It's important to keep in mind most of our fans are not on message boards or going into battle on CFB social media.
We're going to have losses, and I think most of our fans will be pretty understanding giving we are coming off the unthinkable. Of course losing to NW would be a bit more negative than say OSU.
The message boards will be pretty understanding too. A small number of people will freak out and make things look worse than it really it is. Online is more of a shitshow than the real world, especially with an insane/emotional sport like CFB. Folks are going to keep going to games and watching on TV and that's what matters.
I feel like Cig and crew have been very vanilla across the board so far. This is the week they've been waiting for. The D will start to look a whole lot different than what we've seen so far. More exotic blitzes and stunts. The O will open things up. After Hoover called his troops together last week, I see him coming out guns ablazing. I'm taking IU all day long at 21.5.
@iunorth The IU football world is still just all sunshine and rainbows to me. I don't know how bad our record would have to be for me to have concerns, but maybe under .500 would do it. Maybe not. We just witnessed the greatest turnaround in college football history (team sports history?) and I believe we have one of the top 4-5 coaches of all-time, because no one else has even approached what he did in 2 years. I'd hate to see us lose to NW, but that wouldn't faze me or my belief in our staff 1 bit. We will have a letdown at some point, and I've already accepted that, so I don't think I'll have any concerns, beyond injuries, when it does happen.
When we finally lose our first home game under Coach Cignetti - this week or whenever - the fans should stay to give the team a standing ovation. I've seen similar when a long winning streak was broken in sports. 🤣 Just to show appreciation.
I feel like Cig and crew have been very vanilla across the board so far. This is the week they've been waiting for. The D will start to look a whole lot different than what we've seen so far. More exotic blitzes and stunts. The O will open things up. After Hoover called his troops together last week, I see him coming out guns ablazing. I'm taking IU all day long at 21.5.
This is my take as well.
I saw a good part of their game with South Dakota St. As I recall, it was a very competitive game until about 1/2 way through the 4th quarter. I wasn't blown away by NW at the time. Tough, yes. well-coached, yes. Frightening, no.
I also watched a good portion of the Colorado game. That team is falling apart. Deon kicked a few guys off the team today. My take is that it was 'right time. right place' for NW.
I agree that guys like Becker, Chandler, and Marsh could have big days for IU if we open things up.
Statistically, they are not all that impressive. They're averaging 460 yds TO and giving up 390. They average almost 5 yds per rush, but give up 4.5. Per play, they avg 7.2 yds, and give up 5.2.
I'm sure Cig is talking them up like the '86 Bears. Friday night game. All things point to a solid win.
Colorado is a wet paper bag compared to NW. Books know their business well. This spread is no problem. Cignetti turns up the BTU's.
@tammany I am so f-ing tired of losing to Noryhwestern in basketball I could puke. I’m not going to be happy if they are the ones to break our streak.
I watched most of the NW game against Colorado. CU is so terribly undisciplined. Multiple turnovers and Julian Lewis was just throwing balls helter skelter into traffic all game long. He was awful and he was the guy everyone was gushing over to come to IU. He’s not coached there and the CU defense was non-existent all game. If IU doesn’t win this one by two scores, we are in for some trouble this season.
@big-red-cb-v-2-0 Braun is a very good coach. They were pretty solid last year, not great, but solid. They improved their roster. And they have a guy at quarterback, in Chiles, that is capable of being very dangerous. He was dealing against IU early in both his MSU games against us. We adjusted both times and took the game over. But maybe Braun and his staff are better than Tucker was? I suspect they are.
I don't think IU should lose. I don't think it should end up being a nail biter. But if it does, I also don't think it implies anything overly awful for the rest of the season. NW is a solid B10 program, right now. If the B10 is as good as they keep saying they are, a close game against a solid B10 program, in our conference opener, shouldn't be cause for concern.
Like anything though, the devil is in the details. If we get pushed around, and dominated at the LOS all game, and only win because we have guys like Marsh and Becker make a few plays late... sure... But if its just a good, back and forth game, between two good teams... great. Probably means more that NW is due to win 8-9 games, than anything awful for IU.
he was the guy everyone was gushing over to come to IU
Crazy, huh? Especially if you factor in he was the top 1/2 rated QB that year, I believe, and Bryce Underwood was the next year? Regardless, both were "can't miss" 5 stars. Shows what can be the development time for QBs and the logic of going with experienced portal QBs with proven college resumes!
Whenever a player recruitment gets into diva territory, run. Run like hell! Thinking more of Julian Lewis than Underwood.
Underwood was just expensive and under heavy pressure to stay at home and flip to Michigan. He's got talent too, finally a decent head coach, he'll start to develop. Lewis seemed to have more of a circus feel w family and advisors all involved. Run. Run like hell.
@kkott There aren't many Caleb Williams type guys out there, in actuality. Guys that can take pretty much any offense, any system, and make it successful. Obviously talent matters. You have to be able to throw the ball to spots they're intended be thrown. And if you can pick up first downs with your legs too, great. But system, coaching... produces great quarterbacks MUCH more than great quarterbacks produce great systems... in my opinion.