By Brian Heinemann
Special to the Herald
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. ----- Questions surrounding the Iowa Hawkeyes – who Tuesday night delivered one of the most dominating defensive performances in recent memory en route to a 24-14 Orange Bowl victory – remain mostly unanswered.
Everyone knows what they did this year by now. Only the second 11-win team in school history. Their first ever BCS victory. The biggest bowl win in 50 years.
“We did a lot of things this year, and it just wasn’t our senior class, it was a team effort,” said tight end Tony Moeaki. “To win our first BCS game for Iowa, second team to 11 wins, started out 9-0, that’s never been done. It was just a special year for us as a team, and to have it in our senior years is an exclamation point.”
Improbable comebacks, close games, devastating injuries ¬– this season had it all for the Hawkeyes.
What it had most, though, was big wins.
There’s no question the Orange Bowl victory will help the Hawkeyes in the future. They should finish this season ranked somewhere between No. 6 and No. 8, depending if voters put them ahead of teams like Florida and TCU. Next season, they very well could be a Top 10 team in the initial preseason polls. A win like the one over Georgia Tech is the type of victory that can earn a program more national respect and help them on the recruiting trail.
“It’s a testament to our coaching staff,” Iowa linebacker Pat Angerer said after the game. “Coach Ferentz is such a great guy and a great human being. I really think this program is going to stay put. I don’t think they are going anywhere.”
The best news for the Hawkeyes – aside from the win, of course – is that they won’t be losing much to graduation this spring. The Hawkeyes have 17 seniors, but only a handful were regular starters. On offense, the most notable departure is Moeaki. Offensive lineman Kyle Calloway and center Raphael Eubanks also played their last game as a Hawkeye on Tuesday, as did wide receiver Trey Stross.
The defense loses only two starters, albeit big names. Linebackers A.J. Edds and Angerer finished productive careers at Iowa in the Orange Bowl, but there is talent waiting in the wings behind them. And, with the way the Hawkeyes tend to replace quality players on a yearly basis, there isn’t much cause for concern, especially with the entire defensive line – and potentially starting secondary – returning.
“We’ve got a very strong junior class and some guys coming up the ladder,” said Ferentz. “Wegher had a nice night, and Robinson, certainly. So we’ll get some players back, but we’ll have our challenges.”
The questions start to come with regard to juniors who have the opportunity to depart for the NFL. Only one answer has been given to this point, and it’s from a fifth-year senior – lineman Dace Richardson will not be returning to Iowa next year.
Richardson has the opportunity to receive a sixth year of eligibility due to the injuries he’s suffered over his career, but he made it official Tuesday night that he will not take that chance.
That leaves Iowa with some major holes on the offensive line. But in the next two days, those holes could get a whole lot bigger.
Left tackle Bryan Bulaga told the media after the Orange Bowl that he will release a statement by the end of this week with his intentions on either returning to school for his senior year or entering the NFL draft. Nothing is certain, but signs are pointing heavily toward Bulaga leaving.
That would leave Iowa’s offensive line with Riley Reiff and Julian Vandervelde. Not a bad starting point by any means, but Ferentz and the Iowa staff will have a rebuilding job on their hands if Bulaga leaves.
One other junior is toying with the idea of entering the NFL draft. Cornerback Amari Spievey said that he will announce his decision as early as today. Like Bulaga, Spievey looks as though he will be entering the NFL draft.
His potential departure would leave the Hawkeyes without one of their starting secondary, but the unit loses only senior Joe Conklin out of the entire two-deep depth chart.
Ricky Stanzi will be back. All but Stross and Moeaki will be back on the receiving end. Not only will Robinson and Wegher return at running back, but Jewel Hampton will be back from injury, as will Jeff Brinson.
The Hawkeyes don’t like to look ahead. It’s an attitude that starts with Ferentz and permeates throughout the locker room. But with the returning experience and how close the Hawkeyes were to going unblemished this year, expectations are undoubtedly going to be high next year.
“We come back and we’ll have to earn it all again next year,” said Ferentz. “But it’s going to be fun trying.”
INJURY NOTES
Trey Stross wasn't supposed to play last night, but was likely forced into action with DJK going down. Stross played in the Orange Bowl despite having a torn MCL.
DJK did something to tweak his right knee and hip. Doctors think he just sprained some things, but nothing official yet. Hip injuries are bad news, so this bears following pretty closely.
Adam Robinson was favoring his shoulder during practice leading up to the bowl but played and played well. He should be fine.
Showing posts with label Orange Bowl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Orange Bowl. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Defense paves way in Orange Bowl win
Special to the Herald
MIAMI ----- The Iowa Hawkeyes defense had been pretty darn good all year long, finishing the regular season ranked 11th in the nation.
Tuesday night in Miami, they looked more like No. 1. They were, in a word, phenomenal.
Typical to what the Hawkeyes did all season long, the offense did just enough and the defense carried the day in Iowa’s (11-2, 6-2 Big Ten) biggest bowl win in decades, a 24-14 triumph over ACC champion Georgia Tech at Land Shark Stadium.
“Having that time (for bowl prep) was extremely big. I can’t imagine preparing for them in a week,” said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. “The credit goes to our defensive staff and players. They just did a great job. Norm Parker (defensive coordinator) is as good as it comes when it comes to defense.”Parker – and the Hawkeyes defenders – proved that Tuesday.
They spent the majority of their 60 minutes lined up against the Hawkeyes befuddled, frustrated and undisciplined.
“Our defense played tremendous. They’re the heart and soul of this team,” said Hawkeyes quarterback Ricky Stanzi, who finished 17-for-29 for 231 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception in his return from injury. “They always have been, all season long. We were able to feed off their momentum and energy and we were able to get some points on the board.”
Iowa held Georgia Tech to a 20-year low of 32 yards in the first half. The explosive, fast-starting, ball-controlling Yellow Jackets barely saw the field in the first half and found themselves in a 14-0 hole before 11 minutes had expired.
Georgia Tech was usually the team that jumped out ahead this season. Because of their heavy reliance on the run, getting them down early was a key for the Hawkeyes.
“It was huge,” Iowa linebacker A.J. Edds said of the quick start. “Especially with this kind of offense, we knew if we got them down a little bit and got them in a hole, it would give us a good chance.”
Georgia Tech was also a team who relied on the big play all year long. Iowa gave up nothing longer than 16 yards.
The biggest play the Yellow Jackets had was a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown near the end of the first quarter. As always, the Hawkeyes and their quarterback remained unfazed and kept their composure, making their own big plays in the second half; an Edds interception and a Brandon Wegher 32 yard TD run.
“I don’t know what our biggest play was tonight, but we didn’t have a big play, and normally we’ve had several big plays either off the runs or play action or something,” said Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson. “They just did a better job of executing than we did.”
When Georgia Tech was forced to rely on the pass, they looked lost. Quarterback Josh Nesbitt, who ran for 46 yards on 20 carries, completed just 2-of-9 passes for 12 yards. He was sacked three times and intercepted once.It didn’t help his cause that Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn – the Orange Bowl MVP – sacked Nesbitt twice, had two other tackles for a loss and nine total tackles.
“The fact that Adrian won the MVP in a BCS Bowl, it doesn’t happen too often when a defensive lineman dominates the way he did,” said Ferentz.
In the end, Iowa did just about everything better than the Yellow Jackets. They outgained them 403 to 155, out-rushed them 172 to 143, and out-passed them 203 yards to 12 as Georgia Tech set several marks for futility in the history of the Orange Bowl.
The biggest thing they did is beat the Yellow Jackets at their own game. The Hawkeyes held the ball for five minutes longer than Georgia Tech, and they ran 19 more offensive plays than their opponent. And they forced a team that hadn’t punted in two months to punt a season-high seven times.
The thing that stung the Yellow Jackets the most was nothing more than simplicity.
“I think we only ran three different plays out there,” said Iowa linebacker Pat Angerer. “That’s kind of what we usually do. We put in all these kinds of play going into the game, stressing everybody out, and then we end up going out there and only running three plays.”
Those three plays held up against everything Georgia Tech threw against them, and the Iowa Hawkeyes are the 2010 Orange Bowl champions because of it.
Click to enlarge
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
The Orange Bowl Analysis
MIAMI ----- The matchup between Georgia Tech and Iowa is certainly intriguing in many aspects. You have a conservative coach in Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz going up against an aggressive, go-for-it-on-fourth-down kind of guy in Tech’s Paul Johnson.
You have a spread option offense against a vanilla, run-first and take some deep shots group. You get a defense that has played at least three different schemes this season against one that never really changes what they do.
And you get two teams who play such a different style of football overall, it’s almost impossible to predict what may happen.
But that’s what I’m here for. I’ve had over four days in south Florida now with the teams and with the rest of the media, attending press conferences, interviews, practices and more. Now, it’s time to get down to exactly what to expect from tonight’s Orange Bowl.
IOWA OFFENSE VS. GEORGIA TECH DEFENSE
Playing a run defense like Georgia Tech’s could be just what the Hawkeyes need after finishing near the bottom of the NCAA in rush offense this season. Tech was gashed for 662 yards on the ground by Georgia and Clemson in their final two games, which bodes well for Iowa and its two freshmen running backs, Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher.
Iowa’s passing game is somewhat of a question mark. Ricky Stanzi is back and 100 percent, but as my article yesterday pointed out, it’s hard to tell if that is a good or bad thing. Despite the leadership and poise he shows, he flat out throws too many interceptions. Luckily, he’s going against a miserable Tech pass defense that only has five interceptions on the year. Still, this is not a game Stanzi can afford to make mistakes. Tech controls the ball and scores boatloads of points, so any possession Iowa doesn’t score is going to be very damaging to their chances.
Still, Iowa has made big plays in the passing game most of the year, and against a weak Tech air defense Stanzi could be in for a big day.
Iowa has the advantage in the trenches – the front five is much bigger than most teams Tech has faced in the ACC – but not by much. The Hawkeyes will be employing a six-man rotation on the line, possibly shifting players to new positions to try to combat two members of the Yellow Jackets defense.
Derrick Morgan, a projected top five pick in the NFL draft if he comes out, is one of them. Morgan has wrecked opposing teams all season long and could have a field day against the right side of Iowa’s line, which includes true freshman Riley Reiff. Bryan Bulaga, by far Iowa’s best offensive lineman and possible first round pick in the draft, will have more success if Morgan lines up over him. Morgan moves around a lot – linebacker, both defensive end positions – so Iowa will be keeping an eye on him and you should too. The junior is an absolute game changer who has directly affected the outcomes of several Tech wins this season.
T.J. Barnes is the other person Iowa is having to gameplan around. Barnes is a 6-foot-7, 341 monster of a defensive tackle. As a redshirt freshman he isn’t the most talented player on the Tech defense, but his sheer size could wreak havoc, especially in the run game. The kid fills up a lot of space and could cause some problems.
Advantage: Iowa. Barely.
GEORGIA TECH OFFENSE VS. IOWA DEFENSE
Something has got to give here. That statement has probably been made hundreds of times since this game was announced, but it’s the only way to put it. You have the 11th ranked offense vs. the 11th ranked defense in the nation. You have a team that gives up almost no big plays against a team that makes them regularly.
And you have a team that has given up only eight rushing touchdowns going against a team that has scored an almost unfathomable 46.
Georgia Tech runs a spread option offense that Iowa hasn’t seen the likes of before. Iowa runs a pretty standard defense and doesn’t make many changes. Georgia Tech has a clear overall advantage here.
The Hawkeyes have some playmakers on their defense that will need to be at their best to try to slow down Georgia Tech. Nobody has stopped the Yellow Jackets this season, but Miami and Georgia proved that they can be contained. A.J. Edds and Pat Angerer face the biggest challenge, as the two standout Iowa linebackers will need to be at the top of their game to try to control the Tech rushing attack.
That attack includes a quarterback, Josh Nesbitt, who has 991 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground this year, Jonathan Dwyer, the b-back who has 1,346 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns, and A-back Anthony Allen, who has 597 yards (but a 9.8 average) and five rushing scores.
On any given play, Nesbitt can keep it himself or hand it or pitch it to either Dwyer, Allen or the other a-back, Roddy Jones. That kind of spread attack can create plenty of confusion and jumble up defensive assignments, so the Hawkeyes will face the stiffest mental test they’ve ever seen.
Don’t forget that Nesbitt can throw the ball, too. He only had 1,689 yards this season but threw for 10 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. Catching over half of those passes is NFL-caliber receiver Demaryius Thomas, who has an absurd number of big plays this year and averages 25.1 yards per catch.
The Hawkeyes will have to be at their best to slow down Georgia Tech, but they won’t stop them. Something has got to give, and it’s likely to be the Hawkeyes defense.
Advantage: Georgia Tech
SPECIAL TEAMS, COACHING, INTANGIBLES
There’s not much that stands out from either team here. The Hawkeyes are average on special teams and the Yellow Jackets go for it on fourth down so often that their punter doesn’t matter. Both coaches are phenomenal and among the nation’s best, and the only real intangible here is that Georgia Tech has played – and lost – on this field once already this year.
Advantage: Even
PREDICTION
I’ve gone against my gut once this year, and it backfired on me. I said all year that Northwestern would topple Iowa and, come game day, I went against my own thoughts and picked Iowa to win. We all know what happened there.
My gut has been screaming Georgia Tech at me since this game was announced. The Yellow Jackets offense is one of the scariest in the nation, averaging over 300 yards rushing and controlling the clock better than any team in the nation. Iowa’s offense simply cannot keep up with the Yellow Jackets, so everything rides on what the defense is able to do.
The gut says 38-20 Georgia Tech. The heart simply can’t pick against the Hawkeyes after the year they have had. The defense should be able to stop Tech from making the big plays, and the offense will do just enough – as they have all season – to carry the Hawkeyes to their biggest bowl victory in decades.
Iowa – 27
Georgia Tech – 24
You have a spread option offense against a vanilla, run-first and take some deep shots group. You get a defense that has played at least three different schemes this season against one that never really changes what they do.
And you get two teams who play such a different style of football overall, it’s almost impossible to predict what may happen.
But that’s what I’m here for. I’ve had over four days in south Florida now with the teams and with the rest of the media, attending press conferences, interviews, practices and more. Now, it’s time to get down to exactly what to expect from tonight’s Orange Bowl.
IOWA OFFENSE VS. GEORGIA TECH DEFENSE
Playing a run defense like Georgia Tech’s could be just what the Hawkeyes need after finishing near the bottom of the NCAA in rush offense this season. Tech was gashed for 662 yards on the ground by Georgia and Clemson in their final two games, which bodes well for Iowa and its two freshmen running backs, Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher.
Iowa’s passing game is somewhat of a question mark. Ricky Stanzi is back and 100 percent, but as my article yesterday pointed out, it’s hard to tell if that is a good or bad thing. Despite the leadership and poise he shows, he flat out throws too many interceptions. Luckily, he’s going against a miserable Tech pass defense that only has five interceptions on the year. Still, this is not a game Stanzi can afford to make mistakes. Tech controls the ball and scores boatloads of points, so any possession Iowa doesn’t score is going to be very damaging to their chances.
Still, Iowa has made big plays in the passing game most of the year, and against a weak Tech air defense Stanzi could be in for a big day.
Iowa has the advantage in the trenches – the front five is much bigger than most teams Tech has faced in the ACC – but not by much. The Hawkeyes will be employing a six-man rotation on the line, possibly shifting players to new positions to try to combat two members of the Yellow Jackets defense.
Derrick Morgan, a projected top five pick in the NFL draft if he comes out, is one of them. Morgan has wrecked opposing teams all season long and could have a field day against the right side of Iowa’s line, which includes true freshman Riley Reiff. Bryan Bulaga, by far Iowa’s best offensive lineman and possible first round pick in the draft, will have more success if Morgan lines up over him. Morgan moves around a lot – linebacker, both defensive end positions – so Iowa will be keeping an eye on him and you should too. The junior is an absolute game changer who has directly affected the outcomes of several Tech wins this season.
T.J. Barnes is the other person Iowa is having to gameplan around. Barnes is a 6-foot-7, 341 monster of a defensive tackle. As a redshirt freshman he isn’t the most talented player on the Tech defense, but his sheer size could wreak havoc, especially in the run game. The kid fills up a lot of space and could cause some problems.
Advantage: Iowa. Barely.
GEORGIA TECH OFFENSE VS. IOWA DEFENSE
Something has got to give here. That statement has probably been made hundreds of times since this game was announced, but it’s the only way to put it. You have the 11th ranked offense vs. the 11th ranked defense in the nation. You have a team that gives up almost no big plays against a team that makes them regularly.
And you have a team that has given up only eight rushing touchdowns going against a team that has scored an almost unfathomable 46.
Georgia Tech runs a spread option offense that Iowa hasn’t seen the likes of before. Iowa runs a pretty standard defense and doesn’t make many changes. Georgia Tech has a clear overall advantage here.
The Hawkeyes have some playmakers on their defense that will need to be at their best to try to slow down Georgia Tech. Nobody has stopped the Yellow Jackets this season, but Miami and Georgia proved that they can be contained. A.J. Edds and Pat Angerer face the biggest challenge, as the two standout Iowa linebackers will need to be at the top of their game to try to control the Tech rushing attack.
That attack includes a quarterback, Josh Nesbitt, who has 991 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground this year, Jonathan Dwyer, the b-back who has 1,346 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns, and A-back Anthony Allen, who has 597 yards (but a 9.8 average) and five rushing scores.
On any given play, Nesbitt can keep it himself or hand it or pitch it to either Dwyer, Allen or the other a-back, Roddy Jones. That kind of spread attack can create plenty of confusion and jumble up defensive assignments, so the Hawkeyes will face the stiffest mental test they’ve ever seen.
Don’t forget that Nesbitt can throw the ball, too. He only had 1,689 yards this season but threw for 10 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. Catching over half of those passes is NFL-caliber receiver Demaryius Thomas, who has an absurd number of big plays this year and averages 25.1 yards per catch.
The Hawkeyes will have to be at their best to slow down Georgia Tech, but they won’t stop them. Something has got to give, and it’s likely to be the Hawkeyes defense.
Advantage: Georgia Tech
SPECIAL TEAMS, COACHING, INTANGIBLES
There’s not much that stands out from either team here. The Hawkeyes are average on special teams and the Yellow Jackets go for it on fourth down so often that their punter doesn’t matter. Both coaches are phenomenal and among the nation’s best, and the only real intangible here is that Georgia Tech has played – and lost – on this field once already this year.
Advantage: Even
PREDICTION
I’ve gone against my gut once this year, and it backfired on me. I said all year that Northwestern would topple Iowa and, come game day, I went against my own thoughts and picked Iowa to win. We all know what happened there.
My gut has been screaming Georgia Tech at me since this game was announced. The Yellow Jackets offense is one of the scariest in the nation, averaging over 300 yards rushing and controlling the clock better than any team in the nation. Iowa’s offense simply cannot keep up with the Yellow Jackets, so everything rides on what the defense is able to do.
The gut says 38-20 Georgia Tech. The heart simply can’t pick against the Hawkeyes after the year they have had. The defense should be able to stop Tech from making the big plays, and the offense will do just enough – as they have all season – to carry the Hawkeyes to their biggest bowl victory in decades.
Iowa – 27
Georgia Tech – 24
Some pregame news and notes
MIAMI ----- Hey all, this is Brian, logging on from the press box at Land Shark Stadium in extremely sunny – but not so warm, at least for this area – Miami, Fla. I’ve got the best seat in the house, Row 1, Seat 1, perfect for pictures during the game.
There’s a lot to talk about in the next four hours before kickoff, so stay tuned and keep refreshing every so often. I’ll have Hawkeyes new, analysis on what to expect from the game, and will update pictures whenever I get the chance during pregame and game action.
I do have some interesting notes worth mentioning right off the bat here. Some of the media talked to parents of various Iowa players at yesterday’s Hawkeye Huddle (which I unfortunately did not attend), and the word from those who know him is that Bryan Bulaga is absolutely going pro. We’ve all had that feeling for a few weeks, but I wouldn’t be surprised to get an official announcement tonight, despite Bulaga’s mother saying he would go home to Chicago from here to make his decision.
Also of note, Iowa has been trying some different combinations on the offensive line in practice this past week. Don’t be surprised to see freshman Riley Reiff starting at right tackle and Kyle Calloway shifting inside to right guard. Part of this could be to reward Reiff for his fantastic season, and part of it could be to combat Tech’s 6-foot-7, 341-pound monster defensive tackle T.J. Barnes.
Expect Dace Richardson to play tonight, although it’s doubtful, according to Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, that he’ll play a large majority of plays. His conditioning isn’t where it would need to be too at this point in his recovery, but his leg is well enough that he’ll be able to go tonight and rotate in and out of the game.The story here is turning into more about the weather than anything else. Predictions are that this is going to come close to or may become the coldest Orange Bowl ever.
That’s it for now. Time to work on some analysis and predictions. If you have any questions about anything Orange Bowl related, leave a comment and I’ll get to them sooner rather than later.
Thanks for reading!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Opposites set to clash in Orange Bowl
By Brian Heinemann
For The Herald
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. ----- It’s hard to imagine two teams more fundamentally different than those squaring off in the Orange Bowl.
That’s part of why the Iowa Hawkeyes and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are here. The Orange Bowl Committee is interested in unique matchups, and it can’t get much more unique than two teams that are polar opposites of one another and that have never played each other before.
“We’ve played pretty well all season long, but we haven’t faced a challenge like this one,” said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. “It’s really unique. They put a lot of pressure on you in a lot of different ways. It’s so foreign to what we’ve seen, not only in terms of style of attack but in the way they put pressure on you. There haven’t been many teams too successful in shutting them down, so we’re just going to do our best to try to contain them.”
Stopping the Yellow Jackets has been nearly impossible this year. Containing them hasn’t been much easier. They’ve averaged over 34 minutes of possession per game, tops in the NCAA. They’ve averaged 307.2 rushing yards per game, second in the nation only to Nevada. They are second in third down conversions at 53.5 percent.
But if anybody can slow down the spread/triple-option offense Georgia Tech runs, it would be the Iowa Hawkeyes, who rank 11th nationally in total defense – Tech is 11th in total offense – and 10th in scoring defense.
Both Georgia Tech’s offense and Iowa’s defense face challenges in dealing with each other’s strongest units though.
“We really can’t tell too much over film because they haven’t ever faced an offense like us,” said Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt, who has accounted for 28 touchdowns this year. “We really have to wait until game time to see.”
“On tape, we're seeing it at game speed. On the field, we can't,” said Ferentz, referring to his defense going against the Iowa scout team that tries to mimic Tech’s offense. “There is absolutely no way. We could take our starting offense, it wouldn't be close. We just don't have that kind of personnel. We certainly don't have -- nobody can be Nesbitt. We don't have a Nesbitt on our team. We don't have a (Jonathan) Dwyer, and we certainly don't have a (Demaryius) Thomas.”
He enters the Orange Bowl with 1,154 yards receiving and eight touchdowns on only 46 catches, for an incredible 25.1 yards per catch. He has nine catches of 50 yards or longer and four of over 70.
“We’ve seen a lot of professional players, like Ricky Sapp and Da’Quan Bowers at Clemson and the defensive linemen at UNC and Miami,” said Dwyer. “It’s pretty much the same, except the guys are a little bit bigger than the guys we’ve faced before.”
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson joked that the pass defense has improved late in the season because opponents haven’t had to pass much. The Tech defense was shredded on the ground by Georgia and Clemson to end the season to the tune of 662 yards combined.
Injuries have been a part of that, as the losses of three players forced a switch to the 4-3 after an early season loss to Miami. The Yellow Jackets have switched schemes from the Nickel to the 4-3 to the 3-4 this year.
Iowa’s biggest advantage against the Tech defense will come from their offensive line. Yes, Ricky Stanzi should have opportunities in the passing game, but Wommack said the biggest matchup, between Iowa’s offensive line and the Yellow Jackets’ defensive line, will be key.
“I think they look really good,” Georgia Tech defensive tackle Logan Walls added. “The front five look really good as far as technique and athletic ability.”
The Hawkeyes will want to use that size advantage on the offensive line to open up holes for their two freshmen running backs, Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher. Keeping Georgia Tech’s offense off the field for as long as possible is of paramount importance to the Hawkeyes in the Orange Bowl.
“We’re going to try to take a little bit of what Georgia Tech likes to do and that’s control the clock,” said Iowa center Raphael Eubanks. “Going into any game that’s what we want to do, and we want to do that by establishing the run.”
Both teams know how important this game is. Both teams want that signature bowl win.
Both teams know that they have the television viewers all to themselves as the only game of the night.
“This is obviously a bigger platform, a bigger stage,” said Stanzi. “That makes it a little more difficult, a little more pressure involved for everybody. As far as, when it gets down to it, when the ball is kicked, it’s just a football game again. We’ve just got to do what we have to do on offense and our defense will do what they always do. If we play our best, play our hardest, things usually take care of themselves.”
For The Herald
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. ----- It’s hard to imagine two teams more fundamentally different than those squaring off in the Orange Bowl.
That’s part of why the Iowa Hawkeyes and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets are here. The Orange Bowl Committee is interested in unique matchups, and it can’t get much more unique than two teams that are polar opposites of one another and that have never played each other before.
“We’ve played pretty well all season long, but we haven’t faced a challenge like this one,” said Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz. “It’s really unique. They put a lot of pressure on you in a lot of different ways. It’s so foreign to what we’ve seen, not only in terms of style of attack but in the way they put pressure on you. There haven’t been many teams too successful in shutting them down, so we’re just going to do our best to try to contain them.”
Stopping the Yellow Jackets has been nearly impossible this year. Containing them hasn’t been much easier. They’ve averaged over 34 minutes of possession per game, tops in the NCAA. They’ve averaged 307.2 rushing yards per game, second in the nation only to Nevada. They are second in third down conversions at 53.5 percent.But if anybody can slow down the spread/triple-option offense Georgia Tech runs, it would be the Iowa Hawkeyes, who rank 11th nationally in total defense – Tech is 11th in total offense – and 10th in scoring defense.
Both Georgia Tech’s offense and Iowa’s defense face challenges in dealing with each other’s strongest units though.
“We really can’t tell too much over film because they haven’t ever faced an offense like us,” said Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt, who has accounted for 28 touchdowns this year. “We really have to wait until game time to see.”
“On tape, we're seeing it at game speed. On the field, we can't,” said Ferentz, referring to his defense going against the Iowa scout team that tries to mimic Tech’s offense. “There is absolutely no way. We could take our starting offense, it wouldn't be close. We just don't have that kind of personnel. We certainly don't have -- nobody can be Nesbitt. We don't have a Nesbitt on our team. We don't have a (Jonathan) Dwyer, and we certainly don't have a (Demaryius) Thomas.”
Dwyer, Georgia Tech’s b-back in their option system, rushed for 1,346 yards and 14 touchdowns this year. Thomas, despite playing on a team heavily slanted toward the run, is one of the nation’s most productive and game-breaking receivers.
He enters the Orange Bowl with 1,154 yards receiving and eight touchdowns on only 46 catches, for an incredible 25.1 yards per catch. He has nine catches of 50 yards or longer and four of over 70.
Dwyer – and several other Tech players – said that Iowa doesn’t really do anything on either side of the ball that they haven’t seen already this season, but he knows that Iowa has some talented defensive players in their front seven ¬– A.J. Edds, Adrian Clayborn and Pat Angerer, to name a few – to oppose him.
“We’ve seen a lot of professional players, like Ricky Sapp and Da’Quan Bowers at Clemson and the defensive linemen at UNC and Miami,” said Dwyer. “It’s pretty much the same, except the guys are a little bit bigger than the guys we’ve faced before.”
For as difficult as it will be for the Hawkeyes to slow down the Yellow Jackets, it has been quite a challenge for Georgia Tech to stop anybody on defense. The pass defense has been much maligned this year, intercepting only five passes and being torched frequently.
Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson joked that the pass defense has improved late in the season because opponents haven’t had to pass much. The Tech defense was shredded on the ground by Georgia and Clemson to end the season to the tune of 662 yards combined.“We’re deficient in some areas, there’s no question about that,” added Dave Wommack, Tech’s defensive coordinator. “The kids play hard and they work hard, but there’s been some deficiencies with our defense this year.”
Injuries have been a part of that, as the losses of three players forced a switch to the 4-3 after an early season loss to Miami. The Yellow Jackets have switched schemes from the Nickel to the 4-3 to the 3-4 this year.
Iowa’s biggest advantage against the Tech defense will come from their offensive line. Yes, Ricky Stanzi should have opportunities in the passing game, but Wommack said the biggest matchup, between Iowa’s offensive line and the Yellow Jackets’ defensive line, will be key.
“I think they look really good,” Georgia Tech defensive tackle Logan Walls added. “The front five look really good as far as technique and athletic ability.”
The Hawkeyes will want to use that size advantage on the offensive line to open up holes for their two freshmen running backs, Adam Robinson and Brandon Wegher. Keeping Georgia Tech’s offense off the field for as long as possible is of paramount importance to the Hawkeyes in the Orange Bowl.
“We’re going to try to take a little bit of what Georgia Tech likes to do and that’s control the clock,” said Iowa center Raphael Eubanks. “Going into any game that’s what we want to do, and we want to do that by establishing the run.”
Both teams know how important this game is. Both teams want that signature bowl win.
Both teams know that they have the television viewers all to themselves as the only game of the night.
“This is obviously a bigger platform, a bigger stage,” said Stanzi. “That makes it a little more difficult, a little more pressure involved for everybody. As far as, when it gets down to it, when the ball is kicked, it’s just a football game again. We’ve just got to do what we have to do on offense and our defense will do what they always do. If we play our best, play our hardest, things usually take care of themselves.”
Stanzi ready to roll in bowl
For The Herald
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. ----- We won’t know until after the Orange Bowl whether or not Ricky Stanzi’s return is a blessing or a curse for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Stanzi’s inconsistency has been well documented this year, during a season in which the quarterback threw 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in just over nine games. But for better or worse, the Hawkeyes have their quarterback and leader back for their meeting with Georgia Tech.
“As a cornerback, you look at the mistakes that he made, and if he continues to make those mistakes, you try to make him pay for it,” said Georgia Tech cornerback Mario Butler. ”But at the same time, he’s the kind of quarterback that will make a mistake and come right back and throw a touchdown. That’s the kind of mentality he has. He’s so poised.”
That’s the thing about Stanzi. Mistakes will happen with the amount of deep shots the Hawkeyes offense takes, and he knows it. He has been praised all season by teammates, coaches and opponents alike for his leadership and his ability to bounce back from a bad play and maintain his composure.
“You never want to make mistakes in the first place and have to be resilient,” said Stanzi. “But when you get in those positions you have to do what you have to do to help your team out. That’s really what matters. I know that every other player on the team is the same way.”
The Hawkeyes are 9-0 this season in games Stanzi has played in their entirety, and that fact isn’t lost on Georgia Tech.
“All I know is that when Ricky Stanzi’s been in there, they’ve won football games,” Dave Wommack, the Yellow Jackets’ defensive coordinator, said.
“I think he can make most of the throws and everything,” he said. “You know, he’s gone against some pretty darn good defenses throughout the year. He looks like a pretty good football player.”
The wild card in the game could be the fact that Stanzi hasn’t played more than a quarter of a football game since Oct. 26. Stanzi started several games slowly this year, but he likely won’t have the luxury of easing back into action against a Yellow Jackets team that boasts a prolific, ball-controlling offense.
Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz and offensive coordinator Ken O’Keefe both said that Stanzi has been full speed since before the team even travelled to Miami, and Stanzi himself said he’s “pretty much at 100 percent.”
“I hope to just be able to go out there and have it be like riding a bike, and nothing has changed,” said Stanzi. “That would be great. I mean, if things are a little rusty, then they are. I’ll just have to shake it off and get on the next play.”Sunday, January 3, 2010
Morgan a one man wrecking crew
By Brian Heinemann
For the Herald
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. ----- You may not know who Derrick Morgan is yet. Come Tuesday night’s Orange Bowl, you will.
Morgan is, simply put, the best player the Iowa Hawkeyes have faced this season. The 6-foot-4, 272-pound junior defensive end racked up 12 1/2 sacks and 18 tackles for a loss this year, good for sixth and 18th nationally. He’s a game-changer who forced two fumbles against Georgia, ended Clemson’s final drive with a fourth down stop in the ACC Championship game, and sacked Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner on third down to knock the Deacons out of field goal range and send the game to overtime.
His performance earned him ACC Defensive Player of the Year, first team All-ACC and first team All-American. And he did it all while facing double- and triple-team blocking, since Morgan sticks out like a sore thumb on a somewhat porous Tech defense.
“He’s a different animal than what I’ve seen so far. I’ve been able to watch him. He mostly plays on the right side but I’ll see him on the left side as well,” said Iowa left tackle Bryan Bulaga. “He’s a heck of a player. He’s fast. He’s big. He’s strong. He has great pass rush moves. He plays well against the run. Every part of his game is sharp and on point all of the time.”
Morgan doesn’t seem too worried about Eubanks or the Hawkeyes’ offensive line, despite having respect for them and what they’ve done this year.
For the Herald
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. ----- You may not know who Derrick Morgan is yet. Come Tuesday night’s Orange Bowl, you will.
Morgan is, simply put, the best player the Iowa Hawkeyes have faced this season. The 6-foot-4, 272-pound junior defensive end racked up 12 1/2 sacks and 18 tackles for a loss this year, good for sixth and 18th nationally. He’s a game-changer who forced two fumbles against Georgia, ended Clemson’s final drive with a fourth down stop in the ACC Championship game, and sacked Wake Forest quarterback Riley Skinner on third down to knock the Deacons out of field goal range and send the game to overtime.
His performance earned him ACC Defensive Player of the Year, first team All-ACC and first team All-American. And he did it all while facing double- and triple-team blocking, since Morgan sticks out like a sore thumb on a somewhat porous Tech defense.
“He’s a different animal than what I’ve seen so far. I’ve been able to watch him. He mostly plays on the right side but I’ll see him on the left side as well,” said Iowa left tackle Bryan Bulaga. “He’s a heck of a player. He’s fast. He’s big. He’s strong. He has great pass rush moves. He plays well against the run. Every part of his game is sharp and on point all of the time.”
Morgan’s name came up consistently at press conferences over the weekend, both from Iowa and Georgia Tech players and coaches. The junior is projected as a potential top five pick in the NFL draft, rating fifth in the Scouts Inc. ratings - 12 spots ahead of the next end listed - and in the top 10 of Mel Kiper’s big board.
Georgia Tech uses him all over the field, moving him from end to end and standing him up at linebacker at times. No matter where he is, opponents have no choice but to focus on him.
“I think he has one of the best techniques,” said Tech cornerback Mario Butler. “Every time I turn on the TV and watch other defensive ends, I think his technique stands out the most.”
His technique comes from the work Morgan puts in on pass rushing, but he’s far from a one-dimensional player. While his 12 1/2 sacks are indicative of his rushing prowess, his 18 tackles for a loss show that he can be just as successful against the run.
“He’s a great athlete,” said Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi, Morgan’s main target in the Orange Bowl. “Obviously, everyone knows how disruptive he can be in the passing game and in the run game. He’s someone we’ll have to be focused on throughout the ballgame and understand where he’s at.”
Iowa offensive coordinator Ken O’Keefe called Morgan a “one man wrecking crew.” Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Dave Wommack said his star has a “tremendous motor.” And just about everybody else involved in the Orange Bowl has called him some version of the same thing – very, very good.
Georgia Tech inside linebacker Brad Jefferson said that Morgan has been a different person since coming to Miami. Instead of being his usual funny, jokester self, Morgan has been calm and mostly quiet since arriving late last week.
That doesn’t bode particularly well for the Hawkeyes, who now have to deal with the even-more-focused Morgan. But that doesn’t mean they are going to devote their entire game plan to stopping him.
“I have to key him on a couple of things, but for the most part I’m not too worried about where he’s at because I won’t see him too much,” said Iowa center Raphael Eubanks. “But obviously as an offensive line as a whole we’re going to be cognizant of where he’s at. He’s going to be making plays, and we need to try to limit his production.”
“I don’t know that they present problems, but they are a really sound group of guys playing,” said Morgan. “They are probably one of the best groups we’ve seen all year.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
The whirlwind begins - news/notes from Saturday
Defensive ends Adrian Clayborn and Broderick Binns leave practice Saturday
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. ----- Kirk Ferentz’s idea of what would be a disastrous start to the Orange Bowl Tuesday might not make sense at first.
He dreads the possibility of the Hawkeyes receiving the ball and returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown.
“I’ll share some trivia with you. My kid has been in this stadium (Land Shark Stadium, where the Orange Bowl is played) three times, one of my sons,” Ferentz said after Iowa wrapped up practice this afternoon. “He’s been at three games, sat in the stadium, saw three opening kickoffs get run back for touchdowns.
“All three teams lost.”
Ferentz has come up with a way to prevent becoming part of an 0-for-4 statistic.
“If we do break it, we’re going to instruct our guy to put it down at the one-inch line, take a knee,” said Ferentz.All joking aside, Ferentz didn’t say much that hasn’t been said before. But between my travels from Pompano Beach, to Fort Lauderdale, to Davie, back to Pompano, to Miami and back to Pompano yet again today, I found plenty pieces of useful and/or entertaining information for you Hawks fans to chew on as you await the big game.
AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE
One of the biggest things coming up in Florida right now is the future of three current Hawkeyes. Cornerback Amari Spievey has remained quiet about whether or not he will forgo his senior season to enter the NFL, and, as noted earlier today in this blog, offensive lineman Bulaga has started dropping hints but won’t give an answer until after the game Tuesday.
The future of Dace Richardson, however, was talked about not only by Richardson himself, but his coach and teammates.
But that doesn’t ensure he’s coming back, even if the NCAA grants that request. Like Bulaga, Richardson talked about Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford’s decision to return to school despite being a projected top three pick in the NFL draft last offseason.
Richardson said that he was on the fence about whether to come back for a sixth year. He won’t have to worry about making the decision quickly, however. His coach said that the Jan. 15 application for the NFL draft doesn’t apply to Richardson, and, with some scorn, noted that the NCAA won’t tell Richardson whether he can come back until mid May.THE NEXT LEVEL
Both Moeaki and center Raphael Eubanks spoke candidly about what they want after their final game on Tuesday.
“I’ve been an under-sized guy my whole football career, and looking at the next level it’s going to be the same thing,” said Eubanks. “But I’m going to give it a shot. I don’t want to be two, three years out wishing I gave it a shot when I didn’t. That way I’ll at least find out if I’m not good enough or if I’m too small.”
Because of his small stature for his position, expectations for the next level aren’t so high for Eubanks. To his credit, he recognizes and accepts that fact.
“I’m most likely going to be a free agent type of player,” said Eubanks. “That’s fine with me. The biggest thing is you get an opportunity and you’ve just got to go with it. Hopefully I get lucky and catch on with somebody.”
“It’d be nice to come back,” said Moeaki. “It’s fun to be a part of this team, but they’re probably sick of me so I’ll get out of here.”
RICHARDSON IS IN
Everyone that you would expect to play will be playing Tuesday. The only player who has been questionable for some time is Richardson on the offensive line, but both he and his coach confirmed that he will play Tuesday.
“I’ve been practicing for a while, I’ve been slowly getting the rust off,” said Richardson. “But when I first came out and first started practicing I was leaning, I was rusty, I wasn’t moving the way I wanted to. But slowly, the past three weeks, I’ve been getting the rust off and working, and I feel that when it comes game time, I should be ready to go.
“This past week I’ve been feeling really good,” said Richardson. ”I’m starting to feel like my normal self again.”
The return of a second-team All Big Ten lineman should serve as a boost for the Hawkeyes against a strong front four of the Yellow Jackets, at least according to one of Richardson’s line-mates.
“Any time you get a guy back that’s really struggled with injuries, and seeing him fight back to even get back to dress, like he has, and now he has an opportunity to play … I think that’s got to fire up everybody,” said Bulaga. “It shows how bad he wants to be here and how bad he wants to be a part of this game.”
CELEB SIGHTINGS
The Hawkeyes have been bombarded with celebrity encounters in their time in Miami. Although he hasn’t seen any of them personally – he’s been resting and trying to catch up on sleep – Hawkeyes quarterback Ricky Stanzi named Robert Pattinson, Beyonce, Jay-Z and Spike Lee as some of the celebs the team has seen. He forgot Dennis Rodman and one or two others.
Wide receiver Marvin McNutt was being sought out by Spike Lee.“My teammates told me he was looking for me, and I was like, ‘why is he looking for me?’” said McNutt.
Lee didn’t know McNutt by appearance but by name. McNutt said he broke the ice by walking up to Lee and asking to be in a movie, starting off a conversation.
So, why McNutt? Bulaga had a two-part explanation.
“Marvin’s a big name,” he said. “Come on now, nobody wants to see an offensive lineman. Especially with his shirt off by the pool.”
BIG TEN OVERRATED?
The Big Ten has been heavily scrutinized in recent years for bowl game letdowns, but Ferentz doesn’t think that judgment is fair and was glad to see Wisconsin, Ohio State and Penn State all defeat Top-15 opponents in their bowls.
“I think perception really gets blown out of proportion,” said Ferentz. “Maybe just to get people to relax a little bit this is a good thing. But we’ve had good teams throughout the years. Bowl games, you know…sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Everybody is pretty good at bowl games.”
A CRAZED FAN
After telling the assembled media about his plans to prevent a kickoff return touchdown to start the Orange Bowl, Ferentz went into a story of what he and his son encountered at the third one of the losses he witness – the Chicago Bears Super Bowl loss to Indianapolis in 2005.
“We were sitting up there, next to last row in the endzone,” said Ferentz. “It rained like crazy, and there was this woman from Indianapolis that screamed the entire 60 minutes to some Bear guy sitting right in front of us. I thought for sure she’d wear out at halftime … she went the full 60. I hope our team has her endurance.”
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE FUNNY
Plenty of humorous – intentionally or not – incidents occurred today.
The day started off with a reporter asking Georgia Tech defensive tackle Logan Walls what side of the ball he played on. During a defensive press conference. With Wall’s name and position right in front of the reporter’s face on a placard sitting right on the table in front of them.
Ken O’Keefe made a comment to open his press conference in the morning that had the room rolling.
“I also hear that our media from Iowa is holding up their end of the bargain as far as the hospitality room here,” said O’Keefe. “We’re well represented and taking care of business there.”I haven’t been to that hospitality room yet, and I’m apparently one of the few. I feel like I'm letting Iowa down.
Finally, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson took a nice jab at me – and apparently all Iowans – when I met him today.
After identifying myself as “Brian Heinemann, with the Clinton Herald up in Iowa,” Johnson laughed and commented that he “never would have guessed,” saying that he assumed I was from a Tallahassee or Alabama newspaper. That got all in the vicinity – I was the only member of the Iowa media there; it was all Tech people – laughing, as Johnson was clearly making fun of what he perceived to be my “Iowa accent.”
As all of us Iowans know, we talk normal. Johnson just clearly doesn’t know that.
PHOTO GALLERY - Click on the photo for a larger version.
Where I'm staying
My rental car
The press conference room
The interview room
Early morning press conference notes
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. ----- The morning press conferences just wrapped up, which featured six players from the Georgia Tech defense, six from the Iowa offense and both coordinators.
Some noteworthy quotes and information (with a more detailed post coming later, pictures included):
Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Dave Wommack said the biggest concern facing his squad in the Orange Bowl is the matchup between Iowa's offensive line and Tech's D-line. When asked about Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi, Wommack said: "When Ricky Stanzi's been in there, they've won football games."
The members of the Georgia Tech defense all had respect for Stanzi, with the words "great quarterback," "very, very poised" and "accurate" being commonly thrown around.
One of the big focuses when Iowa is on offense will be Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan. As Hawkeyes offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe said: "Morgan can be a one-man wrecking crew." That sentiment was echoed by the Iowa players.
O'Keefe also said that the team is itching to get on the field against the Yellow Jackets, saying that it's a similar feeling to the preseason, where "everybody is sick of looking at each other."
The big news of the morning comes from Bryan Bulaga, Iowa's left tackle. Bulaga still hasn't said whether he'll be coming back or not for his senior season, but some of the subjects he talked about this morning could be fairly enlightening as to what his mindset is. Bulaga talked about Sam Bradford, the Oklahoma quarterback who bypassed the draft despite being a sure first-rounder and was injured in the Sooners' first game this year, likely dropping his draft stock. As another member of the media said, Bradford is the poster child for making such a decision.
Bulaga's silence on his future could be setting him up for a postgame announcement, and talking about Bradford's mistake adds fuel to that possibility. Don't expect any official word until Tuesday night at the earliest.
Stay tuned for more this afternoon, after both teams' practices and pictures get uploaded.
Some noteworthy quotes and information (with a more detailed post coming later, pictures included):
Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Dave Wommack said the biggest concern facing his squad in the Orange Bowl is the matchup between Iowa's offensive line and Tech's D-line. When asked about Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi, Wommack said: "When Ricky Stanzi's been in there, they've won football games."
The members of the Georgia Tech defense all had respect for Stanzi, with the words "great quarterback," "very, very poised" and "accurate" being commonly thrown around.
One of the big focuses when Iowa is on offense will be Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan. As Hawkeyes offensive coordinator Ken O'Keefe said: "Morgan can be a one-man wrecking crew." That sentiment was echoed by the Iowa players.
O'Keefe also said that the team is itching to get on the field against the Yellow Jackets, saying that it's a similar feeling to the preseason, where "everybody is sick of looking at each other."
The big news of the morning comes from Bryan Bulaga, Iowa's left tackle. Bulaga still hasn't said whether he'll be coming back or not for his senior season, but some of the subjects he talked about this morning could be fairly enlightening as to what his mindset is. Bulaga talked about Sam Bradford, the Oklahoma quarterback who bypassed the draft despite being a sure first-rounder and was injured in the Sooners' first game this year, likely dropping his draft stock. As another member of the media said, Bradford is the poster child for making such a decision.
Bulaga's silence on his future could be setting him up for a postgame announcement, and talking about Bradford's mistake adds fuel to that possibility. Don't expect any official word until Tuesday night at the earliest.
Stay tuned for more this afternoon, after both teams' practices and pictures get uploaded.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Hawkeyes fans, get ready to be disappointed
Can you feel it in the brisk Iowa air this week? It's a sense of dread, a sense that something is going to go terribly wrong this weekend. A sense that, despite all common sense and logic, somebody is going to do something incredibly stupid.
I know I feel it. I've felt it for weeks, and the feeling just keeps getting stronger. The Penn State Nittany Lions are in full "beg-and-whine" mode, the P.R. machine spinning it's over-sized wheels at a ridiculous rate.
And what that boils down to is simple – Iowa is going to get left out of the BCS come Sunday.
Even if Iowa is doing it's part – and it doesn't appear to be pushing very hard for a bid – previous history of the Hawkeyes' P.R. attempts this season don't exactly inspire confidence. The e-mail sent to the national media after Iowa improved to 9-0 was a sorely misguided attempt to sway national opinion on the Hawkeyes, and that kind of "let me tell you why you are wrong" attitude isn't going to work on bowl reps.
This shouldn't even be an option if the Fiesta, Orange or Sugar Bowl wants a Big Ten team for an at-large spot. Penn State shouldn't even be in the conversation, yet it looks like they've taken it over and now have a leg up on the Hawkeyes.
The fact is, Iowa beat Penn State on JoePa's home turf. Iowa went into Beaver Stadium and for the second straight year knocked off an "elite" Penn State team, yet seemingly everybody outside of Iowa has forgotten that fact.
A head-to-head victory isn't the only determining factor. If Iowa was 8-4 and Penn State was 10-2, Penn State would logically get the bid despite losing to Iowa. But the teams played to a tie in both overall and conference play.
That is a perfect example of when head-to-head should matter most. Everything ended up equal (although Iowa's strength of schedule was tougher), and Iowa beat Penn State.
It seems so easy, but it's just not the way college football works. After all, Penn State is ahead of Iowa in all the human polls.
This is about greed. Whatever bowl has to choose between Iowa and Penn State will see a legendary coach in perhaps his last shot at a BCS game, a team that delivers fantastic TV ratings and a team that is more nationally prominent and relevant.
And no, I'm not talking about Iowa.
Sure, Iowa travels well. The bowls love that. As Iowa's Phil Haddy said this week, they could probably sell out the Fiesta Bowl without sending any fans that currently reside in Iowa, because there are so many transplanted Iowans living in Arizona.
But they play, and win, ugly. Very ugly. Yes, it's exciting for fans, but it's not exactly a big selling point in the eyes of these major bowls. Penn State has blown away teams that Iowa barely could scrape by. They are more explosive and, depending on your viewpoint, more fun to watch.
There's still a chance the Fiesta or Orange Bowl does the right thing and picks Iowa, but it's looking less likely even after potential at-larger's Oklahoma State and Pittsburgh lost last weekend.
I know I don't want to be there Sunday, hearing that I need to pack my bags and head to Orlando come January.
Florida's nice and all, but I'd rather be in Miami. Or Tempe.
I know I feel it. I've felt it for weeks, and the feeling just keeps getting stronger. The Penn State Nittany Lions are in full "beg-and-whine" mode, the P.R. machine spinning it's over-sized wheels at a ridiculous rate.
And what that boils down to is simple – Iowa is going to get left out of the BCS come Sunday.
Even if Iowa is doing it's part – and it doesn't appear to be pushing very hard for a bid – previous history of the Hawkeyes' P.R. attempts this season don't exactly inspire confidence. The e-mail sent to the national media after Iowa improved to 9-0 was a sorely misguided attempt to sway national opinion on the Hawkeyes, and that kind of "let me tell you why you are wrong" attitude isn't going to work on bowl reps.
This shouldn't even be an option if the Fiesta, Orange or Sugar Bowl wants a Big Ten team for an at-large spot. Penn State shouldn't even be in the conversation, yet it looks like they've taken it over and now have a leg up on the Hawkeyes.
The fact is, Iowa beat Penn State on JoePa's home turf. Iowa went into Beaver Stadium and for the second straight year knocked off an "elite" Penn State team, yet seemingly everybody outside of Iowa has forgotten that fact.
A head-to-head victory isn't the only determining factor. If Iowa was 8-4 and Penn State was 10-2, Penn State would logically get the bid despite losing to Iowa. But the teams played to a tie in both overall and conference play.
That is a perfect example of when head-to-head should matter most. Everything ended up equal (although Iowa's strength of schedule was tougher), and Iowa beat Penn State.
It seems so easy, but it's just not the way college football works. After all, Penn State is ahead of Iowa in all the human polls.
This is about greed. Whatever bowl has to choose between Iowa and Penn State will see a legendary coach in perhaps his last shot at a BCS game, a team that delivers fantastic TV ratings and a team that is more nationally prominent and relevant.
And no, I'm not talking about Iowa.
Sure, Iowa travels well. The bowls love that. As Iowa's Phil Haddy said this week, they could probably sell out the Fiesta Bowl without sending any fans that currently reside in Iowa, because there are so many transplanted Iowans living in Arizona.
But they play, and win, ugly. Very ugly. Yes, it's exciting for fans, but it's not exactly a big selling point in the eyes of these major bowls. Penn State has blown away teams that Iowa barely could scrape by. They are more explosive and, depending on your viewpoint, more fun to watch.
There's still a chance the Fiesta or Orange Bowl does the right thing and picks Iowa, but it's looking less likely even after potential at-larger's Oklahoma State and Pittsburgh lost last weekend.
I know I don't want to be there Sunday, hearing that I need to pack my bags and head to Orlando come January.
Florida's nice and all, but I'd rather be in Miami. Or Tempe.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Where Iowa is going bowling and other random thoughts
Today was interesting on so many levels. I witnessed a man in the press box refuse to stand up for the national anthem (that didn't go over well), a reporter got arrested and had his press pass taken away, the four people representing Minnesota's athletic department were some of the most arrogant, ignorant people I've ever seen in a professional setting, and it was the end to my run covering the Iowa Hawkeyes (barring a bowl game press pass miracle).
This has been one heck of a season, and I feel as if I'm one of the luckiest people in the world to have had the opportunity to cover it. Everything came to a climax when I was standing on the field, AP and ESPN reporters around me, surrounded by fans, watching a 'season highlight' video on the big board right after the game.
Hearing the crowd react to every big play as if it were happening right then, seeing the amazing moments I've been privy to all season, and, at the end, hearing the "BCS, BCS" chants left me with the chills for probably five minutes straight. Unbelievable, and it perfectly summed up the entire experience I've had as a beat writer for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Injury News - Per Ferentz, Robinson re-tweaked his high ankle sprain and would likely not play if they had a game next week, but should be fine for the bowl.
Dace Richardson is also likely to return for the bowl, as is Ricky Stanzi. Stanzi had his brace removed, so he's walking without assistance now and should be good to go come January.
Orange Bowl in the house - The Orange Bowl representatives weren't the only bowl people at the game – I picked up a brochure on the Outback Bowl, and the Fiesta Bowl was also supposedly in the house – but they were the ones I ran into and talked with.
The Orange Bowl likes Iowa. I mean, really likes them. They've experienced first-hand how well this team travels, and Larry Gautier, the Orange Bowl Football Committee member I spoke with, implied that Iowa is one of two or three times they'd be choosing between come Dec. 6.
BCS Bound? - The answer right now is a very apprehensive maybe. At least two BCS bowls love Iowa, but will they really select them over the teams ahead of the Hawks? Don't be surprised to see Iowa in the Outback or Capital One bowl, but if things shake out a certain way these last few weeks, the BCS could definitely happen.
There are a bunch of teams I'd put into a BCS bowl before Iowa. They are:
Florida
Alabama
Texas
TCU
Cincinatti
Boise State
Georgia Tech
Pittsburgh
Ohio State
Oregon
That's 10 teams, which is exactly the number the BCS can take. I had Iowa 12th, but when LSU lost today they dropped out of the picture completely. Oklahoma State is iffy to me, but without Dez Bryant I'd pick Iowa over them.
If TCU, Cincy or Boise lose (all doubtful), Iowa would get in over them. Cincy does play Pitt, and, for Iowa's sake, they better hope the Bearcats win. Would Iowa make it in over a 1-loss Cincy team? I doubt it. Would Pitt make a BCS bowl if they lose again? No way.
The best hope for Iowa is to have Boise or TCU lose and have Cincy beat Pitt. I don't know what bowl Iowa will go to, but the experts are all predicting the Fiesta. We'll know in two weeks, but my prediction after talking to Gautier today ...
Iowa vs. Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl.
This has been one heck of a season, and I feel as if I'm one of the luckiest people in the world to have had the opportunity to cover it. Everything came to a climax when I was standing on the field, AP and ESPN reporters around me, surrounded by fans, watching a 'season highlight' video on the big board right after the game.
Hearing the crowd react to every big play as if it were happening right then, seeing the amazing moments I've been privy to all season, and, at the end, hearing the "BCS, BCS" chants left me with the chills for probably five minutes straight. Unbelievable, and it perfectly summed up the entire experience I've had as a beat writer for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Injury News - Per Ferentz, Robinson re-tweaked his high ankle sprain and would likely not play if they had a game next week, but should be fine for the bowl.
Dace Richardson is also likely to return for the bowl, as is Ricky Stanzi. Stanzi had his brace removed, so he's walking without assistance now and should be good to go come January.
Orange Bowl in the house - The Orange Bowl representatives weren't the only bowl people at the game – I picked up a brochure on the Outback Bowl, and the Fiesta Bowl was also supposedly in the house – but they were the ones I ran into and talked with.
The Orange Bowl likes Iowa. I mean, really likes them. They've experienced first-hand how well this team travels, and Larry Gautier, the Orange Bowl Football Committee member I spoke with, implied that Iowa is one of two or three times they'd be choosing between come Dec. 6.
BCS Bound? - The answer right now is a very apprehensive maybe. At least two BCS bowls love Iowa, but will they really select them over the teams ahead of the Hawks? Don't be surprised to see Iowa in the Outback or Capital One bowl, but if things shake out a certain way these last few weeks, the BCS could definitely happen.
There are a bunch of teams I'd put into a BCS bowl before Iowa. They are:
Florida
Alabama
Texas
TCU
Cincinatti
Boise State
Georgia Tech
Pittsburgh
Ohio State
Oregon
That's 10 teams, which is exactly the number the BCS can take. I had Iowa 12th, but when LSU lost today they dropped out of the picture completely. Oklahoma State is iffy to me, but without Dez Bryant I'd pick Iowa over them.
If TCU, Cincy or Boise lose (all doubtful), Iowa would get in over them. Cincy does play Pitt, and, for Iowa's sake, they better hope the Bearcats win. Would Iowa make it in over a 1-loss Cincy team? I doubt it. Would Pitt make a BCS bowl if they lose again? No way.
The best hope for Iowa is to have Boise or TCU lose and have Cincy beat Pitt. I don't know what bowl Iowa will go to, but the experts are all predicting the Fiesta. We'll know in two weeks, but my prediction after talking to Gautier today ...
Iowa vs. Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl.
A fitting way to end for Iowa
By Brian Heinemann
For the Herald
IOWA CITY ––– With the way the Iowa Hawkeyes have been turning “what ifs” into “what is” this season, it’s fitting that a BCS dream that looked nearly dead in the water a week ago is still very much in the realm of reality.
The “what if” game doesn’t particularly appeal to the Hawkeyes or their coach, Kirk Ferentz, though. They don’t like talking about what might have been or even what could be.
All that separated the Hawkeyes from a perfect season and a trip to Pasedena – for the Rose Bowl or National Championship game – was 10 points and two close losses.
What if?
Iowa lost key starters throughout the season to injuries, ranging from a slew of running backs – Jewel Hampton, Adam Robinson, Brandon Wegher – to a potential All American tight end in Tony Moeaki, a starting safety in Brett Greenwood and an emotional leader in their quarterback Ricky Stanzi.
What if?
The Hawkeyes finished their regular season 10-2 (6-2 Big Ten), taking down Minnesota 12-0 Saturday in a defensive struggle that featured season lows in a multitude of offensive categories for Iowa, keeping their names firmly entrenched in the BCS discussion.
So, what now?
Now, Iowa plays the waiting game. The National Championship game and the Rose Bowl are out of the question, yet the Hawkeyes can end up anywhere from the Fiesta Bowl, to the Orange Bowl, to the Outback Bowl.
“Right now, we can’t worry about that because we’ve done all that we can,” said senior linebacker A.J. Edds, who finished with eight tackles and an interception in his final game at Kinnick Stadium. “We just kind of have to sit back and let the rest of the country shake out and see what happens. But I think at the same time we’ve done enough to get into that conversation.
“Look at our body of work, especially on the road. But it’s not our decision to make. We’re 10-2 and we’ve played pretty well, so let everything kind of figure itself out from here and go from there.”
It’s hard to get the Hawkeyes to talk about the whole BCS thing and the possibilities that await. That attitude starts from the top and makes its way downward, as Ferentz will be the first to admit that he doesn’t pay much attention to the BCS and isn’t overly concerned with where his team heads this bowl season.
He’s just “absolutely amazed” his team won 10 games with all the adversity and incredible situations they encountered and endured this season. Two blocked field goals to survive a scare from UNI, a tight win against Arkansas State, the last-second heroics in East Lansing, the huge comeback to best Indiana – the Hawkeyes have come through so much that Ferentz is just happy to enjoy only the fourth double-digit win season of his Iowa career.
“I’m happy with where we are at,” said Ferentz. “If we don’t go (to a BCS game), we don’t go. That’s the way it goes. I’m just happy we got 10 wins.”
Most of the players chose to let the BCS system and bowl committees handle the situation rather than give their own opinions, with only a few Hawkeyes straying from the general “we did all we can do, it’s out of our hands” philosophy that was prominently displayed Saturday.
And with everything they’ve faced this year – and the fact that Ferentz believes they played their best game of the year on the road in the overtime loss to Ohio State last weekend – the Hawkeyes feel that they can compete with anybody the bowl process pits them against.
“We don’t back down from any challenge,” said wide receiver Marvin McNutt, who had one catch for 28 yards against the Golden Gophers. “We feel like we can play with anybody in the nation.”
They’ll get the chance to likely play one of the best the nation has to offer sometime in the first week of January. And while the destination and opponent remain unclear, the important thing is that the Hawkeyes have their foot in the door and their name in the conversation.
“It’s a very special team with very special players,” Larry Gautier, an Orange Bowl representative who likened this years Iowa team to the “team of destiny” from 2002, said of the Hawkeyes.
“Iowa is clearly in the mix, there’s no question about it.”
For the Herald
IOWA CITY ––– With the way the Iowa Hawkeyes have been turning “what ifs” into “what is” this season, it’s fitting that a BCS dream that looked nearly dead in the water a week ago is still very much in the realm of reality.
The “what if” game doesn’t particularly appeal to the Hawkeyes or their coach, Kirk Ferentz, though. They don’t like talking about what might have been or even what could be.
All that separated the Hawkeyes from a perfect season and a trip to Pasedena – for the Rose Bowl or National Championship game – was 10 points and two close losses.
What if?
Iowa lost key starters throughout the season to injuries, ranging from a slew of running backs – Jewel Hampton, Adam Robinson, Brandon Wegher – to a potential All American tight end in Tony Moeaki, a starting safety in Brett Greenwood and an emotional leader in their quarterback Ricky Stanzi.
What if?
The Hawkeyes finished their regular season 10-2 (6-2 Big Ten), taking down Minnesota 12-0 Saturday in a defensive struggle that featured season lows in a multitude of offensive categories for Iowa, keeping their names firmly entrenched in the BCS discussion.
So, what now?
Now, Iowa plays the waiting game. The National Championship game and the Rose Bowl are out of the question, yet the Hawkeyes can end up anywhere from the Fiesta Bowl, to the Orange Bowl, to the Outback Bowl.
“Right now, we can’t worry about that because we’ve done all that we can,” said senior linebacker A.J. Edds, who finished with eight tackles and an interception in his final game at Kinnick Stadium. “We just kind of have to sit back and let the rest of the country shake out and see what happens. But I think at the same time we’ve done enough to get into that conversation.
“Look at our body of work, especially on the road. But it’s not our decision to make. We’re 10-2 and we’ve played pretty well, so let everything kind of figure itself out from here and go from there.”
It’s hard to get the Hawkeyes to talk about the whole BCS thing and the possibilities that await. That attitude starts from the top and makes its way downward, as Ferentz will be the first to admit that he doesn’t pay much attention to the BCS and isn’t overly concerned with where his team heads this bowl season.
He’s just “absolutely amazed” his team won 10 games with all the adversity and incredible situations they encountered and endured this season. Two blocked field goals to survive a scare from UNI, a tight win against Arkansas State, the last-second heroics in East Lansing, the huge comeback to best Indiana – the Hawkeyes have come through so much that Ferentz is just happy to enjoy only the fourth double-digit win season of his Iowa career.
“I’m happy with where we are at,” said Ferentz. “If we don’t go (to a BCS game), we don’t go. That’s the way it goes. I’m just happy we got 10 wins.”
Most of the players chose to let the BCS system and bowl committees handle the situation rather than give their own opinions, with only a few Hawkeyes straying from the general “we did all we can do, it’s out of our hands” philosophy that was prominently displayed Saturday.
And with everything they’ve faced this year – and the fact that Ferentz believes they played their best game of the year on the road in the overtime loss to Ohio State last weekend – the Hawkeyes feel that they can compete with anybody the bowl process pits them against.
“We don’t back down from any challenge,” said wide receiver Marvin McNutt, who had one catch for 28 yards against the Golden Gophers. “We feel like we can play with anybody in the nation.”
They’ll get the chance to likely play one of the best the nation has to offer sometime in the first week of January. And while the destination and opponent remain unclear, the important thing is that the Hawkeyes have their foot in the door and their name in the conversation.
“It’s a very special team with very special players,” Larry Gautier, an Orange Bowl representative who likened this years Iowa team to the “team of destiny” from 2002, said of the Hawkeyes.
“Iowa is clearly in the mix, there’s no question about it.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
