Gerry DiNardo has put his stake in the ground. In a recent interview, DiNardo sees some good things coming for Iowa Hawkeyes football, and says that he believes they can win 8-9 games this season. That’s a pretty big stab at assuming that the Hawks will be able to improve upon a so-so year even in the face of the legal issues that the team has had.

When I read this article, I thought…”Wow, maybe I am just not thinking straight here…” But then I read some of the reactions of fans and non-fans of Iowa saying things like:

“Iowa’s chances of winning 8-9 games are about as good as the team having a clean police record for the season.” Ouch.

“DiNardo played sans helmet.” Double ouch.

Obviously, the fanbase (or lack thereof) doesn’t give much validation to DiNardo or faith in the Hawkeye program to make this big of a leap. I would think that making a mid-level bowl and maybe squeaking out 7 wins would be a coup this year in the face of all that is going on and some still unanswered questions at different positions.

Of course, if DiNardo would have said last year that Illinois would win 9 games last year, I am sure the same types of commentary would have been said. So….anything’s possible, folks.