The story…is a tough one to tell, even two days after a 27-24 loss to a despised Illinois team.
In a game in which Iowa needed a win to become bowl eligible for the eighth straight season, the Hawkeyes did not convert on golden opportunities early in the game. Although resilient in a comeback effort, Illinois beat Iowa for the first time since 2000 as they were unable to overcome a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
Game Summary (espn.com): Matt Eller kicked a 46-yard field goal with 24 seconds left and Illinois withstood Iowa's fourth-quarter comeback for a 27-24 victory Saturday.
On a day when quarterback Juice Williams was erratic and the Illini running game was nearly invisible, the Illinois (5-4, 3-3 Big Ten) relied on its defense for the first three quarters.
Illinois sacked Ricky Stanzi six times, scoring a touchdown on one of them when defensive back Dere Hicks forced a fumble, scooped up the ball and ran in for 24-9 lead in the third quarter.
Stanzi, though, led the Hawkeyes (5-4, 2-3) on two fourth-quarter TD drives that tied the game at 24.
Iowa star Shonn Greene, who was quiet until the fourth quarter, scored on a 5-yard run with 2:46 left in the fourth quarter and Stanzi found tight end Allen Reisner for a 2-point conversion to tie it at 24.
Williams finally got untracked, completing passes to five different receivers to set up Eller's field goal.
The freshman kicker split the uprights, injecting life back into a Memorial Stadium crowd that had been watching the game slip away.
Greene had 103 yards on 21 carries, giving him at least 100 yards in every game this season.
But the 23-year-old junior, who now has 1,257 yards rushing and 11 TDs, was frustrated by the Illini defense for the first three quarters.
Both teams are a win away from bowl eligibility.
Iowa's early chances were instead created by field position.
The Hawkeyes started three second-quarter drives at its 45-yard line or better, but turned them into a pair of field goal tries by Trent Mossbrucker -- one of them good -- and an interception.
The best opportunity, a drive that started at the Illinois 22 after an interception by Amari Spievey, ended with a disappointing three points and left Iowa trailing 7-6. Illinois linebacker Rodney Pittman and safety Donsay Hardeman buried Greene at the 2 on third-and-goal.
Stanzi was 11-for-30 for 191 yards with two interceptions.
Williams completed 22 of 37 passes for 272 yards, including a 50-yard strike to Fred Sykes. Williams carried 12 times for 30 yards and Illinois finished with just 56 yards rushing.
Game Commentary: This was Iowa’s worst loss to date.
Put aside the mass amount of hatred for Ron Zook and the Illinois program, drown out noise of Illinios players trash talking before and after the game, and you’re left starring at the Iowa Hawkeyes worst loss of the 2008 season.
Sure Juice Williams and his Illinois offense have shown glimpses of explosiveness this season, and even a few times against Iowa, but the fact of the matter is Illinois was 4-4, 2-3 coming into this game—a record that included a 10 point loss to a lowly Wisconsin Badger team that Iowa trounced by 22.
An extremely slow start offensively, a 6:45 Shonn Greene-less drive, an inability to convert on turnovers, as well as finish drives turned out to be the ultimate demise of the Hawkeyes on Saturday.
This team, at least offensively, was not ready to play Saturday.
Three times Iowa was in the redzone in the first half and they came away with just 2 field goals (one missed). And a Rick Stanzi intercepted pass turned into 3 points for Illinios as they built their lead to 10-6 at halftime.
It seems as if the Greene-less drive cooled #23’s legs as he ended the first half with just 29 yards. I know he has a nagging ankle injury, but if he comes back and can run for more than 70 yards in the second half, not missing a series, then he has no business being on the sidelines. He is a Heisman candidate for God’s sake.
Again, on Iowa’s first drive of the second half—3 points from inside the redzone.
At times they really looked like a junior college team on offense, not getting the play called on to the field at times, broken plays because guys are out of position or stopping their routes, only either handing the ball off or play auctioning out, and of course the usual routes that are 4 or 5 yards down the field when it’s 3rd and 8 yards to go.
The defense, although it was their worst performance yet, racked up takeover, sacked Juice, and put the offense in a position to score. But they were too lenient on a 50 yard Juice Williams TD to a wide open Fred Sykes.
Shonn Greene missed a block as Rick Stanzi eventually got hit, fumbled and the Illinois defensive scored a TD to start the fourth quarter, something that just can’t happen.
That’s when Iowa began its comeback, driving down the field in almost dominate fashion—4 plays 64 yards and in only 2:14 seconds. And then again to the endzone on a Shonn Greene 5 yard scamper after a huge defensive strip by Mitch King. Iowa would then dramatically convert on a 2pt conversion, a good play call, as Allen Riesner caught a 2 yard pass.
Unfortunately, the defense allowed Williams to connect with 5 different receivers as he chipped away at the clock and drove Illinois down the field for the final time. As I sat there and watched it happen the first two times, I just knew Parker wasn’t going to change anything up. When they did finally blitz, William overshot his receiver by 10 yards, but they kept up with the bend don’t break after that play and it allowed Illinois the field position to nail a 46 yarder with 20 seconds left.
This team isn’t bad. In fact, they’re a pretty good football team.
Defensively, they are good enough to keep the offense in any Big Ten game, relentlessly providing them with key opportunities. Offensively, they are good enough to maintain a vigorous defense, keeping the ball long enough to allow the defense fresh legs.
But this team, collectively, is not good enough to win games against respectable opponents.
The defense is excellent (7th in the nation in points allowed, 3rd in TD’s allowed) and the offense may is mediocre (without Greene they’d be poor). As much as I would like to believe otherwise, as slim of a margin as losing by 12 points in 4 games really is, and as much as I see the potential, the reality is, Iowa’s 5-4 and without a win against a respectable opponent.
Case and point: Maine, Florida International, Iowa State, Indiana, and Wisconsin.
Those are Iowa’s 5 wins. Which team on that list is respectable? Wisconsin? Indiana?
Wisconsin (4-5, 1-5) is dead last in the conference and Indiana (3-6, 1-4) just lost to Central Michigan.
Their 4 losses? Pittsburgh (6-2), #25 Northwestern (7-2),Michigan State (8-2), and Illinois (5-4).
The most glaring of which, the most resentful of which, the most painful of which, is the last.
I dislike Ron Zook just about as much as I passionately hate Illinois, and I always will. But after reading the following quotes, I am very resentful that we don’t play them until 2011.
"Iowa is a team that thinks it's so much better than us, so much better than us and we just came on and beat them," Illinois sophomore wide receiver Arrelious Benn said. "It has a lot to do with last year," he said. "Our team's never beat Iowa, and it's just something about Iowa that I personally don't like. Through the week they talk a lot of trash through the media and stuff, talking about ... I just hate Iowa. That's our last time playing them so of us won't be playing them again."
That just goes to show you how much bullshit Ron Zook is feeding these players. I wish nothing but the worst for Illinois football this year and each and every year following.
"I'm not going to give any press clippings, but they can bad-mouth any program they want and that's kind of the type of program they are," Iowa senior defensive tackle Mitch King said in response.
Herk’s Hero…was Mitch King. He had a monstrous day in the Illinois backfield constantly pressuring the QB, registering 9 tackles (2 for a loss) and forcing a fumble.
Play of the Day…Mitch King stripped the ball from IL freshman Jason Ford on a second-and-six play at the Illini's 33. Tyler Sash recovered and Shonn Greene finished the insuing offensive drive with a 5 yard TD run after which, Iowa tied the game on a 2-pt conversion.
And the crowd…fell eerily silent as Iowa converted on a 2-pt conversion to tie the game with 2:46 remaining.
Say what!?…"I'm getting tired of losing," defensive tackle Mitch King said. "A blowout, close game, one point, I'm just tired of losing. It sucks."
Mother Nature…71 degrees and mostly sunny
Next up…Penn State (9-0, 5-0)
The ‘eye see’s…A perfect opportunity to switch things up a bit before things get real demanding if Iowa has any hope of a post season.
As if the defense wasn’t doing enough, unless they can start scoring points, Iowa is going to be hard-pressed to come up with more than one victory before the season ends. That is, unless the offense can find the spar that it showed against Indiana and Wisconsin.
If Iowa has any hope of upsetting Penn State, they’ll need to be clicking like never before, not on both sides of the ball, but especially on offense. If the defense can’t get them a win against Illinois, they sure as hell aren’t going to be able to against Penn State.
Shonn Greene should touch the ball upwards of 35-40 times on Saturday. I’m all for substituting Hampton to get Greene a rest, but don’t do it for an entire series. Not only does Greene get cold, but the opportunity cost of Greene on the sidelines is far greater than the benefit of resting him for an entire series.
Stanzi, luckily, will be playing in front of a home crowd. He has performed well for a first year starter, all things considered. As long as he relaxes, I think he will be able to make some plays down field, as long as O’Keefe allows him to.
The offensive line is going to have to give him more time than they did against Illinois. Seth Olson should start, which will only help. And they are going to have to open up the holes a little better than they did against Illinois.
But Penn State will key on Greene all day, just like Illinois did. I hope the coaching staff comes up with a couple trick plays, or at least some plays that PSU will be unable to have prepared for. Why not? If you’re Iowa, you have nothing to lose.
In a day and age of NCAA football where you have QB’s lining up as WR’s and RB running the option only to pass the ball, I don’t think it’s too much out of the realm of possibility to implement something with a little flare or something that’s going to catch PSU off guard.
And don’t tell me Iowa doesn’t have the athletes or the personell. Marvin McNutt (QB/WR)? Paul Cheney Jr (alleged track star)? Trey Stross (track team)? And why not stick #6 in for something that will make JoePa scratch his head? After all, he is the most experienced back-up in the nation.
They may not have the athleticism to do it regularly, but a few plays against a team that’s phenomenal, in a game you will most likely lose, may be beneficial.
I’d much rather go down swinging, running some trick plays and switching it up a little, than lose because 100% of our plays are either a hand off or a play action pass. You can do that against Purdue and we’ll win by two touchdowns. You can do it against Minnesota and we will be in the game. But JoePa and the PSU defense will eat that up. Come with something fresh. Catch them off guard, O’Keefe.
One thing’s for sure: they won’t be expecting it.
Side Notes: Since the 2005 season, Iowa has lost nine straight games decided by three points or less. Three of those have come this year…Harold Dalton became the third player arrested since the season began. He was charged with public intoxication, disorderly conduct, and interference with official acts after an altercation with a security guard outside an Iowa City bar. Once police arrived, Dalton refused to cooperate, swinging and connecting with the security guard, and eventually was tasered. It was his 23 birthday. The Hawkeyes also LOST Saturday. In case he or anyone who cares (apparently not the majority of this team, who can regularly be found downtown Thursday-Saturday night, win or lose. If you can’t find them there, NO WORRIES! Just hop online, sign on to Facebook, and check out where the party is going to be. After all, what else would #6, Brodell and others allegedly be doing in the hotel the night before the game—creating a page dedicated to the party they are throwing Saturday night). I’m all for a party, don’t get me wrong, but it sure as hell seems that this team is more concerned with partying than winning. If you really feel the need to out the night after a loss, fine. But have the common sense to realize that you will be drawing attention to yourself, not only by what you are doing, not only by who you’re with, but simply BECAUSE you are a football player—so don’t get so drunk that you can’t control yourself. Don’t put more time into preparing for your party than helping a rookie QB in only his 2nd Big Ten road start. Don’t get so drunk that you fight a security guard and have to be TASERED to calm down, as a SENIOR. Don’t piss outside, drop your pants, and run from the cops, before you are even officially on the team. Don’t get hammered the night before you leave for a game, because you are no longer the starter…IT’S JUST ABOUT TIME TO BELIEVE THAT THE MAJORITY OF THE GUYS ON THIS TEAM CARE MORE ABOUT THEIR SOCIAL LIVES THAN THEY DO ABOUT FOOTBALL. And you know what? That’s fine. They are entitled to do just that. If they want to cheat the University that is paying for them to get a higher education, that’s their right. This is the United States of America. But guess what? If the University of Iowa continues to pay the coaches of these less-that-dedicated players’ an exorbitant amount of money and if the University continues to rob fans by charging them ridiculous amounts for tickets, then the fan base will begin to dwindle and when the fan base dwindles so goes the football program. So someone better get a grip. And they better do it quickly. With one of the highest paid coaches in the country at the helm, this program is starring 6-6 right in the eyes, and they very well could be left on the outside looking in, for the second consecutive year.
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