Twitter question: Can you win a national title at Iowa?

This is the night, the BCS title game. It's been built up to unbelievable heights this year, with the Nike-endorsed Oregon and the SEC-powerball Auburn.

Someone walks away with a crystal football. Someone might walk away with a crystal football and a Gene Chizik commemorative coin.

Can you picture the Hawkeyes in this setting? Well, you can, I know that, but, for Iowa, can it move from a picture in your mind to a reality on your glass and plastic box (TV)?

I asked Twitter this:

Can you win a national championship at Iowa? (Please, hammer away here one and all.)

Here are your responses. The phrase "perfect storm" was used quite a bit.

@iowahawkeyes If you're a wrestler. #oniowa #hawkeyes

@rwendt40 As long as Iowa stays in the Big Ten Conference the answer is yes.

@chrisbrase Yes, as long as we don't play Northwestern! :)

@kvnrbnsn YES in any sport.

@ChadAustinSD If Oregon can get in the game, with their local recruiting pool, so can we. (Local Cedar Rapids, ie Christian French.)

@mcjordansc Dan Gable, Jim Zalesky and Tom Brands say yes! (I meant football, but it's certainly OK to acknowledge the wonderful accomplishments of Iowa's wrestling team.)

@mikecondon Sure you can, if the stars align...Oh wait, that didn't work so well this year. But yes, it could happen, but not likely. (Reference to The Gazette's preseason publication, "If the stars align.")

@jkrodgers Of course. The Wrestling team just won 3 in a row. (See, OK to talk wrestling.)

@jordangarretson That's a tough one.

@stmillr Been saying it for years -- no. Absolutely not. That would be a Miracle-esque story if it ever happened. (Straight talk from Daily Iowan's Scott Miller. There are more than a few of these responses.)

@MattLaCasse I think you can. It takes more work than at OSU/FL/AL etc., but it is possible. Especially w/ the BXI champ game starting.

@jryansims I see no reason why not.

@Michael_Thorsen Possible-yes, probable-no. Bad weather/small market makes recruiting hard plus not deep in-state talent pool.

@HawkDad3 Can you? Yes. Will it happen? Alot of chips need to fall the right way ala 2002 reg season.

@JoeFavia Yes, you can. It would take the perfect storm of recruiting, coaching, schedule and luck.

@msmith697 We have the last 3 years, go wrestling! if you meant fball no way. BigTen championship is ceiling. Can't handle expectations.

@law_talking_guy Sure you can. Iowa wasn't that far away from being in position a couple of years ago, and in one game, anything can happen.

@rod_leviathan I think so. Everything has to fall into place, but it can happen. A few different bounces this year & it happens.

@QZLPatriotHawk It would have to be a year when it was not expected like 09 but the odds r low at that. One spec. player IE Newton could help.

@iowahawkeyes Probability for most teams is small, so I don't see that as an IA problem. it's a crap shoot anywhere save FL, TX, USC.

@ihawkeyes911 I think it is possible. As long as they keep having winning seasons and keep recruiting top talent.

@RDKluss Why not? With any regularity? Probably Not. I believe this staff is capable of putting together a team that's up to the task.

@msmith697 Iowa can't win with only 3 star recruits. Kirk gets the most from them, but there's a reason they are 3stars in the 1st place. (I don't buy the "star" system, but there simply is no arguing that some programs are more "developmental" than others.)

@bucketochicken But seriousishly, yes, of course. As we lack the depth of the "elites" we'd need every single bounce to go our way, but yes.

@Mbranstad Yes and it will happen in my lifetime. With the right time and right talent, it can and will happen.

@jfahr Yes, but not until the B1G TEN gets its bowl reputation fixed and only with a 12-0 season while only 1 other team goes 12-0.

@oompahead I think you can. But it will have to be one of those magical seasons. Stars will have to align. B10 will need to be up.

@jeremiah4374 It would be comparable to Arkansas. It is possible but highly unlikely.

@michaelgraham Yes. Because of its #B1G affiliation. If not possible, why was so there so much buzz about it this past off-season. (High preseason rank fueled expectations. I'm sure the team felt that in some way, shape, form. I'm sure they wanted it, too. There's a time when you kind of feel as though something like that is possible. Only the team can answer that, though. When I was a senior at Dubuque Wahlert, we started the season ranked No. 2. When we heard that, I don't think we believed it. We finished 4-5. I'm not bitter, anymore. But actually, you can draw some parallels. We were a smaller Catholic school. We couldn't afford injuries and had them. We had to play perfectly and we certainly did not.)

@mcjordansc The answer is yes, Iowa can win a national championship. Undefeated in Big10 - they did that in 2002 & 2 championship games.

@jkrodgers Think it is possible for football as well. Close to one in '02. Inherent advantages being in B10. Increasing talent level.

@gchristeson Football will in the next 5 years. It's almost there, recruits are looking better all the time. (Boldest tweet yet.)

@ColoradoHawkeye Very difficult given recruiting base, competition/conference, etc. And would need to lower standards (ie, Nebby, all of SEC).

@HawkeyeFos Yes and we are almost there.

@ksteinkamp Wrestling does it all the time. :) Could happen for football I suppose... think its more of a 'once in a lifetime' chance.

@ChadWhisnant I'd like to hope so. It's so tough - last year was close, but a bad break in one game, and you're out. The margin is so small. (You can say that about almost every game the last few years. See Indiana this year.)

@briandavispdx Sure, but EVERYTHING has to go right; no injuries, no early NFL departures, every1 fully buys in, and some lucky bounces.

@oompahead Iowa is never going to be the dream location for top recruits. If it ever happens, it will b bad news bears against the world.

@rprivera1 As a HawkFan thats tailgating with my AU wife in Glendale I sure hope so. The atmosphere is incredible! (It's OK to boo this man as we hunkered for snow here in Iowa. Never mind that I was in his very shoes from Dec. 21 through 29.)

@nealwiebers I believe it's possible-need to play Ferentz-brand conservative football and have a string of luck like 2009. not likely tho. (A combo of 2002's killer precision with 2009 good fortune?)

@Slate36 Absolutely, need the perfect storm - great recruiting classes back-to-back, no attrition to injuries or NFL, and lots of luck. (Great point on the NFL underclassmen. Taking a bite every year now.)

@b_wolfson35 No way in hell. (Harsh reality? It's a fair opinion.)

@China_Wall Yes, except in football, tennis, gymnastics, volleyball, cross country, T&F, baseball, or both golf & basketball teams. (We seem to have struck a pessimistic vein.)

@tmorganjr It's possible, but I also dream of world peace and commercially viable spaceships. (Pessimistic vein.)

@buckmark1 No. (Buckeye fan. The man wants to keep you down, Hawkeye fans.)

@tombuchheim Yes. It takes the perfect storm, tho. Everything would have to fall into place. Few/no injuries, tough enough sked, big wins. (Tom brings up an excellent point. If Iowa doesn't start as a preseason top 10, it needs to have an impressive non-conference win or maybe two for a rise in the polls.)

@Shaw2122 It was done in 1958, but that was a different time. Ferentz has built a program that makes it possible, wouldn't be shocked. (It's true, though not official.)

@briandavispdx E.g., 2010 team would've contended if Bulaga, Spievey, Wegher returned, Hampton & LBs stayed healthy, and no DJK issues. (Yes, yes and yes. With Bulaga, Iowa has a great shot at AZ. Still, would special team woes have factored? Have to say yes, but that's a lot of quality artillery Iowa said goodbye to from '09 to '10, most of it unexpected, too.)

@ChrisCinco If we can find a way to consistently beat Northwestern, then I think it might be possible. (It's true and probably more frustrating for Iowa fans every year.)

@Shaw2122 If he made it happen, he's gotten to a couple BCS bowl games and 4 top ten finishes, why is that the ceiling? (Early-season breakage? The only answer for 2002. Oh, the "what ifs" over that ISU game, one of the best games I've covered.)

@ChrisCinco And if we can turn close games consistently into victories, that will also help.

@joeyhawkeye Absolutely. They couldve done what Wisky did this year and mightve been in the NC. The BT Title game will help too.

@CarverCorner24 Yes absolutely. Need a down year from other programs, lighter non-conf schedule, 7-8 home games. NEED DOMINANT PLAYMAKER!!

@iowahawkeyes Iowa has better odds at winning a national title in football than at least 90% of the other schools. So... Yes. (This man knows math.)

@ChrisCinco Bottom line is that we could, but you could make this same argument for a lot of other schools.

@cmweber01 Yes, an undefeated season along with a strong Big Ten can lift IA into #1. Loss by other powerhouses wouldn't hurt.

@joeyhawkeye Even look at last year. Stanzi doesn't get hurt, they couldve been undefeated. It won't be easy but I think Iowa can. 

@Tgraybill26 If Oregon and auburn can why can't Iowa?

@asya619 Honestly, the only Nat'l Champ that I believe Iowa can and will win with any regularity (or at all) is Wrestling.

@ksteinkamp Scary thought on winning NC... the bad fans would get worse. What would they complain about? Who would they want fired? (There will always be complaining. At least as long as @China_Wall is around. Kidding, kidding.)

@jtlinder Only if the stars align. (Reference to Gazette preseason mag.)

@kvnrbnsn Yes Dynasties in FB do not exist like hoops Plyrs want field time not titles so parody is alive. 2011 NC game classic example.

@pfac51 If #IowaFootball can win all 12 games by 14 + points & pound #OhioState in conf title gm, they have a shot at MNC if SEC team doesn't suck all the votes.

@kvnrbnsn Iowa's talent level & depth will continue as we are known as an NFL prep U. This increases our Title chances each year. (Iowa and NFL gains more and more traction every year. Unfortunately, it's started sucking in a few underclassmen. That automatically taxes depth going into the next season.)

@NaethanHoaglund Yes, but everything has to fall perfectly.

@HawkeyeCubfan I think we could win a title if our coaches weren't so conservative. I wish KOK would get the job at uconn.

@mhays83 Can SMU come back from death penalty? Yes. Iowa can win a title. With scholarship reductions it has leveled the playing field.

@asya619 We also have to get past nat'l perception that we're not title contenders... as well as our own. Tough.

@DallasMocha I don't think so but I don't think it has as much to do w/our team/talent as it does w/ the Big10 want OSU/MI to be the elite.

@dgodz I'm more confident that Iowa fball will win a title in my lifetime than I am that the Cubs will win the WS. #glassmostlyempty (The Cubs example hits close to home. Wake me up with two outs in the ninth of game 7 with the Cubs up by 15 runs.)

@rockintruckdriv Only during a LSU 2-loss NC type year. (LSU won title with two losses in '07.)

@ScottRenaud No, but I'm ok with it. 9/10/11-win seasons are still great, as long as we have this annual consistency. (This is the line between realism and pessimism.)

@ducttapehero They ran the table in the big10 b4 havn't they. So I'd say why not. It would take the perfect mistake free season but yea.

@Sethbryan Of course you can! Kirk is 1 of the best in the biz & a couple good recruiting classes & lucky bounces ='s NC game. (Uncomfortable with the word "luck." But then again, I'm sure Iowa fans would take it any way they could get it, except maybe a forfeiture.)

@dhill40 Yes but the 'stars have to align' ha! I believe we can. We will not be consistently in the bcs but some year it will happen. (Another "Stars Align" reference. For the record, that wasn't my headline, but funny nonetheless.)

@tprasmussen If Gene Chizik can win a National Championship, anything is possible. Real answer: yes absolutely. Given the perfect storm.

@tanyaprinz I hate to say it - but probably not. Our academic and ethical standards are too high - and I'm okay with that. (I think a lot of Iowa fans would take integrity over a crystal football. Probably 70-30.)

@MetsFanVI Sure. Gable and Brands have proven that.

@mattcahoy I believe that iowa can break through at some point do I have anything to back that up no. But hell oregon and auburn can. (SEC and BCS. Can't have one without the other. I'd like to see the rest of college football rise up to that challenge. Better competition, better games. But the SEC is no-nonsense, no-prisoners football.)

@C_J_Stick Health + Experience. Imagine '08 team with 2010 Stanzi. Or 09 team with Jewel/no Stanzi injury. Or '10 team with healthy LBs.

@AndrewCook20 Get the right personnel in, it could happen.

@deadheadmeet No, not with out a playoff system.

@dgodz That said, Iowa was potentially a Seneca Wallace away from playing in the BCS Title game in '02, so I'd say it is possible.

@dalejones No. Never be able to put together the depth necessary to withstand the rigors of a long college football season. (The depth question is the 800-pound gorilla.)

@zhillebrand Natty championship is possible but need the perfect storm of experience, health, and a little luck.

@bradez11 Believe it CAN be done. think it'd require a perfect storm of other teams losing & opening door for an Iowa to get in & play.

@RecklessSue Depends . . .are we allowed to purchase a good used QB? (Snarky is always welcomed here.)

@mikecondon If they would ever have an injury-free season and a favorable schedule, it could happen, but depth always a question.

@HLGuy49 Absolutely! (Ricky Stanzi's uncle!)

@SBendDouhan UI, more thanother b10 teams, was helped by div. break...we CAN run table v. our 5. Then it's dn 2 rest of schd. NC IS poss. (The division break works, until Michigan wakes up. But even then, Iowa has shown it can trade punches with Michigan, at least more so than Ohio State.)

@gabesturdevant Yes, Iowa can, as long as we keep Coker off the coke, and get rid of O'Keefe.

@jrlinder22 Not impossible. First, gotta have legitimate depth. Then PERFECT storm of schedule, luck, health. Or just adopt Phil Knight. (Phil Knight, Nike CEO. The X Factor for Oregon.)

@grangerhawkmatt Can they? Yes. Will they? Not til a killer instinct becomes part of the program. All champs had killer instinct, cept 02 OSU.

@RoseBowlBound Yes.

@evegoe Any Big Ten team that gets at least one good non-con game on their schedule and runs the table can do it... Why not Iowa? (A little love from a Gophers fan.)

@SBendDouhan Just wish NW was in OSU Div,too...LOL! I might need to rethink my first response ;)

@MJensen52402 Wrestling seems to do OK.

@DBorwig316 Yes, but not easily. Must be a perfect storm.

@michaelsglenn Ever? Of course! Next 10 years? In wrestling, yes. In football, yes/maybe. In basketball, not likely/no.

@chunter11 Isn't that why we are fans? If not, I'd be an ISU or jnw fan. KF has sold me on focusing on B10 champ. Let NC sort itself out.

@chunter11 Isn't that why we are fans? If not, I'd be an ISU or jnw fan. KF has sold me on focusing on B10 champ. Let NC sort itself out. (jNW is "just Northwestern." I don't endorse that, Northwestern.)

@chunter11 Hawks will spend on facilities and staff at elite level. Biggest roadblock is getting elite talent in small state.

@chunter11 Healthy or not it is. So might as well own it. How's that for a Ferentz approved response? (I'd say you nailed it!)

@jeremiah4374 If the tectonics plates under Iowa shift our state so it is a warm weather climate state and we join the SEC then we will have a chance to win a National championship.

Mitchelicious70 I would love to say yes, but until Iowa beats the teams they are supposed to beat, and becomes less vanilla, someone (cont . . .) always catch the team on an off day.

@Mitchelicious70 (realizing I'm ranting) Iowa's philosophy is very good when executed properly, but there is minimal room for error.

@Mitchelicious70 As long as that philosophy can't be executed flawlessly, there is always the potential for a (or five) late game meltdown. (That can happen to any team. It just happened X5 to Iowa this year, so it's a fair example.)

@Mitchelicious70 I realize this makes me sound firmly in the anti-Kirk camp. I'm not trying to portray myself as that, just that some tweaks (in my mind) are needed to help overcome the inevitable slip ups that occur with 18-22 year old men.

@Mitchelicious70 Or you just become the beer connoisseur's version of Phil Knight, and get Iowa the best facilities east of the Rockies ;) (Well, why didn't you say that in the first place!)

@egarver Only in rasslin'.

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Excellent participation. I like getting new voices heard here on the blog. Thank you!

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I like the "Perfect Storms," but I like the term "rogue wave" better for an Iowa title run.

Yes, I think it's possible, but it would have to hit like a rogue wave, the newest -- at least to me -- menace out in ocean travel.

It hits and it devastates boats. It might not sink you, but it's going to have you going into harbor for repairs, at the very least. It's impossible to detect a rogue wave. You don't see it coming and it exacts a physical toll.

I feel like that was Iowa in 2002.

No one knew how physical that group was. The Big Ten certainly didn't see it coming, at least the 8-0 part. It physically devastated teams.

But, yes, it took some luck, too (Purdue and, perhaps, Penn State). Rogue waves sort of start the same way. It takes a series of circumstances and a certain amount of build-up before it's 90-feet high and sinking your Clooney.

OK, I've take the rogue wave too far. I think you get the point.

Enjoy tonight's game and thanks again for your participation.