Have you seen my baseball?

It is Hate Week entire state of Iowa.  Iowa State is 1-0, next up is our two toothed cousins from the East Side.   Traveling east to Iowa City every other year (where there are rumored black and gold satanic rituals), is like visiting your weird cousin's house where you know they live differently, it is uncomfortable, and a little embarrassing. You visit anyway because the parents make you. Meanwhile the question in the back of your mind is, “do they really worship the black and gold of Satan and all of his empty promises?”

Iowa State did what they were supposed to with their opening game of the season against SEMO. Dominate and make this a ho hum win against an opponent they should have controlled with rag doll ease, and did. 1-0 Iowa State looked very good in the first game of the season. 

The hawks (intentional lower case) had another pedestrian outing against a lesser opponent in South Dakota. The hawks, struggled with their season opener and the Cyclones rolled.  Watching a game with not one but two safeties are scored by your defense and that is the difference in the game is like watching a game of soccer where you don't really care who wins but your forced to go because it is a sponsored corporate outing by your employer.  

Question One: Have you seen my baseball? The hawks final score was 7-3 against South Dakota State, a true fall classic. 7-3 is a baseball score. The hawks did not even score a touchdown and their entire team had 166 total yards. That must have been fun to watch.   Sort of like watching my grandfather plow the field with his old John Deere Model 60 tractor, slow and methodical but loud and stinky.   

Question Two: Is Spencer Petras Iowa’s starting pitcher or their starting quarterback? Petras, ended the game 11/25 with 109 yards.  With a final score of 7-3, I would say he had a solid Earned Run Average of 3, but that really falls on the defense – more to come on the defense. 

Question Three:  Can the hawks continue to rely on the Black Magic of their defense.     Defense keeps games close and always gives you chance – the hawk’s operating model.  However, winning the game against a lesser opponent by scoring two safeties in a game is not exactly ticket busting for sales or a fan favorite. We know Iowa generally has a very good defense, and this year they appear strong again.  But, do we really know that and believe that  based on a win against South Dakota State?  The Commish predicts the Iowa defense will keep the game close but get exposed at a critical time this year.   I'm feeling the defensive secondary could be an area the Iowa State Cyclones pick on during week 2. 

Question Four: Is Iowa’s punter really the best player on their team? Tory Taylor registered 479 yards on 10 punts against South Dakota State.  7 of those were within the 20-yard line and 5 where behind the 10-yard line. If this game becomes a game of field position the special teams it favors the hawks.   It is difficult if every drive you have to move the ball 80+ yards to score points. 

Final Question Five:  Does offense or Defense win Championships?   Commish opinion: neither.  

Iowa has excelled in close games and in particular during the final 5 minutes throughout the Cy/hawk Series.    The hawks have registered low turnovers, few mistakes, and good defense at the right time.   Iowa State has not fared well in these categories, at least not against the East Side McCoys.   If the game comes down to a nail biter in the final 5 minutes it becomes a coin flip with 50/50 odds.    However, if Iowa State jumps out to a lead and Iowa is forced to play catch-up.   I like the Cyclones chances and believe Iowa State will see multiple quarterbacks in the game.   The real winner of this game is the one that makes the fewest mistakes.  You heard it here first Xavier Hutchinson is the MVP of the game and Iowa State moves on victorious.   And Iowa Fan went Waaa Waaa Waaa all the way home.