Saturday, November 23, 2013

Michigan State wins; while Iowa and Nebraska both win 3 point games ahead of Black Friday

Big Ten Conference | Logo Design LoveMichigan State (10-1, 7-0) claims the Big Ten Legends Division title with a 30-6 win over Northwestern (4-7, 0-7) in Evanston.

Ohio State (11-0, 7-0) clinches the Leaders Divison with a 42-14 win over Indiana (4-7, 2-5) on Senior Day in Columbus.

Wisconsin (9-2, 6-1) beat Minnesota (7-3, 4-3) 20-7 in Minneapolis, while Illinois (4-7, 1-6) finally won a Big Ten game in two years, with a 20-16 road win at Purdue (1-10, 0-7).
University of Iowa senior linebackers Anthony Hitchens and Christian Kirksey head to the Kinnick Stadium locker room a final time as players Nov. 23.
Smiles, as Iowa senior
linebackers Anthony
Hitchens and Christian
Kirksey celebrate win

Iowa rebounds from a 21-7 deficit at halftime and over came four turnovers to pull out a 24-21 win over Michigan (6-5, 3-4) on Senior Day at Kinnick Stadium.

Nebraska takes over in overtime in Happy Valley to defeat Penn State (6-5, 3-4) 23-21 on a 42 yard field goal by senior placekicker Pat Smith.


Heroes Game white, 300 wide
Who will win Heroes Game III?

Iowa (7-4, 4-3) closes out the regular season Nov. 29, facing Nebraska (8-3, 5-2) in the annual Heroes Game beginning at 11 a.m. (CT) in Lincoln on ABC at 11 a.m.

Iowa hasn't beat Nebraska, since 1981, when the Hawkeyes opened the season with a 10-7 upset win over the Cornhuskers. Nebraska was coached by then head coach Dr. Tom Osborne.

In two games played in the Big Ten Conference, Nebraska has won 20-7 in Lincoln in 2011 and 13-7 in Iowa City in 2012.

Kirk Ferentz reflecting on the process, since last year's loss vs. Nebraska to finish 4-8.  Ferentz was asked the following question after the 24-21 win over  Michigan. Talk about doubling your win total from a year ago. How did the program get here from there?

Iowa's Kirk Ferentz is the dean
of Big Ten head coaches in his
15th season in Iowa City


"Well, we've been taking it a step at a time, a week at a time. It all started right after the season when we met. We figured we'd get plenty of suggestions, plenty of critiques from the outside, so we didn't spend too much time on that. But our attitude is we're going to go back to work and try to do what we do, do it better, do it with more quality, and just see if we couldn't improve."

"Again, I've said it many times, I continue to give to credit to our senior class. They've done a wonderful job, and our juniors have been great too. We have a lot of guys that act like seniors in that junior class. They've set the tempo. It's one thing to walk into a meeting and talk about what we're supposed to do, but to win and to be a good team, it's all about the players taking and going with it. And this team has had ownership. They've been really committed. They've worked hard."

"That's probably the reason I'm happiest that we won today. It was a nice payback for all the things that they've done where people don't see the things that they do and the hard work they put in and all of that. I know their players do the same thing, but it's all about the players, I guess, is what I'm trying to say. It's all about the older players showing the younger guys the way. Can't say enough about these seniors and juniors, they've done a good job and stayed the course."


Other Big Ten Games, which will be played November 30th:

- Ohio State at Michigan
- Penn State at Wisconsin
- Purdue at Indiana
- Northwestern at Illinois
- Minnesota at Michigan State

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