By Brian Heinemann
For The Herald
CHICAGO ----- Expectations are soaring for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
They have been consistently picked in the top 15 of the nation in preseason publications, and Monday the Big Ten announced the Hawkeyes were selected No. 2 in the conference behind Ohio State.
But just like last year, when the Hawkeyes did a remarkable job of staying grounded and keeping a narrow focus, the team isn’t letting the hype get to them.
“As you know, we barely got through that first weekend a year ago,” Ferentz said. “That’s all we’ve got to do, just look back at that one game, or probably a handful of games last year, and just realize how fine a line it is. At the end of the day, talk and expectations and all that stuff is for people outside our building. We need to be focused on getting better as a football team.”
When looking at the last time the Hawkeyes took the field, a 24-14 win over a formerly-explosive-turned-
But this is a new year, with new players. Sure, many of the standouts are back, but as Ferentz or his players will be quick to tell you, last year doesn’t mean much anymore.
“Honestly, if you look ahead, you’re not going to take care of the business that you have right in front of you,” defensive tackle Karl Klug said. “You have to take one week at a time. As soon as you look ahead, or look behind you at last year’s season, I feel like you will get complacent.
“Last year is irrelevant right now. We’re just looking to beat Eastern Illinois.”
While that match-up doesn’t look particularly daunting on paper, Iowa showed last year that they have the unfortunate tendency to play down to their opponents. A large part of the problem was inconsistency at the quarterback position, something starter Ricky Stanzi is well aware of.
Last year, Stanzi threw 15 interceptions to go along with his 17 touchdowns. For nearly as often as he was really good, he was frustratingly bad.
He’s seen things in film from last year that he believes he can correct, which would go a long way toward continuing the success of the 2009 season. He knows that not all shots need to be taken, and that he could and sometimes should check down and throw underneath more frequently. He knows that he doesn’t need to force passes to his receiver, trying to fit them into tight windows to make the big play.
He knows he needs to be better. More consistent.
“I want to be more accountable, in a sense that I’m not going to put our team in a bad position with turnovers,” Stanzi said. “That’s really the main focus. I don’t want to put our team in a bad spot. I don’t want to make our defense have to put a goal line stand up for no reason because of a careless mistake.”
Iowa was able to overcome Stanzi’s mistakes last year, winning every game he played from start to finish. He’s a proven winner, 18-4 as a starter, including the big Orange Bowl triumph.
The two losses, though. The what-ifs. As much as both the coach and his players say that last year won’t matter once the ball is kicked off Sept. 4, they still feel those in some way and can learn from them.
“Losses stay with you,” Ferentz said. “You can’t let them affect you in a negative way during the season. But you’d be foolish to let them go, too.”
A few teams from around the Big Ten certainly haven’t forgotten some tough losses. Penn State, for one.
“Any time you go into a game like that where a team’s beat you the past couple of years, and you really want to get that win and the payback, it’s going to give you more motivation that whole week leading up to the game,” Evan Royster, Penn State’s starting running back, said of his team’s trip to Kinnick on Oct. 2. “They’re a really tough team to prepare for and to play against, but we’ll see how it goes this year.”
The teams that upended Iowa know that the Hawkeyes will be gunning for them this year, too, looking for some payback of their own.
“Iowa’s such a good team, and you always try to play your best against the best teams,” Dan Persa, Northwestern’s starting quarterback, said. “The past couple of years, we’ve been lucky to play our best and come out on top of the games. I know they’re probably not too happy about it, and I’m sure they’re going to come hunting for us this year.”
With a seemingly favorable schedule - Iowa gets Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan State and Ohio State at home - and 16 returning starters, there is plenty of reason for optimism for the Hawkeyes, who should open the season ranked in or near the Top 10.
“Everybody’s is feeling pretty good and optimistic about the season,” Ferentz said. “Last year’s team handled it well. That’s a matter of record.
“Now the challenge is, what can this team do?”
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