It was surreal to see this band as it was formed 20 years later, still singing through the modern classic The Michael Jordan of Drunk Driving tumbling over into Disposable Everything off their newest record. They chatted with folks between songs, completely just two dudes up on a stage. At one point, a Santa hat was given to Ben Gallaty, who captured the look extremely well. Their sound was sparse with just a guitar and stand-up bass, but they both pulled their notes full to flood into the crowd. AJJ’s most recent record Disposable Everything is definitely an “end of the world” record, nihilistic folk punk in every way AJJ was expected to deliver. They sang through songs about pride, waste, corporations, and the human greed destroying the planet and killing the humanity of what we have left to offer. It’s a change from their earlier discography, which focused through the same semi-nihilism ideas, but from a very personal view. Now, their messages encompass everyone, framed to describe the world at large, and the end of it all. Sean Bonnette’s voice rang out in a fully half-step-off pitch at every point where it mattered, it was a beautiful set. They closed out with a favorite, Big Bird, and the crowd sang and cried along while the final piercing notes of AJJ howled around us.

Room is a generous term to describe The Raccoon Motel venue, a tall but narrow side to the main bar, it’s like Gabe’s upstairs had a wall built halfway lengthwise and shoved a sold out show into the space, people like sardines in a quaint tin. The stage was no different, stickered amps, two guitars, a bass, a firetruck red tambourine, a synth set, a drum kit with the newest Cursive album cover skinned onto the front, and a fucking electric cello sat squished together on a stage that would struggle to fit a mattress, with a massacre of Hy-Vee plastic water bottles scattered around.

That one dude (don’t know his name but remember his voice) who announces these kinds of shows with his crazy impressive yelling stepped on stage to introduce a poet to prelude the Cursive set. A man read out his poem he wrote from emotions seeing Cursive perform when they were last in Iowa, I don’t recall what he said, but his words struck into me that this would be a special show, that could affect us in the same way to be moved into poetry. His words ended, and five people walked on stage, the sixth (Tim Kasher) less walking than bouncing into his spot. 5/6ths of the band was wearing a button-up shirt that night.

This tour formed for the release of the most recent Cursive album, Devourer. Released last year, Devourer is this maniacal end-of-the-world frustration and this idea of the great consumer, an imperialistic devourer that controls our lives, and the very personal imperialism that we find eating away at our own selves. Regaling earthquakes, volcanoes, gasoline advertisements, and self-immolation DIY, and the Cursive protagonist’s own denial of reality as they’re stuck within their own consumptions.

“Happiness is in the devouring. I saw our future, and I want to go back,” Cursive opened the final show of their tour with Consumers. This band has mastered building melodies out of simple riffs for decades, somehow reinventing a blowing heaviness within each pattern. It’s so simple, yet never boring. They continue into The Casualty, another dense melodic tune as the set continues weaving tracks around their full discography from the past 20 years. During a break, Tim Kasher justifies that since this is the last night of their tour, “we have a lot of fucking off to get out of our systems.” As Cursive gets comfortable on the twin-size stage, the singer Tim and cellist Megan Siebe continue to get lost in the throes of their hammering tones. The rest of the band plays incredibly with a much more subdued energy, the others with that desperate gleam of an exhausted runner in their last mile of a month-long marathon.

As the set continued, you could notice a distinct difference in the energy between their older music, and their most recent album. Tracks like The Recluse and Caveman from their younger years were played with a loose recklessness, they felt like a band of 20-somethings playing with lazy exaggeration to cause a scene. That same recklessness became much more intentional, almost a nihilistic abandon during The Avalanche of Our Demise and tracks from Devourer, still filling the hall with the same thundering energy but with a stronger intention.

Cursive continued their unburdening “fucking off” spiral, and the crowd joined right in with them. All around, the vast sprawls of middle-aged dudes in beanies and baseball caps screamed along, a drunk birthday girl and her even drunker friends all dressed in tiaras shoving and shrieking against the rail, before collapsing under the weight of the tallest moshpit I’ve experienced heralding the first thrums of Art is Hard. I’m not exactly one for self-preservation, but even under the intoxicating cello pulls of that tune I’m not fucking about in the midst of eight dudes with perfect elbows swinging into my eye level. Immediately after finishing the song, Tim threw the shot back he had so tenderly carried on stage with him as it became increasingly obvious he was at least reasonably hammered, whipping his ridiculous curtains on his head all around.

Megan Siebe on the cello really pulls Cursive together as a band, the final and fundamental piece that separates them apart from the whole slew of indie-rock bands out there. Seeing her play live was incredible, bridging some gap between classical technique and rock with her skill and intense energy. She also had a wee finger monster stuck onto a knob on her cello, mad respect. I’ve been a huge fan of their music for years, one of the bands that really dragged me into this divorced-dad-indie-rock shithole that we love and adore. Cursive as a band has changed so much, and not at all since their humble Omaha beginnings. It was really lovely to see them at the end of this tour, to really experience how they’ve stayed exactly the same yet changed so much, their fundamental uniqueness staying so consistent yet fresh for the past 20 years. They closed out their main set with From the Hips, with nothing more needing to be said.

Huge thanks to The Raccoon Motel for supporting KRUI, to check out their upcoming events (or to see Kermit hanging off a mountain lion) visit them in downtown Davenport. They’re hosting a record party on New Years Eve. Thanks as well to Marshall Rogers for sharing these lovely photos.

The post The end of the world written in Andrew Jackson’s script, Cursive with AJJ at The Raccoon Motel, December 21 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The Iowa Hawkeyes defeated Nebraska in their regular-season finale behind a dominant second half by a score of 40-16. This win makes it ten wins in the last eleven matchups for the Hawkeyes, securing the Heroes trophy once again.

Given the last two games having identical 13-10 endings, and the two teams having identical 7-4 records, many viewers likely would’ve guessed that this game would be more of the same. 

Early on, it seemed as though the Huskers were actually going to run away with it. Literally. Running back Emmett Johnson’s 70-yard run in the first five minutes to set up a Nebraska touchdown was not a good sign for a normally stout Iowa defense. 

Star returner Kaden Wetjen helped pick up some of the slack with a long kickoff return that led to a Drew Steven field goal. The offense did its part as well, with quarterback Mark Gronowski’s deep bomb to tight end D.J. Vonnahme giving the Hawkeyes a 10-7 lead. 

Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver Kaden Wetjen (21) returns a kick during the first half against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Friday, November 28. 2025 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska (Steven Branscombe / Getty Images)

Nebraska punched back with a field goal drive led once again by Emmett Johnson, and a bad bounce on a kickoff gave them a free possession as well. Thankfully, the defense held them to three, and Iowa running back Kamari Moulton punched it in for six.

The back and forth between these two kept going as another Nebraska field goal cut the deficit to one point. Then, Iowa kept the avalanche of points going with a Gronowski sneak for a touchdown. 24-16 at the break.

That’s right, 40 combined points at halftime for Iowa and Nebraska. Keep in mind, the over/under for this game was 39.5 points. This was an absolute shootout; the two defenses must’ve eaten too much for Thanksgiving. 

Johnson certainly didn’t; he had a career-high 177 yards in the first half alone. “No. 21 is a tremendous player,” head coach Kirk Ferentz said after the game. Iowa still maintained the lead, but if they wanted to keep it, they would have to come up with a plan to hold him in check. 

The plan they made seemed to be to keep him off the field, and it worked tremendously. Hawkeye linebacker Karson Sharar delivered a devastating (potentially targeting) hit on punt returner Jacory Barner Jr. that knocked the ball out of his hands and resulted in a safety. 

Iowa kept the momentum rolling with Gronowski and Moulton both coming back for seconds as they took a commanding 40-16 lead in the fourth. The Cornhuskers had a long drive towards the end of the game, displaying a strange lack of urgency, which ended with a fumble in the endzone that gave the Hawkeyes the football back and the win.

Iowa Hawkeyes quarterback Mark Gronowski (11) hands the ball off to running back Kamari Moulton (28) against the Nebraska Cornhuskers on Friday, November 28. 2025 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska (Dylan Widner / Imagn Images)

The defense woke up from its slumber and pitched a second-half shutout after a sluggish first half. Johnson had just 40 yards in the second half, and Nebraska’s backup quarterback, T.J. Lateef, was nursing an injury and stood no chance as the game went on. 

The win means that Iowa will finish 8-4 in the regular season for the second consecutive year. It’s been a season of ups, downs, and being oh so close to breaking through to the next level. Their next opponent is unknown, and we’ll have to wait and see how they fare in their bowl game next month. Regardless of outcome, the season’s been a fun ride, and we can only hope the bowl game gives us one last high note before a long offseason. 

The post Corn’s Better Over Here: Iowa pummels Nebraska, 40-16 appeared first on KRUI Radio.

This storied conference is rich in past glory, but the teams continue to make history every year. All fourteen teams are in a constant battle for supremacy in the conference and the 2017 Big Ten season is just getting underway.

14. Rutgers – 0 AP Votes – Notable Wins: N/A

(1-3, 0-1) Next Game: vs #11 Ohio State

Before losing in Lincoln, Rutgers got its first win on the season against the Morgan State Bears. The Scarlet Knights have struggled to get much going so far this season, but put up a fight against Nebraska.

Looking for its first conference win since Oct. 17, 2015, Rutgers has a tough test against Ohio State coming. Senior quarterback Kyle Bolin has thrown for a subpar 642 yards this season and they’ll need a more impressive outing from him if the team wants to beat a ranked team for the first time since 2009.

13. Illinois – 0 AP Votes – Notable Wins: N/A

(2-1, 0-0) Next Game: vs Nebraska

Illinois lost its first game on the season against #22 South Florida, but it wasn’t all that close. Quarterback Chayce Crouch was benched midway through the game in favor of backup Jeff George Jr. It wasn’t just the offense that struggled, the Illini defense allowed 680 yards of offense on Friday night.

Illinois has a good chance of getting a win at home and tying last season’s win total. Tanner Lee has been struggling for Nebraska and freshman running back Mike Epstein should thrive against a Nebraska defense that allows upwards of 350 yards a game.

12. Nebraska – 0 AP Votes – Notable Wins: vs Rutgers

(2-2, 1-0) Next Game: at Illinois

The nonconference has been a disappointment for the Huskers. A 1-2 start got athletic director Shawn Eichorst canned and head coach Mike Riley cannot afford to lose this one. Considering the next two games are Wisconsin and Ohio State, this contest becomes all the more important.

Junior QB Tanner Lee has disappointed for Nebraska by leading the Big Ten with nine interceptions through four starts. He’s thrown 146 times for 898 yards, but has cost his team plenty of chances down the stretch. This will be a great stage for Lee to prove that he’s worth his weight.

11. Northwestern – 0 AP Votes – Notable Wins: N/A

(2-1, 0-0) Next Game: at Wisconsin

Northwestern was a sleeper pick to win the Big Ten West this season, but after the walloping at the hands of Duke, it’s not looking as likely. Clayton Thorson has been uninspiring thus far and the defense hasn’t backed him up.

The Wildcats have turned the ball over seven times in three games and they head to Camp Randall Stadium for its toughest test of the year. Wisconsin has a Big Ten best +5 turnover margin so far and will not make it easy for Thorson.

10. Maryland – 0 AP Votes – Notable Wins: at Texas

(2-1, 0-0) Next Game: at Minnesota

You’ve got to feel for this Terrapins squad. Both Tyrell Pigrome and Kasim Hill have suffered season-ending injuries and the team is now relying on sophomore Max Bortenschlager. Regardless of who’s throwing, the team will depend on star wide receiver D.J. Moore who leads the conference in receiving yards (323) and touchdowns (four).

Winning in Minneapolis is much easier for an east coast team now than in frigid mid-November, so that’s one solace the Terps can take. The team has done well to take care of the ball thus far and Bortenschlager will have to improve quickly to compete at TCF.

9. Indiana – 0 AP Votes – Notable Wins: at Virginia

(2-1, 0-1) Next Game: at Penn State

Freshman running back Morgan Ellison ran for 186 yards and two scores in his first career start which is great news for Indiana. The team struggled on the ground in its first two games and Ellison will need to exploit Penn State’s linebacking corps to stand a chance.

There’s no real chance that Indiana wins this football game in Happy Valley and the near future doesn’t look much better for the Hoosiers. However, the team gave Ohio State a run for its money in the first half a month ago and can still air it out despite the defense’s deficiencies.

8. Michigan State – 0 AP Votes – Notable Wins: N/A

(2-1, 0-0) Next Game: vs Iowa

Getting dismantled in East Lansing by Notre Dame is no way to end the nonconference slate, but no one expected an insane Spartan resurgence this season. After a forgettable 3-9 season, MSU sophomore Brian Lewerke leads the charge to kick off the Big Ten schedule against Iowa.

Sparty is favored in this one, but the team will have their hands full against the Hawkeyes. The team’s only test thus far has been a home blowout, so the team will need to reset for the Big Ten schedule. The team is already much better than last year and improvement is certain.

7. Purdue – 0 AP Votes – Notable Wins: at Missouri

(2-2, 0-1) Next Game: BYE

The Boilermakers have been an oddity of sorts in the Big Ten. Purdue has gone from nearly upsetting the defending Heisman winner on opening weekend and dismantling Missouri last week to losing handily at home to Michigan and its backup QB.

Switching between Elijah Sindelar and David Blough has been a roller coaster for the team with both QBs notching over five touchdowns so far. Heading into a bye week will give the coaching staff enough time to evaluate its shot caller scenario before the Minnesota game.

6. Minnesota – 3 AP Votes – Notable Wins: at Oregon State

(3-0, 0-0) Next Game: vs Maryland

PJ Fleck has rowed the boat to an undefeated nonconference schedule and his defense has dominated. The Gophers have allowed three touchdowns in as many games and have six takeaways so far.

At home against Maryland, Minnesota and its running game should roll over an already depleted Maryland squad. The Terps have allowed 39.5 points per game in their two contests against FBS opponents and its third-string QB will struggle to keep up.

5. Iowa – 16 AP Votes – Notable Wins: at Iowa State

(3-1, 0-1) Next Game: at Michigan State

A heartbreaking loss in the final seconds has Iowa reeling, but the team showed that it can fight to the finish with any Big Ten team if they’re at Kinnick. However, the team will be in East Lansing against Michigan State and hasn’t faced the Spartans since the Big Ten Championship in 2015.

Sophomore quarterback Nate Stanley has put up impressive numbers through four games, passing for 12 touchdowns and only one pick. The reason for Iowa’s success, however, his supporting cast. Linebacker Josey Jewell led the team in tackles and managed a fumble recovery and interception in the loss versus PSU. The defense will put plenty of pressure on the Spartans, but there will be memories of the championship game two years ago.

4. Ohio State – 1016 AP Votes – Notable Wins: at Indiana

(3-1, 1-0) Next Game: at Rutgers

Since losing at home to Oklahoma, the Buckeyes have rolled over some relatively measly competition at home. Traveling to New Jersey, OSU is favored by 30 against a team struggling to put up points.

Freshman running back J.K. Dobbins leads the conference in rushing yards (520) and will likely keep pushing the bar against Rutgers. J.T. Barrett is regaining form since his dud against the Sooners and doesn’t get another true test until Penn State on Oct. 28.

3. Wisconsin – 1023 AP Votes – Notable Wins: at BYU

(3-0, 0-0) Next Game: vs Northwestern

The Badgers are rolling on defense, allowing 10 points per game entering this home contest. Hoping to take an early lead in the Big Ten West, Wisconsin is touting a prolific offense to pair well with the intimidating defense.

Freshman back Jonathan Taylor is hitting the ground running 438 yards on only 53 carries. This is good news for the Badgers as the Wildcats have allowed over 150 rushing yards per game. A fast start is in the cards for this team as NW doesn’t match up well in any category.

2. Michigan – 1088 AP Votes – Notable Wins: vs Florida, at Purdue

(4-0, 1-0) Next Game: BYE

Michigan is running a fine-tuned machine through four weeks. The Wolverines lost ten starters from their stellar defense last season, yet haven’t missed a beat. Tallying an astounding 18 sacks in the first four games, this D is lights out.

The real issue is the offensive unit. Inconsistent Wilton Speight left the Purdue contest with an injury and John O’Korn picked up where he left off, throwing for 270 yards, one score and one pick. The season will be decided on the success (or lack thereof) of the offensive side, but the blue and maize look quite impressive through four.

1. Penn State – 1304 AP Votes – Notable Wins: vs Pittsburgh, at Iowa

Winning a night game at Kinnick is no easy feat and it seemed like the Nittany Lions wouldn’t be able to get it done when trailing by four with less than two minutes on the clock. However, Heisman candidate Saquon Barkley’s bulging stat line (305 total yards, one TD) proved too much for the Hawks to handle as Penn State won on the final play.

This team is not only the best team to watch in the Big Ten, but arguably the best to watch in the country. This averted upset proved that Barkley is even better than imaginable and that quarterback Trace McSorley’s stats and game management are for real. Penn State is the all-around most complete team in the Big Ten, hands town.

The post Big Ten Football in Full Swing appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The first half ended on a high note as Senior Guard, Peter Jok, hit a baseline jumper with less than a second left to give the Hawkeyes a 38-36 lead as they went into the locker room. Jok, who started after missing the last two games, had a relatively quiet night putting up a season low seven shot attempts making just two of them. He finished with 12 points after making some key free throws down the stretch. When asked after the game, Jok said that “needed a game or two to come back” from his back injury. With the way this young team has been playing recently, a game or two shouldn’t be a problem allowing the Big Ten’s leading scorer to get healthy.
Early in the second half Jordan Bohannon stepped back, as we are becoming more and more accustomed to, and he drained a three. Not only was the three significant because it helped the Hawkeyes out of a slow start, but it set a new record for made three pointers by a freshman in a Hawkeye uniform (56). “He plays at his pace, you can’t rush him, and he knows exactly what we want done” McCraffery said after the game about Bohannon, and knowing exactly what needs to be done is something that is going to be important if this team wants to have any chance of making into the “big dance” come March Madness time.
Four of the Hawkeyes remaining games will be played on the road. After winning on Sunday the Hawkeyes move into fifth place where they are tied with Michigan State (who is one of the remaining games) in the Big Ten and with the way this college basketball season has played out, the Hawkeyes should have a chance to finish in the top half of what is considered the toughest conference in basketball this season. To make the NCAA tournament they will definitely need to know how to finish. Iowa plays again on Wednesday as they take to the road to face a very tough Minnesota team.

The post Hawkeyes Even Season Series Against Nebraska appeared first on KRUI Radio.

One side is positive, underwhelmed, but not disappointed, and is critical of those who are critical of the program. The other side is unhappy, clamoring for jobs to be lost and embarrassed at what the program is slowly becoming. It’s not hard to decipher which is which, as the Hawkeye faithful seem content with a little above average results, while the Huskers are furious as their national relevance dwindles. But, which side has the correct mindset?

It’s not Iowa.

Following the Iowa loss to Wisconsin, Hawkeye fans were acceptant and satisfied with the effort put forth by their student-athletes. They played their tails off and nearly pulled off an incredible upset that could potentially put them into a position to reach the Big Ten Title Game. Had a two-point conversion been turned late, or Wisconsin not converted a few third-and-longs, they may have actually pulled it off.

But, they didn’t. They didn’t win, they didn’t get a shot at the Big Ten Title, and they didn’t make the Nebraska game worth anything to a national audience and judging by the pregame ticket prices ($70 face value tickets selling for $5), even local audiences. But, Hawkeye fans are still content.

“It could have been worse.” “At least it was a good game.” “I’m just happy we didn’t get blown out.”

These are the commonly heard quotes as we take what should be a shameful walk out of Kinnick Stadium.

Why?

Why is Iowa content with paying a coach a top ten salary to not even be ranked? Why is losing to a Wisconsin team that doesn’t have any superior recruiting, coaching, or financial advantage over Iowa considered a moral victory? And why are eight win seasons considered successful after sustaining greater success just a half decade ago? None of it should be.

There’s a simple phrase that puts this into perspective: “Expect better, be better.” Iowa isn’t expecting anything more than what is being put out on the field. There’s no pressure on the coaching staff to play the younger, more talented player over the experienced seniors, or change a scheme that isn’t working. Without pressure, there will be no improved product. Nobody with power has any reason to change anything.

Do you know what that does? It’s like eating the same meal every day. That food is going to taste stale. That’s what the Iowa program is right now: stale.

The crowd has groaned more than it has cheered in the last four seasons. Kinnick Stadium isn’t intimidating because it’s hard for a fan base to have a sense of identity when its team doesn’t. The play calling isn’t only predictable to opposing defensive coordinators, it’s predictable to intoxicated students in the crowd. Many can be heard throughout the game saying “Weismann off tackle to the left.” Correct. “Weismann middle.” Correct again. “Play-action pass to the tight end.” Three for three.

These fans, while not only lacking full brain function after tailgating, also don’t have access to game-film, haven’t looked at all of Iowa’s numbers and can’t give you a full scouting report on either team. But they still know what Iowa is going to call. Imagine a guy who is being paid to review every second of Iowa’s offensive schemes. There’s no way he doesn’t have a hunch at what play is going to be run every single time.

The stubbornness of the Iowa football program is astounding, and it’s going to lead to a collapse sooner rather than later. Why? Because Iowa is stuck in neutral and the competition is only going to get better.

Iowa’s best victory in 2014 was on the road in Illinois. Let that sink in for a moment. The 7-5 squad we witnessed this year was not better than the 4-8 squad seen two years ago, and most certainly was a step back from the 8-5 team last season.

So how does Iowa solve this? Do they blow up the entire program, dismiss Ferentz and cover the costs? It wouldn’t be as pricey as expected, but wouldn’t be the correct route, either.

Iowa’s longevity of coaches can be one of its strongest recruiting tools. There have been two (Fry, Ferentz) in the last 35 years. However, coordinators are in a different realm.

This offense isn’t working under Greg Davis. We grew tired of Ken O’Keefe, but his methods were more effective. Davis refuses to see faults in his plan and adjust, as shown by Weismann making outside runs in the last game of his third season. If it hadn’t worked before Nebraska of 2014, it wasn’t going to work then. Davis is only part of the issue, though, the rest lies in what one word could describe what Iowa football is. No, it’s not tough, intimidating, grueling, old-school, or hard-nosed like Iowa wants to be called.

It’s “boring.”

Iowa needs to fix “boring.” If the fans are bored watching the action, can it be much more fun for the players? Or for the players we want to play here in the future?

Take a look at the preseason poster following Iowa’s Orange Bowl run: Marvin McNutt, Ricky Stanzi, Adrian Clayborn, Tyler Sash –those were good times with players fans could get behind. Iowa had a nationally recognized team with nationally notable players. And now? You can make a case for Scherff as a near-lock for a first-round pick, but not much beyond that, and how exciting is a left tackle?

We could fix boring by hiring an offensive coordinator who runs a spread offense and can put points on the board. But I’m having a hard time finding something more ludicrous and unexpected to happen. Iowa, and most of the Big Ten for that matter, is built to run the ball to set up the pass behind a strong offensive line – all held up by a stingy defense. Let’s not mess with the big picture. Let’s just tinker with the little things.

Like what?

Recruiting, for one. Looking at the top 100 players coming out of high school, teams like Nebraska and even Illinois have at least offered them scholarships in hopes of landing the big fish. Iowa can’t be found. Our neighbors on either side have least a stake in these athletes – whether they get denied or not. There’s a chance. That’s more than Iowa has.

Iowa is the boy at the middle school homecoming dance, scared to ask any of the 15 girls standing around to dance with them – despite knowing at least one of them will consider it. You can’t dance with the girl you don’t ask, and you can’t catch a fish when you don’t cast out. How many more metaphors does it take? Top recruits get a fan base excited, and that’s what Iowa needs.

Iowa needs its fans to brag about their school and to have something positive to talk about. Recruiting is one option, but there’s plenty more.

How about once a year Iowa creates an alternate uniform using the stellar combination of black and gold we have at our disposal, along with Nike? That’s a start. Give the players something “fun” and “cool.” The Steelers-themed jerseys are neat, but let’s catch up with the rest of the country. Let’s get “hip.” Hip gets retweets on Twitter, not only in Iowa, but high schoolers in Texas, Florida, California, etc. “Look at Iowa’s jerseys, those are awesome!” That’s the makeover Iowa needs.

Next, the Hawkeyes need to coordinate its fans better. The card stunt is pretty cool when it works, but as mentioned in my previous article, it wasn’t successful this year. Timeliness of cheers isn’t successful either. Kinnick Stadium simply isn’t loud enough, packed enough or intimidating enough to make home games a real advantage for Iowa. Take a look at the atmosphere against Michigan in 2009. Wisconsin was electric, but not throughout the entire game, rather just the second half. One solution for this? Scheduling a marquee game against a prime opponent every year. Sorry, Northern Iowa.

If Iowa scheduled Oklahoma, Akron, Iowa State and Pittsburgh on a regular basis, not only would it spread recruiting to different parts of the country, it would make the Akron game squeezed between two interesting contests look much better than it really is. The game doesn’t have to be Oklahoma (although there is an obvious Stoops vs. Alma-mater tie). It should be a top-four team in a Big Five conference at the very least. Give the country, or at the very least give the state of Iowa, a reason to watch.

Having both Northern Iowa and Ball State on the schedule makes the team look weak come season’s end with such a terrible strength of schedule, as well as putting Iowa in an all-risk, no reward scenario. In an era where a victory of Ball State is so much less than guaranteed, wouldn’t you rather run that risk against a nationally-respected opponent? In 2016 Iowa plays North Dakota State – the FBS killer from the FCS. Two years away and I’m already taking the Bison.

Next up on the agenda: paint the water tower. Between the unenclosed corner of the end zone sits the giant, plain white water tower. Where’s the tiger hawk? The “Go Hawks?” Heck, where’s the black and gold color scheme at the very least? This may not seem like a big deal – but, it’s the little things that can change a program. They add up. Fans, players and recruits love wide-spread school spirit. Start there.

Now, we get to the actual on the field issues. Iowa doesn’t need to get a Bible-sized playbook – I’m just asking for a page two. Mix up the throws a little bit. Having an Alex Smith-style offense is all right, but hey, sometimes we like to see a dose of Brett Favre. Iowa has recruited speed receivers that can make plays – they just don’t have the capability to use them with a relatively weak arm in Jake Rudock. And here is where we transition to beating the dead horse that is the quarterback controversy that never really should have been.

Heading out of camp in 2013, it seemed as if the race for quarterback was neck and neck. That means one thing: Beathard and Rudock were really, really close. Close enough where Ferentz was uninterested in giving the nod to either until spring practice. Iowa fans are typically big Hayden Fry supporters, so this is where they should ask “What would Fry do?”

Play the younger guy. You should always, always, ALWAYS – I don’t know how to stress it anymore over text – play the younger guy if the talent is truly tied. Would you rather have a senior play one year or a freshman play four? Coaches are here to coach, and if that means hurting feelings, so be it. I’m not going to say Beathard is better than Rudock, I’m just saying if it really was that close, Rudock shouldn’t have ever started. Or Vandenberg in the last half of 2012 if we want to dive that far back. If another school had a Vandenberg-like quarterback running the show, they wouldn’t last four games, let alone a whole season. Especially a school like Nebraska.

I mentioned Nebraska to open up this article. Not only as our last loss, but as a reasonable piece to compare to in the “averageness” of a program. Nebraska and Iowa both currently consider themselves “average,” and they very much are as shown by this somewhat obscene, but still accurate article by Deadspin.

Many thought Bo Pelini saved his job after the comeback victory against Iowa, but as we learned Sunday that’s not the case. Nebraska was guaranteed at least nine wins every season as long as Pelini was head coach. To them that isn’t enough. They expect more – especially since the championships in the nineties that created a dynasty. Nebraska has been there, Iowa hasn’t, which causes some of the disparity in overall expectations for each respective program.

A disparity that really shouldn’t exist to the extent that it does.

Looking at the last decade since the beginning of the 2004 season, here are the two teams’ total records:

Team one: 93-49, 4-4 in bowl games, zero BCS appearances, zero conference championships.

Team two: 84-55, 4-4 in bowl games, 1-0 in BCS games, one split conference championship.

If you are a fan of either team, it isn’t difficult to tell which team is which. One is Nebraska, two is Iowa. Nebraska has a slim lead in the overall record, but Iowa has the major bowl victory and split conference championship to boast.

So, we’ve established that these two programs are relatively equal over the last decade. Why is it that Nebraska fans are so astoundingly bent over backwards about the state of the program, while Iowa sips on a cup of tea and shrugs its shoulders? Because Nebraska knows better.

Nebraska knows that if they want more, they will eventually get more. It backfired in the case of Bill Callahan, who replaced Frank Solich after a nine-win season. Pelini turned the program around quickly, but has hit the same wall Solich did. Nebraska is doing what it can to break the wall. Iowa is buying the wall dinner.

Nebraska is correct in its frustration of consistent nine-win seasons in some regards. Their program is getting stale in the same way Iowa’s is – it just looks a little nicer.

Iowa is getting seven and eight win seasons with a four-five win and a 10-11 win season mixed in, losing to teams they shouldn’t and keeping games close they have no business being in. Nebraska is dismantling inferior opponents and being torn to shreds by the likes of Wisconsin and Ohio State with a loss to Minnesota or Northwestern sprinkled in. Every. Single. Year. Nebraskans can say the same thing Iowans do: “It gets old.”

And it really has gotten old for both squads. They both found coaches who took them to a “good, but not great” situation. Ferentz took a distraught program and turned it into a conference contender, back into an average squad, a conference contender again, and now to its lowest point since the beginning of this millennium. Does this roller coaster go back up or is it coming to a stop?

Pelini boarded the ride, took it up from rubble, and is now riding in a straight line. Riders were continuously waiting for the promised thrill, but the ride never delivered. How long could they cling to the promise before boarding another? That question was answered Sunday. One simple reason they continued down this path is while they annually fell on their face in big opportunities, they continually had the chances to begin with. Would you rather have your heart ripped out or to never have a heart at all?

Let’s be honest. Which program is closer to a conference title and a playoff berth? If you say Iowa, you’re lying to yourself. Nebraska is the one with its hearts ripped out every season because they always have a chance. Iowa doesn’t because it’s consistently middle-of-the-road. Give Iowa its in-state-rival Iowa State’s schedule, and they’re not making a bowl game. Give Nebraska that same schedule? Throw your money down on 9-3 with losses to Baylor, TCU and Kansas State.

Compare athletic directors and decide what direction each team is heading. Gary Barta, you’re up:

“It was a week ago we were in contention for the Big Ten championship…[on bowl games] I think San Francisco would be terrific. I think San Diego would be terrific. Going out West, we haven’t gone out West for a bowl for a while, I think that has a lot of merit. If it did end up being Nashville, it is drivable for our fans. We’ll see.”

            Being in the conference championship race at one point is on his list of positives. Iowa didn’t affect the conference championship any more than Indiana, Illinois or Rutgers did. The Hawkeyes beat nobody in contention. Going out West for a mediocre December bowl has no long-term merit. Outside of the players – who is going to remember it? The Orange Bowl year sticks out for a reason – the Hawkeyes won a game that mattered.

How does Nebraska athletic director Shawn Eichorst summarize his program? Here is a brief summary of his full statement about the firing of Pelini:

“As I just said, there are standards and expectations at Nebraska that are high both on and off the field. And although we did win a bunch of games, we didn’t win the games that mattered the most. I think we gave Coach ample time, ample resources and ample support to get that done. Now we are headed in a different direction…We want to do things the right way. At the end of the day, our coaches understand that pursuing championships is what we do, and being competitive in those games that matter is important.”

Where are these expectations? Why is Iowa setting the bar so low, but a team with so many similarities including location, conference, and recent prestige looking so much higher? What will it take for the fan base to be as loud as those west of the Missouri River about their displeasure with where the program is at after 16 years of the same head coach? Iowa is settling for the same adventure on level one every season. Nebraska wants to go to new heights; to see what level two has available.

As this story goes, Iowa is 7-5, going to play a middle-of-the-pack SEC squad in the bowl game, lose by a few points, say “I can’t be mad, we really played them close,” and do it all again next year. Nebraska could head either direction – either hire a coach who can’t get the job done, fall to below average and hire another, or become a national contender after making a necessary change. Why am I more positive of the first scenario?

It’s written on page one of the playbook.

The post Iowa Football has Gone Stale appeared first on KRUI Radio.

I can’t argue with him about some of that. Attendance has been down the last few years. He’s also right about the lack of statement victories at home. After the debacle of the 2012 season and the beatings taken from Wisconsin and Michigan State last year, it was fair to wonder whether Kinnick had lost some of it’s magic.

Then Saturday’s game happened.

Before I continue, yes, I know the outcome, and yes, I realize we are still looking for one of those aforementioned statement wins. But from my perch up in the press box calling the game on KRUI, I saw an atmosphere I hadn’t seen in my four years as an Iowa student.

I’ve attended every game in Kinnick Stadium since the start of the 2011-2012 season. That time span has included the biggest comeback in school history against Pittsburgh in 2011, the coldest game in Kinnick Stadium history last year against Michigan, a goal line stand as time expired against Michigan in 2011, and two night games. Not one of those games could match the electricity and intensity of Saturday’s game.

I was worried about the student section being somewhat diluted with students heading home for Thanksgiving break (and if you did, shame on you for missing out on this game). That might have been true to an extent. I couldn’t see most of the student section from where I was sitting, but if it was true, it was true in numbers only. The student section is always the loudest source of noise in the stadium, and Kinnick was LOUD.

I’ve heard the stadium get loud at certain times, like the goal line stand against Michigan I mentioned above, but this crowd brought the noise the whole game. I’ve been to 29 games in Kinnick and six in Memorial Stadium in Nebraska (I’m from western Iowa), but this was the most electric and loudest crowd I’ve heard. I have only been to those two venues, but I’m willing to bet that kind of noise and electricity is rare.

Elonich wrote about the crowd needing to know the appropriate time to cheer. Saturday night’s crowd was on it from the first drive of the game. After seeing the naughty things Melvin Gordon did to Nebraska a week ago, the crowd erupted every time he was bottled up for a short gain.

It was obvious that the defense noticed this too. It seemed every time Gordon was wrapped up, there were 11 black jerseys hustling over to join in the pile, driving that pile back 10 yards, celebrating as a unit, and then immediately pointing to the crowd, begging them to keep up the energy.

It worked on the crowd, and it worked on me. After Iowa scored its first touchdown and converted the two-point conversion to make it a one-score game, Greg Mabin made a stop behind the line, and I yelled out in the press box. Jeremy Mayer, who was doing the play-by-play with me had to motion for me to quiet down since we weren’t supposed to be loud in the press box.

I couldn’t help but get overly excited as I looked down over a blacked out Kinnick Stadium illuminated by the lights under the clear night sky for the first time in two years (Side note: Kinnick Stadium is a top three Big Ten venue under the lights.  Get us a night game Delaney).  Watching the crowd rise to its feet for every critical moment was enough to give me goosebumps.  It’s what made the ending of the game even harder to swallow.

Everyone in black and gold, players, coaches, fans, cheerleaders, and band members gave everything they had with the goal of celebrating an Iowa win. They made Wisconsin have to play its best game and Joel Stave have to have a career day to win, and credit them for doing it.

I know there are no such thing as moral victories, and this season hasn’t been the magical one we all dreamed about when the schedule came out.  Iowa fans have voiced frustration, anger, and sadness this year.  Saturday’s game probably leaned more towards sadness, but Iowa fans should also feel a sense of pride.

When the division was on the line and the stakes mattered most, Kinnick Stadium brought its A game.  I know this all sounds cheesy, and life’s not a Disney movie, but it’s a testament to the type of fans and people in this state and from this school.

There’s one more home game on Friday.  It’s senior day.  It’s against Nebraska.  I know it no longer means anything in the Big Ten race, but if I learned anything about Iowa fans Saturday, Kinnick will be packed and rocking again.

If you’re on the fence about driving back for the game, do it.  You only get so many opportunities to be a part of a great crowd, and you just might miss one like we saw Saturday.  This team played its heart out Saturday and deserves it.

I know I’ll be there screaming my head off for my last home game as an Iowa student, and I can’t wait to belt out a rendition of In Heaven There is no Beer as we watch the Hawks carry off the Heroes Game trophy for the second straight year.

The post Kinnick Stadium Electric Again appeared first on KRUI Radio.

Despite a roller coaster 2014 season, fans have reason to make Kinnick an electric atmosphere as two wins will likely give the home team a shot at the Big Ten title.

But, we have a few things to go over before we get to that. During my two years at Iowa, Kinnick Stadium hasn’t been what it was growing up. Noise is down, empty seats are more apparent and boos are more common than statement victories. Fans have seemingly grown tired, stale and annoyed with what has been seen. Blame can be spread from players and coaches, but don’t forget, crowds are a part of this issue, too.

Through five home games this season, Iowa has managed an average crowd of 67,415. Kinnick Stadium holds 70,585, so we’re not too far from being sold out, but can still do better. This also does not mean that 67,415 fans sit in their seats from kickoff to final score. I’ve included a few pictures gathered from Tweets showing the card stunt against Northwestern taken just moments before kickoff.

There are a few factors that can excuse Iowa from having capacity crowds throughout the entire game. First of all, for many of the games fans are either getting sunburnt or frostbite. Once you had in the 11 o’clock kickoffs on Saturday mornings, low-profile matchups such as Northern Iowa, Iowa State, Ball State, Indiana and Northwestern, and the style of play that can put the San Antonio Spurs to sleep, and quite frankly most are probably surprised we’re seating over 60,000.

That’s not even taking into account the students that begin tailgating at 5 a.m. and either can’t make it to the game, or leave at halftime. Take a look at the card stunt again and see which section is missing fans. Just getting to the ballgame is part of the issue, but that’s not the biggest focal point here.

Kinnick Stadium is full of a beautiful black and gold mixture that houses some of what I biasedly call the most passionate and loyal fans in the country. What needs to be fixed there? Timing.

The student section is the source of most cheers and noise in the stadium, so fellow students, please read on.

Not to call out our incredible cheerleaders, but they have one thing wrong: When to start the “Let’s go Hawks” chant. We all really appreciate you trying to get the crowd going, but right before Iowa is about to snap the ball is not the time.

Quarterbacks need to be able to call plays, shifts, hot routes, etc. at the line of scrimmage and the other 10 teammates need to hear him. The nosebleeds should be able to hear Kirk Ferentz chew his gum – that’s how silent it needs to be.

Clapping and applauding after the play is reasonable, but it should go right back to being silent immediately after our approval is aware. Also be wary of the no-huddle, because then snap counts and the ability to hear Rudock becomes even more crucial to the offensive flow.

On the other side of the ball, 3^rd and 3 in the second quarter can be just as important as 2^nd and 7 late in the fourth. We need to always make the opposing offense know that Kinnick Stadium isn’t a friendly environment. At many points, the stadium will become lackluster, especially when the game is happening on the opposite side of the student section. Iowa home games should never feel like a neutral field.

Students, don’t forget that when we get loud, the rest of the stadium is always soon to follow. If you still have your voice on Sunday, you’ve let the team down. Imagine how much fun Iowa City will be if the Hawkeyes are battling for the Big Ten Championship. Having to go a day or so with a voice that squeaks from time to time isn’t much of a sacrifice in order to help make that happen.

In its last 18 home Big Ten games, Iowa is just 10-8. That’s against what has mostly been average – at best – competition, and shows that there isn’t much of a fear going into Kinnick.

Wisconsin is going to be, by far, Iowa’s toughest contest to date. The Hawkeyes are going to need everything going their way to come out on top, and that includes the fan base. It’s up to us to force the Badgers into false starts, delay of games, miscommunications and unnecessary timeouts. Scream, go nuts and represent your school in front of a national audience to set up a potential showdown with Nebraska on Black Friday.

And then do it again.

Let’s regain what made Kinnick Stadium one of the most feared stadiums in the Big Ten just a decade ago. Back our players to fire them up from the time Back in Black sounds to when the band plays In Heaven There is no Beer. Make opposing teams get on the bus with a loss and argue about if the receiver ran the route wrong or the quarterback called the wrong play. With five seconds left, make sure whoever is visiting us has no timeouts and has to throw an unlikely Hail Mary instead of have that chance at the game-winning field goal. It’s up to us to cause these circumstances and advantages that can make or a break a game, and in some cases, a season.

On a final note, showing your disapproval for a 3^rd-and-8 halfback draw is one thing, but booing the players as they head into the locker room is another. We as fans are there to help our team feel more comfortable than the other inside the bricks of Kinnick.

When Saturday rolls around do your pregame rituals, wear your lucky sweatpants and cheer your lungs out for a Hawkeye victory.

Just make sure we’re not on offense when you do.

The post Kinnick Stadium Public Announcement: Fans need to improve! appeared first on KRUI Radio.

The Hawkeyes ultimately responded the call and will leave Champaign with a 30-14 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini this afternoon.

Jake Rudock had a nice game after struggling last weekend against Minnesota completing 14 of his 21 attempted passes for 210 yards and 2 touchdowns. His counterpart, CJ Beathard came in about midway through the fourth quarter and threw an outstanding touchdown pass to Damond Powell in the corner of the end zone to give Iowa the eventual 30-14 final score.

Offensively, the Hawkeyes put forth their best effort of the season in total offense, as well as rushing yards. Iowa amassed 587 yards of total offense, with 304 of those yards coming on the ground.

Coach Kirk Ferentz was proud of his team after getting a season saving victory.

“We just needed to win today,” Ferentz said in his press conference. “The yardage is not that important.”

Mark Weisman had the best game of his senior season to this point with 134 yards on 23 carries. After the game, Weisman talked about the success of the running back corps as a whole.

“Seeing that 300-yard rushing number was really cool,” Weisman said. “We just took it one play at a time, not looking forward or looking back.” “It is a credit to the guys up front for doing all the dirty work,” he added.

Another senior who stepped up big for Iowa was tight end Ray Hamilton. Hamilton is not known as a pass catching tight end, but for more of a blocking tight end. He ended up catch four passes for twenty yards, but the big kicker was the two touchdowns that he hauled in from quarterback Jake Rudock. Those were the first touchdowns as an Iowa Hawkeye for Hamilton.

He talked about the collective effort of the tight end group, which also saw fellow tight end Jake Duzey catch 3 passes for 110 yards including a 53-yard connection from Rudock to the junior tight end.

“I have gotten a hard time in the past about not having any touchdowns,” Hamilton said when asked how if his teammates have given him some playful jabs throughout his time at Iowa. “We just continue to work together as a group, and we are happy for each other,” he added when asked about his teammate Jake Duzey and the day he had. We just have to keep swinging and keep the foot on the gas pedal, nothing else matters.”

Despite the success of the offense, Iowa struggled in the first half finding the end zone and converting on fourth down. Iowa was among one of the best teams in the country converting on fourth downs, but went 0 for 3 on fourth down conversions Saturday afternoon.

Defensively, it was a bounce back game for a unit that was blown of Minneapolis to the tune of 51 points. The Hawkeye defense only allowed 235 yards of total offense to the Fighting Illini.

The defense got the first points on the board for Iowa after Illinois quarterback Wes Lunt was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone, which resulted in a safety and an early 2-0 lead for Iowa.

John Lowdermilk and Nate Meier led the Iowa defense with seven tackles apiece, Greg Mabin and Jordan Lomax each had six tackles, and Josey Jewell and Quinton Alston tallied five tackles. The defense desperately needed this game to get back some confidence leading up to the last two games of the season.

Iowa still somewhat controls their destiny in the Big Ten West. With Minnesota’s loss to Ohio State earlier today, the winner of the Nebraska-Wisconsin game will take over sole possession of first place in the division. That sets up well for Iowa, as Wisconsin and Nebraska are the two remaining teams on Iowa’s schedule.

“We have some things we need to work on,” Ferentz said about preparation for the next two weeks. “We’re playing two excellent opponents.”

Minnesota plays Nebraska and Wisconsin the two weeks of the season, so if Iowa wins out and Minnesota loses at least one of those games the Hawkeyes would be heading to Indianapolis the first weekend of December to play in the Big Ten title game presumably against Ohio State.

The start time for the game at Kinnick Stadium between Iowa and Wisconsin has yet to be announced. We will have the game on 89.7 KRUI. Jeremy Meyer and Blake Jorgenson will have the call next Saturday, so be sure to listen to the battle between the Hawkeyes and Badgers next Saturday.

The post Weisman, Hamilton lead Hawkeyes past Fighting Illini appeared first on KRUI Radio.

EAST:

Michigan State (6-1, 3-0): After an early season loss to Oregon, Sparty has won their last five games, but they haven’t made it easy.  On October 4, they led Nebraska 27-3 in the 4th quarter but had to get a late interception to hold on for a 27-22 win.  They struggled in a 45-31 win against Big Ten doormat Purdue, and struggled for one half against lowly Indiana.  While Michigan State is winning games, they need to improve if they want to get back into the playoff conversation.

Ohio State (5-1, 2-0): Ohio State got off to a rough start, as they barely squeaked by Navy in the opening and suffered Urban Meyer’s first home loss at Ohio State in week 2 against Virginia Tech.  Since then, however the Buckeyes have been firing on all cylinders and are averaging a whopping 56 points in the four games since.  Ohio State’s offense, led by redshirt freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett, appears to be finding its stride at the right time with a trip to East Lansing looming on November 8.

Maryland (5-2, 2-1): Big Ten newcomer Maryland may be one of the hardest teams to figure out.  They have a good offense, led by quarterback C.J. Brown and dynamic play-making receiver Stefon Diggs, however the defense still has some questions.  Maryland did show some mental toughness, scoring 38 of the next 45 points after falling behind 14-0 vs Iowa this past week.  Maryland’s schedule gets considerably tougher as they travel to Penn State and Wisconsin for their next two games, followed by a visit from Michigan State.  The key for the Terps will be the health of C.J. Brown, who has been knocked out of four games this season.

Rutgers (5-2, 1-2): Rutgers is another team that varies from week-to-week. After a hard fought victory over Michigan on October 5, Rutgers turned back around and got crushed by Ohio State in Columbus this past weekend.  Gary Nova is very hot and cold as a quarterback, and the offense  as a whole is inconsistent.  Rutgers might have the toughest remaining schedule of any Big Ten team, as they still have to play Nebraska, Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Maryland.

Michigan (3-4, 1-2): Where to begin with this Michigan team.  Brady Hoke’s team is coming off a bye and will be hosting Michigan State this week.  They got a huge win two weeks ago against Penn State, possibly saving Brady Hoke’s job for the time being.  However, this team is still a mess.  The offense is a complete disaster–the offensive line can’t block anybody and Devin Gardner still turns the ball over too much–and the defense is inconsistent.  It really doesn’t seem like Brady Hoke will be in Ann Arbor much longer, as the losses will continue to pile up unless something changes drastically.

Penn State (4-2, 1-2): Penn State looked like a dark horse team at the beginning of the season, even getting their bowl ban lifted.  However, their flaws were exposed in a 29-6 loss to Northwestern where they were dominated in every phase of the game.  After a bye week, they came back and lost to lowly Michigan. It doesn’t get any easier as Penn State hosts red-hot Ohio State this week.  A once promising season has faded into mediocrity for Penn State.

Indiana (3-4, 0-3): Indiana’s problem this season is the same problem they’ve had for years.  Their offense can score and be as explosive as any, but their defense remains a huge issue.  After a stunning victory at Missouri on September 20, Indiana proceeded to get destroyed at home by Maryland.  Tevin Coleman might be the best running back in the nation, but now that quarterback Nate Sudfeld is out for the season and a suspect defense, it’s hard to imagine Indiana getting many more wins.

WEST:

Minnesota (6-1, 3-0): Don’t look now, but Minnesota is first in the Big Ten.  Jerry Kill’s team has gotten off to a great start, thanks to a favorable schedule, and great defense.  After dominating Michigan three weeks ago, Minnesota was able to squeak by Northwestern and Purdue the past two weeks.  The offense for the Gophers is very one-dimensional as Mitch Leidner is more of a threat running the ball than he is passing, but David Cobb is another one of the many great running backs in the Big Ten.  However, Minnesota’s last four games are brutal, as they play Iowa, Ohio State, Nebraska, and Wisconsin to end their season.

Nebraska (6-1, 2-1): Nebraska is probably the best team in the Big Ten West. They had a great comeback fall short against Michigan State, but bounced back and dominated Northwestern in a 38-17 victory. They are led by All-American candidate Ameer Abdullah at running back and Tommy Armstrong is becoming a very dangerous dual-threat quarterback.  After many calls for head coach Bo Pelini to be fired after last season, this team has responded and clearly look to be the best team in the Big Ten West.

Iowa (5-2, 2-1): It has been a very up and down season for the Hawkeyes.  There was a quarterback controversy between Jake Rudock and C.J. Beathard for a couple weeks, and the offense has been inconsistent for most of the year.  While the Hawks are 5-2, a frustrating loss to Iowa State early in the season and shaky play in a lot of their other games have been cause for concern for Iowa fans.  Iowa has some big games coming up, starting in two weeks at Minnesota in a game that will be crucial for determining the division.

Northwestern (3-4, 2-2): Northwestern has had a very strange season.  They played exceptionally poorly in their first three games, losing two of them, Northwestern responded with a shocking 29-6 domination against Penn State and then beat Wisconsin the following week at home.  Unlike typical Northwestern teams, the defense is the strong part of the team and the offense has been ineffective for the most part with Trevor Siemian at the helm.

Wisconsin (4-2, 1-1): Wisconsin has been the same team for years now.  They have arguably the best running back in the nation with Melvin Gordon, however their offense is still largely ineffective thanks to a non-existent passing game.  Tanner McEvoy struggled early in the season, and was benched in their loss against Northwestern.  He was replaced by last year’s starter Joel Stave, who hasn’t been much better.  The running game of Melvin Gordon and Corey Clement is great, but Wisconsin won’t be doing anything until they have some semblance of a passing game.

Purdue (3-5, 1-3): Purdue has taken some strides in recent weeks.  Austin Appleby led the team to their first Big Ten victory in the Darrell Hazell era on October 4th at Illinois, and they hung in there against Michigan State and were winning for most of the game this past weekend against Minnesota, but lost 39-38.  Purdue likely won’t be going bowling this year, but things are looking up for the Boilermakers.

Illinois (3-4, 0-3): Illinois football is an absolute fiasco.  In the Ron Zook era, it was always the offense that couldn’t seem to get it done, and now that the offense is finally rolling, the defense can’t stop anybody.  Illinois is easily the worst team in the Big Ten, and it’s not even close.  Tim Beckman is 1-18 in his career in Big Ten play, and will almost certainly be fired after this season, if not before.

The first 6-8 games are upon us and this much is clear from the Big Ten.  There are three contenders (Michigan State, Ohio State, Nebraska), three terrible teams (Indiana, Purdue, Illinois), and then everybody else. With some of the biggest match-ups yet to be played, the Big Ten will be entertaining from now until December.

The post Big Ten Midseason Report appeared first on KRUI Radio.

In the second half they crumbled under the added defensive pressure Penn State put on. Even head coach Lisa Bluder thinks that the Lady Lions’ defense late in the game forced the Hawkeyes to make some “mental mistakes.” Bluder was “defensively disappointed” and felt her team gave Penn State too many “easy scoring opportunities.” Penn State shut down Iowa 81-69; leaving them 11-1 in conference play.

As the second half ensued, Iowa let their yo-yo 2-4 point lead increase finding themselves in double digit deficits numerous times. Penn State ended the game with four players in the double digits. However, most impressive was junior guard Maggie Lucas. With 21 points on the night, Lucas’s shooting was always on time and she had incredible precision.

This is the fifth game in a row that Iowa has lost, and the first time this season they have lost to a ranked team. Prior to this loss, they were a strong 6-0 against ranked teams. Reeling from the loss against Nebraska Monday (February 11) night, it would seem like Iowa wouldn’t have let this game go un-won. However, they experienced numerous pitfalls in this game that seem to be the same issues they face each game, ultimately leading to their demise.

Large portions of their points go down the drain at the free throw line. When it comes to free points, you’ve just got to take them. One player the Hawkeys can count on to make free throws just about every time though is senior guard Jaime Printy. Printy currently ranks fifth nationally for her free throw percentage. Due to high ball pressure and amazing defense on Penn State’s end, much of Printy’s shine was dimmed this game. Her usual three point shots just weren’t there tonight.

The Hawkeyes do not have a break in schedule coming up for them and really need to work on strengthening their defense amongst other areas if they want to be successful. They take on number 13 Purdue, as well as Nebraska again—both on the road. It will be especially interesting to see if they hold their own against Nebraska since they struggled earlier this week from their own arena. The imperativeness cannot be stressed enough, the need to win at least one of these games.

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