I don't know many Iowa fans, so I'm not sure all Hawkeyes feel this way.. but a few years back I worked with an Iowa dude who lived and breathed college football... (similar to myself) and at some point were talking about our rivalries, and I got the feeling that the majority of Iowa fans felt similar to the way Penn Staters feel about playing Pitt when it comes to Iowa playing Iowa State.
As this story continues to develop, It feels like Iowa will take any excuse they can find to pull out of the yearly matchup with the Cyclones.
Besides Marching Band Shenanigans, the season the guy referenced was 2002... stating that a win over Iowa State is expected, a loss and it tanks their season...
(If anyone needs a refresher on the Penn State perspective of the 2002 Iowa Football team, Click the vid below... its set to that part of the story.
Anyways.. had Iowa taken care of business at home in week 3 VS Iowa State, the Hawkeyes would have had a solid argument against undefeated Ohio State and undefeated Miami. (In the end, the hawks got waxed in the orange bowl so the loss to Iowa State is forgotten, but still... a win, and we're probably getting to a playoff a bit sooner than we did.
The Pitt loss in 2016, is the same thing for Penn State that Iowa dealt with in 2002. The nits complete the comeback and it's Penn State VS Clemson in the semis, not the B1G Ten East 2nd place finishers Ohio State.
Long story short, you'll hear the media go on and on about how they feel Penn State should be playing Pitt year in year out, just as they generally do with Iowa, Iowa State.
Truth is, these rivalries aren't "fun" for the players or fans involved with them. Especially not the Iowa Marching Band... (see above) and I can't help but think that if Penn State and Pitt were slated to face each other year in and year out, the resentment would grow and we'd have Marching Bands harassing each other... fans bringing out the worst in each other, with far less recruits to choose from in our population declining state. The matchups IMHO would continue to go on like they have since the 1950s.. Penn State taking 3/4 matchups.
I know personally, the feels I felt after Pickets pass hit the turf in the endzone, after what seemed like the 3rd final play of the game... I wasn't full of joy in the win, I was full of animosity and hate of Pitt. Not sure what brings that out in games against the Panthers, but I was at all 4 games this past series, and although the stadiums were full, they were not well attended.
Sounds like to me that rivalries such as Pitt Penn State / Iowa Iowa State have tradition because of their longevity, not because of matched success on the field.
Since 1950 Penn State is 35-14-2 VS Pitt, (53-43-4) alltime. For Iowa they've doubled their Cyhawk foes in the win column leading the 67 game series 45-22 or (29-14) since 1977.
For now, it appears Penn State has had enough. Barring a nuetral? site game.. yeah,... right Franklin... meet ya in Mansion Park?.... yeah, no.. Stick a fork in it.. it's done.
But given these recent headlines... I can't help but wonder how many more fans or band members need to get assaulted before Iowa pulls the plug on their rivalry in proximity to the west? ... while feeling relieved to move onto better opponents on our end in the future.
That upcoming Auburn out of conference matchup should be great... hopefully Hokiescan figure their sh!t out, so Jordan Stout can kick it right down the Gobbler's Gizzard next September.
Anyways. Just some food for thought.
As this story continues to develop, It feels like Iowa will take any excuse they can find to pull out of the yearly matchup with the Cyclones.
Besides Marching Band Shenanigans, the season the guy referenced was 2002... stating that a win over Iowa State is expected, a loss and it tanks their season...
(If anyone needs a refresher on the Penn State perspective of the 2002 Iowa Football team, Click the vid below... its set to that part of the story.
Anyways.. had Iowa taken care of business at home in week 3 VS Iowa State, the Hawkeyes would have had a solid argument against undefeated Ohio State and undefeated Miami. (In the end, the hawks got waxed in the orange bowl so the loss to Iowa State is forgotten, but still... a win, and we're probably getting to a playoff a bit sooner than we did.
The Pitt loss in 2016, is the same thing for Penn State that Iowa dealt with in 2002. The nits complete the comeback and it's Penn State VS Clemson in the semis, not the B1G Ten East 2nd place finishers Ohio State.
Long story short, you'll hear the media go on and on about how they feel Penn State should be playing Pitt year in year out, just as they generally do with Iowa, Iowa State.
Truth is, these rivalries aren't "fun" for the players or fans involved with them. Especially not the Iowa Marching Band... (see above) and I can't help but think that if Penn State and Pitt were slated to face each other year in and year out, the resentment would grow and we'd have Marching Bands harassing each other... fans bringing out the worst in each other, with far less recruits to choose from in our population declining state. The matchups IMHO would continue to go on like they have since the 1950s.. Penn State taking 3/4 matchups.
I know personally, the feels I felt after Pickets pass hit the turf in the endzone, after what seemed like the 3rd final play of the game... I wasn't full of joy in the win, I was full of animosity and hate of Pitt. Not sure what brings that out in games against the Panthers, but I was at all 4 games this past series, and although the stadiums were full, they were not well attended.
Sounds like to me that rivalries such as Pitt Penn State / Iowa Iowa State have tradition because of their longevity, not because of matched success on the field.
Since 1950 Penn State is 35-14-2 VS Pitt, (53-43-4) alltime. For Iowa they've doubled their Cyhawk foes in the win column leading the 67 game series 45-22 or (29-14) since 1977.
For now, it appears Penn State has had enough. Barring a nuetral? site game.. yeah,... right Franklin... meet ya in Mansion Park?.... yeah, no.. Stick a fork in it.. it's done.
But given these recent headlines... I can't help but wonder how many more fans or band members need to get assaulted before Iowa pulls the plug on their rivalry in proximity to the west? ... while feeling relieved to move onto better opponents on our end in the future.
That upcoming Auburn out of conference matchup should be great... hopefully Hokiescan figure their sh!t out, so Jordan Stout can kick it right down the Gobbler's Gizzard next September.
Anyways. Just some food for thought.
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