2019: Iowa cup is half full heading into off season

From my morning post on Hawkeye Report this morning, Happy 2019 everyone!

[QUOTE="cidsports, post: 6073877, member: 1242"]Iowa won the 33rd Outback Bowl, did I hear on the broadcast?

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Mississippi State doesn't travel well and people there (one of their forum comments) commented about expenses, after women's Final 4 and a trip to Omaha for CWS in past year.

Ultimately, both fanbases expected more than a 8-4 regular seasons in 2018. Not sure Bulldogs fanbase were giving Joe Moorhead's staff adequate time.

But, Dan Mullen was 5-2 over 7 bowl seasons in 9 years in Starksville. Best coach in past 40 years for them.

Isn't their men's basketball team in Top 25, as well?

Iowa was fortunate to win game yesterday. Thankful for drop and 10 point swing on Jake Gervase's interception.

Iowa scored 27 points off 199 yards of total offense, including -15 rushing. Wow!

Clean game for Iowa though, which was huge. What would Iowa's season have been trading QBs with MSU?

This 14 member senior class went out on a high note and and Iowa could lose four juniors to NFL draft?  Wow!

Iowa has won 8+ games for four straight seasons. However, Wiaconsin, Norrhwestern and now Purdue have Iowa's number the past 3 or 2 seasons, respectfully.

What will 2019 bring? Can Iowa improve on 4-5, then 5-4 conference marks?

In 2016, Iowa lost to North Dakota State for first FCS loss in modern history. Nate Stanley has the opportunity to finish like Ricky Stanzi, with three wins in bowl games.

Great start to 2019 with this 27-22 bowl win! The glass is certainly half full, then empty, but plenty of unfinished business, since 2015 for Kirk Ferentz and his mix of young and veteran coaching staff.

Mississippi State fan mentioned Iowa needs to find a couple of strong (SEC?) recruiters?

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The Hawkeyes won an Outback Bowl for the first time in 3 years. Over the past four seasons, Iowa has won 8+ games in each season, but in the Big West pecking order ....

Iowa is #4

So, what will 2019 bring for the Iowa Hawkeyes?

The Hawkeyes need to close out the Class of 2019 recruiting class with 3-4 strong prospects?

That may be asking too much?

Iowa must replace the 14 seniors and leadership, that really stepped up in the Outback bowl prep this season.

Iowa has won back to back bowl games heading into 2019. Wow!

Mississippi State had won three straight bowls, but QB Nick Fitzgerald was clearly no Dak Prescott.

They had a championship level defense, but ultimately, Iowa had better receivers and thankfully QB Nate Stanley, who enters 2019 will mixed results, much like Fitzgerald at MSU.

Iowa should enter 2019 as a Top 25 program, both in the final poll for 2018 and likely for 2019 in the preseason polls, despite losing up to four juniors to the NFL draft.

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Happy New Year and congratulations to [USER=13584]@rivercityjazzman[/USER], his son and the 2018 Hawkeyes for a 9-4 season.

peace