Let's Do This: Iowa to Face Georgia Tech in the 2010 Orange Bowl
by Adam Jacobi on Dec 7, 2009 8:00 AM CST
in Football
148 comments
Let's say, before the season began, you saw a prediction that the Orange Bowl (with its automatic ACC tie-in) would feature the following two teams:
TEAM A
Scheme-insistent offensive juggernaut featuring superior athletes at nearly all positions, a questionable defense, blowouts a-plenty
TEAM B
Slightly below-average offense, murderous defense, a quarterback with the uncanny ability to keep both teams in the game at the same time, deficits in vast majority of games played
You would probably look at Team B, frown, then ask, "Who the hell is the ACC dragging to the OB this year? North Carolina?" Then you'd start speculating about how much Texas was going to beat them by before settling on "two berjillion or so."
In fact, the most remarkable aspect of this matchup between Iowa and Georgia Tech is how Iowa's so much more of a typical ACC team than Georgia Tech is.
What we like about Georgia Tech is that they're a perfect example of how far, physically, the game has progressed in the last half-century or so. Watching highlights of vaunted triple option attacks from the '50s and '60s, like so:
and then comparing them to today's Georgia Tech offense:
...you think two things. The first is "Is that Keith Jackson doing the highlights in the first one?" (It isn't.) The second is "man, Georgia Tech's offense kicks the crap out of those old guys." And we're not talking about some worthless whodats of the era; Ernie Davis won a Heisman, and these two teams were a combined 19-1 going into the game, and Syracuse won the national title. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech isn't playing for the national title. They're hardly worthless whodats in their own right, of course, but the point is that such a level of physicality is more widespread these days.
One unit that's willing to crack helmets like that, fortunately, is the Iowa defense. While it's going to be a bit of a bummer that the pass defense--Iowa's sterling forte for the 2009 season--will basically only be tested on the fly routes that Josh Nesbitt heaves up about 10-15 times a game (to decent effect), it's at least encouraging that the Iowa defense will have a little idea of what's coming.
On one hand, one of the dirty little secrets of the Iowa football team is that the rush defense isn't all that great; they ranked 33rd in rushing defense on the season and were shown to be especially vulnerable by UNI, ISU, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio State. With the exception of Wisconsin (whose offense effectively disappeared as soon as John Clay returned from having his entire body severed at the waist in the 2nd quarter), each of those teams has a mobile quarterback, and O HAI JOSH NESBITT HERE TO CONFOUND YOU WITH TRIPLE OPTION DEATHNESS SIR. The lesson, it would seem, is that when the Iowa defenders have to take a second to find the ball, bad things can happen.
On the other hand, only Michigan and Ohio State put up monster numbers on the Iowa defense, and they essentially schemed to do that and only that. Once again, you're probably thinking "oh, just like Georgia Tech," and if they were an opponent waiting where, let's say, Indiana would be, we'd say for sure: Iowa is super-screwed. Hell, Ferentz even admitted so himself:
Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz vividly remembers flipping his television one night last fall and instantly becoming mesmerized by Georgia Tech’s spread option offense.
"I can’t imagine trying to get ready for them in a normal week," Ferentz said.
But the Iowa defense has a full month to prepare for this game, and they'll likely use all of it on defense, defense, defense. Pat Angerer (who, by the way, is 4th in the nation in tackles; were you aware of that?) is going to be the super-duper key man here; he may do the Iowa offense the most good by taking himself away from the play by crashing the middle of the line, forcing Nesbitt and Jonathan Dwyer to the outside, where superior pursuit men like AJ Edds, Jeremiha Hunter, and Tyler Sash thrive. Oh, Angerer's still going to get his tackles; Tech's counter game probably won't do very well against an observant linebacking corps and a disruptive defensive line, so once that ball goes outside the guards, Angerer should be flying toward the outside. But the real difference between getting run over and keeping the Ramblin' Wreck somewhat in check is going to be the play of the ends and outside linebackers, guys who'll be tasked with keeping 3-yard gains from turning into 8-yard gains.
In fact, beating Georgia Tech can be done, of course; if Iowa's offense is "below average", Georgia's is "LOLOLOLOL I either peed or came I was laughing too hard to tell", and the Bulldogs still beat their rivals 30-24 over Thanksgiving weekend. In the process, Georgia put together a clinic for a team like Iowa on how to beat Tech: methodical drives, run run run run, and make Josh Nesbitt work as hard as possible. Nesbitt carried the ball 19 times for only 41 yards (and 1 TD) against Georgia; the passing went little better, as Nesbitt was just 6-12 for 135 yards and a score. Altogether it's a decent day in fantasy football; in real life, it's not a recipe for Georgia Tech success.
Knowing nothing about the key matchups (whoever's tasked with blocking Adrian Clayborn, for one, will be vitally important), my immediate gut reaction is a negative one; even given a month to prepare, Iowa's still going to give up a substantial amount of yardage--that's just the way it is with Tech's offense--and I'm pessimistic that, even with Adam Robinson, Dace Richardson, and Ricky Stanzi as close to 100% as possible, Iowa will be able to move chains with enough regularity to properly limit the amount of possessions the Yellow Jackets get. Georgia ran all freaking over Tech, but Robinson and Brandon Wegher usually only put up big stats on teams in full surrender mode, like Iowa State.
Essentially, then, this game will probably come down to punting. Not the punters, but willfully giving the ball to the other team instead of scoring points, on account of the offense's inability to move the ball into scoring position. Iowa sent up 57 punts over the course of the regular season. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech attempted 30. If that rough 1:2 ratio holds up and Iowa attempts twice as many punts as the Yellow Jackets next month, it will probably mean Georgia Tech has won handily. Their offense is just too good, and Iowa's, well, isn't.
But if Iowa registers a similar amount of scoring chances--or, even better, forces turnovers before Georgia Tech can punt or score points--the Hawkeyes should be in (relatively) good shape. The Tech defense is porous enough that a trip inside the 25 should yield a touchdown more often than not, and whether the same holds true vice versa (and how often each scenario should take place) may end up determining the winner of the 2010 Orange Bowl. Can't wait to find out more.
(I'm still calling this an L on first blush; don't read too much into that, though, as I said the exact same thing about Wisconsin. Whoops!)
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I'll be there.
Maybe not with a ticket, but sure as hell with my la laptop TV tuner and a cooler full of beer. Four hour drive FTW
I can't go as my mother is dying of a terminal illness
And I need what leave time I have. I am taking a quick trip to Des Moines the 30th-5th… but I will be back in Sacramento in plenty of time to catch the kickoff. Believe me, if I didn’t have to work, and need my time to take care of post-death i dotting and t crossing later, I’d be sitting in the stands going apeshit and screaming my brains out.
"Wow. You know you have problems when even the cheerleaders know you suck." ~ Pain in the Sash
by Leftcoast Hawk on Dec 8, 2009 11:49 AM CST up reply actions
your mom
hey sorry about that. I don’t know you, of course, but we are a family of sorts, I am a NP and if I can help in any way – please email me off-line gmcnatt@nmh.org. My prayers and thoughts are with you.
My only reservation about all of this is that I would have loved to see our linebackers face that offense…it would have been good football.
BSD
Odrick would have been 15 TFLs
I’m with you. This upsets me.
"Andrew Jones....SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!" - Bill Raftery, 4/2/09
by ReadingRambler on Dec 7, 2009 8:55 AM CST up reply actions
Shouldn't you beat anyone better than jNWU before saying PSU > GT?
I got more rhymes than Wade Lookingbill's got dunks
Did I say we were better?
"Andrew Jones....SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!" - Bill Raftery, 4/2/09
by ReadingRambler on Dec 7, 2009 4:59 PM CST up reply actions
as long as we don't run the opening kick-off back for a TD
we’ll be OK. I’m paranoid, superstitious, and that was a kiss of death. But man was it awesome to be there in person to see it happen…
Keeping wildlife, an amphibious rodent, for uh, domestic, you know, within the city - that aint legal either, Dude.
by AcrimoniousAngerererer on Dec 7, 2009 9:14 AM CST reply actions
Yeah, we blew our load too early...
…much like PSU this year.
by Eyeheartfreedumb on Dec 7, 2009 9:48 AM CST up reply actions
Defending the triple option
It’ll be interesting to see what Norm comes up with on defense. I’m thinking a 4-5 front is ideal (Tarpinian and Johnson as the 4th and 5th linebackers), with Spievey covering Demaryius Thomas, and Sash roaming around and doing whatever the hell he wants. In what’s considered an obvious passing situation for most teams, we can swith to a 4-4. If it’s an obvious passing situation even for Georgia Tech (like 3rd and 35 or something), then we can drop into our normal 4-3.
That's batshit insane.
Before you respond, let me remind you: Brian Cook called me smug, which makes me the Obama of smugness. I'm basically Smugbama.
by Hawkeye State on Dec 7, 2009 9:20 AM CST up reply actions
4 linebackers, 2 linemen
And then in the secondary, a 2-3 zone with Brommer in the middle of the field
"Andrew Jones....SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!" - Bill Raftery, 4/2/09
by ReadingRambler on Dec 7, 2009 9:23 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Good for 5 minutes
Brommer would foul out shortly after that.
I fully expect this game to be played in roughly 90 minutes (including the halftime extravaganza the Orange is known for).
by Pubes in Pink Urinals on Dec 7, 2009 9:39 AM CST via mobile up reply actions
Yeah, I wasn't serious
I know that the safest bet is that we’ll have the same players on the field as we have all year, Norm may throw in a few kinks that are designed to stop the option, but for the most part, he’ll just expect the players to make plays.
I was sorta looking forward to matching up against Boise State. When I found out we were playing Georgia Tech, I felt bad for our defensive backs. They’re the strength of the team this year, and (other than Spievey guarding Thomas) they’ll have very little to do (other than hit running backs) in the bowl game.
Defense
Thomas has gone off this year for GT simply because he is big, physical and is in one on one coverage the entire game. Nesbitt drops back and heaves those passes up expecting his guy to come down with about 80% of the jump balls. Lucky we have a blanket coverage man in Spivey that we can stick on him all game.
The defense kind of hinges on the safeties. They are the players a triple option doesn’t account for on a regular basis. It means TMFS should end up having a huge game if Iowa wins, his job is basically to blow up anything around the outside when our d-end commits to the quarterback. There are plenty of opportunities to make huge plays and huge hits. Hopefully Norm will cook up a huge pot of bitchmake for GT and deliver it through TMFS.
Seriously, what isn't better with bacon?
by The Bacon Explosion on Dec 7, 2009 9:57 AM CST up reply actions
Actually the safties are almost always assigned the pitch man. If you allow your safety to free roam he’ll often be out of position to watch for the pitch. The base flexbone alignment is set up that we can run the play to either direction based on a pre-snap read. Then one of the a-backs / wingback is sent in motion and by the time is snapped we’re in basically an I formation but the a-back has a full head of steam to get wide for a toss or for the pitch play or as a blocker. If your Safety isn’t balanced and locked up on the tail motion than there will be big plays on the pitch.
However you can’t commit to hard on this. If the safety spends too much attention on the pitch man he’ll have to watch out for play action passes.
There are some really great breakdowns of Paul Johnson’s spread option attack out there if you’d like to bone up.
http://smartfootball.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-you-cant-just-play-assignment.html
I will be playing this matchup tonight on the PS3
I’ll be sure to give Norm a call afterwards to let him know how it turned out.
by YouCanPutYourEddsInIt on Dec 7, 2009 10:52 AM CST up reply actions
That's the same offense that went nuts in Nebraska high school...
…in the late90’s, early 00’s. Did it not everywhere else? Millard North ran it with Eric Crouch (and I’m sure every subsequent QB like Shada and Tarpinian, but maybe not), but it seemed a lot of the suburban schools ran it. Running fullbacks (like Judd Davies if anyone knows that name) were a huge deal in NE High school for a while because of it.
As a defensive lineman, the task is simple, yet difficult, of course. You don’t run a lot of stunts or slants because you put yourself out of position. I remember as a right defensive end, my job was to basically take step and punch and grab with my left hand the jersey of the left tackle at his left shoulder. Punch, grab, take a step and hesitate to read if the play is coming to you (where, at this point, it will basically run you over, just grab on). If it’s going the other way, pursue. The key for the d-end is to get an angle on the tackle and keep his outside arm free to latch onto passing runners while not flying past and opening up off-tackle crashes by the QB on the option or the running back, of course. The D-tackles were basically the same, only with the intent of getting two guys instead of one. As with most options, the goal was to try to draw it out as wide as possible to allow OLB, CB’s and S’s to get to the line of scrimmage to make the tackle.
As I said, not a lot stunts and slants and little attempt at a pass-rush. The D-line is there simply to clog up the tackle-to-tackle as much as humanly possible and let the linebackers read and roam. If you can somehow shut the middle dive down, it makes reading the plays exponentially easier.
As far as I can tell, it will be a departure from Iowa’s d-line’s responsibilities. I think they’re good enough to do it. Maybe the coaches will think of something else, though.
In the past 10 years, just four team owners have not paid a luxury tax and are not on pace to pay one this year: Donald Sterling, Jerry Reinsdorf, Chris Cohen (Golden State), Bob Johnson (Charlotte).
Two owners’ teams averaged an operating income of over +$10 million per year while their teams have lost over 60% of their games: Donald Sterling and Jerry Reinsdorf.
You have to remember that the GT system out of the flexbone set is a spread option, which is different than what Nebraska and Crouch did.
They mainley liked to power it up the middle and go outside with the pitch.
The Georgia Tech option tries to spread the field to create natural running lanes. If you look at our base formation the gap between our O linemen is rather large trying to create these lanes.
If you really try to clog up the middle too much you’ll leave yourself very vulnerable to the pitch and outside toss plays.
Where did you get that?
I didn’t mention the Nebraska Huskers. Besides, Nebraska has never ran the flexbone regularly, and no, they didn’t “pound it” up the middle, either. Nebraska ran the option of various pro and I-formation sets. They ran stretch plays, too.
In the past 10 years, just four team owners have not paid a luxury tax and are not on pace to pay one this year: Donald Sterling, Jerry Reinsdorf, Chris Cohen (Golden State), Bob Johnson (Charlotte).
Two owners’ teams averaged an operating income of over +$10 million per year while their teams have lost over 60% of their games: Donald Sterling and Jerry Reinsdorf.
Actually, I like our chances
Limit production on first down and keep the triple option in third-and-long situations if you can. Same D-philosophy as always. In short, keep things stunt-free and play assignment football. That’s the easy way to say it.
Klug and/or Ballard will be huge. If Tech is able to get the FB going, we’re in deep shit. I think on first down we go to a 3-4 defense and rotate Ballard and Klug. Then Clayborne and Binns (I think Ballard spells Binns some in this game) have to hold their blockers and be free to tackle or get a hand on the QB coming down the line. You cannot let those O-linemen get the LBs. Then, we need to have a great tackling day.
The nice thing about this match-up is that our D-linemen are all DE’s at heart. So if we can stuff the FB we have a great chance because you need athletic linemen against the option. Sure, you need some turnovers or muffed plays too. The other thing I have noticed with teams that have done poorly against GT is some of them lack patience. You have to accept that you are going to give up some yards. Our philosophy will help us here. No big plays and live with the 7 yard gains.
One last thing…take a look at GT’s O-linemen, they are SHOCKINGLY light. They average like 280. I doubt they have played a line like ours that is as big as we are and as athletic as we are. Where we get in trouble with the run is when we respect the pass (keep safeties out of run support) and face big ass linemen. I know Ohio State gashed us for yards and the fear of Pryor was only slightly similar to this, but in the end, our philosophy was great for that optional rushing attack. For all the rushing yards Ohio State had…we took them into overtime. Remember, Ohio State had NO TURNOVERS so I equate DJKs kickoff return to a turnover.
All these BCS potential match-ups would be a tall order. But this is the ONE team that I feel like we can potentially beat up with our physical play and wear them down. If we do not allow those big 70 yard runs early this becomes a game of tackling and physicality. The ACC is not anywhere near as physical as us. This is execution football and few teams play defensively with as much discipline as as we do from an execution standpoint.
We need KOK to find a way to keep the ball in our hands though. That will be a big part of it.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
Actually, the O-linemen best suited for this type of offense are typically light. Paul Johnson needs his O-linemen to be very mobile so they can pull and move to the next level.
I would say that Clemson, LSU, and maybe even UGA would have had similar athletes on the D-line as y’all (I’m only guessing here), but GT’s O-linemen don’t try to match them with strength and traditional blocking techniques. GT’s O-line uses numerous cut-blocks to take out defenders. (Note: A cut block is legal, whereas a chop block is not … they are not the same thing)
Shhh... he'll start talking about Stanziballs next.
"Wow. You know you have problems when even the cheerleaders know you suck." ~ Pain in the Sash
by Leftcoast Hawk on Dec 7, 2009 12:10 PM CST up reply actions
LSU beat us by the strength of their D-line. They owned the middle and took away the dive and messed with the mesh.
Special teams also gave away a number of plays in that game, and GT was forced to pass. Granted that was in the first year running this O so we couldn’t pass block at all.
As for Georgia this year, that’s all on our D, UGA ran all over us and kept the ball from GT’s O. GT’s D this year is abysmal. If you keep the ball out of our O’s hands y’all will most likely win.
I wish we had the '08 Iowa team for this game, to be honest.
I think they were better-suited to beating Tech, both on offense and defense.
On defense, King and (especially) Kroul were much better in run support than Ballard and Klug are at this point. I think Kroul would have done a great job of bottling up the interior runs by the FB in this offense. And on the edges you have Fletcher and Spievey, who were two of the best open-field tacklers we’ve had at CB under KF. Still have Spievey, of course, and Prater is good — but not quite as good a tackler as ‘08 Fletcher, IMO. Granted, everyone else on this year’s defense is probably better by virtue of having another year’s worth of experience, but our occasional softness against inside running this year worries me a little and it would be much more reassuring to have Fletcher on the outside than Prater, who occasionally seems to just try and hit a dude rather than wrap him up and take him down.
And on offense, last year’s team was much better-suited to pounding away on the ground and keeping the clock running. Shonn and Jewel were a wonderful 1-2 punch at RB, with a great combination of power and speed, and we had a very good run-blocking OL behind Bruggeman & Co. This year’s team has certainly been a LOT more inconsistent in the run-blocking game. Again, some aspects of this year’s offense are better — the WRs are and I would say Stanzi probably is as well (turnover propensity notwithstanding), if only for the increased confidence he has.
I just like the way we would have matched up with Tech with the ‘08 team. This team is certainly good — 10-2 speaks for itself — and has proven itself capable of getting it done in some difficult circumstances. I really hope A-Rob is 100% and it would be great if Dace is back, too, because I really think we’re going to need to be able to run the ball well to win this game. If we can’t, our defense is going to spend a lot of time on the field and that’s inevitably going to mean giving up quite a few points to this offense — the D is good, but they’ll wear down eventually. And that means we’d have to win in a shootout, and I don’t exactly have a lot of confidence in this Iowa offense being able to keep up in a shootout.
Yeah, I tend to agree
Robinson and the O-line are going to have to be like ’Bama was this weekend.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
Excuse me, but...
…you referred to Kroul and Unusual Punishment by the wrong name.
by Eyeheartfreedumb on Dec 7, 2009 11:28 PM CST up reply actions
What will happen
when you don’t have a ball for 8-10 minutes of an entire quarter? No big plays just slowly grinding away and all the sudden the game is over and you lose?
The college football season is so fragile. It's like a glass ball being pushed around from stadium to stadium by a rhinoceros.
by Winfield Featherston on Dec 7, 2009 11:36 AM CST up reply actions
Why, that's quite an accurate description of your loss to Georgia
I guess that doesn’t matter though, as they are an awesome southern team.
"Andrew Jones....SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!" - Bill Raftery, 4/2/09
by ReadingRambler on Dec 7, 2009 11:44 AM CST up reply actions
I love you man
A Penn State fan is defending us… taking one for the Big 10.1. You rock.
"Wow. You know you have problems when even the cheerleaders know you suck." ~ Pain in the Sash
by Leftcoast Hawk on Dec 7, 2009 11:51 AM CST up reply actions
People who bring up the superiority of southern football piss me off
Especially since he’s an ACC fan
"Andrew Jones....SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!" - Bill Raftery, 4/2/09
by ReadingRambler on Dec 7, 2009 12:56 PM CST up reply actions
Which is a basketball league
"Wow. You know you have problems when even the cheerleaders know you suck." ~ Pain in the Sash
by Leftcoast Hawk on Dec 7, 2009 12:59 PM CST up reply actions
We're better than them in that too
"Andrew Jones....SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!" - Bill Raftery, 4/2/09
by ReadingRambler on Dec 7, 2009 1:00 PM CST up reply actions
Ahhh, time of possesion
the most useless stat in football. The only reason it matters is because when you have the ball, the other guy’s defense is on the field getting tired. The inverse is true also of course.
In 100 years, we'll all be dead.
Hey just commenting on his
mention of “minimizing the big play”
The college football season is so fragile. It's like a glass ball being pushed around from stadium to stadium by a rhinoceros.
by Winfield Featherston on Dec 7, 2009 11:47 AM CST up reply actions
Yeah, we do that very well
look at our stats. We are no a risk/reward minded defense. We don’t “attack,” we contain.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
Be interesting if they can contain AD...
"Wow. You know you have problems when even the cheerleaders know you suck." ~ Pain in the Sash
by Leftcoast Hawk on Dec 7, 2009 12:07 PM CST up reply actions
SMA
I don’t know if you are a genius or just agree with me. Actually, its more like I agree with you. Your comments make a lot of sense. We will give up GOBS of yards against GT but hopefully not so many points….
GT Fan here
Hey guys, I’m a GT fan, and I found this from our SB Nation site http://www.fromtherumbleseat.com/
I hope we have an epic game, and good luck to y’all. I’m mainly coming around to learn more about y’all as a team, and help inform y’all about GT from our perspective.
Welcome
I wish I could say that there’s things we could do to inform you about our team, but we’re about as schematically generic as they come. As long as you understand play action, stretch right/left, and the cover 2, you’re good as gold.
/O'keefe'd
by Smokin Herb Grigsby on Dec 7, 2009 10:28 AM CST up reply actions
Hilarious and true
Have we run a trick play all season that worked? All I can dimly remember are a few reverses that lost about 20 yards.
by Brock Sampson on Dec 7, 2009 12:21 PM CST up reply actions
We've decided that, as of midseason, TE passes are now
trick plays
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
Actually, the end around to Chaney was working pretty well
Of course, he’s gone now. We also once tried to have McNutt try to throw off an end around but that failed pretty spectacularly.
I think our Trick Play FAILs are trick plays in and of themselves -
in that they’re designed to fail. Sort of a reverse psychology thing, you know?
Because… uhhh… it sets up the stretch play?
/crickets
by Bucketochicken on Dec 7, 2009 12:34 PM CST up reply actions
"Have we run a trick play all season that worked?"
Does Super Wegher count?
by the_iowa_hawkeye on Dec 7, 2009 4:56 PM CST up reply actions
Blow it out your arse!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IE3KdcTgrno
Welcome!
Keeping wildlife, an amphibious rodent, for uh, domestic, you know, within the city - that aint legal either, Dude.
by AcrimoniousAngerererer on Dec 7, 2009 10:32 AM CST up reply actions
Iowa....
You farmboys won’t know what its like when you get punched in the stomach by southern college football! POW!
Go Jackets!
The college football season is so fragile. It's like a glass ball being pushed around from stadium to stadium by a rhinoceros.
by Winfield Featherston on Dec 7, 2009 10:52 AM CST reply actions
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha
Ask South Carolina, Florida, and LSU what it’s like when we get punched in the stomach by “southern college football.”
Hint: We punched back harder.
by Third Generation Hawk on Dec 7, 2009 10:56 AM CST up reply actions
Please
post that on their site as soon as someone brings up “southern” (since they can’t say SEC) football.
by Third Generation Hawk on Dec 7, 2009 11:17 AM CST up reply actions
Atlanta ain't the south...
Too many people from elsewhere. I’m still trying to figure out how they get decent football players enrolled at a serious academic institution like GT.
"Wow. You know you have problems when even the cheerleaders know you suck." ~ Pain in the Sash
by Leftcoast Hawk on Dec 7, 2009 11:35 AM CST up reply actions
Tech was in the SEC
but left in 1964 to focus on navel (aka navel gazing)
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
farm boys
oh for Pete’s sake, grow up! 50% of the students at Iowa are kids from the Chicago suburbs. We don’t have Ag or animal husbandry or vet as majors and probably have as many geeks as you do – so bag it with the farm boy jazz
A Primer of Tech offense.
The two teams that had the most success against Tech this season and defeated them used huge d-tackles to penetrate the middle and shut down the dive and disrupt the mesh. Georgia shut down both Dwyer and Nesbitt (fullback and QB) which was 2/3 of the triple option. Even so Tech managed to move the ball and score points. The key to these losses was Miami and Georgia dominating the game offensively and keeping Tech offense off the field. Here are a couple of must-read links to acquaint you with the Tech offense. Good luck! Should be a great game.
Also
http://smartfootball.blogspot.com/2009/06/why-you-cant-just-play-assignment.html
The “good assignment football shuts it down” meme is not correct at all. If you continually stick to the same assignments all game (as we tend to do), Johnson can usually figure that out and adjusts his blocking schemes on the fly to compensate.
One more link from the Birddog
He does such a great job writing up about CPJ’s offense, that when we need to break it down, we just link it. This is about the midline option, basically Nesbitt either runs it or handes it off to the B-Back(Fullback) AKA Jonathan Dwyer.
It’s much more detailed obviously:
http://thebirddog.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/the-midline-option/
The college football season is so fragile. It's like a glass ball being pushed around from stadium to stadium by a rhinoceros.
by Winfield Featherston on Dec 7, 2009 11:46 AM CST up reply actions
No...not assignment as in man-to-man assignment
…as in responsibility assignment. there will be varying responsibilities that Norm gives these guys based on the defense we run, the look they give. In other words, no freelancing or merely chasing the ball. what happens with option teams is that late in the game defenders get tired and break down and then other defenders get stuck covering assignments (theirs and the the other guy’s assignment) or they merely chase the ball. I grew up on Oklahoma wishbone and that is what they lived on…two defenders in the same area…happened all the time.
I f you look at Tech’s losses under Johnson you see two things…practice time. several teams that beat them didn’t have to do the one week turn around. (se LSU bowl, UNC from last year, Miami this year played a Thursday game the week before) or GT put the ball on the ground. I alos noticed teams with strong D-lines did very well.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
Tech scored on Georgia despite GA being effective
becaue Georgia’s “defense” was TERRIBLE this year. Everyone scored on them. The fact that you only put 24 on them is more an idictment of your team than theirs.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
You beat GT with offense - from a Tech fan
As I hardcore GT and Michigan fan, I know Tech and I’ve seen Iowa play several times this year. First, the Iowa fans should know this:
You are NOT going to stop GT’s offense. It is not going to happen. This year only Miami has come close. GT’s 2 losses were due to (1) Tech playing its 3rd game in 12 days and being obviously exhausted (against Miami), and (2) Josh Nesbitt being injured most of the first half (against U[sic]GA). And we still had a chance to beat UGA.
The issue isn’t that teams don’t prepare – the issue is that Coach Paul Johnson will figure out what you can’t stop in a half or less. Watch any GT game this year. We always “start slow” – meaning that Coach PJ is watching how your defense lines up. Against Duke it took a quarter, against Virginia Tech it took a half. But to be clear – Iowa will not stop GT’s offense.
BUT, Iowa WILL score copious amounts of points on GT. It does not matter how bad your offense is, Vanderbilt scored 31 on Tech. The formula for success is, run away from our All American and soon-to-be first round NFL draft pick DE Derrick Morgan and you score. And everyone has.
So, if Iowa can keep up with GT on the scoring track meet, it will depend on who gets the ball last with enough time. I expect this game to be decided in the fourth quarter, as most of the games from both teams have all year. But be warned, if GT has the ball last Iowa will lose.
Hawks defense seems to be a lot different then anything they've really faced it seems to me...
We have taken advantage of turnovers many times this season but it seems that stopping this offense on downs may be dang near a turnover. It will be a fun match up.
How exactly is it different?
Clemson’s defensive line is bigger, and Virginia Tech’s defense is better coached. How about statistics? Overall, North Carolina’s defense is better. Virginia Tech’s scoring defense is just as good. And rushing defense? At least 3 ACC teams are better than Iowa’s.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2009/leader/national/team/defense/split01/category10/sort01.html
Maybe you played a harder schedule to make it look worse? Nope, Virginia Tech and Miami played a harder schedule and Clemson is just about the same.
http://www.kiva.net/~jsagarin/sports/cfsend.htm
Iowa’s D is different because it is YOUR team’s defense. The only way to beat Tech is to score. And that is really is not very hard to do.
That's extremely insightful.
Especially, because, you know, in the analysis we control for opponents and only derive average-performance-per game figures off the subset of opponents both teams played.
So, thank you.
Mr. Boh Knows ...
He's insufferable
and imminently ignorable. Sadly, I am just now realizing that.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
Down there, they're still bitter about Sherman
This trashtalk about “superior SEC speed” goes back to the days when the faster southern white guys ran away.
"Andrew Jones....SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!" - Bill Raftery, 4/2/09
by ReadingRambler on Dec 7, 2009 11:39 PM CST up reply actions
I don't know.
It seems like he’s just saying that there are other defenses that they’ve played that have similar statistics against a similarly difficult schedule. That seems like a reasonable first-blush analysis. Iowa, UNC and Virginia Tech are all in the top 15 in scoring defense and total defense and Iowa has the lowest SoS of the three teams. Georgia Tech beat both UNC and Virginia Tech at home in fairly low scoring games.
Of course, if you start to look a little deeper, that analysis starts to lose relevance. Georgia Tech’s wins came at home when their opponents had a week to prepare for an offense they almost never see. The Orange Bowl will be on a “neutral” field and Iowa will have a month to put together a gameplan.
More importantly, that sort of analysis loses sight of schematic and personnel differences. My understanding is that the playside DE, the MLB and SS are important to defending a triple option offense and all of those are positions where Iowa excels. Iowa is coached to be fundamentally sound, patient and to win individual matchups, which is important to shutting down the Georgia Tech offense. I don’t know if VT or UNC have the same kind of personnel or the same kind of coaching, but it does seem to give Iowa an advantage.
Again, to be fair, using broad team statistics is a good starting place to refute a statement like “Hawks’ defense is different than anything they’ve seen this year”. But it seems to lose a lot in really understanding why Iowa might be successful in this game.
by Abbas_Cincinnatus on Dec 8, 2009 9:03 AM CST up reply actions
I love how all bowl opponent posters...
…say they’ve watched Iowa play this year (as if it makes them sound knowledgeable). GTech, Boise, The Cocks last year, they all claim to be in the know as far as our team is concerned.
Look Drew, this won’t be a track meet. We will shoot ourselves in the foot a few times, hop around lamely, then come up with some stifling D at crucial moments.
It will probably be close, and may even come down to last possession, but we will stop you more than you expect, and you will “stop” us more than you plan to. You can trust me because I’ve seen Iowa play several times this year.
by Eyeheartfreedumb on Dec 8, 2009 9:24 PM CST up reply actions
I should have said...
…every team we play in a bowl has posters like this.
by Eyeheartfreedumb on Dec 8, 2009 9:29 PM CST up reply actions
Welcome to the Hawkeye Nation
"Wow. You know you have problems when even the cheerleaders know you suck." ~ Pain in the Sash
Ramblin Wreck
Best college fight song in the universe, bar none.
I’m a Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech, and a hell of an engineer—
A helluva, helluva, helluva, helluva, hell of an engineer.
Like all the jolly good fellows, I drink my whiskey clear.
I’m a Ramblin’ Wreck from Georgia Tech and a hell of an engineer.
Oh! If I had a daughter, sir, I’d dress her in White and Gold,
And put her on the campus to cheer the brave and bold.
But if I had a son, sir, I’ll tell you what he’d do—
He would yell, ‘To hell with Georgia!’ like his daddy used to do.
Oh, I wish I had a barrel of rum and sugar three thousand pounds,
A college bell to put it in and a clapper to stir it round.
I’d drink to all the good fellows who come from far and near.
I’m a ramblin’, gamblin’, hell of an engineer!
This should be a good game. Let’s show ’em how we Iowans ramble. See you in Miami.
Brunettes not fighter jets
Then there's...
Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner,
Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner,
Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner,
Boomer Sooner, O-K-U!
Oklahoma, Oklahoma,
Oklahoma, Oklahoma,
Oklahoma, Oklahoma,
Oklahoma, O-K-U!
I’m a Sooner born
And a Sooner bred,
And when I die
I’ll be Sooner dead.
Rah, Oklahoma! Rah, Oklahoma!
Rah, Oklahoma! O-K-U! .
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
Written by a drunk or a three year old
I am assuming.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
I'd assume that one was written
so your average Okie could remember the words.
Brunettes not fighter jets
The song is short enough
You can write it on your ass and read it with your pants down in a mirror.
Of course, then the words are all backwards, but that doesn’t matter.
"Wow. You know you have problems when even the cheerleaders know you suck." ~ Pain in the Sash
by Leftcoast Hawk on Dec 7, 2009 12:20 PM CST up reply actions
You say that like it's a bad thing
I kinda like it, you can remember the words no matter what time you start drinking Saturday morning…
by Brock Sampson on Dec 7, 2009 12:18 PM CST up reply actions
This really has nothing to do with GT or this thread, but Tiger is up to 7
And this one is a really good one, too.
"Wow. You know you have problems when even the cheerleaders know you suck." ~ Pain in the Sash
by Leftcoast Hawk on Dec 7, 2009 12:30 PM CST up reply actions
Poor Guy
This whole thing needs to die already. Let’s focus on the travesty of the “Separate but Equal Bowl”
They took the bar, the whole fucking bar!
by recoveringfratguy on Dec 7, 2009 12:33 PM CST up reply actions
The SNL skit is hilarious
I can’t believe it was slammed as insensitive. The guy is worth a billion dollars… I think for a billion you could have a thicker skin.
"Wow. You know you have problems when even the cheerleaders know you suck." ~ Pain in the Sash
by Leftcoast Hawk on Dec 7, 2009 12:36 PM CST up reply actions
True
I just think that it’s time this gets put to rest. I don’t mind people joking about it, but the constant coverage I keep seeing on it is exactly why I hate the media these days.
They took the bar, the whole fucking bar!
by recoveringfratguy on Dec 7, 2009 12:38 PM CST up reply actions
wait till he plays a golf tournament
your eyes will bleed. He’s the Ali of his time with more press coverage.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
Ali better looking guy tho
Proof that what chicks generally look at is the money. There’s no way he would’ve gotten that trophy wife if he was a B list PGA’er.
"Wow. You know you have problems when even the cheerleaders know you suck." ~ Pain in the Sash
by Leftcoast Hawk on Dec 7, 2009 12:42 PM CST up reply actions
It was considered insensitive
because Rhianna was the musical guest, the one Chris Brown smacked around.
In 100 years, we'll all be dead.
Or Bob Stoops?
"Andrew Jones....SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!" - Bill Raftery, 4/2/09
by ReadingRambler on Dec 7, 2009 12:59 PM CST up reply actions
Who was it that Clayborn caught up to from behind?
Nic Grigsby?
What the FBI doesn't want you to know is that all Chuck Norris jokes, when applied to Tim Tebow, are very very true.
by steaming_pile_of_awcrap on Dec 7, 2009 12:09 PM CST reply actions
Did some one say Grigsby?
I wonder if they’re related… totally opposite areas of the country, so I doubt it.
/O'keefe'd
by Smokin Herb Grigsby on Dec 7, 2009 1:52 PM CST up reply actions
Spread option...
Tech fan here & long time reader of BHGP. You guys do great work. This will be a very good game. As far as our offense goes there’s one huge & very common misconception: “just play assignment football”. First of all, it’s easy to assign someone to tackle Jon Dwyer. Much harder to bring a 6’2", 235 pound man with malice in his heart to the turf. Secondly, we have the ability to adjust very easily & fluidly. Johnson will figure out how to exploit those assignments & create mismatches. If you want to defend our offense it’s about winning individual match ups. It’s about getting interior penetration & disrupting the mesh on the dive. It’s about linebackers getting off blocks & making tackles. It’s about solid coverage in the secondary on the few times we do throw the ball. There’s no “magic formula” to stop us. Just win the match ups.
Someone earlier said time of possession is meaningless. Not in this offense. Defensive depth will be key for you guys & I don’t know enough about the Hawkeyes to comment on that. But we really punish teams with our physical, long drives. You’ll need solid back ups.
But this game will be won by your offense or our defense. We’re really thin & undersized on the defensive line. Hell, let’s be honest, our defense is putrid. We’ve really struggled this year. Whichever of those units can step up will be the difference in the game.
Defensive Depth
Is this man’s passion:
Meet Iowa’s Strength and Conditioning Coach, Chris Doyle. We don’t need solid back ups, this guy makes sure that the defenders Georgia Tech will be facing can go all four quarters.
They took the bar, the whole fucking bar!
by recoveringfratguy on Dec 7, 2009 12:36 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, Iowa's defensive backups don't really play unless it's due to injury
And the trend this year is that Iowa’s defense has worn down opposing offenses to the point where they don’t do much in the 4th quarter.
Is he a former pro wrestler?
My word
"Andrew Jones....SEND IT IN, BIG FELLA!" - Bill Raftery, 4/2/09
by ReadingRambler on Dec 7, 2009 12:59 PM CST up reply actions
He competes in strong man competitions
You know, the ones where you snatch clean and jerk boulders and drag pickup trucks.
Brunettes not fighter jets
And
Throw kegs backwards up over your head like a high jump.
"You don't become a Hawkeye fan, You're born with Black and Gold in your veins." - Me
by BStylin Hawkye on Dec 7, 2009 1:16 PM CST up reply actions
Like all S&C coaches worth their salt...
Doyle looks like a thumb with a face.
I got more rhymes than Wade Lookingbill's got dunks
by Adam Jacobi on Dec 7, 2009 1:16 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Yes. Yes, I may have soiled myself.
Of course, I might have done that anyway, but still…
by Bucketochicken on Dec 7, 2009 1:41 PM CST up reply actions
Golden, as always, OPS.
Just as a comparison…
That’s pretty damn accurate.
/O'keefe'd
by Smokin Herb Grigsby on Dec 7, 2009 1:56 PM CST up reply actions
your Cover-2
part of the reason you guys stunk against the run at times is because you’re so committed to a two-high safety system (the cover-2) and you have your corners rolled up in the flats jamming the receivers. Worked real well against Penn State, jamming our receivers and getting a great pass rush on Clark on pass plays while dominating our o-line physically and only needing your 3 linebackers to clean up on run plays.
As a PSU fan, i thought our Cover 3, one-high safety system with a safety in the box along with the backers would be better suited to defending the G-Tech option, but I’m not exactly upset that you guys got the nod to go to the Orange, considering you did beat us heads-up and deserved the nod.
Bottom line, if Clayborn, Klug and crew kick ass up front on a consistent basis, you should be fine
OUr O-line needs to show up too...
and we need to convert in red zone. I noticed that if you get up early on GT they are a different team. But up early as in by 14 or more. They won’t suddenly become the Saints and chuck it all over, but they will try to turn 3 yarders into 7 yarders…and then the fumbles kick in.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
Agreed
As Hash Slinger said above, the best defense against G-Tech isn’t necessarily your defense, but your offense. Seeing as you guys got a better o-line than us, you can establish the run with Robinson and play ball control and win that way.
Although
the best defense they faced this year was V-Tech and they held them to 28. I think our D and your D and Ohio State are better then V Tech…statistically they defintely are.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
Is it me or does KF look a little cross-eyed there?
The more you find out about the world, the more opportunities there are to laugh at it. Bill Nye (yeah, the science guy)
KF?
Shit, he’s had that goofy eye for years now. I’ve always thought “Kirk Ferentz’s Lazy Eye” would be an awesome screen name/user ID.
by Bucketochicken on Dec 7, 2009 1:22 PM CST up reply actions
Fall down a well, eyes go cross. Kicked by a mule, they go back.
by YouCanPutYourEddsInIt on Dec 7, 2009 1:33 PM CST up reply actions
I watched it last night, fresh in the mind...
by YouCanPutYourEddsInIt on Dec 7, 2009 2:17 PM CST up reply actions
Greatest Christmas season movie, EVER
I may be biased because (1) my dad looks a LOT like Chevy Chase (same age at the same time), (2) dad also tends to get overly-sentimental and nostalgic at Christmas and (3) every family vacation I ever took ended up pretty much like the Family Vacation movies (do NOT make me tell the story of our doomed trip to the Black Hills and 5 days spent stuck in Mitchell, SD). In short, the Vacation movies were like documentaries of my childhood, except my sister and I were never replaced by other kids.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
Oh come on. We've got almost a month before the Orange...
So bring on the Tale of Doom. Amuse us.
"Wow. You know you have problems when even the cheerleaders know you suck." ~ Pain in the Sash
by Leftcoast Hawk on Dec 7, 2009 3:11 PM CST up reply actions
It's taken 20 years of intensive, almost daily therapy
to get to a point where I don’t wake up screaming from night terrors resulting from that trip. It will take some time before I am in a place, emotionally, where I can share it with others. So, in other words, probably a day or two.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
Looking forward to it.
"You don't become a Hawkeye fan, You're born with Black and Gold in your veins." - Me
by BStylin Hawkye on Dec 7, 2009 4:37 PM CST up reply actions
I have something to live for... again.
I knew there was something I liked about you. Sorry for all the therapy tho.
"Wow. You know you have problems when even the cheerleaders know you suck." ~ Pain in the Sash
by Leftcoast Hawk on Dec 7, 2009 5:56 PM CST up reply actions
It is clearly the best,
but a strong case can be made for “Bad(der) Santa,” too…
by Bucketochicken on Dec 7, 2009 8:07 PM CST up reply actions
I need to see that movie.
"Wow. You know you have problems when even the cheerleaders know you suck." ~ Pain in the Sash
by Leftcoast Hawk on Dec 7, 2009 10:19 PM CST up reply actions
Oh man, it's hysterical.
Unless you hate swearing, in which case it’s a horrible travesty or morality.
by Bucketochicken on Dec 7, 2009 10:41 PM CST up reply actions
"of" morality
or “or.”
whatever.
fuckfuckfuckfucketc
by Bucketochicken on Dec 7, 2009 11:04 PM CST up reply actions
We're just trying to make a point here.
You don’t have to celebrate it.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
What's wrong with @#)(&)(*#$)*(?
"Wow. You know you have problems when even the cheerleaders know you suck." ~ Pain in the Sash
by Leftcoast Hawk on Dec 8, 2009 11:52 AM CST up reply actions
Paul Johnson is an EVIL GENIUS,
whose momma evidently didn’t love him enough, and Tech has been my second-favorite team all year. (You can look it up on Smart Football.)
But, I do have to mention a few things:
a) The flex-bone is old-school. And so are we. This is 1979 shit they run. Trust me, if you go to a Michigan blog and say, oh, 15 times, you can’t run QB options in the Big Ten with a 175 lb QB, because he’s going to get KILLED every play, before you are banned (comme moi), you may make the point: Norm is of the option football era, and he knows how to scheme option football. Now Nesbitt is 220, but he’s still going to get nailed EVERY SINGLE PLAY. And sure, Johnson is an evil genius halftime prevaricator-adjustor, but candidly, what, exactly, has Norm not seen in his career? I can’t wait to read Norm’s sad-sack-I-can’t-do-anything-against-this-incredible-flexbone offense. When you hear that, it’s your cue. We have seen the adjustments, and we are ready.
b) We were not superior against the run this year, just good. On the other hand, we didn’t give up more than 200 but twice, with a high of 205. If we give up 205 to GT, we win.
c) Remember, Spievey is a man-on shutdown corner. We’ll just give him a wide-out and half of the field and go back to crushing Nesbitt EVERY TIME THEY SNAP THE BALL.
D) We already play a 4-5, only it’s a cover-two press, with five men neatly aligned in a straight vector five yards deep. Basically, it’s a prevent, with 9 guys within five yards of the LOS. Seems to work okay.
E) Is GT faster on O than Iowa on D? No. Of course, they will assume that they are, because of their southern-melatonin ratio v. Iowa, until about the third time Edds nails someone 5 yards deep in the backfield. Didn’t you just love South Carolina yakking about their inherent physical advantages? That stopped about the third quarter, when it was 31-0.
F) We don’t miss tackles?
G) Nesbitt throws really well … like Pryor? Well, I predict Greenwood spends the entire game waiting for one of those arm-punts long, while Sash plays run-protect.
H) We have six linebackers who would start for most Big Ten teams. (Starters plus Johnson, Tarp, Davis. I believe Johnson was 3rd string the week he was Big Ten defensive POW.) GT will have to connect long in the air to win. I predict Greenwood will stay home, Spievey will blanket, and Prater … will be busy.
I) KF has set the standard (since our last Orange Bowl debacle) for bowl game prep. If he can keep Clayborn et al off the beach and away from the babes (and he’s already talking about them, so who knows) long enough to prepare, I wouldn’t bet on any Iowa preparation deficiency.
DOWNSIDES TO THIS GAME:
i) Paul Johnson is an evil genius, and wants to prove it to the entire world. Ferentz, no. It seems his momma loved him.
ii) GT wideouts do not play gentlemen’s football, i.e., they will blindside you at the knees. In the Big Ten we have a gentleman’s agreement not to dive at DB’s knees from the blindside. Paul Johnson thinks that gentlemen are pussies.
iii) Johnson’s offense deliberately avoids blocking certain guys every play, to gain the numerical advantage. And it’s over my head.
iv) GT believes that they are unstoppable, and if they don’t, they are too afraid of their coach to let anyone know it.
KEYS FOR SUCCESS:
1) We must be the more physical team. As always, anyone from south of the Mason-Dixon line thinks this is quaint. Well, okay. We’ll see what happens.
2) We must run the ball (and I think we will, perhaps producing our best run offense of the season). Remember, we’re thin — but we will have had 6 weeks to get healthy.
3) We must frustrate them early, so that Johnson blows a gasket and starts losing it with his assistants and players. He’s a volatile guy, and our serene KF is a big, unquantifiable advantage.
So what I’m saying is, Norm will scheme this GT offense into a draw, and the game will not be won by flex-bone innovation/strangeness. This game is O’Keefe’s to win. This will be a great game, won or lost by the coaches. I say this game is on our offense. Any time there is a statement game to be played, I’m betting on Ferentz.
H/T to the gracious Georgia Tech guys listening in and contributing here at BHGP. I would rather play Florida or Texas than these guys, but I still think it’s going to be just fine.
Mr. Boh Knows ...
What to Watch For...
I would love to see Iowa turn Paul Johnson into the same guy that we turned Rich Rodriguez into this year at Kinnick. I watched that game again while I was at my sister’s place over Thanksgiving, and DickRod was going absolutely ape shit on the sidelines.
They took the bar, the whole fucking bar!
by recoveringfratguy on Dec 7, 2009 2:52 PM CST up reply actions
As always great analysis
i’m more of a cultural studies guy so here is what I’d like to piggy back on …
3) We must frustrate them early, so that Johnson blows a gasket and starts losing it with his assistants and players. He’s a volatile guy, and our serene KF is a big, unquantifiable advantage.
this was on full display last year against LSU. You’re right about Johnson not being loved. His players don’t seem to love him…maybe they do, but i bet they dont. A guy like him doesn’t ask for it anyway. He demands respect. And respect goes a hell of a long way…deep into the fourth quarter. But love takes you in to overtime, and Ferentz is loved (and he doesn’t ask for it either funny enough).
If GT gets down early and Norm frustrates them at all in the beginning, i could see them wilting. I also think that Kirk is so focused on the last Orange Bowl trip as a lesson, we won’t make that mistake again. But, I could see GT making it given that this is their first really big bowl since LBJ was in office. They may think the invite is the prize. Maybe not with this bastard as coach, but maybe.
I think it could be one hell of a game to watch.
"I think it's safe to say our concerns are many." -- Kirk Ferentz
Just saw that Iowa has been designated as the "away" team for the Orange Bowl.
Be afraid, Yellow Jackets. Be very afraid.
But...
Georgia Tech wears their white jerseys as their default (much like LSU or the Dallas Cowboys). Since we know that Ricky likes to throw touchdowns to the boys wearing white (whether it be McNutt, Arizona, Michigan, or Arkansas State), we may have to make up the 7 points we’re going to spot Tech.
http://www.rivalryesq.com/
The quintessential Big Ten smoking room.
How exactly
do they go about making those designations? Is it higher ranked team (in BCS rankings) = home? Or is it monkeys picking names out of a hat?
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
Good question
I believe Florida was labeled the “away” team for the SEC Championship game, too. WTF? Weren’t they BCS #1, AP #1, and defending National Champs at the start of the game? Why were they the “away” team?
by YouCanPutYourEddsInIt on Dec 7, 2009 4:53 PM CST up reply actions
I think
the SEC just rotates it every year, i.e. West team is home one year, East team the next, regardless of who’s playing. As I recall, in last year’s game, Florida was the “home” team and wore their blue unis.
I ate the blue ones ... they taste like burning.
No idea
But Wisconsin is the only “home team” from the Big Ten. All of the other six are road teams.
BCS Rankings
determine for BCS games.
The other bowls rotate between Big Ten and opposing contest. Champs is the only one that is off the same pattern of even year-home, odd year-away.
http://www.rivalryesq.com/
The quintessential Big Ten smoking room.
Unrelated question...
Do you think the Minnesota fans will bring their “Who hates Iowa?” Cheer with them to Arizona to play the Clones in the Schadenfreude bowl?
Do you think they're that smart?
"Wow. You know you have problems when even the cheerleaders know you suck." ~ Pain in the Sash
by Leftcoast Hawk on Dec 7, 2009 5:47 PM CST up reply actions
This is assuming they can read a map and drive to AZ in the first place.
They might take the wrong turn at Albuquerque.
"Wow. You know you have problems when even the cheerleaders know you suck." ~ Pain in the Sash
by Leftcoast Hawk on Dec 7, 2009 5:47 PM CST up reply actions
Yeah, eh.
They’re going to be really confused with 3 down football and a bigger field.
"Wow. You know you have problems when even the cheerleaders know you suck." ~ Pain in the Sash
by Leftcoast Hawk on Dec 7, 2009 5:55 PM CST up reply actions
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