YES

The main reason the Iowa football team can afford to start slowly in games is because the Hawkeyes have proven they can. Unblemished at this point in the season, the record speaks for itself.

The Hawkeyes are 7-0 overall, and in six of their games, they trailed at one time or another. Several factors have contributed to Iowa being able to withstand less-than-favorable first halves, namely the coaching staff and the defense.

The Hawkeyes found themselves looking for answers after being down at intermission on the road at Penn State, 10-5, and last weekend at Wisconsin, 10-3. However, Kirk Ferentz and his staff’s ability to making halftime adjustments, and the players’ ability to execute the game plan, was key to dominating the second portion of both those contests.

It’s as if the coaching staff is playing a chess match with opponents, using the first two quarters to set up its moves for later in the game.

Also, the way the defense has played this season, the team has no reason to panic when falling behind. Iowa leads the nation in interceptions with 15, not to mention it has forced a ridiculous 22 total turnovers in seven games.

As a side note, the one game the Hawkeyes did start off hot was its contest against Arkansas State at home, when Iowa held a 14-7 advantage before the break. And we all remember how that one turned out.

Iowa got complacent, letting the Red Wolves hang around in the second half before eking out a 24-21 win.

Plus, the offense has shown flashes of explosiveness in the third and fourth quarters, with a balanced scoring attack on the ground and through the air. And the way Iowa emphasizes special teams, that area will always be an asset for the Hawkeyes.

Obviously, getting off to quick starts would be beneficial, both for the team and the fans. But letting up is always a possibility, as evidenced by Arkansas State.

Iowa is currently ranked sixth in the BCS standings and seventh in the AP poll.

For now, I’m fine with the theme of starting slow. It’s worked so far.

— by Robbie Lehman

NO

The Iowa Hawkeyes are 7-0 for the first time since 1985 and currently sit at sixth in the first BCS rankings.

For the life of me, I can’t begin to comprehend how this happened.

Iowa’s Oct. 17 road win against Wisconsin falls in line with the inexplicable lethargy the Hawkeyes stumble into during the opening half of every game played this season.

The Black and Gold spotted the Badgers 10 points in the first two quarters before awakening in the third and fourth, scoring 17 unanswered points.

The Hawkeyes let Michigan rack up 14 points in the first quarter, including Stanzi’s first-play pick-six. The same was true against Penn State, allowing a 10-point first quarter, and against Northern Iowa, when Iowa trailed at the end of the first half, 10-3.

Against Arizona, Iowa did just enough to win.

At home, playing a 1-4 Sun Belt team in Arkansas State, Iowa actually came out of the gates rocking, grabbing an early 14-point lead. The Hawkeyes then followed the first quarter with a typical return to slumber town, letting the Red Wolves outscore them, 21-10, from the second quarter on.

Only when facing archrival Iowa State did the Hawkeyes play a complete game.

If last weekend’s falling of Virginia Tech and Ohio State is any indication of the fragility of success, Iowa is in no way, shape, or form playing at a level that convinces me it’s is above being upset.

If Iowa strolls into the Horseshoe and hands Ohio State 14, 10, or even seven free points, I don’t like the Hawkeyes’ chances for an undefeated season.

Iowa would be wise to avoid snoozing during the first half against Michigan State. The same goes for its supposed gimme games against the Hoosiers, Wildcats, and Golden Gophers as well.

Iowa has never been a team known for winning the “easy” games.

Sports folk love proclaiming that Kirk Ferentz’s teams always start slowly, then pick it up toward the end of the season. If that is the case, then the time to start playing has arrived.

It is time to prove the “Iowa is a fluke” contingent they are wrong, because if the Hawkeyes continue down this path, Iowa will be sent back down to also-ran status faster then you can say “overrated.”

— by Sean Morgan