Friday, November 2, 2012 Iowa vs. indiana Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IN
If you can’t beat ‘em...
High-school rivals James Vandenberg and Jordan Cotton team up.
PLUS: Big Ten Power Rankings
2B - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 2, 2012
REMEMBER WHEN... Iowa wide receiver Marvin McNutt runs after catching a pass from quarterback James Vandenberg against Indiana in Kinnick Stadium on Oct. 22, 2011. McNutt had 3 touchdowns in the 45-24 victory, making him Iowa’s alltime touchdown receptions leader. (The Daily Iowan/Adam Wesley)
HAWKS IN THE NFL Tony Moeaki missed all of the 2011 season with an ACL injury. The Kansas City Chief tight end had a slow start to this season as he attempted to shake off the rust on one of the league’s worst teams. But things might be starting to look up for the former Hawkeye tight end: He had his best game of the year on Oct. 28, catching 4 passes for 57 yards against Oakland. (The Daily Iowan/File Photo)
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GAME ROSTER Complete rosters for both the Hawkeyes and Hoosiers. Keep it with you while you watch the game.
12
AROUND THE BIG TEN Check out our weekly conference power rankings and players to watch.
Bill Casey Publisher Emily Busse Editor-in-Chief Sam Lane Managing Editor Sam Louwagie Pregame Editor Allie Wright Design Editor Adam Wesley and Rachel Jessen Photo Editors
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
COVER STORY James Vandenberg and Jordan Cotton were fierce rivals in high school. A summer spent working out together has helped the pair develop chemistry this season.
STAFF
14
ON THE LINE Check out which teams our football staff and fans picked in some of this weekend’s biggest games.
ONLINE
POINT-COUNTERPOINT Will Iowa make a bowl game? Two staffers debate.
ONLINE
FEATURED MATCHUP Defensive end Joe Gaglione will have to punish a freshman left tackle to slow down Indiana’s high-scoring offense.
CONTACT US
Got a question for the Pregame staff or a story idea for a future issue? Email us at dipregame@ gmail.com.
Go to
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for a photo slideshow after the game
The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 2, 2012 - 3B
4B - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 2, 2012
(Left) Iowa quarterback James Vandenberg waits for the snap against Michigan State in Kinnick on Nov. 12, 2011. (The Daily Iowan/File Photo) (Right) Iowa wide receiver Jordan Cotton scores on a 47-yard touchdown reception against Minnesota in Kinnick Stadium on Sept. 29. (The Daily Iowan/Adam Wesley)
Ex-rivals become combination Jordan Cotton and James Vandenberg were the star players in a bitter high-school rivalry. Their chemistry has been a bright spot for Iowa. By Sam Louwagie samuel-louwagie@uiowa.edu
James Vandenberg had seen Jordan Cotton run before. He had seen Cotton star in the 100- and 200-meter dashes at district track meets. Vandenberg had seen Cotton rip off a kick-return touchdown against his team a year earlier. So when he saw Cotton burst through the line of scrimmage and find a seam to the end zone, he knew it was bad news. “He was just so, so fast,” Vandenberg said. “He could take it all the way every time he touched the ball.” Vandenberg can still rattle off details about the
game off the top of his head: He passed for 360 yards on Sept. 14, 2007, when his Keokuk Chiefs faced off against bitter conference rival Mount Pleasant. But Keokuk turned the ball over in the red zone twice and missed an extra point off the upright during the game. That set up Vandenberg’s most vivid memory of the game: Cotton, then Mount Pleasant’s star running back, sprinting more than 70 yards for a touchdown with fewer than two minutes left to win the game, 21-20. It was the only game Keokuk lost that season. “He had like over 240 yards that day. And I’ll always hate him for that,” Vandenberg joked. “I didn’t really like him at that point.”
Jayson Campbell, Keokuk’s head coach that season, is now an assistant principal at Mount Pleasant Middle School, and he supervises football games at the high-school field. And every time he’s there, Campbell said, he gets “irritated” when he thinks about that game. “They had a pretty good recipe for winning, and that was with Jordan running the ball,” Campbell said. “He was just so fast that you had to hold your breath on every play … I think about that game all the time. Our state championship ring from that year has 12-1 on it, and I always wish it had 13-0.” Vandenberg thinks about the loss less often — See combo, 6B
The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 2, 2012 - 5B
6B - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 2, 2012
combo
Continued from 4B though Cotton said he “still let[s] him know all the time.” The two have bigger things to think about. Such as gaining bowl eligibility this season. “They’re teammates now,” Campbell said. “I think it’s a neat story.”
Summer school
Greg Davis likes fast receivers. His offenses at Texas always used them, including an Olympic sprinter last season in Marquise Goodwin. One of the first things Davis mentioned in his first spring practice as Iowa’s offensive coordinator was that the Hawkeyes needed “more speed on the outside.” Jordan Cotton had that speed. He just hadn’t been able to use it yet. Cotton had recorded just one career catch in his first two seasons after entering the program as a heralded in-state recruit. Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said Cotton was “virtually invisible” in his first two years with the team. But Davis noticed that blazing speed and asked Vandenberg to spend the summer working with the junior receiver. “Right when Coach Davis got here, we talked about how we wanted to give Jordan every opportunity to win a spot and be able to play,” Vandenberg said. Cotton was thinking the same. “I wanted to take the off-season this summer and
“‘He had like over 240 yards that day. And I’ll always hate him for that. I didn’t really like him at that point.’ — James Vandenberg, Iowa quarterback on Jordan Cotton work really hard,” he said. “I knew I had a lot to improve on as a receiver.” So Vandenberg and Cotton headed to the practice facility almost every day — often just the two of them, a pair of formerly bitter rivals — to practice different routes, go over audible signals, and run through game situations. Cotton soaked it all up. And teammates say that grasping the offense was the key to unleashing all that speed. “It’s confidence. He always had the ability,” senior receiver Keenan Davis said. “He would go out and make a play in practice that was like, ‘Jeez, Cotton.’ But he just didn’t feel comfortable, and you could always tell.” “With Cotton, it was always more mental than it was physical,” Vandenberg said. “When he was confused mentally, he wasn’t able to play to his speed or his abilities. It was just getting him in a spot where he knew everything that was going on so he could just react and play. “Once we got him there, we all saw him take strides.”
One of the bright spots
It hasn’t been a good season for the Iowa passing game. Vandenberg is struggling in the pocket, receivers are dropping passes, and the statistics are ugly. But
chemistry between Vandenberg and Cotton has been clear. They connected for a 36-yard strike in the first quarter against Central Michigan. In the third quarter of that game, Cotton turned a short hitch into a 13-yard gain with a series of juke moves. The next week, against Minnesota, they provided what might be the highlight of Iowa’s season. Mark Weisman tossed the ball back to Vandenberg on a flea-flicker. Cotton streaked down the sideline, wide open. Vandenberg lobbed the ball into the air for a 47-yard touchdown pass. Cotton has 8 catches for 137 yards so far, including four third-down catches that moved the chains for Iowa. “Jordan’s one of the good stories we have right now,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said. “He hadn’t done an awful lot until this year, but he’s done some really nice things, made some good third-down catches. His development has helped us, and James has been invested in that.” Cotton said the summer workouts with Vandenberg were “a huge reason” for their success together this season. Perhaps they also helped bury the hatchet. “We were big rivals,” he said. “It’s a little weird at first playing with a guy you wanted to beat in high school. It was fun then going against him, but it’s even better now being teammates with him.”
8B - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa
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IOWA HAWKEYES
Marshall Koehn Greg Castillo Barkley Hill Greg Garmon Kyle Anderson Tanner Miller Keenan Davis Sean Draper Trent Mossbrucker Don Shumpert Blake Haluska Collin Sleeper Kevonte Martin-Manley Anthony Gair Tom Donatell Kevin Buford John Wienke Jonny Mullings Jake Rudock James Vandenberg C.J. Beathard Jacob Hillyer Micah Hyde B.J. Lowery Cody Sokol Christian Kirksey Nico Law Torrey Campbell Jordan Cotton Ruben Lile Jordan Lomax Maurice Fleming Nick Nielsen Andre Dawson Anthony Hitchens Damon Bullock Jordan Canzeri Adam Cox Nate Meier Gavin Smith Cole Fisher John Lowdermilk Brad Rogers Travis Perry Jack Swanson Jacob Reisen Macon Plewa Jim Poggi James Morris Mark Weisman George Krieger Kittle Melvin Spears Palmer Foster Drew Clark Laron Taylor Quinton Alston James Ferentz Steve Bigach Marcus Collins Faith Ekakitie Tommy Gaul Eric Simmons Conor Boffeli Matt Tobin Casey Kreiter Austin Blythe Jordan Walsh Casey McMillan Jaleel Johnson Brandon Scherff Ryan Kolka
ROS
- Friday, November 2, 2012
6-0/160 5-11/187 6-0/210 6-1/200 6-3/210 6-2/201 6-3/215 6-0/180 5-11/204 6-3/190 6-4/210 6-2/200 6-0/205 6-2/195 6-2/205 5-10/170 6-5/220 6-3/210 6-3/200 6-3/212 6-2/180 6-4/205 6-1/190 5-11/188 6-2/205 6-2/220 6-1/195 5-11/183 6-1/185 6-3/200 5-10/190 6-0/185 6-3/210 6-2/207 6-1/224 6-0/195 5-9/180 5-11/210 6-2/235 5-10/175 6-2/218 6-2/203 5-10/230 6-3/230 5-11/200 6-2/231 6-2/225 6-2/218 6-2/230 6-0/225 6-4/210 6-2/255 6-3/210 6-4/288 6-0/215 6-1/224 6-2/284 6-3/282 6-0/215 6-3/275 6-3/264 6-3/300 6-5/290 6-6/290 6-3/250 6-3/275 6-4/270 6-4/305 6-4/300 6-5/310 6-0/208
PK DB RB RB QB DB WR DB PK WR WR DB WR DB LB DB QB P QB QB QB WR CB DB QB LB DB DB WR DB DB WR WR RB LB RB RB FB RB/LB DB OLB DB FB DB DB FB LB LB LB FB ATH DE OLB OL LB LB OL DL LB DL OL OL OL OL LS OL OL OL DL OL LS
RS FR SR FR FR RS FR JR SR FR SR JR SO SR SO FR SR FR SR SO RS FR SR FR RS FR SR JR JR JR SO RS FR JR FR SO FR SR JR JR SO SO RS FR FR JR RS FR SO JR RS FR SR JR RS FR SO JR SO FR RS FR SO JR FR SO SR SR SO FR SO SO JR SR JR RS FR RS FR SR FR SO RS FR
IOWA VS. INDIANA • SATU Solon, Iowa Mount Laurel, N.J. Denver, Iowa Erie, Pa. Ames, Iowa Kalona, Iowa Cedar Rapids, Iowa Cleveland, Ohio Mooresville, Ind. St. Louis, Mo. Carroll, Iowa Solon, Iowa Pontiac, Mich. Plano, Texas Duluth, Ga. Canton, Mich. Tuscola, Ill. Canberra, Australia Weston, Fla. Keokuk, Iowa Franklin, Tenn. Somerset, Texas Fostoria, Ohio Cincinnati, Ohio Phoenix, Ariz. St. Louis, Mo. Clinton, Md. Naples, Fla. Mount Pleasant, Iowa Detroit, Mich. Upper Marlboro, Md. Chicago, Ill. Humboldt, Iowa Cedar Rapids, Iowa Lorain, Ohio Mansfield, Texas Troy, N.Y. Chana, Ill. Tabor, Iowa North Liberty, Iowa Omaha, Neb. Carrollton, Ohio Toledo, Ohio Urbandale, Iowa Naples, Fla. Iowa City, Iowa Franklin, Wis. Towson, Md. Solon, Iowa Buffalo Grove, Ill. Norman, Okla. Allen, Texas Davenport, Iowa Marion, Iowa Detroit, Mich. Sicklerville, N.J. Iowa City, Iowa Cleveland, Ohio Yeadon, Pa. Brampton, Ontario Des Moines, Iowa Madrid, Iowa West Des Moines, Iowa Worthington, Iowa DeWitt, Iowa Williamsburg, Iowa Glendale Heights, Ill. Billings, Mont. Westchester, Ill. Denison, Iowa St. Charles, Ill.
70 71 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 98 99
Brett Van Sloten Carl Davis Ryan Ward Mitch Keppy Dean Tsopanides Nolan MacMillan Reid Sealby Andrew Donnal Dominic Alvis Henry Krieger Coble Tevaun Smith Ray Hamilton Steven Staggs Zach Derby C.J. Fiedorowicz Jake Duzey Greg Mabin Cameron Wilson Louis Trinca-Pasat Daumantas Venckus-Cucchiara Jonathan Gimm Nathan Lyman Riley McMinn Drew Ott Mike Meyer Darian Cooper Connor Kornbrath Mike Hardy Joe Gaglione
6-7/292 6-5/310 6-5/275 6-5/290 6-2/240 6-6/290 6-4/250 6-7/302 6-4/265 6-4/235 6-2/190 6-5/248 6-3/195 6-3/240 6-7/265 6-4/235 6-2/190 6-1/195 6-3/270 6-5/230 6-3/240 6-3/280 6-7/245 6-4/245 6-2/185 6-2/280 6-6/240 6-5/270 6-4/264
OL DL OL OL DL OL OL OL DL TE WR TE WR TE TE TE WR WR DL DL FB DL DE DL K DL P DL DL
JR SO FR FR RS FR JR FR SO JR RS FR FR SO SR SR JR RS FR FR FR SO FR SR JR RS FR FR JR RS FR FR SO SR
Decorah, Iowa Detroit, Mich. New Lenox, Ill. Port Byron, Ill. Torrington, Conn. Toronto, Ontario Byron, Ill. Monclova, Ohio Logan, Iowa Mount Pleasant, Iowa Toronto, Ontario Strongsville, Ohio Oskaloosa, Iowa Iowa City, Iowa Johnsburg, Ill. Troy, Mich. Plantation, Fla. Dublin, Ohio Chicago, Ill. Weston, Fla. Houston, Texas Grundy Center, Iowa Rochester, Ill. Trumbull, Neb. Dubuque, Iowa Elkridge, Md. Bridgeport, W.V. Appleton, Wis. Novelty, Ohio
Keenan Davis WR #6
Antonio Marshall CB #28 Ryan Phillis DE #25 Mark Murphy S #37
Brett Van Sloten RT #70
Forisse Hardin LB #4
Austin Blythe RG #63
Larry Black, Jr. DT #97
Damon Bulloc RB #32 James Vandenberg QB #16
Adam Replogle DT #98
David Cooper LB #42
James Ferentz C #53
Griffen Dahlstrom LB #49 Zack Shaw DE #33
Brad Rogers FB #45
Jordan Walsh LG #50
Greg Heban S #9 Matt Tobin LT #60
C.J. Fiedorowicz TE #86
Brian Williams CB #7 Kevonte Martin-Manley WR #11
STER
The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 2, 2012 - 9B
INDIANA HOOSIERS
URDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2012 Shane Wynn Cameron Coffman Cody Latimer Forisse Hardin Tre Roberson Tevin Coleman Nate Sudfeld Brian Williams Kevin Davis Drew Hardin Greg Heban Ricky Jones Stephen Houston Kofi Hughes Nick Stoner Damon Graham Marcus Kinsella Tyler Brady Mitch Ewald Michael Hunter Max Matthews Tregg Waters Ryan Parker Ryan Thompson D’Angelo Roberts Jake Zupancic Kenny Mullen Lawrence Barnett Blair Stellhorn Andre Booker David Calhoun Matt Perez Ryan Phillis Chandler Miller Justin Nowak Alexander Webb Antonio Marshall
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 8 9 10 12 13 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 18 19 19 20 21 22 23 23 24 24 24 25 26 26 27 28
5-7/157 6-2/191 6-3/208 6-1/208 6-0/190 6-1/200 6-5/218 6-0/185 5-11/173 6-0/208 6-1/191 5-10/182 6-0/218 6-2/210 6-1/173 5-10/178 5-11/185 5-10/195 5-10/173 6-1/183 6-0/197 6-0/190 6-3/183 5-10/195 5-10/195 5-11/208 5-10/180 5-10/187 5-9/190 5-11/165 5-11/185 5-11/229 6-3/261 6-3/197 6-0/190 6-0/200 5-11/188
Shane Wynn WR #1
WR QB WR LB QB RB QB CB WR S DB WR RB WR WR RB P QB K CB QB DB WR S RB S CB CB WR WR DB RB DE WR DB S CB
SO SO SO SO SO FR FR SO FR SO JR FR JR JR SO FR FR FR JR SO RS FR JR SO JR SO SO SO JR FR FR FR SO SO FR SO SR JR
Cleveland, Ohio Peculiar, Mo. Dayton, Ohio Louisville, Ky. Indianapolis, Ind. Tinley Park, Ill. Modesto, Calif. Lawrenceville, Ga. Indianapolis, Ind. Louisville, Ky. Muncie, Ind. Sarasota, Fla. Little Rock, Ark. Indianapolis, Ind. Greenwood, Ind. Indianapolis, Ind. Melbourne, Australia Prospect Heights, Ill. Naperville, Ill. Monroe, La. Granger, Ind. Phoenix, Ariz. Orland Park, Ill. Pontotoc, Miss. Bloomington, Ind. Indianapolis, Ind. Fort Wayne, Ind. Fort Wayne, Ind. Russiaville, Ind. Chesterfield, Mo. Fishers, Ind. Park Ridge, Ill. Boardman, Ohio Richmond, Ind. South Bend, Ind. Mequon, Wis. Pitts, Ga.
Micah Hyde CB #18
Cody Latimer WR #3
Anthony Hitchens WLB #31 Tanner Miller FS #5
Jason Spriggs LT #78
ck
Dominic Alvis DE #79
Collin Rahrig LG #64 Stephen Houston RB #12
Louis Trinca-Pasat DT #90
Cameron Coffman QB #2
Will Matte C #60
James Morris MLB #44
Christian Kirksey OLB #20 Steve Bigach DT #54
Dan Feeney RG #67 Ted Bolser TE #83 Peyton Eckert RT #59
Kofi Hughes WR #13
Joe Gaglione DE #99
Greg Castillo CB #2
Tom Donatell SS #13
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Dawson Fletcher Jordan Jackson Tyler Burgett Nathan Reisman Tyler Reeves Jordan Wallace Christian Englum Zack Shaw Jacarri Alexander Quai Chandler Mitchell Voss Tim Bennett Mark Murphy Isaiah Roundtree Garret Welch Andrew Campbell Erich Toth Chase Parker Matt Zakrzewski Tanner Kearns David Cooper Brandon Grubbe Ishmael Thomas Adam Kranda Andrew Wilson Dimitrius Carr-Watson Mike Replogle Chase Hoobler Simeon Ikudabo Griffen Dahlstron Jake Reed Kyle Kennedy Austin Schlosser Shawn Heffern Alex Ziedas Jake Michalek Nick Mangieri Pete Bachman Tyler McGuigan Peyton Eckert Will Matte Bryce Werksey Ralston Evans Jerrell Kirlew Collin Rahrig Wes Rogers Dan Feeney David Kaminski Alex Todd Jacob Bailey Bill Ivan Michael Mitsch Bernard Taylor Charlie Chapman Nicholas Sliger Cody Evers Dimitric Camiel Jason Spriggs Gregory Lewis Sean Damaska Duwyce Wilson Sean Barrett Caleb Cornett Ted Bolser Jamonne Chester Charles Love III Paul Phillips Leneil Himes Mitchell Paige Anthony Corsaro Mike Carter Garrett Libertowski Matt Dooley Justin Rayside Nick Campos Ralphael Green Javon Cornley Bobby Richardson John Laihinen Larry Black, Jr. Adam Replogle Nick Freeland Adarius Rayner
6-0/196 6-3/219 6-0/212 6-0/194 6-0/204 6-0/229 6-6/205 6-3/245 6-1/232 6-0/180 5-11/177 5-9/181 6-2/206 5-11/190 6-1/192 5-10/160 6-3/190 6-0/195 6-2/240 6-5/218 6-1/225 5-11/200 6-5/218 6-6/261 5-11/207 6-1/240 6-2/235 6-2/242 6-3/225 6-3/226 6-4/275 6-3/232 5-11/201 6-6/244 6-2/283 6-2/242 6-5/242 6-5/285 6-2/286 6-6/293 6-2/292 6-1/225 6-4/284 6-3/266 6-2/278 6-4/280 6-4/293 6-4284 6-3/277 6-5/285 6-4/295 5-11/264 6-2/292 6-6/300 6-3/290 6-4/304 6-7/295 6-7/268 6-5/295 6-7/215 6-3/195 6-6/200 6-3/183 6-6/250 6-2/210 6-3/240 6-5/251 6-1/277 5-7/166 6-1/242 6-1/220 5-11/206 6-4/257 6-3/250 6-0/182 6-5/318 6-5/251 6-3/279 6-4/250 6-2/294 6-3/294 6-0/201 6-2/292
S TE LB P S LB TE DE LB DB K/P DB S RB DB DB K/P LB FB TE LB LB LB DE RB FB DE LB LB LB OL LB LB DE OL LB DE OT DT OT C LB OL DT OL OL OL OL DT OL OT DT OL OT DT OL OT OT OL WR WR LS WR TE WR TE TE DT WR TE FB DE LS DE P DT DE DE DE DT DT K/P DT
FR RS FR FR JR SO FR FR RS FR JR FR JR SO SO SO FR RS FR RS FR RS FR SO FR SO SO SO FR FR JR SO SO RS FR JR SO RS FR FR FR FR SO FR SO JR SO SR FR RS FR SR SO FR FR RS FR FR FR SO FR SO JR SR SO FR FR RS FR FR JR FR FR JR JR SR SO SO FR FR JR RS FR SO JR FR FR JR SO SO SR SR SR RS FR
West Chester, Ohio Trafalgar, Ind. Sarasota, Fla. Dallas, Texas Carmel, Ind. Indianapolis, Ind. Indianapolis, Ind. Coshocton, Ohio Winter Haven, Fla. Lake Forest, Ill. Valparaiso, Ind. Columbus, Ga. Akron, Ohio Indianapolis, Ind. Noblesville, Ind. Wakarusa, Ind. Indianapolis, Ind. South Bend, Ind. Traverse City, Mich. Lexington, Ohio Lilburn, Ga. Lowell, Ind. Detroit, Mich. New Castle, Ind. Columbus, Ind. Calumet City, Ill. Centerville, Ohio Orrville, Ohio Marion, Ind. Coatesville, Ind. Columbus, Ind. Indianapolis, Ind. Naperville, Ill. Carmel, Ind. Detroit, Mich. Midlothian, Ill. Peoria, Ill. Cincinnati, Ohio Indianapolis, Ind. Arlington Heights, Ill. Wheaton, Ill. Seymour, Ind. Indianapolis, Ind. Kissimmee, Fla. South Bend, Ind. Indianapolis, Ind. Orland Park, Ill. Strongsville, Ohio Streetsboro, Ohio Carmel, Ind. Charlevoix, Mich. Indianapolis, Ind. Detroit, Mich. South Rockwood, Mich. Cicero, Ind. Little Chute, Wis. Houston, Texas Elkhart, Ind. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Milton, Ga. Columbus, Ind. Carmel, Ind. Indianapolis, Ind. Cincinnati, Ohio Detroit, Mich. Memphis, Tenn. Darnestown, Md. Plymouth, Ind. Noblesville, Ind. Indianapolis, Ind. Jeffersonville, Ind. Granger, Ind. Phoenix, Ariz. Corona, Calif. Wheaton, Ill. San Antonio, Texas Columbus, Ohio Tampa, Fla. Mequon, Wis. Cincinnati, Ohio Centerville, Ohio Indianapolis, Ind. Largo, Fla.
The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 2, 2012 - 11B
12B - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 2, 2012
AROUND THE BIG TEN
OFFENSIVE IMPACT
POWER RANKINGS
1. Ohio State The Buckeyes will be here for a while. I don’t see Urban Meyer’s team falling at any time this year. Some might think that says more about the weak Big Ten rather than a good Ohio State squad, but I don’t really think so. The Buckeyes have a pool of talent in place and a two-time national champion at the helm. 2. Nebraska This could be a trap game for the Cornhuskers against Michigan State, but Taylor Martinez has shown he has the moxie to be a big-time quarterback in this league. Which, again, isn’t saying much. The Huskers do have a filthy running game, and Rex Burkhead should be back this week. 3. Penn State Bill O’Brien should be coach of the year. No one saw the Nittany Lions being anything but a doormat this year, and they are easily among the class of the Big Ten. The case could be made for Kansas State’s Bill Snyder as the coach of year, but he has Collin Klein. And the football stadium there is named after him, which I think tips the scales in his favor. 4. Michigan This might be a little high for the Wolverines. I think Northwestern would be able to handle them pretty well, as would many other teams in the Big Ten if Denard Robinson weren’t playing. This week’s battle for the Little Brown Jug may be closer than anticipated, but don’t expect an upset. The gilded rodents are just awful. 5. Northwestern The Wildcats put on a clinic against Iowa last weekend. That was just brutal. They have a bye this week, which gives Paddy Fitz an extra few days to marinate in the glow of his most recent victory over the team he hates most. 6. Michigan State Spartan quarterback Andrew Maxwell actually looked serviceable against Wisconsin last weekend, which is just fascinating, seeing as he looked atrocious up until then. Can he do it again against Nebraska
this week at home? No. 7. Wisconsin With starting quarterback Joel Stave out for the season, free-agent acquisition from Maryland Danny O’Brien is back at the helm. Terrapin fans at first laughed at the Badgers’ misfortune of their former quarterback soiling himself, this time in Wisconsin Crimson. But after all four Terrapin quarterbacks were ruled out for the rest of this season with injury, word on the street is the brass for Wisconsin and Maryland are in negotiations for O’Brien’s triumphant return to College Park. 8. Iowa Woof. Iowa is real bad. Deal with it, people. Don’t expect a win this weekend, or ever, for that matter. 9. Minnesota Little Brown Jug? Little Brown Jug. True freshman starting at quarterback? True freshman starting at quarterback. Denard Robinson? Denard Robinson. Game over? Game over. 10. Indiana Indiana is putting up a whole mess of points this year. The Hoosiers are second in the Big Ten in total yards. Bet you didn’t know that. If Iowa surrendered 349 RUSHING YARDS to Northwestern last week, just imagine the stomping the Hoosiers could implement on the Hawkeyes. 11. Purdue Who’s the idiot that predicted Purdue as a dark horse in the Big Ten this year? Me. I feel bad for the Boilermakers, not just because they’re bad, but because coachin’ Danny Hope is awesome and deserves to have a job simply because of his accent. 12. Illinois HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I wonder what it’s like to be worse than Iowa? A lack of Juice Williams will make playing Ohio State very tough this week for the Illini.
Name: Rex Burkhead, Nebraska Position: Running back Year: Senior Burkhead has been struggling mightily with injuries this year. But after getting two weeks of rest, the former Heisman candidate should be close to full strength against Michigan State this week. His 8.5 yards per carry shouldn’t hurt, either. If Burkhead can’t go, running back Ameer Abdullah will have to perform at the same level he has been all season to give his squad a chance. Burkhead’s teammates notice what he brings to the table, and senior wide receiver Kenny Bell said he expects the return of Burkhead. “Rex Burkhead, there’s only one like him in the whole nation,” Bell told ESPN.com. “He’s a phenomenal athlete, a phenomenal leader. When he gets back, he’ll give us a tremendous boost.”
DEFENSIVE IMPACT
GAMES TO WATCH Minnesota vs. Michigan
Michigan State vs. Nebraska
Key Highlights The last time Minnesota beat Michigan was in 2005, and that was just because of Laurence Maroney’s overall filth. Seriously, though, how is this still considered a rivalry game? Michigan leads the series 67-22. How pathetic is that? I sure hope my friends who play for Minnesota aren’t reading this.
Key Highlights At last, at last, a decent game in the Big Ten. Michigan State has to have a lot of juice pumping since knocking off Wisconsin in Madison. Maybe Andrew Maxwell actually has turned into the quarterback head Spartan coach Mark Dantonio said he would be. But I doubt it. I see a three-headed Cornhusker rushing attack toppling this Michigan State squad.
Time: 2:30 p.m. Saturday Location: Minneapolis Where to watch: BTN
BEN ROSS BENJAMIN-D-ROSS@UIOWA.EDU
Time: 2:30 p.m. Saturday Location: East Lansing, Mich. Where to Watch: ABC
Name: Mike Rallis Position: Linebacker Year: Senior Rallis will be one of the many Gophers tasked with attempting to contain the elusive Denard Robinson in the latest installment of the battle for the Little Brown Jug, college football’s oldest rivalry. He, along with many other Minnesota players, recently shaved his flowing locks to raise cancer awareness, so hopefully, they don’t go the route of the biblical Samson. Rallis has stated what he thinks of rivalry games, and this one should be no different. “In a rivalry game, if you don’t ever win, it’s not really a rivalry,” Rallis told the Minnesota Daily. “This is why you sign on the dotted line to put on the Maroon and Gold.”
The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 2, 2012 - 13B
14B - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 2, 2012
ON THE LINE
Matchups Iowa at Indiana
No. 20 Nebraska at Michigan State No. 1 Alabama at No. 5 LSU
No. 16 Texas A&M at No. 15 Mississippi State No. 4 Oregon at No. 17 USC
Ben Ross
Molly Olmstead
Ian Martin
Sports Editor (21-19)
Asst. Sports Editor (22-18) Football Reporter (26-14)
Indiana
Hoosier offense might trounce the Hawkeyes, especially if they start fast.
Nebraska
Even though I hate Bo.
LSU Someone has to beat ’Bama eventually, and I think LSU has the best shot.
Texas A&M
Aggies looked impressive against Auburn.
Oregon Ducks will stay undefeated while Crimson Tide loses.
Indiana
Iowa
Hurry up offense This is probably why I didn’t get Bend and then break Hawk accepted to Minnesota. defense Could be a blowout
Michigan State In this weird Big Ten Ranked teams seem to have curses Sparty wins close one
Alabama
Nebraska
T-money got stones, and Maxwell doesn’t.
Tork Mason
Football Reporter (27-13)
Indiana
Iowa just isn’t good. The Hoosiers aren’t, either. But they’re going to put up points.
Nebraska Big Red looks like it’s hitting stride. T-Magic is finally becoming a true dual-threat.
No reason to think Anyone can beat the Tide Until BCS
Alabama
Alabama
The Tide actually have good quarterback, too.
Yes, it’s at Death Valley. ’Bama is just better.
Mississippi State
Texas A&M
Rebound victory A&M’s SEC grind Will catch up to it
Oregon Ducks are like Daft Punk Harder, better, faster, and Stronger than others
Giggity.
Oregon I don’t know who the BCS thinks it is moving the Ducks past their deserved No. 2 ranking
Texas A&M
Remember when everybody thought the Aggies would get eaten alive in the SEC? Guess they’re getting the last laugh (sorry, Texas).
Oregon It’s the uniforms. They’re shiny. I like shiny.
Sam Louwagie Pregame Editor (21-19)
Iowa
This year’s equivalent of the big bounce-back: beating Indiana.
Nebraska Big Ten games are stupid to pick.
LSU Death Valley, night game, my desperate need to make up ground in this contest.
Mississippi State No YOU don’t know anything about these teams.
Oregon USC’s not that good.
Sam Lane
Fans’ Picks
Managing Editor (29-11)
Iowa This decision is much harder than it should have been.
Nebraska So … maybe the Huskers are good? It’s really hard to say.
Alabama It’ll be a fun atmosphere, but Tide rolls.
Mississippi State A reliable source once told me A&M always fails in big games.
Oregon quack, quack, QUACK, QUACK!
Indiana
Gettin’ hosed by the Hoosiers
Nebraska Big win over Michigan, there always seem to be surprises when any team plays Michigan State.
Alabama Nobody messes with Nick Saban and his number 1 team.
Mississippi State
After pinching Nebraska’s thighs two years ago, Texas A&M doesn’t deserve to win anything.
Oregon You have to get them down by 30 or 40 to have a chance and Trojans can’t do it.
The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 2, 2012 - 15B
16B - The Daily Iowan - PREGAME - Iowa City, Iowa - Friday, November 2, 2012