Iowa wins Heartland Trophy 38-16 over Wisconsin

The Iowa Hawkeyes (5-3, 2-2 Big Ten) take care of business for the second straight week, ending two game skids each to IU and now to Wisconsin (3-4, 0-4 Big Ten), in back to back weeks. The Hawkeyes got off to a strong start, scoring on it's first possession and taking a 14-3 lead into halftime.

The game got tight for a moment at 14-9, after the Badgers tacked on two field goals in the third quarter. But, for the Badgers, it was too much RB Shonn Greene on offense by the Hawkeyes. The Hawkeye RB ran for 4 touchdowns on 217 yards rushing.

Coach Bret Bielema for Wisconsin has his work cut out for him. His '08 team has lost four straight game, but overall, it's a team that lacks depth, separation on offense and overall poor execution.

The Hawkeyes have found a way to clean up their miscues and turnovers... have fun and win some ball games, after losing three straight by a total of nine points at Pitt, vs. Northwestern and at Michigan State. While Iowa was defeated in all three of those games... overall, I'll take Iowa in a re-match against any of the three.

Iowa has a bye week up next, while Wisconsin will host Illinois (4-3, 2-2 Big Ten) in Madison. The Hawkeyes have four Big Ten games left and could finish strong in '08, if they can take care of business in November with games at Illinis, vs. Penn State, vs. Purdue and at Minnesota following the bye week.

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What are we going to eat: Hawkeyes plan on Badger meat

The Battle of the Heartland Trophy today at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.

Iowa Hawkeyes (4-3, 1-2 Big Ten)

vs.

Wisconsin Badgers (3-3, 0-3 Big Ten)

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz vs. former Iowa player/assisitant and now Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema, with Bielema going for third straight over his alma mater.

Last year, Iowa competed well at Wisconsin, but the more consistent offense and strong Badger team won 17-13 in the four quarters of play. Wisconsin's QB Tyler Donovan, who lead the Badgers to 2-0 the past two years vs. Iowa has graduated.

Iowa's offesne in '07 was the weakest in the Big Ten. The return of RB Shonn Greene and the elevation of QB Ricky Stanzi to starter has improved Iowa vastly over the '07 edition. Wisconsin's offense has been inconsistent in '08.

Finding a QB has been important for both programs in '08. It appears Iowa has found one in Ricky Stanzi. Wisconsin has been inconsistent with Allan Evridge under center, so will it be Everidge or will Dustin Sherer make his first start. Tyler Donovan's first start was at Iowa, two years ago, leading the Badgers to a 24-21 win over Iowa to close out Iowa's Big Ten season at Kinnick.

Run defense has been good for Iowa this season. Special teams overall have improved.

The Badgers can't be taken lightly, especially with the Heartland Trophy on the line. But, with questions at QB, a young coach (third season, but a season where more of his talent must shine), and some inexperience at key positions, like at kicker and punter, on the road... conventional wisdom favors the home team.

Field position, run defense, miscues and turnovers will be huge in this game. In many ways, other than the game being in Iowa City, the game may be more of a toss up. Does a disappointing off the field distraction hurt Iowa? Off the field distractions hurt Iowa vs. Western Michigan in '07, so does Iowa keep it's focus?

Prediction:

Iowa Hawkeyes 20

Wisconsin Badgers 13

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Heatland Trophy Game: Iowa vs. Wisconsin this Saturday

It should be an interesting chess match between Iowa's coach Kirk Ferentz and Wisconsin's coach Bret Bielema. Iowa enters the game in the 7th place with a 1-2 record in the Big Ten. Wisconsin is tied for the cellar at 0-3.

Actually, the coaching staff will be involved in an interesting chess match.

Both fan bases have had their frustration at times with their respective coaching staffs. Both teams have experienced issues at quarterback this season.

In many ways, this game is a battle of youth vs. experience in the coaching staffs.

Iowa's defensive coordinator is Norm Parker, a wise veteran, who has experienced success at two conference schools. While, Bret Bielema cut ties with his defensive coordinator from '07 and promoted a younger man for the job this season. Some of the challenges on the defensive side for Wisconsin could be attributed to youth in the coaching staff.

On the field, both Iowa and Wisconsin are young at various positions.

Iowa has lost two straight to Wisconsin. Last year's game was a a close battle, but Wisconsin really controlled the game.

It will be interesting to see how the first quarter goes for each team. Iowa just ended a three game losing streak with an important road win at Indiana, 45-9, this past weekend. On the flip side, Wisconsin is on a three game losing streak highlighted this past weekend by a 7-48 loss at home to my #2 team in the nation, Penn State.

This is a huge game for Iowa, since a bye week will follow this weekend's game with Wisconsin. The Badgers likely want to get the losing ways out of their system too.

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Kirk Ferentz opens his 10th season at Iowa in '08

Tenth season as Head Coach, that is.

Kirk Ferentz first arrived in Iowa City in 1981. J. Hayden Fry, entering his third season as Iowa's head football coach, hired the young Ferentz, to be Iowa's offensive line coach.

Iowa hit paydirt in the 1981 Big Ten season, winning Coach Fry's Big Ten title and Iowa's first of three Rose Bowl trips under Coach Fry.

From 1981 to 1989, Ferentz helped groom Iowa's offensive line into one of the best in the Big Ten. From 1981 to 1988, Iowa went to 8 straight bowl games, including two Rose Bowls. But, after the 1989 season, a season where Iowa finished 5-6, Ferentz accepted his first college head coaching job.

Ironically, as Ferentz enters his tenth season as Iowa's head football coach, he will be facing his former school, he left Iowa for in 1989: the Maine Bears. The Hawkeyes open the 2008 football season on August 30th vs. those same Maine Bears.

Kirk Ferentz has had a roller-coaster ride at Iowa over the past 9 seasons. Ferentz, his staff, team and Hawkeye fans are all hoping that the roller-coaster is aiming for a climb again, after hitting a valley the past 3 seasons.

• 1999-2001 Ferentz and Iowa went 1-10, 3-9 and 7-5 winning the Alamo Bowl in '01
• 2002-2004 Iowa's best three year's ever: 11-2, 10-3 and 10-2; 2-1 in New Year bowls
• 2005-2007 Ferentz and Iowa went 7-5, 6-7 and 6-6; finishing 0-2 in bowl games

Like the eight year run in the 1980's for Iowa; and like the five year run from 2001 to 2005, Iowa's offensive and defensive line play were major keys for the University of Iowa's success both nationally and in the Big Ten. If Kirk Ferentz and his staff are going to make the journey up from the valley again... the play of both the offensive and defensive lines will be huge keys.

Further, solid quarterback play and special teams have been an important part of the Ferentz formula. Coach Ferentz will open the 2008 season against his former school that he coached at. UConn is his alma mater as a student-athlete.

• August 30th, Maine @ Iowa
• September 6th, Florida International U @ Iowa
• September 13th, Iowa State @ Iowa for the Cy-Hawk Trophy
• September 20th, Iowa @ Pittsburgh for the 2008 road opener
• September 27th, Northwestern @ Iowa for Big Ten Conference opener & Homecoming
• October 4th, Iowa @ Michigan State (Kirk Ferentz has never won as HC @ East Lansing)
• October 11th, Iowa @ Indiana
• October 18th, Wisconsin @ Iowa for the Heartland Trophy
• October 25th, Bye week for the Iowa football program
• November 1st, Iowa @ Illinois
• November 8th, Penn State @ Iowa
• November 15th, Purdue @ Iowa for Senior Day
• November 22nd, Iowa @ Purdue for the Battle of the Floyd of Rosedale Trophy

2008-09 Bowl Season for College Football

My cidsports 2008 projection... for Iowa is a 5-3 or better mark in the Big Ten and 8 wins or better could be possible... certainly Iowa needs the O-Line, D-Line, special teams and quarterback play to all fall into place for improvement. There have been some clear deficiencies the past three seasons in Iowa City. Coach Ferentz and his coaching staff have there work cut out for them.

Comments entering Kirk Ferentz's 9th season

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