Wow writing the postgame was stressful. I haven’t done that in years. It’s a rush trying to re-write a story after all of the negativity, trying to erase the references to Iowa blowing a game where they handed the opponent at least 14 points, and maybe 21 points. I had it all laid out, ready for the gut punch loss. I did not expect Iowa to score in two plays on what turned out to be the game-winning drive, so that was fun to scramble. I might have missed random stats here or there in that story.
Sorry if I did! I’m out of practice on that.
The game had the worst feeling to it. When Iowa is missing three tackles on Penn State’s opening drive, then stops them on fourth and goal from the 1 but is offsides and they get the score on the next try? BAD START. And the interception Iowa threw was picked off with one hand. The vibes were bad almost immediately. Then Iowa misses a field goal. Then Iowa misses another but it’s missed because it’s actually blocked and returned for a touchdown. Worst possible end to a half. I haven’t seen a play like that, such a bad luck play, to end a half since – ready for some time travel? – Iowa lost to Ohio State in 1990. The Buckeyes scored a touchdown at the end of the first half on a Hail Mary that bounced off someone’s shoulder pads into the hands of a receiver to score with the last play of the first half (that’s a game Ohio State won with a touchdown with :02 left. 14 points at the end of halves in a game Ohio State won by 1. VERY COOL MEMORY FROM MY CHILDHOOD.) Kirk Ferentz freely admitted postgame that the players bailed him out.
All of that should have cost Iowa the game. Iowa should have lost due to that stuff. They almost never win games with that many errors. When was the last time Iowa won with that many goof ups? I saw a reference to Pitt 2011. Indiana 2009. Wisconsin 2015? 3 times in 16 years.
AND IOWA WON WITH A DRIVE! THEY WON WITH THE OFFENSE! We also see that often – Iowa has to get a stop late and they do, but the offense can’t convert a first down so they punt back and have to lean on the defense one final time. That happens far too frequently. But not last night, with a flashback to Chuck Long’s epic bootleg to beat Michigan State in 1985, with Iowa ranked #1, flashing before my eyes. Mark Gronowski faked everyone out on that. Me included – I was watching Kamari Moulton try to wiggle through the middle while Gronowski went around the end and could have scored but slid to preserve the win. What a night. It should have been over a ranked team and removed that dumb monkey from Iowa’s back, but whatever. That’s a huge win for this program. It’s all still alive for the Hawks.
Other Thoughts:
- Xavier Nwankpa. Take a goddamn bow, son. 10 tackles (7 solo), 1 interception that was a yard short of a pick 6, forced fumble, crucial blitz at the end of the game that blew up Penn State’s final play from scrimmage. He’ll be a pro. He’s back at his natural position and we are seeing him flourish. What a damn player.
- BASED MARK GRONOWSKI. Look – it hasn’t been exactly what we wanted in the pass game. It’s been off all year. Him missing spring practice and then getting hurt against Indiana – he’s been behind all year and the pass game has zero rhythm. But the run game? Even with the bum knee, this dude is a hoss. Dude is a dude. 130 yards rushing could’ve easily been….200 with a good knee? He’s a dude and I wish we had him healthy. Him (and Kamari Moulton; 99 yards rushing for Moulton) healthy all year and Iowa’s 7-0 going into Minnesota. Could be one of those 2008 “What if?” seasons.
- Last night was Tim Lester’s 20th game as offensive coordinator. Iowa’s eclipsed 200 yards rushing in 11 of those 20 games. Another 245 last night.
- Big damn game next week with Minnesota. Don’t waste today next Saturday by losing Floyd.
- This defense. These guys are balling out. It feels like they’re getting beat up but they aren’t. Sure, Penn State had 173 yards rushing. Kaytron Allen is a monster but it was on 46 carries so less than 4 yards per carry. Not bad. Classic bend but don’t break this year. 266 yards allowed, less than 4 yards a carry. Not bad at all.
- Special teams – woof, guys. Iowa nearly had a PAT blocked, then had the catastrophe at the end of the first half that sent me in a postgame write up frenzy while I had to stiff arm kids in my house and ignore their shenanigans. NOT NOW, KIDS. Clean this up and I’ll feel good for the end of the year. Otherwise? Missing a 46-yarder like that will cost Iowa a game somewhere down the line.
- Rest of the season? We are alive. Iowa’s on par right now at 3-1 in the league. Oregon will be difficult, as will USC away. Those trips west have mostly been kryptonite for Iowa since I’ve been alive, unless it’s the Holiday Bowl (can we play USC in San Diego, please?) Minnesota isn’t a pushover. Nebraska away looms despite their loss Friday night. It’s tough but this team is resilient. This is a resilient group. They have a good defense, a threat at quarterback and multiple running back options, and mostly ok special teams when they aren’t screwing up like last night.
- Gonna take a quick swing through the league with this – Nebraska losing Friday was hilarious. Penn State fired James Franklin, a guy that can’t win big games, to possibly hire Matt Rhule, a guy that can’t win big games? DO IT. SPEND A TON OF MONEY ON THE SAME GUY, PENN STATE.
- Wisconsin’s offense is making the 2022 and 2023 Iowa offenses look like the St. Louis Rams Greatest Show on Turf. Here’s a snapshot of their offense:
- Wisconsin’s first back-to-back home shutouts since 1968, when they went 0-10? Sure. Yeah. Lovely damn weekend, you guys. GO HAWKS!