There is not really much to say about how Iowa lost. It was exactly the same fashion that they lost against Arizona, Wisconsin, and Northwestern. The defense gave up a touchdown long touchdown drive in the fourth quarter and Iowa's two minute offense was ineffective in responding. Also throw in the sloppy special teams with a missed field goal, a kickoff out of bounds, and all around bad kickoff coverage. I thought this would be the game that Iowa would overcome at least one of those issues. It was not.
This season has been disappointing and frustrating. Iowa is tantalizing close to greatness, but instead is a middle of the pack 8-4 team (maybe I shouldn't assume a win over Minnesota, but I am) likely headed to a middle of the pack bowl game. This was definitely not the way the seniors wanted to go out.
Anyway, enough with the gloom. I don't think I need to go over how Iowa lost to Ohio State. It's the same as the other 3 losses. Instead, I'm going to try focus on the positives...at least a little bit.
Archive page 39
Iowa vs. Ohio State: Game Day
The need to know
What: Iowa vs. Ohio State
Where: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City
When: 2:30 PM
TV: ABC
Important Notes
BLACKOUT: It wasn't very well advertised, because it was kind of a last minute thing, but the athletic department is calling for a Blackout today. So if you haven't left for the game yet, throw on your black Iowa hoody or something.
Senior Day: It's the last home game of the season and thus Senior Day. This year's senior class is rather large with 26 players taking the field in Kinnick for the last time. This class has been through many ups and down. Many of them were around from the dismal 2006 and 2007 season, but also played large roles in the amazing streak to end 2008 and start 2009. This season has definitely been slightly disappointing, but these Hawkeyes deserve a huge ovation today. Here are all the seniors in alphabetical order: Christian Ballard, Paul Chaney, Jr., Adrian Clayborn, Ryan Donahue, Ben Evans, Brett Greenwood, Justin Greiner, Kyle Haganman, Jeremiha Hunter, Troy Johnson, Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, Karl Klug, Josh Koeppel, Nick Kuchel, Brett Morse, Daniel Murray, Don Nordmann, Paki O'Meara, Ross Petersen, Allen Reisner, Colin Sandeman, Andrew Schulze, Ricky Stanzi, Jeff Tarpinian, Lance Tillison, and Julian Vandervelde.
What: Iowa vs. Ohio State
Where: Kinnick Stadium, Iowa City
When: 2:30 PM
TV: ABC
Important Notes
BLACKOUT: It wasn't very well advertised, because it was kind of a last minute thing, but the athletic department is calling for a Blackout today. So if you haven't left for the game yet, throw on your black Iowa hoody or something.
Senior Day: It's the last home game of the season and thus Senior Day. This year's senior class is rather large with 26 players taking the field in Kinnick for the last time. This class has been through many ups and down. Many of them were around from the dismal 2006 and 2007 season, but also played large roles in the amazing streak to end 2008 and start 2009. This season has definitely been slightly disappointing, but these Hawkeyes deserve a huge ovation today. Here are all the seniors in alphabetical order: Christian Ballard, Paul Chaney, Jr., Adrian Clayborn, Ryan Donahue, Ben Evans, Brett Greenwood, Justin Greiner, Kyle Haganman, Jeremiha Hunter, Troy Johnson, Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, Karl Klug, Josh Koeppel, Nick Kuchel, Brett Morse, Daniel Murray, Don Nordmann, Paki O'Meara, Ross Petersen, Allen Reisner, Colin Sandeman, Andrew Schulze, Ricky Stanzi, Jeff Tarpinian, Lance Tillison, and Julian Vandervelde.
Iowa vs. Ohio State: Statistics
There's no write up accompanying the stats today. Sorry. It's pretty clear though, who has been the more impressive team at least statistically this year. Iowa is going to need to use home field advantage, senior day, motivation from last weeks loss, anything to try to get an edge over a team that has been performing at a high level.
Iowa Offense vs. Ohio State Defense
| Category | Iowa O: Stat | Iowa O: Rank | Ohio St. D: Stat | Ohio St. D: Rank | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rushing Yards | 153.2 | 60 | 86.9 | 5 |  ++ |
| Passing Yards | 252.7 | 35 | 151.1 | 6 | ++ |
| Passing Efficiency | 164.4 | 5 | 94.74 | 3 | - |
| Sacks | 1.7 | 44 | 1.6 | 86 |  + |
| Total Yards | 405.9 | 46 | 238 | 2 | ++ |
| Scoring | 30.8 | 43 | 16 | 5 | ++ |
| Turnovers | 7 | 1 | 26 | 6 | - |
| 3rd Down Conversion | 46.03 | 25 | 28.57 | 4 | ++ |
| Red Zone % | 0.87 | 27 | 0.71 | 14 | - |
Hawkeye Recruit Roundup: Week 12
It has been a busy week for me and I'm just getting the week 12 recruit roundup posted on the same day that many of these kids are playing their week 13 games. Oh well. It was a tough week for a couple of commits too as Melvin Gordon and Jordan Walsh's teams both were eliminated from the playoffs. However, we do have our first player in a championship game. Cole Fisher will be playing for the Nebraska Class A Title next Monday.
Riley McMinn
Playoffs, 2nd Round: W Notre Dame 21 - Rochester 23 | (12-0)
Rochester's defense stepped up in a big way forcing 5 turnovers including an interception that was returned for what turned out to be the game winning score. McMinn played a part in the big interception. The kid who made the interception, Mike Gunter, said "I think Riley (McMinn) got a hand on it and swatted it. I was like, 'Is he seriously going to throw it?' And he actually did." The Rockets with the win move to 12-0 and the year and move on to the semifinals.
Next Game: vs. Metamora - 11/20 (Playoffs, Semifinals)
Cole Fisher
Playoffs, Semifinals: W Burke 7 - Millard North 10 | (10-2)
Millard North scored on a 76-yard double reverse to go up by 3 with a little over a minute left in the game, then finished off Burke with an interception on the ensuing drive. The win puts Millard North into the title game for a rematch against rival school Millard South, who they beat back in September 21-16.
Next Game: vs. Millard South - 11/22 (Playoffs, Nebraska Class A Championship)
Jordan Walsh
Playoffs, Quarterfinals: L Wheaton-Warrenville South 40 - Glenbard West 20 | (10-2)
Glenbard West hung close, but was playing from behind the whole game. Three times in the game the Hilltoppers were within one score from taking the lead, but then had a rough 4th quarter which spelled the end of their season.
Season Over
Riley McMinnPlayoffs, 2nd Round: W Notre Dame 21 - Rochester 23 | (12-0)
Rochester's defense stepped up in a big way forcing 5 turnovers including an interception that was returned for what turned out to be the game winning score. McMinn played a part in the big interception. The kid who made the interception, Mike Gunter, said "I think Riley (McMinn) got a hand on it and swatted it. I was like, 'Is he seriously going to throw it?' And he actually did." The Rockets with the win move to 12-0 and the year and move on to the semifinals.
Next Game: vs. Metamora - 11/20 (Playoffs, Semifinals)
Cole FisherPlayoffs, Semifinals: W Burke 7 - Millard North 10 | (10-2)
Millard North scored on a 76-yard double reverse to go up by 3 with a little over a minute left in the game, then finished off Burke with an interception on the ensuing drive. The win puts Millard North into the title game for a rematch against rival school Millard South, who they beat back in September 21-16.
Next Game: vs. Millard South - 11/22 (Playoffs, Nebraska Class A Championship)
Jordan WalshPlayoffs, Quarterfinals: L Wheaton-Warrenville South 40 - Glenbard West 20 | (10-2)
Glenbard West hung close, but was playing from behind the whole game. Three times in the game the Hilltoppers were within one score from taking the lead, but then had a rough 4th quarter which spelled the end of their season.
Season Over
Q&A With The Buckeye Batlle Cry
The fine folks at The Buckeye Battle Cry contacted me to do a Q&A with them this week in preparation for the game tomorrow. You can find my answers to some of their Iowa questions as part of their across the web series. Big thanks goes to Mali for sending me their question and to James for answering mine.
Q: Ohio State was ranked #2 in the preseason but lost to Wisconsin and has since been out of the spotlight a little without a realistic shot at the Nation Title. But the Buckeyes have otherwise been completely dominant and are now sitting at 9-1, just 2 games away from another Big Ten (Co-)Championship and a BCS Bowl berth. First, why do you think OSU is kind of under the radar right now? And second, has this season been at all a disappointment for Ohio State fans?
A: A lot of attention is being paid to who will make the championship game, and with all of the Cam Newton stuff going on at Auburn, there are plenty of other things for the national media to focus on at the moment.
The championship situation will continue to be the headliner this college football season, whether it be through the Auburn fiasco or a mid-major making it to the title game. I hope that at some point Ohio State and the rest of the top Big Ten teams get some attention. It will be an exciting bowl season with some great match ups, but with everything else that is going on, it is understandable that Ohio State and the Big Ten are not in the spot light at the moment.
As far as the season being a disappointment or not, I would hate to speculate about that with three games left to play. I will say that at the beginning of the year Ohio State fans knew that playing at Wisconsin and at Iowa would be the toughest tests of the season. If Ohio State were to drop both of those games, that would be disappointing.
Q: Obligatory TP question: The Rose Bowl last year seemed to be a turning point for Terrelle Pryor. His numbers this year have been considerably better, particularly his completion percent. Can you pinpoint what has changed that has made him a better quarterback?
A: I think just going from a sophomore quarterback to a junior quarterback and that extra year of experience is one of the biggest changes and sources of improvement.
Terrelle Pryor has so much hype surrounding him that it is easy to forget that he was only a true sophomore last season. I think it is natural for a young quarterback to struggle at times reading defenses and making smart decisions throwing the ball, even one with as much talent as Pryor.
At the same time, Pryor's mechanics are noticeably better this year. His release point is higher and his footwork in the pocket is better. I think it is all part of growing up and maturing as a quarterback. Any other quarterback would experience the same growth and improvement from year to year, just not under as much scrutiny as Pryor has endured.
Q: Ohio State was ranked #2 in the preseason but lost to Wisconsin and has since been out of the spotlight a little without a realistic shot at the Nation Title. But the Buckeyes have otherwise been completely dominant and are now sitting at 9-1, just 2 games away from another Big Ten (Co-)Championship and a BCS Bowl berth. First, why do you think OSU is kind of under the radar right now? And second, has this season been at all a disappointment for Ohio State fans?
A: A lot of attention is being paid to who will make the championship game, and with all of the Cam Newton stuff going on at Auburn, there are plenty of other things for the national media to focus on at the moment.
The championship situation will continue to be the headliner this college football season, whether it be through the Auburn fiasco or a mid-major making it to the title game. I hope that at some point Ohio State and the rest of the top Big Ten teams get some attention. It will be an exciting bowl season with some great match ups, but with everything else that is going on, it is understandable that Ohio State and the Big Ten are not in the spot light at the moment.
As far as the season being a disappointment or not, I would hate to speculate about that with three games left to play. I will say that at the beginning of the year Ohio State fans knew that playing at Wisconsin and at Iowa would be the toughest tests of the season. If Ohio State were to drop both of those games, that would be disappointing.
Q: Obligatory TP question: The Rose Bowl last year seemed to be a turning point for Terrelle Pryor. His numbers this year have been considerably better, particularly his completion percent. Can you pinpoint what has changed that has made him a better quarterback?
A: I think just going from a sophomore quarterback to a junior quarterback and that extra year of experience is one of the biggest changes and sources of improvement.
Terrelle Pryor has so much hype surrounding him that it is easy to forget that he was only a true sophomore last season. I think it is natural for a young quarterback to struggle at times reading defenses and making smart decisions throwing the ball, even one with as much talent as Pryor.
At the same time, Pryor's mechanics are noticeably better this year. His release point is higher and his footwork in the pocket is better. I think it is all part of growing up and maturing as a quarterback. Any other quarterback would experience the same growth and improvement from year to year, just not under as much scrutiny as Pryor has endured.