Will Iowa State Ever Win Again?
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Finally, information technology's that special time of the year.
College football looms front and center as baseball begins its terminal migration into the Oct Earth Series—while pro football stallions brainstorm stomping off the rust and lacing up their cleats for the 2011 campaign.
In Iowa, the focus turns to the two acme football programs in the state. The Iowa Hawkeyes, a fellow member of the prestigious Large X Conference and the Iowa State Cyclones, a member of the quickly disintegrating Big 12, prepare to exercise battle on Saturday.
Remarkably, the ii take never shared a conference allegiance, always maintaining a separate slate of opponents.
The hereafter regarding the Iowa vs. Iowa State rivalry remains cloudy as the Big Ten moves to a probable schedule of 9 in-briefing games. Volition Iowa State remain as one of the Iowa Eagle's three non-conference opponents?
On the surface, it seems like a perfectly logical rivalry betwixt in-state academy opponents, located miles less than 150 miles from each other downwards Interstates 35 & 80.
For years, withal, this rivalry did not happen. In fact, from November 20, 1934 until September 17, 1977 the two schools not just didn't play ane another in football game—they barely spoke.
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Why? Considering, co-ordinate to all accounts, the two Iowa schools detested each other. Iowa-Iowa Land gridiron battles often degenerated into biting, divisive encounters.
In one account, published past Shane Dayton of Associated Content, it was reported that the Iowa Able-bodied Managing director would non return the phone calls from his counterpart in Ames. Every bit a result, the rivalry enjoyed a very long hibernation of over 40 years.
When Iowa and Iowa State resumed their rivalry on the football field once again in Iowa City on September 17, 1977, Iowa won 12-10, extending their head to head lead over Iowa State to 17-eight.
At that indicate, the Hawkeye fans began to mellow in their feelings, reconsidering the use of some less-than-pleasant nicknames toward their more rural counterparts.
Just the Hawkeyes were premature considering Iowa State came on stiff to win 4 of the next five contests from 1978-1982, bringing the Cyclones ever closer until they trailed Iowa only 18-12 as the 1983 flavor got underway.
The Hawkeyes, however, would win the side by side 15 games in a row, extending their head-to-head lead over the Cyclones to 33-12.
The rivalry saw large swings as the respective fortunes of the opposition ebbed and flowed. Starting in 1998, Iowa State won the adjacent 5 in a row, equally Hayden Fry departed and Kirk Ferentz came board for the Hawkeyes.
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In the past ten years, all the same, Iowa State and Iowa have been fairly fifty-fifty, with Iowa belongings a slight 6-4 border.
As Iowa travels to Ames on Saturday for the teams' 59th meeting, Iowa leads the series 39-19.
Much is riding on the event of this game for both teams. Both Iowa and Iowa Land each got their commencement wins of the season last weekend. While the Hawks go theirs in a heavy downpour, the Clones negotiated a sea of problem, belongings back the e'er-dangerous Northern Iowa Panthers.
Last year Iowa won this game in Iowa City 35-seven without too many issues—merely that was last year. This year, both teams are starting new quarterbacks as their old seasoned veterans left at the stop of the 2010 flavor.
Iowa's quarterback, James Vandenberg, takes over for concluding twelvemonth'southward starter Ricky Stanzi. In the pouring rain in a game against Tennessee Tech, Vandenberg managed xiii for 21 for 219 yards, including ii touchdowns. The quarterback led the team well during harsh on-field conditions, winning 34-7.
On the other hand, Iowa State features quarterback Steele Jantz. Jantz had quite an audacious outing against Northern Iowa concluding Sat, suffering with 18 for 40 for 187 yards and three interceptions. The Iowa State quarterback did manage to stabilize his efforts and save the game in the fourth quarter.
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Iowa's running game will be hurting with the absence of Mika'il McCall. The freshman running back is at present out for the season with a broken talocrural joint after displaying some great talent running the ball in Iowa'southward opener last Sat.
That means the major responsibleness for moving the ball on the ground will fall to Marcus Coker, who had a stumble last Saturday in the pelting, garnering but 41 yards and suffering two fumbles. The Eagle's expect Coker to produce better results this Saturday.
Iowa'south seasoned offensive line must give Iowa runners a real edge in this upcoming competition, equally does the Eagle receiving corps. Expect for Marvin McNutt to continue his assault on the Iowa record book in his senior season. Last week he picked up 140 yards and ii touchdowns.
Iowa State comes into this contest on their dwelling field looking for quarterback Jantz to connect often with leading receiver Aaron Horne, who had 7 receptions last Sabbatum for 69 yards. Jantz was too the leading footing gainer last week with 80 yards, making him a double threat.
Jantz will definitely accept to exist clicking on all cylinders to agree back the Hawkeye defense which managed to hold Tennessee Tech scoreless until tardily in the fourth quarter. Iowa hauled in 2 interceptions, one past linebacker James Morris and ane by defensive back Shaun Prater, who ran his in for a touchdown.
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Iowa Country struggled on defence against a very good Northern Iowa team, allowing the Panthers 204 yards on 42 carries. Stopping the run must exist a priority for the Cyclones if 2011 will see an comeback in their total operation from concluding year.
Iowa State has non defeated the Hawkeyes since 2007 in Ames, when they scored a xv-thirteen win. This is a pivotal game for both teams. The Cyclones need a win to requite them a shot of confidence as they head off to Oklahoma and Texas for the bulk of their conference schedule.
Iowa needs to eternalize their commonage ego subsequently their solid win over Tennessee Tech in their opener.
Iowa State will exist an excellent road test for the Hawkeyes because they requite the Hawkeyes a workout against a solid contender. The effort volition tell the Iowa coaches where the needs are greatest.
Iowa vs. Iowa State has now gravitated to being "just a football game." It is no longer the bitter rivalry it was back in the 1930s. Merely for those three or iv hours the game is existence played, the intensity surfaces and the desire to win becomes tantamount.
Brothers will claiming each other for the Cy-Hawk Trophy on Saturday, but when the dust settles, life volition return to normal in Iowa and Hawkeye fans volition cheer for Iowa State the rest of twelvemonth after whooping them at home in Ames.
Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/842881-iowa-vs-iowa-state-rivals-separated-by-conferences-and-cornfields
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