0 in the Western Conference. Sure, that 2004 title was still a "co-championship," but still some kind of awesome. And only 14 years ago. WOOOO!!!!!!

Or is this more what you'd like to read?

"Oh, Iowa. You of the marvelous gridiron tradition, of Nile and Hayden, of Billingsley national titles, and the Evashevski Era. We trailer-trash Cornhuskers humbly bow before your awesomeness — emphatically driven home by your four-game winning streak against our squads — and vow never to bring up our past again, no matter how many national and conference championships it may have in it, because we now know that the past eight years are truer a reflection of what Nebraska's overblown football history truly is and never will be. We hereby renounce our national championships, bow down to our Rust Belt overlords, and humbly beseech thee for mercy in our future match-ups."
 
1. Odds of being called to “Come on down!” on The Price Is Right — 1 in 36
2. Odds of being audited by the IRS — 1 in 160
3. Odds of being involved in a drunk driving crash — 2 out of 3
4. Odds of being born with 11 fingers or toes — 1 in 500
5. Odds of winning an Oscar — 1 in 11,500
6. Odds of finding a pearl in an oyster — 1 in 12,000
7. Odds of being drafted by the NBA — 1 in 3,333 for men, 1 in 5,000 for women
8. Odds of going blind after laser eye surgery — 1 in 5 million
9. Odds of being injured by a toilet — 1 in 10,000
10. Odds of dying in an airplane crash — 1 in 205,552
and the point of your comment or is it to match the point on the top of your head?
 
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In his 23-year career (20 at UI), Kirk Ferentz has had more success than any coach at Nebraska in the past 21 seasons. No shit.

As for conference championships, it's an apples-to-oranges comparison until 2011, when the Big Ten finally split into divisions. Pelini won two Big XII division titles and a Big Ten division title in his seven years at Nebraska. In his eight years in the Big Ten divisional system, Ferentz has one divisional title. FYI, Bill Callahan did that once, in 2006.

(Granted, Pelini is a miserable SOB, and KF seems like a good human being. So that's nice.)

Scott Frost has been a head coach for three seasons, two of which were losing seasons. He's 23-15 in those three seasons. KF was 12-21 in his first three seasons at Maine, two of which were losing seasons. He was 11-24 in his first three seasons at Iowa, again notching two losing seasons in three.

KF's conference championships were earned in a conference that didn't play a title game, but they are still an impressive feat, given that one of those titles was earned with an undefeated conference season, something no Iowa coach had done since Howard Jones' 1922 Hawks went 5-0 in the Western Conference. Sure, that 2004 title was still a "co-championship," but still some kind of awesome. And only 14 years ago. WOOOO!!!!!!

Or is this more what you'd like to read?

"Oh, Iowa. You of the marvelous gridiron tradition, of Nile and Hayden, of Billingsley national titles, and the Evashevski Era. We trailer-trash Cornhuskers humbly bow before your awesomeness — emphatically driven home by your four-game winning streak against our squads — and vow never to bring up our past again, no matter how many national and conference championships it may have in it, because we now know that the past eight years are truer a reflection of what Nebraska's overblown football history truly is and never will be. We hereby renounce our national championships, bow down to our Rust Belt overlords, and humbly beseech thee for mercy in our future match-ups."
that 2015 season they went 8-0 only Wisconsin can say that. Iowa was just one play away from winning the BT Championship and playing in the CFB Playoff.

KF's teams now are better than that season, mostly made up of RSSO's, SO's, RSFR and true FR. they are a lot closer than you want to admit to achieving another 12-0 season and a BT Championship and a shot at the CFB Playoff.
 
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Iowa football, now that’s a real cute program. The Iowa head coach can’t even claim a winning record against Nebraska after 4 straight Iowa wins. Iowa fans are truly the biggest POS message board fans around. Come back when you break into the top ten for wins, conference titles or win a NC. Look up the list of total wins and see who is around Iowa, those are your equals. Iowa is who we thought they were, a 7-8 win per year team, occasionally higher, often lower and never nationally relevant. How long until KFs SHARED titles “ancient history “? Keep doing what you do best and what your team is known for Iowa fan.....

200w.gif
 
If you look at the whole picture, It is 2-3 years of average to below average, then 1 great season. rinse and repeat. That is the problem with depending on development of 2 stars, A) it takes time, B) sometimes the players don't develop. But if you get a class or 2 that does work out and a favorable schedule, boom 12 win season. But for the majority of the time, it's 6-8 wins. But if that works for you, cool. Just don't expect those of us with higher expectations to be satisfied with mediocre results.
is that why Iowa is 7-5 vs Michigan and 8-6 vs PSU since Ferentz took over. now the difference is there is more quality depth and it is in a better position to step in with no drop off. here are the 4/5* players since
2017
OL 4* Kallenberg by ESPN
OL 4* Wirfs US Army AA
DE 5* Epenesa US Army AA
DB 4* Colbert now a LB by Scout before 247 bought them out
2018
DB 4* Cradieth
DB 4* Brents
QB 4* Petras
DE 4* Waggoner
noteable others
DT Linderbaum US Army AA
DT Nixon JUCO top 50
RB Sargeant JUCO 1st Team AA
ATH Tracey Indiana POY
ATH Evans Illinois POY
LB McDonalds Georgia Defensive POY.

2019
OL 4* Miller 247
OL 4* Endres 247
LB 4* Jacobs 247 AA formerly US AA
TE 4* Lee 247
that's for those that look at the star rankings that makes 11 4* and 1 5* recruits with 4 US Army AA 2017 thru 2019.

remind me how many AA has Nebraska recruited?
 
is that why Iowa is 7-5 vs Michigan and 8-6 vs PSU since Ferentz took over. now the difference is there is more quality depth and it is in a better position to step in with no drop off. here are the 4/5* players since
2017
OL 4* Kallenberg by ESPN
OL 4* Wirfs US Army AA
DE 5* Epenesa US Army AA
DB 4* Colbert now a LB by Scout before 247 bought them out
2018
DB 4* Cradieth
DB 4* Brents
QB 4* Petras
DE 4* Waggoner
noteable others
DT Linderbaum US Army AA
DT Nixon JUCO top 50
RB Sargeant JUCO 1st Team AA
ATH Tracey Indiana POY
ATH Evans Illinois POY
LB McDonalds Georgia Defensive POY.

2019
OL 4* Miller 247
OL 4* Endres 247
LB 4* Jacobs 247 AA formerly US AA
TE 4* Lee 247
that's for those that look at the star rankings that makes 11 4* and 1 5* recruits with 4 US Army AA 2017 thru 2019.

remind me how many AA has Nebraska recruited?
"Cleveland" spelled backwards is DNA level C"
 
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"Cleveland" spelled backwards is DNA level C"
maybe but its the best recruiting since 2005 but the difference is 2005 was a one hit wonder. now its over 3 years and is getting better.
that 11th Rated class as RSJR's and RSSR's in 2008 went 9-4 with a #20 final ranking, 2009 went 11-2 and a BCS Orange Bowl win with a #7 final ranking.

just show how Iowa did but the downfall was his staff was raided again and the replacements didn't recruit as well as the ones that left for different jobs. the most noteable was Bieliema who became Wisconsin HC Philben went to the pros.

one that was hired who you should know DL Coach Kazinski, don't believe he was to well liked when he was your coach.

the new staff has only been together 1 year for recruiting purposes some have been here 2 years,

4* RB Eno Benjamin was committed to Iowa but they encouraged him to take visits and not tell KF
Eno was just named a 3rd Team AA, WR Coach Kennedy and RB Coach White were both fired because of how that fiasco went down.
 
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