Wine Online: Take the Wind

Nov. 1, 2009

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Kirk Ferentz says that wind influences a football game much more than rain. Those of us who watched the twists and turns in Iowa’s 42-24 victory over Indiana on Saturday would not disagree with the head coach.

It was a good day for football at Kinnick Stadium — except for a strong wind that was sweeping down the field from north to south. The wind was so strong that when the Hawkeyes won the toss they elected to defer, rather than receive the kickoff.

This is out of character for a team that normally can’t wait to get its hands on the football. The Hawkeyes had started 110 of the last 125 games on offense, including the most recent 10.

The wind was especially cruel to Iowa`s Ricky Stanzi and Indiana`s Ben Chappell. The two quarterbacks threw a total of eight interceptions, seven of them into the stiff wind.

Three of Stanzi’s were deep throws toward the goal line. Two of those looked like sure touchdowns to a wide-open Darrell Johnson-Koulianos until the football hung in the wind, leaving Indiana defenders time to race in for interceptions.

Iowa’s Ryan Donahoe, normally a consistent and dependable punter, was called on to kick only twice. He had a 47-yard boot with the wind, an ugly eight-yard shank against it.

The wind seemed to be playing more tricks on the Hawkeyes than the Hoosiers, who had leads of 14-0 and 21-7 in the first half. Facing the wind in the third quarter, Iowa’s offense had four possessions and Stanzi threw interceptions each time.

Indiana might have broken the game open during that period except for a couple of plays. The Hoosiers were threatening to score when Iowa’s A.J. Edds hit the quarterback as he was attempting to pass. The ball caromed off four players before Tyler Sash grabbed it and ran 86 yards for an Iowa touchdown.

The Hawkeyes might have been looking at a 28-7 deficit that they could not overcome. Instead, the stunning turnaround made the score 21-14.

Indiana was back at the goal line minutes later and completed a pass in the end zone. An official signaled touchdown, but the play was reviewed and overruled. On the next play a 28-yard field goal attempt barely missed and Iowa had dodged another bullet.

When the Hawkeyes got the ball in the fourth quarter the wind was at their backs. Stanzi and Marvin McNutt connected on a 92-yard TD pass. On the first play of the next possession, Stanzi and Johnson-Koulianos hooked up for a 67-yard score.

Iowa had its two longest offensive touchdown plays of the season in a space of 82 seconds. And it led, 28-24, for the first time. Then the running game, which had been no factor the first three periods, came alive and freshman Brandon Wegher scored two more touchdowns.

How much did the Hawkeyes enjoy the wind at their backs in the final quarter? They had 265 yards rushing and passing, more than half of their total for the game (480). Stanzi completed only three passes in the final 15 minutes, but they were good for 177 yards and two touchdowns.

The Hawkeyes got their 13th straight win on Halloween when the wind was tricky and the fourth quarter provided treats. They are 9-0 for the season and high in the BCS poll. The opponent at Kinnick this Saturday is Northwestern. Hopefully the wind will be no factor.