PlannedSickDays: 9/19/10

Saturday, September 25, 2010

GAMEDAY: Ball State at Iowa Recap

Iowa got off to a slow start on a rainy throwback day in Kinnick Stadium. After taking the opening kick the Hawks moved the ball 26 yards in six plays but didn't get the play in and received a penalty on 4th and 1 that moved them back and forced a punt.

Ball State struggled the entire half to move the chains and get first downs, let alone sniff the redzone. After a three-and-out on Ball State's first series the Hawkeyes put together a 10 play drive that resulted in Adam Robinson scoring off the left side for the first Hawkeye touchdown. Freshman walk-on kicker Mike Meyer made the score 7-0 with his first extra point attempt of the season.

Ball State was able to get a first down on their second drive of the game but after only four plays were forced to again punt the ball. Colin Sandeman had what appeared to be his best return of the season but it was nullified by a block in the back penalty. The Hawkeyes did drive the ball 49 yards but Meyer missed his, and Iowa's, first field goal attempt of the season.

The second quarter saw more dominating defense from the Hawkeyes. The defense forced two turnovers, a Micah Hyde interception of a wounded duck pass and a fumble recovery by Jeremiah Hunter.

Offensively, Iowa scored on two touchdown passes from Ricky Stanzi. He found Keenan Davis in the back of the endzone for Iowa's second score. Davis replaced an injured Marvin McNutt. Stanzi also found DJK on a route in which he beat both the corner and the deep safety to score.

Iowa stuffed Ball State once again in the closing minutes. Mike Daniels recorded his third tackle for a loss in the half and Iowa used timeouts to get the ball back for one more try at the endzone. After two consecutive completions to Adam Robinson, Stanzi and Ferentz couldn't get together on the snap and Iowa lost the ball.

First half stats of note:
Score: Iowa 21 BSU 0
Ricky Stanzi 16/21 178 Yards 2 TD
Adam Robinson 19 carries 105 yards 2 TD
Total yards: Iowa 283 Ball St 56

The start of the second half for Ball State was more of the same. They quickly went three-and-out and on the first drive of the half. Iowa answered quickly when Adam Robison took a dump off pass from Ricky Stanzi 48 yards and inside the five. Robinson carried the ball in for a one yard run, his second touchdown of the game.

After another punt from Ball State, Iowa scored again on its next possession. Ricky Stanzi dropped back and let one go over 50 yards in the air and the result was a touchdown grab by DJK, his second of the game. That made the score 35-0 Iowa and that was it for the starting offense for the day.

The following drive Ball St. crossed the 50 yard line for the first time. The drive stalled and Iowa took over following a touchback after the ball was kicked out of the endzone.

Iowa fans got to see some new faces in the backfield as Iowa looks to find depth after Jewel Hampton suffered a season ending ACL injury. Redshirt freshman Brad Rogers and true freshman Marcus Coker both carried the ball in the fourth quarter. Each have a lot of size and are bruising running backs. Neither will win the fastest player on the team race but each ran over tired defenders and moved the chains.

Other news and notes:

True freshman Anthony Hitchens lost his redshirt when he played on Iowa's kickoff team. Hitchens and Coker bring the total of true freshmen to play this season to seven.

DJK is 14 catches and 131 yards away from two Iowa receiver records (career catches and career yards).

Ball State crossed the 50 only 2 times. They had the ball in the redzone 0 times.

Stanzi finished with 19/25 288 yds 3 TD
ARob 22 for 115 2 TD 3 catches 75 yards
DJK 4 catches 87 yards 2 TD
Mike Daniels 6 tackles 4 TFL 1 Sack
Mike Meyer 1/2 FG 25 yard long 6 EP

Final Score: Iowa 45 Ball State 0
Total Yards: Iowa 562 Ball State 112

ESPN Box Score

As always, check out Hawkeyelounge.com as stories pertaining to today's game emerge. I'll update the post game thread as the day goes.

GAMEDAY: Ball State at Iowa Throwback Week

Let's Get It

Hawkeye Links,

Hawk Central: Hawks going throwback in more ways than one
Hawkeye Drive: Ball St at Iowa, What to expect
Hawk Stop: 10 Things to Watch
BHGP: Ball St Preview, Set the Tone
BHGP: Shakespearean Opponents: Ball State Cardinals
Cedar Rapids Gazette: Staff Picks
Cedar Rapids Gazette: Big Ten's Squash Saturday
FightforIowa: Gameday: Ball St at Iowa
ESPN: Gameday weather Week 4
On Iowa: The Pylons - Ball St

Friday, September 24, 2010

Game Week (BSU) | Friday Afternoon Massive Link Dump

Get out your reading glasses, there's a lot out there.

From Hawk Central:

From BHGP:

From the Cedar Rapids Gazette:

Other Various Hawkeye Media Sources:

HawkeyeDrive: Talkin’ Hawks podcast
ESPN: What's wrong with Big Ten special teams
ESPN: What to Watch Week 4
ESPN: Four Story Lines
HawkeyeDrive: I-Club breakfast video
FightforIowa: Ball State v Iowa Statistics
Hawkeye Nerd: Iowa's injury situation a cause for concern
Daily Iowan: Featured matchup: Iowa's kick coverage unit vs. Eric Williams
Daily Iowan: This week in Hawkeye History
Daily Iowan: How Iowa can still make the national title game
Daily Iowan: Daniels thriving in under the radar role
Madison.com: Packers rookie Bulaga could get a true test Monday in Chicago
THOnline: Cancel the Hawkeyes' insurance
SUX Journal: Hawkeyes rank near bottom in kickoff coverage
Hawkeye Nation: What to Gain vs Ball State
Hawkeye Nation: The Matchups: Iowa vs Ball State

Thursday, September 23, 2010

So there I was, minding my own business…(V13)

By: THE NoLookPass (special contributor to PSD.com)

cause that's how I roll. It's the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and 76 and I'm hanging around a tad with Rann and his buddies.They are a little older, 19, and Rann is a production welder at John Deere. He likes to party and once in a while he takes white crosses to keep amped at work. He works on a production scale and the more he welds, the more money he makes.

He drives a cherry 1969 Chevelle candy apple red with two black stripes down the middle front and back. Its goes from zero to sixty in an eye blind and gets around 4 gallons to the mile. Hes got huge box speakers in the back and I ride shotgun and he blares Van Halen, Kiss and other "hard" stuff loud. He has nice parties at his house and I flirt with some of the girls but they are older and not much ever happens.

His Mom drives a city bus and being clever, we nickname her "Ma." She's a tough old bird, in fact she's still alive and around 90 years old today. I don't smoke pot other than a time or two cause I don't trust what people put in drugs but once Rann talks me into doing a hit of speed. I'm scared and I only do half a hit and fall right asleep, something Ive heard isn't that uncommon.

There's a lot of fighting going on and drinking but I manage to stay away from most the fights. I get in one and knocked a kid out in the hall at school and it was a bad deal. My parents home owners insurance had to pay for his bills and I got kicked out of school for 3 days. The principal tells me he feels bad, Ive never even got sent to the office but due to the kids injuries (busted jaw) he has to kick me for 3 days. I feel kinda guilty about it but the good news is after that I'm like Fonzi-no one has seen me fight and they want to keep it that way.

I didn't deserve the rep but I like it cause it allows me to concern myself with more important stuff, like where to get beer on Friday night so we can go lay around the golf course at bunker hill.

There's a Kiss concert in Madison and we decide to take a roadie. It's winter time, and it's colder than Hillary Clinton's panties so we can't take Ranns Chevelle so we take Ma's VW Rabbit. Yeah. Four of us, a fifth of vodka and 2 cases of beer later, we get to Madison. We find a store, buy a case of bottled beer and go stand in line. The place is getting rowdy and I decide it would be cool to just throw my empties high in the air behind us. For some reason, nobody's kills us and we get inside.

Uriah Heep is playing first and all I can tell you is they are loud and they suck. Most the girls are wearing concert tee shirts and Levis and they smell like pot so I'm kinda bored with the whole deal. Out of the corner of my eye I see Rann get grabbed by security for getting too close to the speakers. I find the other guys, we laugh and an hour or so later we notice we can't find Rann. We stumble around, find some room where they take ODs and ask if they've seen Rann.

They recognize who were are talking about and say he'd been there laying down but got up and left. We are sobering up a tad and we are worried. This dude drinks like Danish, but unlike Danish he was born with a liver and sometimes gets a tad out of control. We figure he left and ask security if we can go outside and look for him. They tell us if we leave we can't get back in, but we are loyal, as loyal as dirty white boys can be, so we leave and go outside. There's our boy, slumped over the wheel, engine running, accelerator floored.

We start heading home and have a few more barley pops. We are all drunker than Kid Rock at the Iowa State Fair and eventually we find ourselves on a dirt road. We see a sign that says "Chicago 11 miles" and realize that on our way to Dubuque from Madison we must lost our directional, and moral compasses. We try to turn around and end up in a ditch and we are all laughing till we realize we are out of beer.

We find some farm and there's animals howling, wind blowing and nightmare inducing stuff everywhere. The farmer gets up, pulls us out of the ditch with his tractor and sends us on our way. We get home around 10 hours after leaving Madison and I discover I lost my wallet. Someone mails it to me three days later-no return address and only a few dollars missing.

A couple years later I trot away to the USMC. John Deere falls on bad times, Rann gets a gig back at Eagles Grocery store. I stop drinking when I'm in the Marines, I'm fit as a fiddle, doing some boxing, a lot of running. I see Rann and he mentions how he's heard I "found Jesus" and he acts like we never shared a lot of good yet not so innocent times.

Rann is still in the bottle, living with his wife and his girlfriend lives in the basement. He's a bitter old dude now, from what I'm told. I'm not that smart so sometimes late at night I wonder why things turn out the way they do--how come some of us died back then due to stupid stunts and how some of us made it through with minimal damage. Luck of the draw?
I go to the State Fair last year with Monster and Zap and we hear Peter Frampton. He plays this song:

and in my mind's eye I'm a teenager again and all our futures are unrolled, yet out in front of us like an endless summer.

I got to go, Ive been gifted 3 tickets for the Penn State game and I gotta figure out if I'm gonna resell two and make some golf money.

Game Week (BSU) | Prediction Time Plus Hawkeye Links

Alright, I watched a little bit of Purdue and Ball State but I'll be honest, that shit was boring. Truth be told, I don't expect a whole ton of excitement Saturday in Iowa City either. Ball State comes to Kinnick at 1-2 with losses to Purdue and a home loss to Liberty. They rotate two quarterbacks, both with different styles and quite frankly aren't a good football team.

I predicted a score of: Iowa 24 Ball State 10

I certainly believe Iowa can score more points than that but I'll explain a few reasons why I have that low of a score.

As a fan of the Hawkeyes I've learned that the coaching staff treats these games sorta like a preseason exhibition. Iowa will attempt to get an early lead and then work on things they think need fixing. If you recall last season, Arkansas State came to Iowa and the Hawks quickly got out to a 14-0 lead. Then things got weird.

Prior to ASU, the topic of Ricky Stanzi staring down receivers was heavily discussed in the media and on message boards. Stanzi then looked off the coverage to his right and quickly turned back to throw to his left. His pass hit an ASU linebackers hands and turned into a pick six.

What's that mean? To me it means the coaching staff was working with Ricky all week on looking off the coverage and breaking the tendency to stare down his receiver. Arkansas State, down 14-0, has a good time to work on those little things that will eventually make you better down the road.

Coming into this weeks game against Ball State the Hawks still have plenty of things to work out. The offensive line looked decent in pass protect early in the game against Arizona but the run lanes were no where to be found. The offensive line eventually had a meltdown on Iowa's final drive when the Wildcats pinned their ears back and went in full-out pass rush mode.

I think Iowa use this weekend to continue working on the run game, similar to Eastern Illinois, I believe there will be plenty of inside and outside zone runs for Adam Robinson and perhaps Marcus Coker. If Coker is going to burn his redshirt this week he'll need to get plenty of carries to see what college football game speed is all about. The Hawks may want to see how he handles blocking in the backfield on several of Iowa's bread and butter passing plays.

Another reason I have the score so low is because of the hangover effect. I hope that Iowa starts out fast and can focus of working out the kinks later in the game. The old saying "don't let one loss become two" comes into play here. The fans may lack the energy and I'll be surprised if the student section fills up. The Hawks have to avoid a sluggish start that lets Ball State hang around.

It will be interesting to see if Ball State sets up to stop Iowa's run game early leaving Marvin McNutt and DJK with one-on-one on the outside. Arizona's scheme was to let Ricky Stanzi beat them. They sold out to stop the run and made Iowa one dimensional. Ball State's corner's are no where near as talented as Arizona's and that strategy will bode well for the Hawkeye receivers if we see Ball State stack the box. Ricky Stanzi has to start the game off on target and connect deep if he gets one-on-one. That will loosen things up on the line of scrimmage and give Robinson lanes to run through.

The real question I look forward to seeing answered is how many carries does Robinson get and who takes the reps as the second team running back.

Hawkeye Links,

Adam Rittenberg, of ESPN.com, is telling us what to watch in the Big Ten Week 4.

Following that, Rittenberg has his Big Ten predictions for Week 4.

Look at this, Arizona's AD has seen his fanbase on YouTube and aks Zona fans to be classy.

Hawkeye Nation's Jon Miller thinks this could be 2004 all over again.

Mike Hlas, of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, is reviewing Ball State's loss to Liberty.
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Also from the Gazette, Marc Morehouse says that Misfires in the passing game grind on Hawks.

Hlas also has a write-up on Hawkeye rookies in the NFL.

There are also Hawkeye podcasts available. The first from Marc Morehouse and Scott Dochterman of the Gazette. The second from Black Heart Gold Pants.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Game Week (BSU) | Ferentz Call-in Notes

Here is the best of Twitter and my own posts for the weekly call-in show with Coach Ferentz. Make sure you follow the folks with the @ sign. They are always providing the best up-to-the-second Hawkeye news.

RT @marcmorehouse: I think Coker plays and Johnson sits. Johnson has been a scout teamer. That means he hasn't been running Iowa's O.

RT @marcmorehouse: Jason White is an MCL injury.

RT @bvak: Jerry: Did D do a good job considering AZ QB was good?

RT @bvak: KF: 21 points were "unearned." AZ has a good football team.

RT @bvak: KF: Football coaches tend to get penalized (financially) for statements made AFTER the game, not during.

Ferentz was asked about running back, James Morris will not move over. Anthony Hitchens has moved to running back.

Ferentz: May consider moving Clayborn around a little bit, read Arizona paper and saw how they gave the tackle credit.

Fererntz: Rogers has done a nice job at FB but may get some carries at RB. On call, similar to last season.

Ferentz: Hopefully this is the end of moving people over for this season.

Ferentz: On the road with a young offensive line isn't the best place to be playing from behind.

RT @bvak: Mark in Adel: "This is Mark from Adel." (Duh.) Recounted watching the game while on vacation. Son was at the game. (Who cares?)

RT @HawkeyeNation: Here are Hitchens HS RB numbers; had 3,864 career rushing yards and 52 touchdowns on 519 rushing attempts

Ferentz: Ball State has a pretty good kick returner that ran one back last week and is averaging 37 yards a return...imagine that (chuckle)

Ferentz: We have to be prepared for both QB's

Ferentz: Defensive end #91 is their best player, safeties are good, have a couple guys that are disruptive up front.

Ferentz: Gum doesn't last, I rotate 4-5 pieces a quarter.

RT @bvak: KF: Sugarless Bubble Yum. Has bad teeth. May look calm, but he's a wreck inside.

RT @bvak: KF: Doesn't work out daily. He tries, sort of. Easier in off-season than in-season.

RT @bvak: KF: Norm's had a million tests done over the last couple weeks. Plan laid out last Friday. Probably getting out Sunday.

RT @bvak: KF: Norm may be in the office next week.

RT @bvak: KF: Will be disappointed if #Hawkeyes don't bounce back strong this weekend.

RT @bvak: KF: Norm told him to tell the team, "Don't lose twice." Not good to dwell on loss. #Hawkeyes

Hawkeye Links,

Hawk Central says there is no questioning Coker's quality.

For more on Coker, here is Marc Morehouse's article from February.

KCRG has a video that takes a look at Iowa's throwback jerseys for this weeks game.

Game Week (BSU) | Hawkeye Links

Per Hawk Central, on of the nation's highest rated offensive lineman recruits has his eyes on the Hawkeyes. Dematha High School's Cyrus Kouandjio played with freshman running back Marcus Coker and likes what Ferentz does with lineman.

Iowa's loss to Arizona and Wisconsin's close win against ASU has Off Tackle Empire thinking It's Lonely at the Top for Ohio State.

Arizona dropping the Hawks was cause for ESPN's Adam Rittenberg dropping them in his weekly Big Ten stock report.

It's poll time at Black Heart Gold Pants. They want to know what Hawkeye fans are fearing the most heading into Saturday's match-up with Ball State. I voted for more Angry Running Back Hating God.

Hawk Central's Andrew Logue says that the Hawkeye defense is looking for redemption.

Three games into the season and Adrian Clayborn is still looking for his first sack. Opposing offenses have sent help every way they can to block the bruising defensive end and that may be why Mel Kiper Jr. has dropped him from number five to number eight on his NFL prospects big board.

Adam Robinson is the lone running back with experience going into Ball State. Marc Morehouse, of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, says that Robinson becomes the solo act at running back for the Hawkeyes.

Things may have gotten ugly with Arizona fans Saturday night in Tuscon but BHGP reminds us not to forget our true rival.

Hawk Central reports that the Hawkeyes are taking stock at running back.

Also, from Hawk Central:

Hawkeye Nation's Jon Miller tweeted this link this morning, it has a lot of videos of Marcus Coker.

Mike Hlas, of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, has a countdown to Ball State, it's called a countdown to ecstasy.

Marc Morehouse says it's time to step up and grow up for Iowa's special teams.

And finally, ESPN's television show Sports Nation was on the Iowa campus yesterday. If you missed it, the Daily Iowan put together this slide show.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Arizona's Awesome Fans Hit YouTube | Plus Hawkeye Links

Following Iowa's loss to Arizona some stories, some horror stories, started popping up on message boards around the Hawkeye circuit about horrible treatment from Arizona fan. There are tales of fights and taunting both before and after the game. On Twitter, a Hawkeye fan (sorry guy, your screen name escapes me) told the story of his own 50 year old father getting into a confrontation with some younger fans of the Wildcats.

Today, YouTube videos are surfacing that show a small sample of what Hawkeye fans were up against. Obviously this video is not a representation of the entire fan base. Each team has it's own small percentage they would rather lock in the basement. What it does show though is sad, unfortunate, and completely unnecessary.

And then there is this video, which is kinda funny actually. Poor kid in the Iowa shirt gets the finger from a crusty old Zona fan. These must be Tavern Cats.

Hawkeye Links,

Hawk Central:

Cedar Rapids Gazette:

Ferentz Hopes for Norm Parker Return in Two Weeks
One Man Band
Video:Ferentz on the Side
Video: Tuesday - The Players
Video: Tuesday -Ferentz

Marc Morehouse and others also had these Tweets this afternoon:

RT @marcmorehouse: Stanzi on Wegher: "We just have to worry about the guys who have been here all through camp and who’ve been invested."

RT @marcmorehouse: ARob on Wegher: He’d definitely have to make up some ground, but if he did what he was asked to do, make up for lost time, hey, come on in.

RT @marcmorehouse: And Ferentz on Wegher: “I don’t think that’s realistic, so there’s no sense speculating about it."

RT @Andy_Hamilton: Ball State's Eric Williams is seventh in FBS in KO returns. Ferentz: "Perfect timing. I was really thrilled to learn that one."

RT @SeanKeeler: Things you learn on a Tuesday: #Hawkeyes DT Mike Daniels is known around the locker room as 'Big Mike Diesel.'

RT @marcmorehouse: Lost in this Norm still in the hospital. Hope for return after bye week.

From Black Heart Gold Pants:

Game Week (BSU) | Ferentz PC Notes and Hawkeye Links

Here is the best of Twitter from Kirk Ferentz at his weekly press conference.

RT @thebstiles: KF confirmed Jewel Hampton; Bruce Davis both need surgery, done for 2010. Also saying Paki won't be playing on Saturday.

RT @BigTenScott: Ferentz says loss at Arizona was disappointing, but put ourselves in a position to win the game, team never quit or gave up hope

RT @ESPN_BigTen: Bad news for Iowa regarding RB Jewel Hampton and LB Bruce Davis. Hampton just can't catch a break.

RT @HawkeyeNation: Kirk just announced that on his Big Ten conference call. Paki out this week too.

RT @marcmorehouse: Sash is fine, folks. Kid is hard core.

RT @marcmorehouse: Oh yeah, Ball State. And there might be something to Stanzi concussion. http://plixi.com/p/46364562

RT @marcmorehouse: The next question is Stanzi. We'll see on that one. Next question, how much does Robinson play?

RT @SeanKeeler: KF: Wegher returning not 'realistic.'

RT @marcmorehouse: Stanzi I have not heard and can't confirm, but it's out there. Seemed fine when we talked Saturday.

RT @marcmorehouse: KF exploring options at kicker.

RT @marcmorehouse: Stanzi is OK, per KF.

You can read Jon Miller's chat recap here.

Hawkeye Links,

It's official, Marc Morehouse, of the Cedar Rapids Gazette, reports that Jewel Hampton has torn his ACL.

From ESPN's Adam Rittenberg, Iowa shorthanded at RB again

FightforIowa blog has the stats and recaps for incoming recruits in Hawkeye Recruit Roundup: Week 4

FFI blog also reminds us that ESPN2's SportsNation in Iowa City - TODAY

Off Tackle Empire has its week 3 Big Ten Power Rankings.

Hawk Central tells us that Soldiers support the Hawks.

The Daily Iowan says the Hawkeyes look to rebound from loss

Monday, September 20, 2010

Game Week (BSU) | Hawkeyes to Honor the 1958 Football Team

In 1958 Forest Evashevski coached the Iowa Hawkeye football team to a 8-1-1 season claiming the Big Ten Conference Championship and a Rose Bowl victory over California. Iowa was awarded the Grantland Rice Award which was given to the National Champion determined by the Football Writers Association of America.

The 1958 team was led by All-American, All-Big Ten, and Big Ten MVP quarterback Randy Duncan. Duncan, like Chuck Long and Brad Banks, finished second in the voting for the Heisman trophy. Duncan and star runningbacks Bob Jeter and Willie Fleming led a Hawkeye offense that averaged 405 yards a game, the nations highest average.

If you haven't seen it, the Big Ten Network had this special piece on the 1958 team:

The 1958 team played nine regular season games and the Rose Bowl.

TCU @ Iowa W 17-0
Air Force @ Iowa T 13-13
Indiana @ Iowa W 34-13
Iowa @ Wisconsin W 20-9
Northwestern @ Iowa W 26-20
Iowa @ Michigan Ann Arbor W 37-14
Iowa @ Minnesota W 28-6
Ohio State @ Iowa L 28-38
Notre Dame @ Iowa W 31-21
Iowa vs. California Rose Bowl W 38-12

The uniforms the 2010 Hawkeyes will wear for the throwback game look like this:

(Pic BHGP)

Hawkeye Links,

More Info about the 1958 Hawkeyes:

Hawk Central says that the Hawkeyes are focused on fixing special teams.

ESPN's Adam Rittenberg says that the magic has run out for the Hawkeyes and they need a new act.

KCRG has a webcast from Arizona, The Overtime

From BHGP:

From ESPN.com:

And finally, Jon Miller's Hawkeye Nation has Monday Morning Quarterback with Jared Clauss.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Exclusive Photos of The Day After Iowa's Loss To Arizona

It was a big day for sweatpants in the state of Iowa. The late ending Iowa game coupled with dreary weather certainly didn't help the mood around the state as many Hawkeye fans were placed on suicide watch. These exclusive photos show fans that have discarded their black and gold, at least temporarily, and appear not to be in the best of spirits.

Hawkeyes #18 | Recap: Iowa at Arizona

The Hawkeyes dropped 9 spots in both the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll released today. The Hawks are currently the highest ranked one loss team. They are the third highest rated Big Ten team between Wisconsin (#11 AP/#10 Coaches) and Michigan (#21 AP) or Penn State (#20 Coaches).

So, what happened last night?

Things got off to a lousy start when Iowa promptly went three-and-out on their initial game opening drive and a Ryan Donahue punt was blocked giving Arizona the ball inside Iowa's ten yard line. Coach Ferentz stated in the post game interview that Iowa had seen that particular punt block formation on tape from last season when Arizona played USC. He said that Iowa prepared for it and it was especially frustrating that Arizona was still able to block the punt which led to outstanding field position and eventually the first score of the game.

Iowa was able to move the ball on its second possession but after a slant pass skipped off of Marvin McNutt's hands Arizona's Trevin Wade went 85 yards for a touchdown. Five minutes off of the clock, on the road in a hostile environment, and down 14-0.

It appeared as if it was going to get worse. The Hawkeyes third possession of the game stalled and Micah Hyde was flagged for kick catch interference giving the Wildcats excellent starting field position. After driving into field goal range and poised to tack on more points, Arizona's Nic Grigsby was stripped by Jeff Tarpinian resulting in Iowa's first defensive turnover of the game.

Iowa started a drive that continued into the second quarter and resulted in a Hawkeye touchdown after Jewel Hampton crossed the goalline on a four yard carry. With the score now 14-7 the Hawkeyes looked to have weathered the initial storm and was on their way to settling down and making it a game.

Then came the kickoff from Mike Meyer and a 100 yard kickoff return by Arizona's Travis Cobb.

The kickoff coverage was an item of concern following the game with Iowa State and Ferentz had addressed it in ISU post game remarks and during his weekly call-in show. Ferentz mentioned that in order to clean things up he was placing Bruce Davis and Troy Johnson back on the KO team. Bruce Davis, consequently, was injured in the fourth quarter covering a kick. His status is still uncertain.

By halftime it was 27-7 Arizona and the Hawkeyes looked like they were destined for a repeat of the 2004 showdown in the desert versus Arizona State in which the Hawkeyes were blown out 44-7. As perhaps a psychological jab at the Hawks the Arizona scoreboard briefly read 44-7 as the Hawkeyes went to the lockerroom.

At one point in the first half Arizona had more points than it did offensive yards (21-17). Defensively Arizona defended Iowa's run with eight in the box and to counter Iowa tried to take advantage and find wide receivers deep against man coverage.

The second half we saw the resilient Hawkeyes we fell in love with in 2009. Not burying their heads the Hawkeye defense was able to stuff the Arizona passing game and the Hawkeyes found some offense. Ricky Stanzi found DJK for a 37 yard touchdown, showing signs of life.

After an Arizona muffed punt, Shaun Prater recovered the ball and the Hawkeyes were able to score after a Stanzi to McNutt touchdown which was reviewed and deemed after McNutt dragged his right foot. The following possession Broderick Binns made a fantastic interception returning it for a touchdown tying the score at 27-27. The following extra point attempt was blocked by Arizona and the score remained deadlocked.

Nick Foles then put the Arizona offense on his shoulders and methodically marched the Wildcats downfield to take the lead. Iowa had it's chance to respond but the Arizona defense stood tall and forced three sacks in a row resulting in a turnover on downs. The final score: Arizona 34 Iowa 27.

The Hawkeye defense mixed in some 3-4 when Lance Tillison replaced Christian Ballard. Broderick Binns was able to sack Foles who may have been confused by the change in coverage. The Hawkeyes also mixed in some blitz and ran the dime defense against Arizona on their final drive of the game. Jordan Bernstine and Greg Castillo replaced the Iowa linebackers and were on the field for Arizona's game winning touchdown.

I was disappointed Iowa didn't attempt a screen pass late in the fourth quarter when Arizona had committed its defense to rushing the passer. After abandoning the run the Hawkeyes became obviously one dimensional and that makes a tough situation for three to four offensive linemen (Zusevics, Ferentz, MacMillan, and Gettis) making their first start and or playing time on the road. The combination of a difficult atmosphere, inexperienced offensive linemen, and deep passing routes was a set-up for failure.

Iowa's next opponent comes to Kinnick at a good time for this team. They'll have a lot of film to review and many mistakes to correct. The Hawkeyes were beaten and battered in the desert and after watching Jewel Hampton, Paki O'Meara, Julian Vandervelde, and Bruce Davis limp off the field this is the right game to get healthier and perhaps experience for backups.

It's also time for the 2010 Hawkeyes to realize that 2009 and the Orange Bowl is a thing of the past. This team has to figure out who they want to be and how they want to be remembered. There is still plenty to play for and quite a few big games still left of the schedule. If the play of the Hawkeyes in the second half against Arizona is any indication of this team's identity, we can still believe that they will be a contender for the Big Ten title.

GAMEDAY: Iowa at Arizona | What Happened?

I'll have an opinion to share later today, but for now it's:

Links, links, links:

ESPN:

Hawk Central:

Ninth ranked Hawkeyes stumble
If Hampton is out, who joins ARob?
Iowa drops game to Arizona, Hampton in limbo
A loss, but not a total loss
Tip the cap, turn the page, move on
Photos from Iowa-Arizona
Postgame notes
Hawkeyes rally, then fall to Arizona 34-27

BHGP:

Hawkeye Drive dot com has post with links to post game videos and a recap.

From the Daily Iowan;