Wine: Ahh, Those Running Backs

Nov. 20, 2005

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Two running backs put on quite a show at Kinnick Stadium Saturday.

Both rushed for more than 100 yards. Both scored a touchdown. Both kept the chains moving. Both showed flash and dash, with one dash covering 71 yards and accounting for a stunning touchdown.

But wait, those running backs weren’t wearing Minnesota jerseys. They didn’t play for the team that leads the nation in rushing. Their names aren’t Laurence Maroney, Gary Russell or Amir Pinnix, who have all been named Big Ten offensive player of the week.

They are (gasp!) both Hawkeyes, and their names are Albert Young and Damian Sims, a couple of sophomores. Imagine that. Iowa’s unheralded running game outshining Minnesota’s feared three-pronged rushing attack.

That illustrates the ups and downs of college football. It also demonstrates how Iowa’s defensive front has improved over the course of the season.

And it punctuates something we’ve observed over the years – the Hawkeyes under Coach Kirk Ferentz get better, they are almost impossible to beat at Kinnick Stadium at any time, and hard to beat anywhere in November.

Hard to imagine a more pleasurable end to the Big Ten season. First the Hawkeyes go to Wisconsin, shut down a high-scoring Badger offense and spoil a post-game party for Coach Barry Alverez.

Then they come home and send their seniors out in style by scoring touchdowns on their first five possessions and smothering Minnesota’s feared running game. And Floyd of Rosedale resides happily in Iowa City for a fifth straight year.

And what a role the seniors played in the 52-28 romp! Ed Hinkle caught a stadium-record four touchdown passes, Abdul Hodge had 13 unassisted tackles, Chad Greenway made a one-handed interception to set up a touchdown, Clinton Solomon threw a touchdown pass, Brian Ferentz and Ben Gates opened holes for the running backs and helped prevent quarterback sacks.

Jovon Johnson stole another pass, the 17th of his career, but it was his body-slam of Maroney for a five-yard loss that set the tone in this game. Maroney, unquestionably the Big Ten’s best running back, carried the ball only four more times and finished with a mere 19 yards rushing.

Perhaps the neatest thing about this blowout was that all 24 seniors got into the action, and many of their names are not familiar to the most avid Iowa fans. The guys who play a vital role on the practice field got an opportunity to perform on the turf at Kinnick. Cy Phillips is the quarterback who has stood on the sidelines relaying plays to Drew Tate. Late in the game Saturday, their roles reversed.

Ed Hinkle seemed more pleased the seldom-used seniors got playing time than he was with his four touchdown receptions. Hinkle’s own senior season is one of the most remarkable in Hawkeye history.

He suffered a broken wrist at Purdue. Orthopedists put enough screws and plates into the wrist to set off an airport security system. Hinkle got back into action at Wisconsin and caught passes that sparked Iowa’s offense.

On Saturday, Hinkle ran undetected through Minnesota’s secondary to catch touchdown passes of 46, 38 and 3 yards from Tate, plus a perfectly thrown 26-yarder from Solomon, his fellow wide receiver.

My son Steve covers football for a living down in Miami. He’s an Iowa graduate and follows the Hawkeyes closely. When they lost heartbreakers to Michigan and Northwestern, Steve suggested they might have won with Hinkle in the lineup.

At the time I thought that was a stretch. Now I’m not so sure. Hinkle might have made a catch here and a catch there that protected fourth-quarter leads. And Iowa would be sharing first place in the Big Ten today.

But let’s not dwell on the past. Let’s talk about the future. The Hawkeyes are on a roll. Coach Ferentz says his team is improving in all areas.

Chad Greenway, who ought to know, believes the defense is playing better than it did last year. The offense is sizzling behind Albert Young’s seven straight 100-yard rushing games and an aerial game triggered by Drew Tate.

Senior leadership, called into question a few weeks ago, seems to be inspiring the Hawkeyes now. They’re obviously anxious to play in a bowl game and they aren’t concerned about where it might be. My guess is either the Outback Bowl in Tampa or the Alamo Bowl San Antonio.

Wisconsin plays at Hawaii this Friday and that game takes on significance for Iowa fans. If the Badgers win, the Hawkeyes are likely headed to San Antonio. If they lose, Tampa is Iowa’s probable bowl destination.

I’m headed south after Christmas. Nothing against the Badgers, but I’m hoping they lose at Hawaii. I’d like to witness a fourth straight bowl game in Florida.