Iowa picks up 38-28 win @ Michigan on the Wolverines Homecoming to remain undefeated in the Big Ten

The Iowa Hawkeyes win for the fourth time over Michigan in the coach Kirk Ferentz era. Iowa has back to back wins under coach Ferentz in 2002-2003 and now in 2009-2010.

The Hawkeyes (5-1, 2-0 Big Ten) won 38-28 over Rich Rodriquez and his Michigan Wolverines (5-2, 1-2 Big Ten) to spoil Homecoming festivities in Ann Arbor. Iowa is now 4-5 as a Homecoming guest at Michigan.

Iowa, which did not commit a turnover, is 2-0 in the Big Ten Conference with
wins over Penn State and Michigan. It is the second consecutive Hawkeye win in
the series and their first in the Big House since 2002. The Wolverines are 5-2,
1-2.

Points fly, teeth chatter during 38-28 Iowa win - University of Iowa
Hawkeyes build 21-point lead, improve to 2-0 in the Big Ten Conference ...

The game in Ann Arbor resembled a past Iowa game in 2002. The road opener @ Penn State, where Iowa build up a big lead, only to see the home team strike back. Unlike the 2002 game, Michigan couldn't get it tied up, as Iowa was able to get a key late field goal from true freshman Mike Meyers. Like 2002, Iowa won in Ann Arbor and on the Wolverines' Homecoming, again.

"This is a happy lockerroom. Winning on the road is difficult anywhere.
Winning on the road in this league is really difficult." - Iowa coach Kirk
Ferentz

Big Plays Key to Big Win - The University of Iowa
Big plays by a number of Hawkeyes key to big win over Michigan ...

"It was a great team effort," who noted Iowa's 4-0 advantage in
turnovers. "They are always critical to the outcome, particularly in league
games, and proved to be again today." - Kirk Ferentz

• Senior WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos receiving - 3 TD receptions
• Sophomore RB Adam Robinson's running and receiving - 2 TD runs
• Senior QB Ricky Stanzi's composure, after a couple slow starts to open each half
• Junior S Tyler Sash's interception and block FG return in the first half
• Senior DT Karl Klug's forced fumble in the Iowa red zone to end a Wolverine drive in the 3Rd quarter
• Iowa's red zone success, while Iowa's defense stepped up and spoiled the Wolverines twice in the red zone
• True freshmen PK Mike Meyers converted on all five XPs and his 30 yard FG attempt

Postgame Notes - The Unversity of Iowa
Iowa vs. Michigan ...

The 38 points scored by the Hawkeyes are the most for Iowa in the series against Michigan. Iowa scored 37 points in 1958. This series with Michigan has been a very exciting one, since the 1981 game in Ann Arbor, in coach J. Hayden Fry's third season. Like 2002 and 2010, Iowa won the 1981 game.Coach Kirk Ferentz was in his first season as an offensive line coach at Iowa in 1981.

Iowa's path to the Rose Bowl and a Big Ten Championship doesn't get any easier in the final six games. Iowa will host back to back home games at Kinnick Stadium to close out October. Wisconsin (6-1, 2-1 Big Ten) and Michigan State (7-0, 3-0 Big Ten) are up next for the Hawkeyes in back to back Saturdays.

peace

Will #13 Iowa get it done in the Big House @ Michigan in Week 7?

Iowa has enjoyed some nice victories in Ann Arbor over Michigan. The 1981 game in coach J. Hayden Fry's third season was a huge 9-7 win for the Hawkeyes. The Hawkeyes won in 1990 by the score of 24-23, with a late TD, then a interception to seal the game for Iowa.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz in his fourth season at the helm picked up a huge win in Ann Arbor. The 2002 Hawkeyes beat Michigan 34-9 in Ann Arbor.

Now, we have #13 Iowa (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) @ Michigan (5-1, 1-1 Big Ten) for the Wolverines Homecoming game. Will Iowa pull off another Homecoming game win against the Wolverines in Ann Arbor? They did in 2002, as Hawkeyes took it to the Wolverines in the second half on way to Iowa's lone 8-0 season in Big Ten play and a share of the Big Ten title.

How strong will Iowa's veteran team play in Ann Arbor on Saturday? None of the Iowa players have played at Ann Arbor, since Iowa's last game in the Big House was in 2006. Iowa is coming off a bye week, so will the Hawkeyes get off to a strong start or will they start slow?

Iowa senior QB Ricky Stanzi is 21-5 as a starting QB, while Michigan sophomore QB Denard Robinson is 5-1 as a starter. Stanzi is #3 in the country in QB rating, while Robinson is the top dual threat QB in the country right now.

Iowa sophomore RB Adam Robinson is the #1 guy for the Hawkeyes now. He didn't have a good outing in his first road game of the season at Arizona. Iowa needs their Robinson to play well. Michigan's sophomore RB Vincent Smith and junior RB Michael Shaw haven't made the yards on the ground that Denard Robinson has, but could they figure more into the offense vs. Iowa?

Iowa has a talented group of receivers and tight ends. Senior WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos could become the leading receiver lifetime in either yards or receptions for the Hawkeyes today in Ann Arbor. TE Tony Moeaki is playing on Sunday's now, but look for the Iowa TEs to play a huge role in Ann Arbor. Success at TE may be the difference as Iowa looks to click on offense in the Big House. Senior Allen Reisner and junior Brad Herman are players to watch on Saturday.

The Hawkeye defense is missing two outstanding LBs from last season. Thus far, the Hawkeyes have not yielded a scoring TD on the ground on defense this season. Will Denard Robinson and the Michigan Wolverines make Iowa pay on the ground on Homecoming? Iowa has one of the outstanding defensive lines in the country in 2010.

The linebackers are the key in Saturday's game at Ann Arbor. Will senior MLB Jeff Tarparian play, after injury knocks him out of back to back games? Will Iowa see true freshman James Morris leading the team in Ann Arbor? Tall order, if the youngster must step in and play for 60 minutes.

Iowa over Michigan has a nice ring to it. Illinois pulled off a big win at Penn State last week and we are taking Iowa @ Michigan by the same score. Defense trumps Michigan's offense. Look for Iowa to take control in the second half and beat Michigan in Ann Arbor to spoil the Wolverines Homecoming.

Prediction:

#13 Iowa 33

Michigan 13

in the Big House<>

peace

Hats off to our Player of the Game @ Wisconsin for Iowa

#15 Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, WR Iowa

Great game from the junior wide receiver out of the Cleveland, Ohio area. Johnson-Koulianos had game-high totals of eight receptions for 113 yards.

peace

20 unanswered points by Iowa fuels the Hawkeyes to a 20-10 win in Madison over the Badgers!

Iowa moves to 7-0 on the season, 3-0 in the conference and more importantly, 42-41-2 in the series with Wisconsin. Iowa keeps it's #2 winning streak in FBS with a solid second half and 20-10 victory at Wisconsin.

• Derrell Johnson-Koulianos over 100 yards receiving


• TDs by Iowa RB Adam Robinson and TE Tony Moeaki


• Iowa forces Wisconsin into 3 interceptions to lead the FBS in that stat!


• Solid coaching game plan in Madison for the Hawkeyes!

No. 11 Iowa stays perfect, beats Wisconsin 20-10 ‎ - The Associated Press
11 Iowa needed a second-half road rally to keep its perfect season alive, coming back to beat Wisconsin 20-10 Saturday. Trailing by a touchdown at halftime, ...

Iowa football: Hawkeyes win, alone in 1st in Big Ten -DesMoinesRegister.com
Iowa rallied in the second half to beat Wisconsin 20-10 today to stay unbeaten. The victory, coupled with Ohio State's loss at Purdue, propelled the ...

Final: Iowa 20, Wisconsin 10 - ESPN
Big second half sends Iowa to 20-10 victory over Wisconsin - Journal Times

As Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said after the loss at Purdue today, "Football is a game of pressure!" Iowa moves to the top of the Big Ten standings at 3-0, with Purdue's 26-18 win in West Lafayette, over Ohio State (2-1).

peace

Will Iowa get a boost heading into Penn State this week?

Iowa trio left off depth chart for Penn State game - USA Today

• Tight End Tony Moeaki


• Wide Receiver Derrell Johnson-Koulianos


• Left Tackle Bryan Bulaga

Will any of the three be back for No. 20 Iowa for Saturday's game at No. 7 Penn State?

Penn State vs. Iowa Game Notes‎ - GoPSUsports.com
60th year on Penn State staff...all-time leader in career wins among FBS (1-A) coaches...300 wins faster than any coach in NCAA history. ...

Penn State's Lee injures left knee‎ - Pittsburgh Post Gazette

peace

Banners are up: One week until kickoff at Kinnick Stadium

The University of Iowa is a week away from kickoff of the 2008 college football season. One of the many banners is now up and ready for next Saturday's kickoff.

Iowa in '07 finished .500, with 4-4 in the Big Ten and 6-6 overall. Though the Hawkeyes were bowl eligible, they stayed home for the first time, since 2000.

Injuries were a problem for a young team in '07. It appears as many as three starters will be sidelined for the season opener, vs. the Maine Black Bears. TE Tony Moeaki, WR Troy Stross and G Dan Doering will likely be out. Moeaki missed a significant amount of time in '07, after going down in the Big Ten opener, at Wisconsin, in '07, and missing the rest of the season.

Iowa's defense, especially the front 7, appears to be the strength of the Hawkeye team entering 2008. The Hawkeye defense finished #12 in points allowed nationally, in '07. Another strength is sophomore punter Ryan Donahue, who set an Iowa record with 86 punts last year.

The real question in 2008 is how much the offense improves, including the offensive line. Iowa ranked #110 in offensive scoring, #92 in rushing, #94 in passing and #109 in total offense, all nationally, in '07. The offensive line allowed 46 sacks, sixth highest in the nation and first year starting QB Jake Christensen took a lot of abuse, both by opponents and by Hawkeye fans, who questioned why the 2nd string QB didn't see more snaps in '07.

Five things to like about Iowa entering 2008:

1. Four year starters in DTs Matt Kroul and Mitch King anchor the Iowa front 7.
2. Iowa's linebacker corp is loaded with non-seniors and is lead by #2 tackler junior A.J. Edds. The future is bright and Edds may be Iowa's next great linebacker.
3. Iowa returns #1 WR Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, a sophomore from Ohio, and fellow WR senior Andy Brodell returns from injury, after missing almost the entire Big Ten season in '07.
4. Iowa has a veteran coaching staff, but welcomes a new WR/TE coach from Michigan, in Erik Campbell, who spent the past 13 seasons as the Wolverines receiver coach. This is Kirk Ferentz's tenth season as Iowa's head football coach and 19th overall (OL coach from '81 to '89 under coach J Hayden Fry).
5. Iowa played 11 true freshmen and 31 total freshmen in '07. Still a young team in many ways, experience will be a boost in '08 with 50 letterwinners returning for the Hawkeyes (Starters returning: 7 offense, 5 defense, 2 special teams).

Five questions that Iowa must answer in '08, if they are going to improve:

1. Iowa returns all five starters in the O-Line and everyone in the two deep, but can they stay healthy and build team chemistry to open up running lanes and protect the Iowa QB?
2. Who steps in at Running Back? Iowa's top 3 ball carriers from '07 and #1 fullback have departed. Iowa does receive a boost from junior RB #23 Shonn Greene, returning after a season at a JC to concentrate on academics. Greene is a two year letterwinner though.
3. QB Jake Christensen was the league's lowest-rated passer based on passing efficiency and second string QB Ricky Stanzi was 0-4 with 1 int in '07. Will Iowa get production from the Top 2 or will a newcomer emerge during the course of the season? As coach Ferentz has pointed out a number of times, junior Christensen's progression as a starting QB at Iowa, may draw similar comparisons to former Iowa QB Matt Rodgers in '89. Like Christensen as a sophomore, Rodgers had a rough first year as a starter, but was successful in his final two seasons as an upper classmen... can Christensen repeat history for Iowa?
4. How will injuries and depth impact Iowa in '08?
5. Iowa must replace two departed CBs, like in '02. Like '02, Iowa returns a part-time starter at CB (senior Bradley Fletcher) and will depend on youth. Will the secondary develop in '08 feeding off the strength of Iowa's front 7?

Projection for Iowa in '08: 5-3 in Big Ten, and depending on Iowa State and Pitt games, Iowa's overall record will rebound from 6-6 in '07 to 8-4 or 9-3 in '08.

You can catch the Iowa opener, August 30th, with an 11 am kickoff on the Big Ten Network, from Kinnick Stadium. Iowa has finished in the Big Ten top division six out the past seven years... will 2008 make it 7 out of 8?

peace