Iowa Fans Meet Here

Comeback Kids strike again!

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:48:00 +0000

Little late in posting the weekly recap, so to make it up to you all ... this week's post will be absolutely FREE!! So... here we go...

What can be said about Coach Kirk Ferentz? The man milks every ounce of potential out of every player on his team.

Saturday's game against Indiana was no different. The offense was stuck in its usual lethargic gear for 3 quarters, but when most coaches would've benched the starting QB in favor of a "spark off the bench" backup QB, Ferentz stuck with Just-Enough-Stanzi and lived to tell the tale!

"What was the Key Play?" you ask. Great question ... there were quite a few, but here are my top 3 (with a few extras thrown in for good measure):

#3 - The Touchdown Overturn
- I have to admit that at first (and second) glance, I thought this was a touchdown, but as I watched it in slo-mo on my DVR I started to pickup on the bobble. The receiver bobbles the ball as he comes to the ground. More importantly, the shadow under the receiver's leg proves he was not down in bounds.

#2 - Back to Back, Jack!

- Stanzi hits McNutt and DJK on back to back offensive plays for 92 and 66 yard TD Passes. The first pass confirmed we were in the game. The second pass confirmed that Indiana no longer was. (haven't found video of either of these plays ... except for the expanded highlight reel versions...)

#1 - Sash Plays a Trick and gets a Treat!
- I still wish there had been a reverse angle camera view available. First of all, Norm Parker never calls a blitz. Never! But he did here, and it ended up with one of the best athletes on the team ending up in the backfield. It's pretty amazing that the ball was on the 7, but the interception was only a 86 yard run. It's definitely one of those you've-got-to-see-it-to-believe-it kind of plays!

(video note: forgive the advertising at the end of the video... it's the best I could find.)

There are lots of good highlight reels out there. Feel free to post your favorite in the comments below.

U-N-B-E-L-I-E-V-A-B-L-E!!! Stanzi to McNutt .... Checkmate!

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:57:00 +0000

It was a classic Big Ten defensive struggle for the first 57 minutes, then... it got crazy. MSU connected on two long pass plays. The first was the old hook and ladder and a few moments later, they connected on the go ahead touchdown. I'll admit that I was more than a bit deflated, but enter Just-Enough-Stanzi and his band of merry men...

Stanzi led the offense on a 70 yard march that culminated in the most amazing Hawkeye finish since the 2005 Capital One Bowl.

Oh Thank Heaven for #7!!

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 03:29:00 +0000

Still looking for the stats to confirm this, but Coach (of the Year!?) Kirk Ferentz must be the greatest halftime coach of all time. The Hawkeyes had just completed the most apathetic half of football all year, then .... 20 minutes in the magical Madison locker room and voila... 7 and 0!!

More to come...

6 and 0... 10 in a row... and HERE WE GO!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:05:00 +0000

Does it ever come easy?

Behind solid defense, ball-hawking special teams, another All-American-caliber Tight-End (Moeaki), and another Just-Enough performance from Stanzi... The Hawkeyes beat the young but talented Wolverines on Saturday night.

Coach(-of-the-Year?) Ferentz pushed all the right buttons to keep the Hawkeyes inching further along on this magical ride. ESPN has a nice article about the clutch play of the Hawks since last November's win over PSU.

Wisconsin is next. It won't be easy, but if trends continue the road games will be more relaxed and focused than these home games have been. Let's hope trends continue.

Feedback is always welcome...