Oct. 14, 2007
IOWA-ILLINOIS GAME CENTRAL
Box Score | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2
Kirk’s weekly media conference (Oct. 9) | Kirk’s postgame press conference (Oct. 13)
IOWA CITY – Brent Greenwood has started two football games for the University of Iowa and both were televised nationally. Now, the red-shirt freshman from Bettendorf will be the focus of national attention once again as a result of his game-changing interception with 76 ticks remaining on the clock in the Hawkeyes’ 10-6 victory over the then nationally-ranked Fighting Illini of Illinois.
The pick — Greenwood’s second in as many games — is a finalist in this week’s Pontiact Game-Changing Performance competition.
The 6-foot, 200-pound free safety snared the 10-yard strike from Illinois’ back-up quarterback Eddie McGee on the goal line, snuffing the Fighting Illini’s bid to break a four-game losing streak to the Hawkeyes. The win was Iowa’s first in Big Ten action this year and its first over a nationally ranked opponent since the 2005 season.
The interception was also the cherry that topped a superlative effort by the Hawkeyes and, most notably, the UI defensive unit. Illinois entered the game averaging 30-plus points a game. The Illini managed just two field goals.
Iowa won the turnover battle, the time of possession battle and shut down the Big Ten’s top rushing attack and one of the nation’s most successful runners. It was a dominating performance reminiscent of another “game changing moment” – Iowa’s goal line stand at Syracuse last season.
Now it is up to Iowa fans to determine if the Hawkeyes will earn the “Pontiac Game Changing Performance” for the seventh week of the 2007 NCAA® football season. UI fans are invited to go to can go to pontiac.com/ncaa, where they can view video clips of this week’s four finalists and vote for their favorite play – Greenwood’s interception, of course.
Voting begins on Sunday morning and ends at midnight on Wednesday. ESPN will announce this week’s “Pontiac Game Changing Performance” winner on Thursday night during the Pontiac Performance Halftime Report.
The winning university earns a $5,000 contribution from Pontiac to their general scholarship fund. Additionally, the winning play will be nominated for the “Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Year” and the chance to win a $100,000 General Scholarship from Pontiac.
“Awarding more than $1 million since its inception, the Pontiac Game Changing Performance program continues to be a great example of how passionate fans can have a positive impact academically and athletically by generating scholarship dollars for university-wide programs,” said Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN GameDay Analyst.
In addition, each week one lucky individual who visits pontiac.com/ncaa, will also win a $5,000 scholarship for them self or their family. In total, Pontiac will provide $300,000 worth of scholarships to universities and individuals throughout the season.
Click HERE for more information about the Big Ten Network.