Tuesdays with Torbee

As is my custom, I waited a full 24-hours after Iowa’s football loss before consuming any media or commentary regarding the game. I prefer to let my initial, emotion-fueled thoughts settle before percolating on what happened in a more rational fashion.

I was a bit surprised when the first headline I read stated that the Hawkeyes were “embarrassed” by mighty Michigan in the Big 10 Championship game. Despite the disappointment of the 26-0 whitewashing, the word embarrassed never entered my mind.

I thought Iowa played hard, competitive football, but were clearly outmatched talent wise.

As is, I was proud of how Iowa represented itself with physicality, effort and class. As a fan, I was proud of the level of compete Iowa showed – yes, even on the crummy offense. Iowa players were flying around, hitting hard and giving maximum effort from the opening kickoff to the final gun. I also believe Iowa delivered the most physical discomfort that Michigan team has felt all season. The Wolverines knew they were in a fight.

Had Iowa gone into this game with its starting quarterback, top two tight ends and most dynamic defensive player and return specialist, I think it would have been a much closer, competitive game.

In order to pull an upset of great magnitude, the Hawkeyes needed a near-perfect game. Instead, Deacon Hill once again showed his propensity to be sloppy and insecure with the football, setting up the Wolverines for easy scores thanks to avoidable turnovers. The officiating, as it has all year, did Iowa no favors either. Add in a very off-brand special teams fiasco allowing a near-punt return touchdown, and it’s a minor miracle this game wasn’t a complete boat racing. Credit Phil Parker’s defense for doing yeoman’s work in an unenviable position for keeping it somewhat respectable.

It seems the fashionable “objective” take now that the East and West divisions are gone is that Iowa faces a nearly insurmountable task in competing for a Big 10 title again any time soon, if ever again. I will take the contrarian, view, however.

Yes, the current offense is a tire fire of epic proportions. Though I don’t place all blame on soon-to-be-departed offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz, I would be lying if I said I’m not looking forward to seeing a new, less scowling and perturbed, face on the sidelines calling plays next season. I also reject the notion that Iowa can never be productive on offense because of its head coach.

I think recency bias may be in effect here. Iowa averaged 30 points-per-game a mere four seasons ago. While it has trended steadily downward for the past three season, it’s not as though Iowa has never been competent and capable – if not explosive – on that side of the ball. And frankly, being merely competent on that side of the ball likely would have seen Iowa make three-straight B1G championship appearances, perhaps at least one win in that game and a fighting shot at being a playoff contender one of those seasons.

I get the frustration about “wasting” a championship-level defense due to a junior-varsity level offense, but I also think far too many Iowa fans let that frustration blind them to the fact Iowa is actually closer than many of its peer programs (looking at you Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan St., Maryland, etc.) to being a Top 12 playoff challenger than not.

That is why the pending offensive coordinator hire is so critical. I implore Kirk Ferentz to be willing to loosen the grip on offensive strategy and grant more autonomy to the new coordinator, who hopefully will have a confidence-inspiring resume.

Arm the Hawkeyes with a healthy Cade McNamara, first-string tight ends and a new offensive coordinator with a coherent attack and I see no reason Iowa can’t be in the mix for a 10-win or better, Big 10 Championship contending season in 2024.

Speaking of contending for championships, the snubbing of undefeated ACC champion Florida State by the College Football Playoff committee cements my long-held belief the zero-sum game of crowning a “one true champion” via playoff has long been a farce. On his morning program Tuesday, Dan Patrick said the quiet part aloud: the current CFP selection process is not about sport or fair play; it’s about putting on a television show. Florida State was the uglier contestant on the Bachelor, and was unceremoniously dumped for sexier Alabama. Yuck.

Call me old and out of touch, but I sure preferred the old bowl system where about a half-dozen high profile programs played meaningful post-season games with the goal of being declared the nation’s best. Sure, arguments ensued afterward, but that was part of the fun too. Now, it’s just an ESPN/Disney/SEC/Big 10 money grab and it’s quite off-putting.

I’ve said it before and I’ll keep repeating it until I no longer have a platform: college football is at its very best and most entertaining when it’s centered on regional rivalries and historical grudge matches, with the post-season serving as an opportunity to state your case for supremacy against a program you’d otherwise almost never face. Now, the regular season is essentially meaningless and west coast teams are in east coast conferences. I’ll still watch, but something fundamental has been lost.

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