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Conference v non conference

acoustimac

acoustimac

Well-Known Member
Jan 8, 2009
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Lamoni, IA
Woke up this morning thinking about yesterdays game and last seasons. The question arose…would you rather beat Iowa or win you conference games. Some have said in the past they’d rather beat xyz in the conference than Iowa. Where are you now? Would you trade the Iowa win for a win against Baylor?
 
acoustimac said:
Woke up this morning thinking about yesterdays game and last seasons. The question arose…would you rather beat Iowa or win you conference games. Some have said in the past they’d rather beat xyz in the conference than Iowa. Where are you now? Would you trade the Iowa win for a win against Baylor?
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This totally depends on circumstances. My family is afloat in a sea of hawkdom. For me, getting relief there is/was much more important. I’m sure if we lived in Kansas or wherever, it would be different.
 
Proton said:
This totally depends on circumstances. My family is afloat in a sea of hawkdom. For me, getting relief there is/was much more important. I’m sure if we lived in Kansas or wherever, it would be different.
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If ISU goes on to not have a very good year and Iowa does their 'improvement' thing (i.e. play against a bunch of marginal teams), that old mantra will rear its head again that ISU only gets up for one game a year when it was pretty clear that ISU didn't play well in that game either.
 
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I view the Iowa game and the Baylor game as equals. I dislike both programs and I wouldn’t trade a win over one for a win over the other. Obviously I would prefer to beat them both.
 
Is the question valid? Not sure it has to be an either/or proposition.

Let's beat Iowa and then win conference games. The plural aspect of conference games is the key. I think 90% of Cyclone fans would take a 5-4 record in Big12 play and lose to Iowa.

But thankfully, we can be successful in Big12 play AND beat Iowa.

The next 8 games make or break our season!
 
madguy30 said:
If ISU goes on to not have a very good year and Iowa does their 'improvement' thing (i.e. play against a bunch of marginal teams), that old mantra will rear its head again that ISU only gets up for one game a year when it was pretty clear that ISU didn't play well in that game either.
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I hear you. Not one Iowa fan I talk to gives ANY credit to Iowa State in that game. Here’s to a reversal of yesterday this weekend in Lawrence and IC.
 
Normally I'd say conference games, but it had been so long since we beat Iowa it was nice to finally get that one. With the cyhawk series likely ending in a few years, it would be nice to keep winning it.
 
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Conference games are far more important, not even close, however I will say that it sure is nice at work to have all the Hawk fans quiet instead of their arrogant yapping selves.
 
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acoustimac said:
Woke up this morning thinking about yesterdays game and last seasons. The question arose…would you rather beat Iowa or win you conference games. Some have said in the past they’d rather beat xyz in the conference than Iowa. Where are you now? Would you trade the Iowa win for a win against Baylor?
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It's not an either or question....that's BS.
You play them all to win. We could have won yesterday even with the refs completely disregarding their responsibility to provide an even and fairly played game.....we gotta play better. Thats it. This ain't the pathetic 10 conference.....every team in BIG12 is legitimate.
 
For me, a conference game is more important to me when I'm looking at it inside the context of a season. But I know that 5 years afterwards I am far more likely to remember a game against Iowa, and be either happy or disappointed by it, than I am an equivalent conference game.

That said, I'm not sure I'd trade this year's Iowa win for a Baylor win, even right now. However, that's more about the specific circumstances of this season, where it broke the streak against Iowa and ultimately I'm not expecting that Iowa State will compete to be in the Big 12 title game.
 
Conference games are bigger unless you told me a team was destined to be 1-8 or 2-7 at which point give me the Iowa win, if for no other reason than Iowa is probably as good or better as those wins anyway.

Since ISU started competing very close head to head with OU, OKSt and Baylor (and usually beating Texas) instead of getting blown out the Iowa game has meant less to me.

A 3-0 non conf is important in terms of not putting any limits on ranking and Bowl situations.
 
Always choose a conference game win, its a no-brainer.
 
BCClone said:
Yes
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Agreed. It’s yes for different reasons. Yes to beating Iowa because that should help recruiting if we beat them more often than not.

Yes for conference, because that’s important for general success if the conference. Trying to win the conference gets you championships and trophy’s. Winning the non-conference doesn’t.
 
Big_Sill said:
Always choose a conference game win, its a no-brainer.
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If we're competing for the CCG absolutely but in a year we're middle of the conference Iowa means more to recruiting. Iowa is facing a down slide. Stinging a streak together against TOE means more to the big picture.
 
quasistellar said:
Honestly I'd rather never pay Iowa again. Can't stand their fans. Feels like there's no upside.
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But this is what makes it a big rivalry and rivalries are what make CFB great. When it comes to playing schools like WVU or TCU it is just another game. I don't know or interact with their fans. There are no bragging rights, no trash talking, nothing.

Losing these games is the worst part of realignment. College football needs to embrace the hate and the passion.
 
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