Nov. 13, 2007
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Kirk’s weekly media conference (Nov. 13) | Kirk’s postgame press conference (Nov. 17)
IOWA CITY – Iowa ends a long football season Saturday with a non-conference game at Kinnick Stadium. How often does that happen? Oh, about every 42 years or so.
The last time Iowa finished the year at home against a team that was not a member of the Big Ten Conference was 1965. The opponent was North Carolina State.
This year Western Michigan will be the opposition. The final game of a season is generally reserved for a traditional rival (think Minnesota) but the Broncos are anything but that.
The two teams have faced off only once before. That was in 2000, the second season for Kirk Ferentz at Iowa. The game was played in September at Kinnick and the Broncos went home with a 27-21 victory.
This would be a meaningless game in some seasons, but not this year. Not for the Hawkeyes, who need a victory to assure themselves of a bowl invitation. With a win Saturday, they will own a 7-5 record and be on their way to a post-season game in perhaps Arizona or Florida.
“This is a very big game for our football team,” says Coach Ferentz, whose Hawkeyes played themselves into the bowl picture by beating four of their last five opponents. “We have an opportunity to finish the season on a real positive note.”
Indeed they do. The last half of this season is much different than that of a year ago, when Iowa lost five of its last six regular season games. That was out of character for Ferentz-coached teams that earned the reputation for finishing the season strong.
Kirk’s teams of 2002 and 2004 never lost in November, and both won Big Ten championships. With a 4-4 conference record, this team will not win a championship, but it does have the opportunity to win all of its games in November.
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This is a game the Hawkeyes need to win and ought to win. With a bowl berth at stake and senior day at Kinnick Stadium, there are good reasons to want to win. Let’s hope the Hawkeyes put together two good halves of football and do win.
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The odds makers think that will happen and have made the Hawkeyes a solid favorite, but the head coach is having none of that.
“I’m looking at this as an even game,” says Ferentz, “and I hope the players are too.”
Western Michigan has won only three games and is similar to Iowa’s last two opponents. Like Northwestern and Minnesota, the Broncos have a good offense and a soft defense. They score a lot of points but give up even more.
This is a game the Hawkeyes need to win and ought to win. With a bowl berth at stake and senior day at Kinnick Stadium, there are good reasons to want to win. Let’s hope the Hawkeyes put together two good halves of football and do win.
Winning Streak – Iowa has won three consecutive Big Ten games, a modest streak, but it is currently the longest in the Big Ten. Illinois has won two in a row. Michigan State, Penn State, Northwestern and Wisconsin have each won one.
Seniors Bow Out – Seven seniors are slated to start for Iowa Saturday, and only three others are on the depth chart. Next year the Hawkeyes will have 17 returning starters, including kickers, lending optimism to the 2008 season. Senior offensive starters are RB Albert Young and FB Tom Busch. Senior defensive starters are DE Ken Iwebema, DE Bryan Mattison, LB Mike Klinkenborg, LB Mike Humpal and CB Charles Godfrey.
Been a Struggle – “We’ve had to work hard for everything we’ve earned the past five games,” says Kirk Ferentz. “Nothing has come easy.” Statistics bear him out. The Hawkeyes had more yards than Illinois but were outgained in each of their last three victories.
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