xfactor9600
02-05-2007, 09:20 PM
The 100th meeting for Iowa-Minnesota football has a lot at stake Saturday.
While it doesn't have the drama of that other game out in Columbus, Ohio, it is a great rivalry with that bronze pig, "Floyd of Rosedale," going to the winning sideline. Ole Floyd has applied for permanent residency in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes have won five straight in this series. The Gophers are determined to end that streak, judging by their comments this week.
Iowa is reeling under the weight of four losses in five weeks and four consecutive Big Ten defeats. You have to go back to Kirk Ferentz' first year as head coach to find a losing streak like this one. This team is far better than that 1-10 edition, but is commiting some of the same sins. Turnovers, lack of a consistent running attack and dropped passes have plagued the offense, while the defense has given up more 80-plus yard drives than we've seen in recent memory. Saturday would be a good day to exorcise the demons.
Quarterback Drew Tate says the key is focus, and for he and his teamates to take the field at the Metrodome with that "nothing to lose" mentality. Easier said than done for a football team that isn't playing with a lot of confidence. That's why its critical the Hawks get off to a good start in this game. If they score with their first or second possession, then Tate takes command. He becomes infectious with his enthusiasm and leadership. This guy is a walking MASH unit this fall and hopefully his teamates do the proper rallying around him by making those clutch 3rd-and-7 catches and running consistently inside the tackles.
For my money, this game comes down to the defense -- which one plays better. I know that sounds elementary, but the Hawkeyes have not been able to "get off the field," as Kirk Ferentz says. Wisconsin's 15-play, 97-yard march for a score in the third period was the latest illustration. The Badgers had 17 more minutes of ball possession. The defense has to create a turnover or two, but more importantly, engineer a lot of three-and-outs.
Minnesota has more balance in its offense than at any time in recent memory. Amir Pinnix is 25 yards short of 1,000 for the season. The Gophers have had a 1,000-yard runner for seven consecutive years. Last week, quarterback Bryan Cupito became the school's career passing leader with 6,900 yards. The Gophers have an outstanding tight end in Matt Spaeth, and their defense is better than in past years. Indiana and Michigan State were well-placed on the Minnesota schedule the last two weeks. The Gophers hung 63 points on the Hoosiers and won in East Lansing 31-18.
The Hawkeyes had better bring their "A" game, and usually do to the Metrodome, or "Kinnick North," as it's known to a majority of the fans. In the words of Tate, Iowa cannot underestimate the importance of winning to finish the regular season. It leaves a great taste with a team over the holiday, when preparations begin for whatever bowl game Iowa heads to. A win and the Hawks will head for Orlando or San Antonio. A loss means the Alamo Bowl is a possibility, but more likely would be Phoenix and the Insight Bowl.
http://cs.gazetteonline.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=609
More... (http://cs.gazetteonline.com/blogs/gary_dolphins_hawk_thoughts/archive/2006/11/17/609.aspx)
While it doesn't have the drama of that other game out in Columbus, Ohio, it is a great rivalry with that bronze pig, "Floyd of Rosedale," going to the winning sideline. Ole Floyd has applied for permanent residency in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes have won five straight in this series. The Gophers are determined to end that streak, judging by their comments this week.
Iowa is reeling under the weight of four losses in five weeks and four consecutive Big Ten defeats. You have to go back to Kirk Ferentz' first year as head coach to find a losing streak like this one. This team is far better than that 1-10 edition, but is commiting some of the same sins. Turnovers, lack of a consistent running attack and dropped passes have plagued the offense, while the defense has given up more 80-plus yard drives than we've seen in recent memory. Saturday would be a good day to exorcise the demons.
Quarterback Drew Tate says the key is focus, and for he and his teamates to take the field at the Metrodome with that "nothing to lose" mentality. Easier said than done for a football team that isn't playing with a lot of confidence. That's why its critical the Hawks get off to a good start in this game. If they score with their first or second possession, then Tate takes command. He becomes infectious with his enthusiasm and leadership. This guy is a walking MASH unit this fall and hopefully his teamates do the proper rallying around him by making those clutch 3rd-and-7 catches and running consistently inside the tackles.
For my money, this game comes down to the defense -- which one plays better. I know that sounds elementary, but the Hawkeyes have not been able to "get off the field," as Kirk Ferentz says. Wisconsin's 15-play, 97-yard march for a score in the third period was the latest illustration. The Badgers had 17 more minutes of ball possession. The defense has to create a turnover or two, but more importantly, engineer a lot of three-and-outs.
Minnesota has more balance in its offense than at any time in recent memory. Amir Pinnix is 25 yards short of 1,000 for the season. The Gophers have had a 1,000-yard runner for seven consecutive years. Last week, quarterback Bryan Cupito became the school's career passing leader with 6,900 yards. The Gophers have an outstanding tight end in Matt Spaeth, and their defense is better than in past years. Indiana and Michigan State were well-placed on the Minnesota schedule the last two weeks. The Gophers hung 63 points on the Hoosiers and won in East Lansing 31-18.
The Hawkeyes had better bring their "A" game, and usually do to the Metrodome, or "Kinnick North," as it's known to a majority of the fans. In the words of Tate, Iowa cannot underestimate the importance of winning to finish the regular season. It leaves a great taste with a team over the holiday, when preparations begin for whatever bowl game Iowa heads to. A win and the Hawks will head for Orlando or San Antonio. A loss means the Alamo Bowl is a possibility, but more likely would be Phoenix and the Insight Bowl.
http://cs.gazetteonline.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=609
More... (http://cs.gazetteonline.com/blogs/gary_dolphins_hawk_thoughts/archive/2006/11/17/609.aspx)