Oct. 15, 2007
IOWA-ILLINOIS GAME CENTRAL
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Kirk’s weekly media conference (Oct. 9) | Kirk’s postgame press conference (Oct. 13)
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IOWA CITY — At a time when retro uniforms are common in college football, Iowa and Illinois played a retro game at Kinnick Stadium.
On a Saturday afternoon when other scoreboards around the Big Ten were lighting up like pinball machines, the big board at Kinnick Stadium barely blinked.
While Northwestern and Michigan were scoring 97 points, Michigan State and Indiana 79, and Michigan and Purdue 69, Iowa and Illinois squeezed out a total of 16.
Old timers had to love this 10-6 victory by the Hawkeyes. This was a throwback to 50 years ago when Iowa, on consecutive Saturdays, beat Minnesota 7-0 and Ohio State 6-0 to clinch Forest Evashevski’s first of three Big Ten championships.
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The Hawkeyes hope to take another step forward at Purdue this week. If they handle the Big Ten’s best passing team as efficiently as they handled the league’s best rushing team, there will be smiles all around the Iowa locker room again.
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Surely Evy, at his home in Petosky , was smiling as he viewed this rock-`em, sock-`em exciting game that showed us how Big Ten football was played when he was starring at Michigan and coaching at Iowa.
This was a genuine retro game, and there was a lot to like about it, especially the final score. It’s a great relief to snap a four-game losing streak, but it’s even more gratifying when it comes against a Top 20 team.
Yes, Illinois is a good football team this season. The Illini arrived at Kinnick Stadium riding a five-game winning streak, including recent impressive victories over Penn State and Wisconsin. They have a tough, veteran defense and an explosive offense, but neither was a match for the Hawkeyes Saturday.
Iowa’s much-maligned offense didn’t dazzle, but neither did it fizzle. A week earlier at Penn State the Hawkeyes had eight straight possessions without a first down. Against Illinois they had none. They chewed up yardage and ran the clock, giving the defense some well-deserved rest. Iowa had a nine-minute advantage in time of possession.
The Hawkeyes have often stumbled on third-downs but they converted 10 of 17 Saturday, keeping the chains moving. The punted only three times, eight less than the previous game at Penn State.
The offensive line, with freshmen Dan Doering and Bryan Bulaga playing significant and meaningful minutes, helped Albert Young and Damian Sims average more than four yards per carry, and gave quarterback Jake Christensen decent protection.
Christensen was especially sharp in the second half when he completed eight of nine passes for 91 yards and the game’s only touchdown. The 27 sacks Christensen has sustained this season have been widely reported, but it is a little-known fact that he has fewer interceptions (2) than any quarterback in the Big Ten.
Iowa’s defense smothered an Illinois rushing game that was ranked first in the Big Ten, and for the fourth time in seven games, did not allow a touchdown. An opponent that was averaging 30 points a game was limited to two field goals.
Linebacker Mike Humpal had a hand in 18 tackles, 12 in the second half, and recovered a fumble. He should be a favorite for Big Ten defensive player of the week.
Two defensive stands helped decide the game. In the third quarter Illinois had a first and goal at the two-yard line but lost four yards in three plays and settled for a field goal. With little over a minute remaining in the game, freshman safety Brett Greenwood intercepted a pass at the goal line to kill Illinois’ last scoring threat.
Albert Young rushed for 99 yards, and none were more important than the 11 he had in the final minute. The Hawkeyes were backed up to the nine-yard line and desperately needed a first down to insure victory. Young, behind a strong surge from the offensive line, ran for seven yards, then four, and the game was over.
Turns out that Coach Kirk Ferentz, who has been urging us to be patient and good things will happen, was right.
But the biggest smiles were in the Hawkeye locker room. “It’s great to see these guys happy again,” said the coach. “Today we took a step forward.”
The Hawkeyes hope to take another step forward at Purdue this week. If they handle the Big Ten’s best passing team as efficiently as they handled the league’s best rushing team, there will be smiles all around the Iowa locker room again.
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