Iowa has had some miscues early, including a INT of a Ricky Stanzi pass.
Iowa running game looks strong, but passing game doesn't look in sync yet.
A sports fan from Cedar Rapids (CID), Iowa, USA and member on the Rivals Network and Twitter.
It wasn't a good Saturday for Iowa, as penalties and special teams cost Iowa dearly. Wisconsin played a solid game. Iowa had an early extra point blocked, a field goal attempt was blown and penalties hurt special teams.
"The real things that hurt us were the special team's gaffes. There's a
lot of football left. We have a good team, but we have to play better and play
cleaner. There are still five games left; this game is going to hurt awhile, for
good reason, then we'll have to move on." - Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz
No question, failure to call a "safe punt" defense on the final drive by Wisconsin was key to Iowa's loss at Kinnick Stadium. Iowa will have to regroup and get ready fast, since the Big Ten's top team, Michigan State (8-0, 4-0 Big Ten) will come to Kinnick Stadium this Saturday.
peace
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.
"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
"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
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.
The Running Backs
The Receivers and Tight Ends
Offensive Line vs. Defensive Line
Linebackers
Secondary
Special Teams
Coaching
Outlook:
Field position is always important in football. Over the past nine games, there may not be any Big Ten game that field position hasn't turned out to be as huge factor for the winning program.
If Iowa can control field position and the line of scrimmage, Iowa is clearly worthy of the 7 point favorite.
Turnovers, penalties and special teams are likely statistics to keep a good eye on. Penn State has a true freshman at QB. Penn State has been very disciplined in there 3-1 start and have avoided penalties. Special teams could be an area where the Nittany Lions can be successful. Iowa is 3-1 and entered the season in the Top 10 by many. Special teams has been the only negative thus far.
Iowa and Penn State are usually close games. Iowa has played well at home scoring 35 points or more in three ball games. But, Penn State is clearly a better opponent, other than #16 Arizona, who upset Iowa 34-27, in Iowa's only road game in the out of conference. Penn State has already traveled to #1 Alabama, where they lost 3-24. So, a trip to Kinnick Stadium will not likely be as big a hurdle as it may have been had PSU had a traditional four game start at home, like Ohio State, this year.
Prediction:
#17 Iowa Hawkeyes 22
#21 Penn State 15
@ Kinnick Stadium
peace
Which Big Ten coach would you most like to play for?
Kirk Ferentz, Iowa - 4
Comment: "They just always have such a well-coached team."
"He's (Adrian Clayborn, pictured above) a big play waiting to happen. He gets after the quarterback. He's a really intense player, and I love his game and just love watching him play." ~ Illinois cornerback Tavon Wilson
First up, Iowa has three outstanding defensive players to replace. But, Iowa has outstanding returning starters, as well as experienced reserves filling those remaining spots as the Hawkeyes enter the 2010 season."It's been a good month." ~ Kirk Ferentz about his off season
The team to beat is Ohio State. The Buckeyes have been the most consistent team the past five seasons, winning a share or outright championship. We agree Ohio State has been very solid throughout the Ferentz era as an offensive line coach and as a head coach."I just think the Big Ten is fantastic in all regards. I don't think we have to
defend ourselves to anybody. And let the results speak as they may, and that's
really what football's all about anyway. But things are going to swing back and
forth, and that's just how it works." ~ Kirk Ferentz
The game in the desert with Arizona in Tucson in Week 3. Arizona coach Mike Stoops has yet to win a game vs. a FBS program during his tenure in Tucson during Week 3. As Coach Ferentz mentioned, he has been to Tucson twice as an assistant at Iowa in the 1980s. By the way, Iowa picked up important wins each time."Ohio State has done a tremendous job the last five years, and, really, since I
go back to 1981, ever since I've been really paying attention to the Big
Ten. And I know there's more than 13 years prior to that."
"But they've traditionally been an outstanding program. And one thing for sure, if
you're going to try to win a Big Ten Championship, you're going to have to find
a way to compete with them and beat them. And not many people have had
much luck doing that." ~ Kirk Ferentz
"Last year I had Iowa #34, which was higher than any other magazine and they
finished #20 coming off a 6-6 non-bowl year. This year they have a great back 7
on defense with my #5 LBs and #11 DBs and I rate their D #8 overall. They do
have to play Ohio State and Penn State on the road (Michigan
State and Wisconsin also) but are a stronger team."
"28. Georgia Tech: Tech showed LY that they could play with anyone knocking
off 3 ranked teams and that was the first year of HC Paul Johnson's systems.
They have 18 starters back and will have one of the top offenses in the
FBS?"

This should be an entertaining game in front of a national television audience on ABC at 7 pm tonight CDT. Penn State is clearly favored and typically has been a +3 to +17 favorite this decade vs. Iowa at home.
By the way, the '96 Iowa team was a +10 underdog at Penn State, when Tim Dwight and company came to town. The '96 team was a -6 favorite vs. Arizona to open the season and pulled off the win over U of A by 1. Later, they pulled off the win in Happy Valley. Deja vous again for Iowa? Does the weather factor in and create an advantage for one?
Prediction:
#20 Iowa 24
#7 Penn State 22
peace

Iowa State 23
Consistency the next step for Iowa's Stanzi -ESPN
Kirk Ferentz calls them Ricky Stanzi's Kodak moments, and Stanzi had an album full of them last season for Iowa. Consistency and limiting mistakes will be ...
peace

In the coming weeks, we will breakdown the 2009 College Football season in many of our posts. We will poke into some of the commentary, opinions and spotlights these magazines take season in and season out.
peace