“Good” Means Different Things To Different People….

We’re neck deep in college football’s talking season, and while here at Dawg Sports we’re obviously more interested in chatter from the SEC, I couldn’t help but take note of this gem from Big Ten Media Days, courtesy of Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz.

Yes, that’s Iowa he’s talking. Yes, the same Iowa that was so bad on offense under Ferentz’s son Brian Ferentz that they actually established a point quota in 2023 that he had to surpass to keep his job (they didn’t, and he didn’t).

How bad was Iowa on offense last season? The Hawkeyes scored more than 24 points twice in fourteen games. Georgia scored more points in the Dawgs’ first six games (234) than Iowa scored the entire season, including a conference title game and bowl contest (218).

The Fightin’ Ferentzes played three ranked teams all season (#7 ranked Penn State, #2 Michigan and #21 Tennessee (in the Camping World Bowl) and scored….no points. None. Zip. Zilch. The Hawkeyes were outscored an eye-watering 92-0 by teams in the top 25, yet somehow ended the regular season with a 10-2 record and division title. The Big Ten: for those who can’t stand the breakneck excitement of watching paint dry.

But the great thing about college football is that under new offensive coordinator Tim Lester, who knows, maybe they will be better? Lester spent six years as the head coach at Western Michigan, where his Bronco teams were ranked in the top 35 in total offense more often than not. And he recently spent a season as a senior analyst for the Green Bay Packers, helping them to a playoff appearance in 2023.

Honestly, how could the Hawkeyes be any worse than last season? Short of starting your grandmother at quarterback they’re bound to improve. And that’s the beauty of the college game. No matter how stupidly optimistic the prediction, there’s usually a way you can squint sideways and turn your head just so to make it feel plausible, if not likely.

God bless this game. And…

Go ‘Dawgs!!!