Wow I still have an account here!

Last time I was here was during the month leading up to the Cap One Bowl. What a great memory. I was there in Orlando and it was amazing. Hope it's another classic game...

Boy we did not think we had a good team coming into this year. a new starter at QB with zero game experience. Coming off a 4 win season in 2012. But things shaped up much nicer than anyone predicted and we find ourselves blessed with a nice bowl game against a great opponent.

It turns out the QB is pretty good, he throws to the TEs which is classic Iowa football. Also we are blessed with very good linebackers. Hitchens, Morris, and Kirksey. The last time we played you guys was the last time we had linebackers this good: Abdul Hodge, Chad Greenway and Edmond Miles.
When Iowa has good upper classmen linebackers, they are almost always good. See 2002 (11-2) Orange, 2004 (10-2) Cap One, 2009 (11-2) Orange.

Also the last time we played you we were playing our 5th string running back. We lost 4 RBs to injury that year. It was like a backup high school RB out there. We won that game with a stellar defense and Drew Tate's gunslinger passing. Including what Iowa fans refer to as "The Catch"... and those holding calls you guys think should have been called don't hold water. Watch the play at full speed. There were no penalties it was blown coverage by LSU. (sorry...don't hate me)

Anyway, the big difference in this game is our running game is much better than in the 2005 Cap One Bowl. We have 3 tailbacks. Weisman, Canzeri, and Bullock. All have talent and all have experience. Weisman is the tractor tough white boy and Canzeri/Bullock are the change of pace speed guys. I imagine you'll see Canzeri more than Bullock. Our offensive line is anchored by a first round draft pick Scherff at LT.

The passing game is a WIP and not as good as it was in 2005. But when it's at its best it's throwing to TE's. Iowa is known for developing NFL TE's, I think there's 3 starting in the NFL right now maybe 5 total... and we have at least two future pros on this team.

The defense is not as good as '05. Goes without saying.. that was arguably the best D in Iowa history. This years defense is very good and getting better every game. I already mentioned the linebackers, but the secondary with BJ Lowery and Tanner Miller brings hard hits and athletic pass defense.

Another thing is that we are gonna travel. This year has been a big surprise and the core fans who travel to bowls will be out in full force. So expect an Iowa City atmosphere down in Tampa. This is our 4th Outback Bowl. I've been to two of them and we take over Tampa for the week every time.