The 130

For the first time this season (and in a calendar year) the Hawkeyes did not score more points than their opponents.  Not surprisingly the loss came to the Northwestern Wildcats, who have beat Iowa 5 of the last 6 games and have not lost in Iowa City since 2002.  This truely is the biggest game of the season for them, and Pat Fitzgerald always has the team ready to play.  Unforturnetly the loss wasn't just a loss in record.  QB Ricky Stanzi left the game with an ankle sprain early in the 2nd quarter.  As he laid on the field I thought he hurt his shoulder as I wasn't able to see his foot get rolled.  Some people are saying his facemask was grabbed and that the fumble that resulted in a NW touchdown shouldn't have happened.  From the replays the ball was out before the facemask occurred.  All the penalty would do is push NW back 15 yards on either the PAT or the kick off, and I doubt either one would have mattered much in the outcome.  One positive thing is that we got to see how back-up QB (and red shirt freshman) James Vandenberg handles Big Ten play.  Critics are saying that he wasn't prepared, that he made bad throws, he was indecisive.  What I saw was an outstanding arm, excitment, nervousness, and good decisions.  It has been pointed out that he threw the ball away, which Stanzi doesn't do very often, when nothing was there.  Maybe he was being called indecisive because he was scanning the field and looking off his WRs, again something Stanzi doesn't do very well right now.  I'm not saying that Vandenberg is better than Stanzi.  Each one has strengths and weaknesses. Stanzi is much better at leading the team and bouncing back from adversity.  Vandenberg will need to step into the leader role and take command of the offense.  I do not envy him for being in the position he is in this week.  Playing at Ohio State for a trip to the Rose Bowl would be tough for any college QB, yet Vandenberg gets to be in that situation for his first colligate start.

Luckily he still has the outstanding defense behind him.  The Iowa defense has been phenominal this year.  The system isn't flashy but it gets results and it has gotten results consistently for years.  There are the critics of "bend but don't break" but so far it has worked and that makes an argument against it tough.  The entire defense has been consistent all year long.  Everyone is doing their jobs and even the reserves are stepping it up a notch.  Joe Conklin has been filling in for Brett Greenwood at free safety very nicely since the Michigan State game.  Conklin made a nice diving interception in the endzone to end a NW drive.  There is a chance that Greenwood will play at Ohio State but that is not 100% yet.

Everything has fallen into place nicely for the Iowa vs Ohio State game this weekend.  The winner of the game (and their fans) get to pack their bags for Pasadena on January 1 while the loser gets to (most likey) get ready for Florida.  I can see the loser of this game having a let down on November 21 in their last game of the season.  There is a lot at stake in this game and I know that the coaching staffs at each school will have their team ready to play.  I don't think it's going to get out of hand and I think that Vandenberg will be prepared and ready to go.  I'm hoping that I will be making my plans for Pasadena on Saturday night!