M b-ball getting props from Hawkeye fans
Iowa is one of the BIG teams I don’t dislike, even have a grudging respect for. Seems maybe the feeling’s mutual. No negatives at BlackHeartsGoldPants, but a pretty decent amount of respect. A couple comments:
Juwan’s spell over officials
Not just tonight, I can’t resist but notice the interactions with Juwan. The refs are thrilled to get to talk with him. It’s disgusting. Though I’ll never be able to hate him like Izzo. And this game was not decided by a call or two.
My wife said one thing to me all game: "He's so cool."
Yes. He is. He is impossible to hate. I’m glad that I don’t hate Michigan on principle so I can enjoy them when they’re not playing Iowa. Fun team.
February 25th, 2021 at 11:23 PM ^
Iowa Children’s Hospital gives their fans instant credibility in my book
February 26th, 2021 at 8:09 AM ^
That wave to the children was an instant classic that will never get old. Congrats Iowa - you created a winner with that one!!
February 25th, 2021 at 11:28 PM ^
Iowa’s sports media has arguably the best blogs/Twitter feeds/etc of any college in the country, IMO. Jacobi and the rest of those folks are entertaining.
February 26th, 2021 at 8:26 AM ^
Second best. Which is pretty amazing considering what a clown show their athletic department is. Nothwestern’s blog scene is also pretty good.
February 25th, 2021 at 11:29 PM ^
Juwan is a good man. A man of character and integrity. Some would say Michigan man
February 25th, 2021 at 11:57 PM ^
You clearly don't relish in the posting on rcmb. Didn't you know juwan is the dirtiest coach in basketball? Skid marks on his undies and everything.
February 26th, 2021 at 7:45 AM ^
Considering every thread over there seems to turn into unintelligent feces slinging, it's best to stay away from there until there's good reason.
February 26th, 2021 at 8:28 AM ^
That checks out. Something about 1000 monkeys and 1000 keyboards.
February 26th, 2021 at 8:16 AM ^
Don’t ya know, he’s just a figurehead. Phil is actually the brains behind the entire operation. Also, the NBA is going to hire Juwan away any moment now. Don’t worry about reconciling the cognitive dissonance between the two statements, just roll with it.
sincerely,
rcmb
February 26th, 2021 at 10:28 AM ^
Key RCMB criticism - Juwan has had x kids by x women
February 26th, 2021 at 10:45 AM ^
Don't usually comment about RCMB stuff, but the irony of MSU fans pulling out the "morals" card is too rich and hypocritical to ignore.
My eyes rolled so hard, they hurt now...
February 25th, 2021 at 11:35 PM ^
If you can, get to a game at Kinnick. Iowa's fans are great. Best opponent fan base in the b1g that I've met so far.
February 25th, 2021 at 11:41 PM ^
I would except we all know how Michigan games at Kinnick go... I’ll have to pass
February 25th, 2021 at 11:50 PM ^
Maybe if they aren’t playing Michigan. That damn stadium is haunted, I’m sure of it.
February 26th, 2021 at 1:18 AM ^
mi93, I agree with you 100%. I went to a road game my junior year (2003) at Kinnick. I can't remember the score of the game, or even who won, but I recall the tailgating vividly. The girls were so chill and forthcoming. The entire stadium was filled with fans who would gently taunt us (along the lines of "hey Michigan fans, you're gonna lose") and then immediately invite us in for a drink and then compliment us, faces all smiles.
I especially remember thier really cute tee shirt culture (they would print all of these shirts specifically for that team/game). That was the first time I saw an "Ann Arbor is a whore" shirt and I just had to laugh, because the person wearing it was an adorable Iowa fan.
Lastly I recall thier nostalgic clothing and wearing the past with pride.
If Iowa City weren't so small isolated, I would insist on promoting the university to anyone who would listen.
And too bad I cannot recall anything else about that 2003 game. Such a shame to never be able to know who won that game.
February 26th, 2021 at 6:14 AM ^
Agree, very good fans. The Children’s Hospital wave is one of the best things to see.
February 26th, 2021 at 9:41 AM ^
I did back in 2016. Aside from the complete sludge-fart performance by the Michigan offense and Iowa getting almost every single lucky break in the world to win that game, the day and experience overall was pretty fun. Can confirm that Iowa fans are great fans!
February 25th, 2021 at 11:36 PM ^
He is so cool should be the new banner logo
February 25th, 2021 at 11:44 PM ^
Read the fan comments, man they are complementary and others didn’t attack them for being objective.
February 25th, 2021 at 11:50 PM ^
Generally, don't have an issue with Iowa or their fans - seem like quality folks and run a clean program (though I do think Ferentz stalled on the the entire Doyle thing).
I have to say that I found Fran to be a bit of a jerk to reporters in his post game interview...not sure if that is typically his style or not (I thought he was really great in the Journey episode this season). I get that he just got run out of the gym, but he just struck me as being unprofessional
February 26th, 2021 at 8:09 AM ^
That's his jam, there was one post-game interview this year where he basically gave one word answers the whole time. He can come off as a little unprofessional but I think that's just what you get with him.
February 25th, 2021 at 11:53 PM ^
Reading the article and the comments, it is amazing and refreshing to me how graceful the Iowa fans on that blog are in defeat. Tip of the cap.
February 26th, 2021 at 8:35 AM ^
Perhaps this message board could learn a thing or two from them...
February 26th, 2021 at 12:01 AM ^
Of all our Big Ten brethren, I like and respect Iowa and Northwestern most. The tiger hawk is one of the coolest logos in college sports.
February 26th, 2021 at 8:38 AM ^
I'm not sure if I can think of a single time where I did not root for Iowa if they were not playing us.
Glad to see them get their due against Nebraska recently after years of futility against them.
February 26th, 2021 at 12:32 AM ^
Juwan is a good man. A man of character and integrity. Some would say Michigan man
February 26th, 2021 at 1:33 AM ^
Very wholesome to see. Good for the Hawkeyes. Go blue!
February 26th, 2021 at 7:46 AM ^
I've gone to the conference tournament many times in Indy. Iowa fans are the friendliest
February 26th, 2021 at 7:59 AM ^
Iowa is my second favorite team/school in the conference. Kinnick is awesome and their fans are passionate, knowledgable, and welcoming to opposing fans. There was one super drunk lady who was being a bit of an asshole (but not even that bad), but her husband and kids were so nice and kept apologizing for her. Compare that to what you get at State, OSU or even Wisconsin, and it’s not even close.
February 26th, 2021 at 8:22 AM ^
During a UM/OSU game at the Big Ten tournament, the MSU section was joining in with the OSU cheering section on their chants. You know the hatred for UM is messing with their heads when they're actively cheering for OSU.....the worst fan base at the tournament by far
February 26th, 2021 at 9:24 AM ^
Also, the game was tough, and pretty clean. They're a classy opponent.
Fran is actually fun to watch.
February 26th, 2021 at 9:53 AM ^
I had similar sentiments during those fantastic matchups between powerhouse Purdue and Michigan teams a few years ago. They were great college basketball games to witness. Michigan didn't always end up on top when the final horn blew, but I could grudgingly admit that Purdue had a well-coached team that played the right way.
February 26th, 2021 at 10:25 AM ^
I think that's primarily because Iowa is even more of a football first school than we are. Most of the yahoo element of their fan base is in deep hibernation right now. I remember when we pulled Adrian Arrington out of Iowa. Their fans were saying a ton of not very nice stuff about Michigan at the time.
That said I once met a nice Iowa fan on the Metro in D.C. who approached me when he saw my Michigan gear, and we had a civil, friendly chat about football. I think that's the only time anyone approached me on the Metro who didn't want money or tell me about the ant people living under their skin telling them to do stuff.
February 26th, 2021 at 12:24 PM ^
I have had only positive experiences with Iowa fans, mostly around football. For the first several years I moved to the DC area, the bar I went to for Michigan games was an official watch bar for Iowa alums. Without exception, they were friendly. This has extended to any interaction with Iowa fans. My company's HQ is in Omaha, so interacting with Iowa grads is not unusual. In addition to being pleasant, they were also generally knowledgeable and realistic. I am so used to most fan bases being total homers and over-estimating the quality of their team or being total debbie downers and shitting on their team. Iowa fans tell it like it is. If during week one their fans say they are a mediocre team that will need some luck to get to 8 wins, sure enough they'll finish with 7-8 wins.
As for Metro BlueMK1690, when was the last time you rode, the 90s? I haven't ridden at all in the last ~15 months, but for the other ~17 years I have lived here, I would say that being asked for money or experiencing unpleasantries accounts for about 2% of my trips. Positive interactions are also rare, but easily double the negative. The other 90+% of the time there is almost no interaction beyond, "excuse me" when someone needs to get around you to exit the car. Otherwise, everyone is so absorbed in their phone, reading a book, listening to music with headphones or talking with a companion.