B1G West Spotlight: #17 Iowa @ #20 Northwestern at Ryan Field on Saturday

The 2015 Northwestern Wildcats will celebrate Homecoming in Week 7 of
the College Football season by hosting Big Ten West rival, the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Evanston, IL -- The #17 Iowa Hawkeyes (6-0, 2-0 B1G West) will travel to Ryan Field to face the #20 Northwestern Wildcats (5-1, 1-1 B1G West) in a key conference game on Saturday with an 11 a.m. kickoff on ABC. The Wildcats will be celebrating Homecoming, as well as the twenty year anniversary of their 8-0 Big Ten championship in 1995. The Wildcats plan to wear new Under Armour throwback jerseys celebrating the 1995 championship season.

Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald was one of the members of the 1995 Big Ten championship team, as his former coach Gary Barnett will return to serve as honorary captain for Saturday's Homecoming game. While there will be no celebration on Saturday, the Iowa Hawkeyes won the Big Ten thirty years ago. The Hawkeyes thirty years ago arrived with a similar 6-0 record for a game at Ryan Field, known then as Dyche Stadium.

Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz during
the 2012 game at Northwestern.
The Wildcats won over the Hawkeyes
28-17 in route to a 10-3 season,
the best year under NU's Pat Fitzgerald.

Iowa holds a 49-24-3 advantage in the series that began with a 12-6 Iowa win in Evanston in 1897. Iowa has won three of the last four meetings, including a 48-7 decision a year ago in Kinnick Stadium. Iowa holds a 23-15-3 advantage in Evanston, but has not played at Ryan Field since 2012. Iowa has lost on its last two visits to Ryan Field, with its last victory in Evanston coming by a 28-17 score in 2007.

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is 7-7 in the Northwestern series, as he enters his 17th season as head coach of the Hawkeyes. The dean of the Big Ten will face, the second most active coach, in the Big Ten, when the Hawkeyes and Wildcats meet. Fitzgerald has a 5-4 record vs. Iowa, now in his tenth season at his alma mater. Ferentz is 2-4 in Evanston.

Injured CB #27 Matthew Harris at
Iowa last year, as he reaches to
tackle Iowa RB #25 Akrum Wadley.
Wadley had a career high 15 carries
and 106 yards rushing in Iowa's
48-6 win over the Wildcats.

On Saturday, in Ann Arbor, junior CB Matthew Harris was carted off the field during the 'Cats 38-0 loss to Michigan. The starting CB has broken bones in his face and will be out for the foreseeable future. "A good time to ask me (about his return) will probably be right after the bye week (at the end of the month)," said Fitzgerald during his Monday press conference with the media.

Iowa Offense vs. Northwestern Defense

Iowa averages 31.7 points per game, the second best scoring offense in the Big Ten. Northwestern allows only 12.2 points per game, third best in the conference. Iowa faced a similar match up in the Big Ten opener at Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes won 10-6 in a four quarter slobber-knocker.

Iowa and Northwestern are tied for second in the league in red zone defense. Both teams have allowed nine scores on 13 trips to the red zone (69.2 percent). Iowa has allowed six touchdowns, while Northwestern has surrendered four.

Northwestern is the least penalized team in the Big Ten.

Iowa and Northwestern ranks fourth and fifth, respectively, in turnover margin. The Hawkeyes are plus-five with a Big Ten-best eight interceptions. Northwestern is plus-three.

Northwestern has no Iowa natives on its roster. Iowa’s roster includes 14 Illinois natives, more than any other outside state. Iowa is coming off a 29-20 win over Illinois, so back to back games vs. Illinois teams for the Hawkeyes.

ONE POINT OF EMPHASIS in the days leading up to that Michigan game, Fitzgerald noted, was the importance of first and second downs. The reason for that was obvious. No team wants to face a third-and-long against any defense, let alone a defense as strong as the Wolverines'.

So Fitzgerald was accurate on Monday when he said, "We put ourselves in third-and-long almost the entire day. With their defense, that's a recipe for disaster. I think they're outstanding, especially up front. But we sure compounded the problem. Not physical enough up front. . . . Up front, we couldn't get any movement on our one-on-ones. That made it tough sledding for Justin (Jackson). We've got to get our run game going. That's our bread-and-butter. We've got to be able to run the football."

Northwestern's leading RB sophomore
#21 Justin Jackson was held in check
by Michigan during the Wildcats'
38-0 loss in Ann Arbor on Saturday.

ANOTHER OF FITZGERALD'S beliefs is that you've got to flush away disappointments and move on, which his 'Cats must certainly do with undefeated Iowa set to visit Ryan Field on Saturday. "You've got to get off the mat. You get knocked down, you don't have the game that you're capable of having, you've got to get up. There's no other choice," he reiterated on Monday.

THE 'CATS, of course, never did manage to run the football against the Wolverines, who limited Jackson to just 25 net yards on his dozen carries. That buttressed a contention often made by Fitzgerald, who regularly avows that Big Ten games are determined by the mano-a-mano combat that goes on in the trenches. He echoed that theme on Monday when he said, "They (Michigan) didn't do anything we didn't prepare for. That's probably where our offensive guys were frustrated."

In last year's game at Iowa,
Justin Jackson wore #28,
as a true freshman. Here
he was tackled by Iowa
DE #34 Nate Meier.

"When I met with some of the Leadership guys on our offense, I said, 'What could we have done differently?' They said, 'Everything you guys showed us last week is exactly what they did.' So got to credit Michigan. They executed, we didn't. We've got to win in those one-on-one situations. We're going to be in them again the next six weeks. There were plenty of times in the first five (weeks) that we did (win). Just got to get back to accomplishing that."

Iowa will seek to duplicate what Michigan was able to do against Northwestern, but the Hawkeyes will have to manage it on the road. And, the Wildcats will be celebrating a 20th anniversary of a championship, along with Homecoming on Saturday at Ryan Field.

Michigan QB #15 Jake Rudock won his
third game against Northwestern.
The past two wins were in an Iowa
uniform, the past two seasons.

"I like the way the guys were this morning. They came with a great attitude. We coached the you-know-what out of them. Put the game away pretty quick and moved on. I think I'll know a lot more tomorrow walking off the field (after practice). But where they were at this morning was a positive place. . . . I think they were mad-- mad at themselves individually, mad at the performance that we did not have. We talked about what did we do in the first five weeks to have that success. It was the way we prepared and obviously the way we performed," Fitzgerald reported on Monday.

MICHIGAN, Fitzgerald also said, is "Playing as hot as anybody in the country." Then, in the next breath, he added, "You'd probably say Iowa is right there with them. We have to rise to the occasion."

SATURDAY is the 'Cats homecoming game. Saturday the 'Cats will honor their 1995 edition that went to the Rose Bowl. Saturday the 'Cats will wear new uniforms designed in tribute to that storied team. But, most importantly, Saturday the 'Cats will face the team that sits atop their division, a team that must be beaten if they hope to achieve their goal of appearing in their conference's title game. "I think there's extra motivation because they're in the driver's seat in the Big Ten West. That's the bottom line," Fitzgerald said of that reality.

"They've put themselves in that position by the way they've played. They've won their games. They've found ways to win close games, tough games. That's a hallmark of (Hawkeye coach) Kirk (Ferentz's) teams. They're tough. They're physical. They do what they do. They do it well. They execute fundamentally. They don't make mistakes. They typically don't beat themselves." - Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald on Iowa

"You've got to execute to beat them," Fitzgerald went on to say about the game with the Hawkeyes this Saturday.

The game on Saturday should be another classic chess match between the Hawkeyes and the Wildcats.

Iowa junior QB #16 C.J. Beathard has
used his feet and his arm to lead the
Hawkeyes to a 6-0 start in 2015.

Each team has a new quarterback at the helm. QB C.J. Beathard is 7-0 as Iowa’s starting quarterback, a record that includes a 3-0 mark on the road, a 4-0 mark at home, and a 3-0 mark in the Big Ten. Numbers include 116-of-199 (58.3) passing for 1,484 yards, 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions, and 221 yards rushing with three rushing touchdowns. The last Iowa quarterback to win his first seven career starts was Matt Sherman, who won seven from 1994-95.

Northwestern redshirt freshman QB
#18 Clayton Thorson leads the 2015
Wildcats' offense.

One of the reasons Jake Rudock transferred to Michigan after the Spring as a graduate transfer was due Ferentz electing to name the junior Beathard the #1 QB, back in January. It has worked out well for both Michigan and Iowa.

Northwestern has opened the 2015 with a positive record lead by redshirt freshman signal caller Clayton Thorson, who offers a run, pass option, as often has been popular under Fitzgerald. The Wildcats are 2-1 against ranked opponents, with wins against Stanford in the season opener and @ Duke in Week 3.

Northwestern finished 2012 with a 10-3 record, the best ever under Fitzgerald. The Wildcats were a +14 in turnover margin, an unreal number under Fitzgerald. The Wildcats came into the 2015 season, off the heels of back to back 5-7 seasons.

Iowa has been 19-21 the past five seasons in the Big Ten. After a disappointing 7-6 season last season, including three straight losses, Ferentz revisited all aspects of the program. One area of emphasis was turnover margin.

“We hope (an advantage in turnovers is) something we can build on weekly. It is one of the most important stats, if not the most important, when it comes to winning and losing. It was a real factor in the game yesterday -- our defense forced a couple takeaways and to convert those into points is even more important. Getting that last fumble recovery and getting insurance points was a big sequence in the game (against Illinois).” - Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz shared Sunday about the 2015 season.

Iowa senior running back Jordan Canzeri continues to impress. On Sept. 26 he rushed for four touchdowns and Ferentz said he was equally complimentary of Canzeri’s blocking in the game. He had a similar feeling Saturday when he saw Canzeri carried the ball 43 times for 256 yards. Canzeri has also been effective as a receiver, as well, beginning the season, as the third down back.

Iowa senior RB #33 Jordan Canzeri is leading the
Big Ten in rushing, in conference games. He has 10 
touchdowns in leading Iowa to a 6-0 start.

“It is a tribute to his determination and hard work,” Ferentz said. “It is all playing off and his commitment to our football team. That last drive (against Illinois) in particular he didn’t even looked at the bench giving even an inkling that he wanted to come out. He had 11 carries in that possession (for 59 yards). That to me was the biggest series we had in the football game. He got good blocking in there, but a big part of that was his effort and determination.”

The Hawkeyes won 48-7 last season in Kinnick Stadium -- a game Ferentz calls an “aberration.” Two weeks after that game, the Wildcats went on the road and defeated No. 15 Notre Dame, 43-40.

“It is going to be one of those tough Big Ten contests. We’re on the road and we will have to be at our best to have a chance in this game. We have had great knock-down, drag-out football games with them going right down to the wire. That’s what I expect this year, too.” - Kirk Ferentz on facing the Wildcats on the road

Iowa is 2-0 away from home this season and was 3-2 on the road last season. Iowa entered the season with zero trophies and have won two trophy games, each on the road to kickoff the 2015 season.

As is the case with 13 other league teams, the hard-fought, tough, physical Big Ten games have taken its toll on the Hawkeyes on the injury front. Ferentz said Tevaun Smith and Drew Ott will miss the Northwestern game, although as of Sunday evening, it is unknown the severity of an injury Ott suffered against Illinois. Iowa right now has lost starters at DE, both offensive tackles, starting running back, wide receiver and last year's top tight end.

“We have some guys that are hobbled right now and some guys who might not make it at kickoff,” Ferentz said. “Drew Ott, we are not very optimistic there. We will know more when the doctors actually have a chance to examine him and get an MRI on Monday. Tevaun Smith is out, too. For sure those two guys will be out and we may have others."

At the beginning of the season, no starters were freshman for Iowa, but that has changed now.

“A lot of teams have injured players, so you have to fight through it, other guys have to step up. That was one of the highlights yesterday in the ball game -- guys like (redshirt freshman DE) Parker Hesse and (true freshman G/T) James Daniels jumping in there.”

Iowa true freshman WR #9 Jerminic
Smith will likely have an expanded
role at Northwestern.

True freshman wide receiver Jerminic Smith has replaced Tevaun Smith and had a breakout game on Saturday for the Hawkeyes. Smith caught four passes for 118 yards, all in the first half. His first three receptions -- of 14, 46, and 49 yards -- moved the chains. He also had a 9-yard grab.

"It felt great," Smith said of making his first collegiate catch. "I'm just doing my job and this game will give me confidence. I will keep working hard and hopefully keep doing well."

Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz with closing comments after the Homecoming win
against Illinois, as Iowa took sole position of the Big Ten West at 2-0.

Happy All Saints Day: Iowa vs. Northwestern on the Big Ten Network at 11 a.m.

Iowa City, IA - - The Iowa Hawkeyes (5-2, 2-1 B1G West) return to action off a 1-1 October and bye week for a five game November slate beginning with Northwestern (3-4, 2-2 B1G West), which has become a competitive series, since the 1995 win by the Wildcats.

Is it a rivalry?

There is no trophy for the victory, but it is symbolic of a rose. With a loss, the opponent becomes a thorn, with a win there is a sense of the bloom of a rose, that you live another day, with the opportunity to compete for a division title.

Northwestern calls this series a rivalry. Northwestern coach Fitzgerald circles this game, due to what the rivalry meant during his playing days at Northwestern.

From 1974 to 1994, Iowa won 21 straight games. The series turned with three games from 1995-1997. All Northwestern wins in the final seasons of J. Hayden Fry at Iowa.

Today, forty years from the beginning of Iowa's 21 season dominance, this game will play a major role on whether Iowa competes for It's first B1G West division title over the next five games?

Forty years ago I enjoyed my first season in Kinnick Stadium. It included a win over Northwestern, a 35-10 win. Iowa has won two straight at Kinnick in this series recently, including last year's 17-10 win in OT.

The Hawkeyes have struggled at times throughout the 2014 season. Falling behind by 10 points in several games. Last year, Iowa took an early 10 point lead, only to find themselves stall. They pulled it together in overtime.

Can Iowa compete for a B1G West division title in 2014? It begins today vs. Northwestern at Kinnick Stadium.

Our pick: either a 31-15 win, or a 13-10 slugfest, that could go either way.

Peace be to you, on All Saints Day! Miss you Dad, his first Northwestern game, since his death.

Who should Notre Dame hire to replace Charlie Weis?

"It is critical to this program and to its place in this university and
college football that we compete at the highest level, that we compete for
national championships." - Notre Dame Athletics Director Jack Swarbrick

Notre Dame Fires Charlie Weis - US News and World Report

First, is it realistic for an Independent in major College Football to compete for national championships in the current landscape and at the 85 scholarship limit for FBS schools?

Our first choice for the University of Notre Dame head football job would be Pat Fitzgerald of Northwestern University. Think how Ara Parseghian, who coached at Northwestern for eight years prior to moving onto University of Notre Dame, did in South Bend?


Rumor has it that AD Jack Swarbrick is partial to a defensive minded coach. Well, former NU linebacker, defensive assistant turned head coach Pat Fitzgerald would appear to fit that bill better than anyone in our opinion. The academic standards at Northwestern would go hand and hand with the standards at the University of Notre Dame.

Of course, the challenge may be getting Pat Fitzgerald to move on from his alma mater, but the success of Ara Parseghian would be a good role model to pattern young Fitzgerald after.

Other articles on the Notre Dame search and Pat Fitzgerald ...

Can Notre Dame find its savior? - National Football Post
Similarly, Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald, whose offense is gimmicky, hasn't been mentioned, but he's an intense, defensive-minded leader who has performed ...
The next Irish football coach will not walk into one of the nation's best ... - ESPN
The Next Notre Dame Coach is... - 1070 The Fan - Indianapolis
Charlie Weis never adjusted to college - The Detroit News

We know many say Brian Kelly, head coach at Cincinnati, but clearly Pat Fitzgerald is the head coach that Notre Dame should take a very close look at. The post-Weis era will be a challenge for whoever the University of Notre Dame land.

As a person more partial to Boston College, rather than Notre Dame, we would suggest Fitzgerald as a great candidate to build the passion of Irish Football back up. Fitzgerald's passion for the sport of college football would be a great selling point, in our opinion. His recruiting has been on the upswing and South Bend should only enhance his ability to recruit.


peace

Four-Year Big Ten Standings: Where are teams likely headed in the Conference in Football in '09

Lindy Sports always publishes it's "Four-Year Standings" and the 2009 Big Ten Preview is no different (page 82). "Every team in the league has been to a bowl in the past four seasons" in the Big Ten Conference the magazine points out. Lindy Sports points out that the wealth in the conference is held in Columbus with the Ohio State Buckeyes (2 outright, 2 shared titles in 4 years). The only team showing a glimmer of wealth has been Penn State Nittany Lions, with two shared conference titles ('05 and '08) over the past 4 years.

1. Ohio State (20-3 in the conference) - clearly the PROGRAM in the Big Ten Confernece, but nationally Buckeyes' BCS woes in the title games ('06 and '07) have given the Big Ten a bad mark nationally.


2. Penn State (23-9) - Joe Pa isn't getting any younger and the Hawkeyes knocked out the Nittany Lions BCS title hopes in '08. Can the Nittany Lions make another run in '09 and get over the hump in sharing titles with the Buckeyes?


3. Wisconsin (20-12) - Lindy's points out "From 7-1 in 2008 to 5-3 to 3-5; turnaround in order?" But, does coach Bret Bielema have the Mojo in Year 4 with his own troops? Look at where his move to K-State prior to Madison lead that program's discipline and success.


4. Michigan (20-12) - Coach Rich Rodriguez hit rock bottom after Year 1 at 2-6 in Ann Arbor! Will Rodriguez enjoy a bowl season like year two at his previous gig?


5. Iowa (18-16) - Iowa finished 5-3 in '08 and in '05, after a strong three year run from '02 to '04. Is Iowa headed into another strong upswing that coach Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes enjoyed before?


6. Northwestern (15-17) - Coach Pat Fitzgerald lead the Wildcats to the Alamo in '08... which isn't the Rose, but a good direction, none the less, for the boys from Evanston.


7. Purdue (13-18) - Coach Danny Hope brings "Hope" to Purdue in the post-Joe Tiller era!


8. Michigan State (12-20) - Coach Mark Dantonio has lead the Spartans to two straight bowls in his first two seasons at the helm in East Lansing. Spartans are moving up!


9. Minnesota (10-22) - Despite the record, the Golden Gophers have been to 3 bowls in 4 years... will coach Tim Brewster's third season continue the bowl dates in year one of a school's new outdoor on-campus stadium?


10. Illinois (10-22) - Four years under coach Ron Zook has earned the Fighting Illini one Rose Bowl trip... "Was 2007 BCS season just an aberration?" Lindy asks!


11. Indiana (8-24) - Coach Bill Lynch lead the Hoosiers to their first bowl, since 1993, but... "Was 2007 bowl season just an aberration?" Lindy asks!

Lindy's says "Tell the BCS to save a seast for the Buckeyes... again." Can one real argue with that call in the Big Ten Conference? 2009 would make it five for five in the BCS for Ohio State. On the Rivals Network, the free board on the Ohio State site asks the question: Biggest Challange in the Big Ten? Right now, it may be the Buckeyes themselves... coach Jim Tressel returns 5 starters on offense, 7 starters on defense and must break in a new punter. Lindy's ranks Terrelle Pryor the conference's top QB

Lindy's says "Watch for Joe Paterno in front of the thick pack of Big Ten teams scuffling for second place." Looking at the Nittany Lions conference schedule, getting off the blocks fast happened in '05 and '08, but that was not the case in '06 and '07 where Joe Pa's teams started 0-1 and 0-2, respectively. Joe Pa returns 5 starters on offense, 4 on defense and must break in a new plackkicker, which is always interesting in close games. Lindy's ranks the Penn State linebackers #1 in the conference.

PSU, Iowa and Illinois would each appear to need strong starts to be contenders in '09. Of course, fast starts are always important in conference play!

Lindy's says "This program seems to be on the rise again, and this year it could reach even higher." The Spartans return 7 starters on offense, 8 on defense and both kickers, so they have a good base to draw upon. But, with their top QB and RB gone... leadership will be tested for Dantonio's Spartans. Lindy's ranks the Spartans linebackers #2 in the conference.

Lindy's says "In the last year of a closing window, Illinois will treat its fan base to another exciting season." The Fighting Illini return 8 starters on offense, 5 on defense and both kickers. Coach Zook is questioned for his execution, but this is a team that walked into Columbus in '07 and pulled off a victory, but the defense remains a big question, while the offense should continue to show improvement. As mentioned, a good start in the conference is important for the Fighting Illini. Lindy's ranks the Fighting Illini receivers #1 in the conference.

Lindy's says "The schedule guarantees enough wins for a bowl -- enough to keep fans off Bielema's back? The Badgers are a quarterback away from being a dangerous team in the Big Ten? Further, the defense has some holes to fill in '09. Wisconsin returns 6 starters on offense, 5 on defense and both kickers. The Badgers special teams need to step up to the potential many feel they have. While Army1 on the Rivals Network will disagree, but they are overrated in this category. Coach Bielema personally oversees special teams... will the unit mirror the coach's success in '09? Lindy's ranks the Badgers special teams #1, despite comments of work needed by both kickers.

Lindy's says "Unfortunately, the scheduling gods have set up some "road" blocks for the Hawkeyes this year." Iowa returns 6 starters on offense, 8 on defense and both kickers. The success under Kirk Ferentz starts typically in the trenches. The interior lines on both sides must replace two starters each. This is the key for Iowa in '09 and they have returning letterwinners back to fill those positions, unlike '05, when two freshmen had to step up at DT. Lindy's ranks Iowa's offensive line #1 in the conference.

Lindy's says "Middle of the pack will not satisfy anybody, but for now, it's all they get." Michigan returns 10 starters on offense, 5 starters on defense and must break in a new placekicker. The new starter on offense is at quarterback and true freshman Tate Forcier is slated by many. Lindy's points out he is "accurate and confident, but still a freshman." The O-Line and D-Line should provide Rodriguez something to build from in '09. The finale in Ann Arbor hosting Ohio State at season's end may get interesting for the Wolverines... it will be the 4oTh anniversary of Bo's 24-12 win over Hayes and the Buckeyes! Lindy's ranks the Wolverines running backs #1 in the conference.

Lindy's says "The Cats may sneak into a bowl again." Coach Pat Fitzgerald will likely continue to earn respect for the Wildcats in '09. Ironically, Lindy's web site is picturing Ohio State's Jim Tressel on the Northwestern Football page. Coach Fitzgerald returns 5 offensive starters, 8 on defense and must break in new placekicker. Wildcats don't play Ohio State nor Michigan in conference play in '09. Lindy's ranks Northwestern's secondary #1 in the conference.

Lindy's says "Tim Brewster is turning his ship around... but there is still much work to be done." Yes, Brewster is literally turning the offense and defense around replacing his coordinators on both sides. The Minnesota offense will dump the spread for a two-back set, coming off a 55-0 loss in the final Big Ten game and last game in the Metrodome. The vipe is good for the fan base with the new stadium, but will the play on the field hold their interest in '09? Minnesota returns 9 starters on offense, 8 on defense and must replace both kickers. Lindy's ranks Minnesota's receivers #3 in the conference, behind the Fighting Illini and Wolverines.

Lindy's says "Unfamiliar territory for Purdue fans... can Boilers stay ahead of Hoosiers?" In comes Hope, that is new coach Danny Hope, who was Joe Tiller's O-Line coach, when the Boilermakers won a share of the Big Ten in '00 and a trip to the Rose Bowl. Purdue returns 5 starters on offense, 7 on defense and both kickers. Quarterback play of late has been troublesome for the Boilermakers and discipline has been down in West Lafayette as the Joe Tiller's output declined. No Iowa nor Penn State on the Boilermakers schedule for '09. Lindy's doesn't rank Purdue in the Top half of the conference in any of the position rankings, but still out of the cellar.

Lindy's says "No bowl for Hoosier fans this year. It could be worse, but not much." The Hoosiers return 6 starters on offense, 9 starters on defense, and must break in a new placekicker. Defense could be their strength as coach Bill Lynch places a greater emphasis there. Lindy's ranks the Hoosiers defensive line #1 in the conference.

Lindy's has some good information in the 2009 Big Ten preview, but they certainly have some interesting predictions, rankings and comments too.

peace