Looking Forward to Saturdays Again is a GREAT Feeling

I'm probably like you. I was an Iowa football fan that was still watching the Hawks each week but had reached a point where I was anything but enjoying it. The butterflies have returned on Saturdays and the in-week excitement is back. I've missed both of those feelings so much more than I ever realized.

I'll be honest. I didn't expect much when the season began. Illinois State was coming to town. A very good FCS program that had me very worried. What did Iowa do? They came out and dominated the Redbirds from start to finish. Ok, I thought... Iowa State is next, let's see what happens.

C.J. Beathard seems totally unaffected by the crowd at Jack Trice Field and is 15 of 25 passing for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns. AND, he ran for over 100. I thought, "This guy is for real." It was the normal dogfight game against Iowa State but Iowa not only wins, they finish. They didn't get lucky. They didn't limp to the final gun. They finished the Cyclones, something missing in recent years.

On the night of September 19, I officially fell in love again. An incredible football game and a 57-yard field goal by Marshall Koehn on the final play of the fourth quarter made for one of the most exciting finishes of my entire life as a fan. You could probably tell from my blog the following morning, I was rather excited. Then again, what Hawkeye fan wasn't?

Then this past Saturday... Iowa scores 62 points, the most in 13 seasons. They came out and put it to the Mean Green who really were never in it. That C.J. Beathard guy was only 15 for 15 passing in the first half. This guy's for real. Oh wait, we figured that out a few weeks ago.

Yes, it's been an incredible September for Iowa football and their fans. Saturday brings the first Big Ten game of the year and Iowa's first ranked FBS opponent, Wisconsin. The Badgers are 18th in the Coaches Poll and 19th in the AP rankings. Iowa is currently a seven-point underdog. However, as a fan I don't fear Saturday's trip into Madison. September has shown us this Iowa football team is one that I truly believe can win at Wisconsin. The way they've played their first 16 quarters, there's no game on the schedule that should scare Hawk fans. Sure it might be a little early to be purchasing tickets to the Big Ten Title game, but do you honestly believe it's not a possibility?

Yes, the butterflies will be there Saturday morning leading up to the 11 o'clock kickoff on ESPN and I'm already looking forward to it. Thanks for a great first month Kirk and Company. Now, let's shock the world. The black and gold would look awfully good on the field of Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis Saturday, December 5 for the Big Ten Title Game. Let's Go, Hawks!