IF Bulaga is out....Advantage Iowa?

[larrysarmy]

Roll with me for a second.

I think it could be said an "emotional" advantage would be certainly in Iowa's favor. Remeber the "Cortez" speech from Mac in 1998...a fellow clone unable to play anymore...rallies the troops...and the rest is history.

While that may not be the best analogy circa 2009...it is clear that the "something" to prove angle is all on Iowa.

Which is why I believe a fast start for ISU is critical in this game. If the clones come out fast on offensive and if R Parker can spend some early time in the Iowa backfield...I feel real good about our chances.

BUT...

Given the emotional angle and lingering doubters....if Iowa were to strike first especially via the run...the short-term confidence for that make shift line will grow and could linger most of the game. Think about it. They just need the unit to work for one game...long term outlook may be a bit bleaker...but in this time and situation, a unit could play out of their minds - when they would have no business doing so. This game has all the makings of that happening.

ISU should throw the kitchen sink at the left side of the line...all day long. Force them to one half of the field.

Either way...ISU has got to start fast.

 

[Ames]

You'd think this guy was QB1 and in the middle of a Heisman run or something.

 

[cyfanatic]

You'd think this guy was QB1 and in the middle of a Heisman run or something.

LOL...I agree! 13 pages in one thread...and how many different threads is this injury mentioned in? I guess it is all part of the excitement of the big game tomorrow.

 

[BryceC]

I agree with the OP here... at best this is a wash, I can see a win one for the gipper situation.

 

[isufbcurt]

Actually the Cortez speech from 1998 wasn't a speech by coach Mac. Cortez actually wrote a letter to the team that was read before the game. I think the Buluga and Cortez things are completely different.

 

[DaddyMac]

Ok - who's Bulaga?

 

[homerHAWKeye777]

Roll with me for a second.

I think it could be said an "emotional" advantage would be certainly in Iowa's favor. Remeber the "Cortez" speech from Mac in 1998...a fellow clone unable to play anymore...rallies the troops...and the rest is history.

While that may not be the best analogy circa 2009...it is clear that the "something" to prove angle is all on Iowa.

Which is why I believe a fast start for ISU is critical in this game. If the clones come out fast on offensive and if R Parker can spend some early time in the Iowa backfield...I feel real good about our chances.

BUT...

Given the emotional angle and lingering doubters....if Iowa were to strike first especially via the run...the short-term confidence for that make shift line will grow and could linger most of the game. Think about it. They just need the unit to work for one game...long term outlook may be a bit bleaker...but in this time and situation, a unit could play out of their minds - when they would have no business doing so. This game has all the makings of that happening.

ISU should throw the kitchen sink at the left side of the line...all day long. Force them to one half of the field.

Either way...ISU has got to start fast.

Bulaga out would provide ISU with a significant advantage. Bulaga is a team leader and it's never good when/if he's not on the field. Furthermore, without question, he's also Iowa's best guy on the OL ... again, another reason why it's never good when he's not on the field.

 

[IcSyU]

I don't buy into the emotional win crap. Just because you know you're down a guy doesn't just make you faster, stronger, and more athletic.

 

[clones_jer]

Ok - who's Bulaga?

"Bulaga" is a type of whale common to the northern Atlantic, they are a smaller variety, respective to the genus and range from white to a light gray.

 

[Cyclonestate78]

Ok - who's Bulaga?

Obviously the greatest player to ever play the game of football.

 

[Stewo]

Next man in!!

 

[Clark]

I don't buy into the emotional win crap. Just because you know you're down a guy doesn't just make you faster, stronger, and more athletic.

Considering that the ailment is not serious (allegedly) I agree with you.

Had it been serious, the emotional impact would have been felt.

 

[The_Architect]

Ok - who's Bulaga?

Future 1st round left tackle and best lineman at Iowa since Gallery.

 

[CloneIce]

He is a lineman. Starting Linemen get hurt all the time, because their are 5 of them. There is no reason to think that losing 1 starter for one game will send them into an emotional hurricane that will result in them becoming stronger and blocking more effectively.

Don't forget, we lost an Starting OL from spring who is now academically ineligible (Hicks).

 

[Steve]

Actually the Cortez speech from 1998 wasn't a speech by coach Mac. Cortez actually wrote a letter to the team that was read before the game. I think the Buluga and Cortez things are completely different.

Good post about the situations not being relevant. Wasn't Cortez ruled out of the game much earlier, if not before the season? I don't recall any stunning game week development and subsequent scrambling to juggle the lineup.

 

[Clark]

He is a lineman. Starting Linemen get hurt all the time, because their are 5 of them. There is no reason to think that losing 1 starter for one game will send them into an emotional hurricane that will result in them becoming stronger and blocking more effectively.

Don't forget, we lost an Starting OL from spring who is now academically ineligible (Hicks).

There is a BIG difference between a sprained knee and a career/life threatening illness (had it actually been serious).

Also, there is a big difference in losing your best lineman and losing a lineman

 

[Cyclonestate78]

I don't buy into the emotional win crap. Just because you know you're down a guy doesn't just make you faster, stronger, and more athletic.

This. A rivalry game is all about being able to control your emotions. If you come out too hyped up you make mistakes. If you come out like the hawks most years thinking all you have to do is show up you typically never have a response when your opponent punches you right in the mouth.

Honestly... The pressure is on the hawks. They have some key players missing, they were the ranked team, they had all the hype to start the season, they nearly got upset by an FCS team at home, everyone is questioning how good they really are, etc.... Taking all of that stuff into consideration sure seems like a ton of weight on their shoulders heading into JTS.

 

[larrysarmy]

Actually the Cortez speech from 1998 wasn't a speech by coach Mac. Cortez actually wrote a letter to the team that was read before the game. I think the Buluga and Cortez things are completely different.

Fair enough...but I think the emotional appeal in this case is similar to Cortez. Go back and read the stories from that 98 game...Cortez was a main theme in most of the post-game talk and how he wanted everyone to cherrish the time playing. Guys were crying and they were using his name as a rallying cry on the field all game.

Again...I'm not saying the Bulaga situation is identical, however I read it could be season ending ordeal, 3 games, etc...

Given a one game situation...ala ISU in 98...the troops can rally and elevate to a higher level, for a short amount of time. I do admitt Marc Cortez and Bulaga are not even close in terms of talent and impact to the game as a whole....but the "emotional" aspect is valid, IMO.

 

[Cyrocks]

I don't buy into the emotional win crap. Just because you know you're down a guy doesn't just make you faster, stronger, and more athletic.

Considering that the ailment is not serious (allegedly) I agree with you.

Had it been serious, the emotional impact would have been felt.

You are right in a sense IcSyU. It doesn't make a guy faster, stronger and more athletic.

But the human mind -- and human emotions -- are incredible things. I ridicule some Iowa fans when they say "Iowa players came out flat." I would assume they mean they played unispired and without emotion.

But why would that matter if they are fast, strong and athletic to begin with? Why would it matter for Iowa, or any team for that matter, to be "charged up" for the game if emotions weren't part of the game itself?

My psychology lesson for the day.:wink:

 

[IcSyU]

Emotional impact doesn't make you better though. I'm guessing the correlation between emotions and playing level are nearly 0. Places like ESPN are wayyyyy too quick to say, "Well, that was a very emotional game for _____." Like in Mac's last game when we beat Missouri, maybe, just maybe we were the better team that day. Everyone knowing it was Mac's last game didn't automatically make them all faster, stronger, and more athletic. Likewise, they don't play with that in the backs of their minds. They are there to play football.