The "Black Boycott" left some scars on both sides and may have been the first push toward the ouster of Nagel, who seemed to have turned the corner the previous season. Iowa was 5–5 in 1969; the season was both disappointing and encouraging. The Hawkeyes had failed to post a winning record and did not contend for the Big Ten title, but considering all of the off-season turmoil caused by the boycott, the record could have been worse. Optimism was high for the 1970 season, as there were a lot of young players returning from the 1969 squad.